The Debutante's Code
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5.0 • 10 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this new Regency mystery series
Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn't spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They've been living double lives as government spies--and they're only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family's legacy.
Now Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spy craft. From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts, regattas, and soirees of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger. All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors--not to mention nosy, irritatingly handsome Bow Street runner Daniel Swann, who suspects her of a daring theft.
Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents' last mission? Or will it lead her to a terrible end?
Best-selling author Erica Vetsch is back with a rollicking, exciting new series destined to be a hit with Regency readers who enjoy a touch of mystery in their love stories. Fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, and Anne Perry will love the wit, action, and romance.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Vetsch (The Indebted Earl) kicks off her Thorndike and Swann Regency Mysteries with a propulsive tale about a family of spies. In 1816, 19-year-old Lady Juliette Thorndike returns to London after completing school in Switzerland. Upon arrival, her uncle explains her parents have been unexpectedly called away and have placed him in charge of her debutante season. Then, after her debut is disrupted when a valuable painting is stolen during an event at the home of a close friend, she feels abandoned by both God and her parents. When Juliette discovers a secret package hidden by her parents, she learns she comes from a long line of spies—and that she is next in line to be trained. Juliette's parents had been working on one last mission when they disappeared, and the mysterious code they left behind might be the key to finding them. Daniel Swann is the officer assigned to investigate the painting theft. Enamored with Juliette—even if she is above his station—Daniel helps her as she navigates London's high society with the few clues left behind. Their slow-burning romance comes together naturally as they navigate the glamorous world of debutantes. Fans of Jen Turano will delight in this pleasing mystery and eagerly await the second installment.
