A Gilded Grave

First in a new series from the author of the Celebration Bay mysteries

In 1895, at the height of the Gilded Age, Newport, Rhode Island, is the summer home of the social elite. Within the walls of their fabulous “cottages,” fortunes and reputations are made and lost. Competition for superiority is ruthless and so are the players.

During her first Newport season, Deanna Randolph has the pleasure of attending a ball given in honor of Lord David Manchester, a Barbadian sugar magnate, and his sister, Madeline. The Manchesters are an immediate success—along with their exotic manservant known for his magical, fortune-telling talents.

But on the nearby cliffs, a young maid lies dead, her neck broken—and suspicion falls on Joseph Ballard, a member of one of the town’s most prestigious families, last seen in a compromising situation with her.

Joe humiliated Deanna when he rebuffed an engagement to her at the end of last season. But while he may be a cad, Deanna doesn’t believe he’s a killer. Now reluctant allies, the two must navigate a world of extravagant parties, fashionable tennis matches, and intriguing seances to find the murderer. But a misstep amongst Newport’s glittering upper classes could leave them exposed to something far more dangerous than malicious gossip…