“Captivating . . . Hastings never loses her footing while toggling between her large cast of characters, and fluidly intersperses comedic moments and game-changing twists. Readers will be ravenous for the next installment in the series”

“Mystery, romance, and an interesting look at the power of cult leaders”

“Told from multiple points of view, this historical mystery is firmly set in Victorian times and includes several plot twists”

“Delightful . . . This is a solid cozy mystery: It has compelling settings, both in terms of locations and period and its characters are highly appealing. Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans!”

“[A] gripping Victorian mystery . . . This series is among [Anastasia Hastings's] best”

“Delightful . . . The book’s thrilling denouement evokes the shocking revelations of Wilkie Collins, the social acuity of Jane Austen and the comic melodrama of Oscar Wilde”

“[A] witty series launch . . . Hastings imbues her endearing lead with sufficient depth to make the plot plausible. Allison Montclair readers will be eager for the sequel”

“A series of surprising revelations leads to a shocking conclusion. The first in a series steeped in Victorian mores offers a dashing heroine and an impressive pile of red herrings”

“Satisfying . . . includes tricky plot twists and a beautifully described Victorian setting”

“An entertaining historical mystery”