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Title details for The Secret of the Lost Pearls by Darcie Wilde - Available

The Secret of the Lost Pearls

#1 in series

by Darcie Wilde
Kitty Kelly
Audiobook
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1 of 1 copy available
In Darcie Wilde's captivating mystery series inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, no one is better equipped to help ladies who find themselves wronged than "useful woman" Rosalind Thorne . . . Rosalind Thorne may not have a grand fortune of her own, but she possesses virtues almost as prized by the haut ton: discretion, and a web of connections that enable her to discover just about anything about anyone. Known as a "most useful woman," Rosalind helps society ladies in need-for a modest fee, of course-and her client roster is steadily increasing. Mrs. Gerald Douglas, nee Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a particularly delicate predicament. A valuable pearl necklace has gone missing, and Bethany's husband believes the thief is Nora, Bethany's disgraced sister. Nora made a scandalous elopement at age sixteen and returned three years later, telling the family that her husband was dead. But as Rosalind begins her investigations, under cover of helping the daughters of the house prepare for their first London season, she realizes that the family harbors even more secrets than scandals. The intrigue swirling around the Douglases includes fraud, forgery, blackmail, and soon, murder. And it will fall to Rosalind, aided by charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, to untangle the shocking truth and discover who is a thief-and who is a killer.

  • Creators

  • Series

    Useful Woman Mystery

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    December 27, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781696610520
      • File size: 313518 KB
      • Duration: 10:53:09

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 31, 2022
      In Wilde’s well-crafted sixth Rosalind Thorne mystery (after 2021’s A Counterfeit Suitor), Rosalind again gracefully navigates the snares of the haut ton of Regency London to resolve a problem rooted in family secrets. When Rosalind’s old friend Bethany Hodgeson requests her help in locating a missing pearl necklace, Rosalind takes up residence in her home. There, under the guise of assisting Bethany’s two sisters and her sister-in-law in making their debut into London society, Rosalind discovers an array of scandals and secrets, including a botched elopement, bigamy, and various machinations by overbearing parents and sly servants. The chapter headings include quotes from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice; and like Elizabeth Bennet, Rosalind seeks to know the truth of characters’ motivations and feelings through acute observation of small actions that border on the private—a sudden flush, a hesitation, an overheard conversation, a brief disappearance. A sweet romance involving the handsome Adam Harkness of the Bow Street Runners enhances the complex puzzle surrounding the pearls. Fans of Dianne Freeman and Anna Lee Huber will find much to enjoy. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.

    • Library Journal

      March 1, 2023

      Wilde's ("Rosalind Thorne Mysteries") first installment in the "Useful Woman" series takes listeners to fashionable Edwardian London. Rosalind Thorne is a fixer of sorts, offering her services to London society families in need of discreet, practical assistance. Longtime acquaintance Bethany asks Rosalind to solve the mystery surrounding the theft of a string of valuable pearls. To give her access to Bethany's family and home, Rosalind is to shepherd Bethany's sister-in-law Penelope through her first London season. Bethany's husband thinks his disgraced sister-in-law Nora is the thief. In fact, everyone in the family has a motive for stealing the pearls, but the evidence does not single out anyone. As Rosalind begins to introduce Penelope to society, scraps of information begin to add to the puzzle, revealing unhappy family dynamics and even a murder. Wilde's complex and twisty mystery is narrated by Kitty Kelly, who adorns the story with a wide variety of English accents. VERDICT Fans of period mysteries will be clamoring for the next installment in this promising series. Share with listeners who enjoy Jane Austen, Liz Carlyle, and Dianne Freeman.--Joanna M. Burkhardt

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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