A Lady Compromised - (Rosalind Thorne Mystery) by Darcie Wilde (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"Wilde's heroine is not only a useful woman but a highly entertaining one."
--Kirkus Reviews on And Dangerous to Know

Fans of Jane Austen have fallen in love with Darcie Wilde's mystery series featuring Rosalind Thorne, a young woman adept at helping ladies of the ton navigate the darker corners of Regency England--while revealing Society's most shocking secrets...

Rosalind is pleased when she's invited to Cassel House to help her friend, Louisa, prepare for her upcoming wedding. But that's not the only event on her agenda. The trip will also afford Rosalind the chance to see Devon Winterbourne, the newly minted Duke of Casselmaine. Devon and Rosalind were on the verge of betrothal before the infamous Thorne family scandal derailed their courtship. Now Rosalind wonders if there's a chance their love might reignite.

Devon is as handsome as Rosalind remembers and it's clear the attraction they once shared hasn't waned. But their time together is interrupted by one crisis after another--not the least of which is an awkwardly timed request for help from Louisa's friend, Helen Corbyn.

Not long ago, the untimely death of Helen's brother, William, was ruled a suicide, but few people truly believe he took his own life. Helen needs to know what really happened--especially since she's engaged to the man some suspect of secretly killing William.

While Rosalind desperately wants to help, she fears her efforts might cast a pall over Louisa's nuptials, not to mention her reunion with Devon. But when another untimely death rocks the ton, Rosalind has no choice but to uncover the truth before more people die...even if her actions threaten her future with Devon.

"A complex, enthralling mystery that rivals those of Anne Perry and Agatha Christie."
--New York Journal of Books

Review Quotes

Praise for Darcie Wilde's Rosalind Thorne mysteries

"Rosalind carries the soul of Sherlock Holmes in the world of Elizabeth Bennet, and it's a hard combination to beat."
--BookPage

"A complex, enthralling mystery that rivals those of Anne Perry and Agatha Christie."
--New York Journal of Books

"Clever and witty. Wilde artfully portrays Regency London, from its ballrooms to Bow Street, in all its glory and hypocrisy, and provides readers with a heroine worthy of our attention. With its colorful cast and scandalous intrigue, A Useful Woman would surely have set the famed patronesses of Almack's atwitter."
--Anna Lee Huber, national bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries

"The Regency frame is skillfully woven through a story that features surprising plot twists and an engaging subplot concerning Rosalind's dilemma over whom to marry--Harkness or a duke who will allow her to reclaim her past."
--Booklist

"Captivating. . . . Wilde smoothly mixes historical figures and events into a plot that's sure to keep readers turning the pages to see what happens next. Regency fans will be charmed."
--Publishers Weekly

"Rosalind is an interesting, dare I say 'plucky' heroine, a once-rich girl now lowered to live by her wits. She still follows the strict etiquette of her time and lost position, no matter the cost. The asides on what is proper in each situation are amusing, reminiscent of Jane Austen . . . I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next book in the series."
--The Historical Novel Society

"Complex social networks spark an equally complex puzzle."
--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

"In Darcie Wilde's popular Rosalind Thorne Mystery series set in Regency England, the starchy manners and sparkling repartee of Jane Austen's genteel country society hide sinister secrets. Rosalind is intelligent, empathetic, and likable."
--Mystery Scene Magazine

About the Author

Darcie Wilde is the award-winning author of stylishly adventurous historical mysteries and romances, including the Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, a Regency-set series inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, as well as the Regency Makeover Trilogy. She has also written, under the name Sarah Zettel, Locus and Philip K. Dick Award-winning novels, including Fool's War, a New York Times Notable Books of the Year selection. She lives in Michigan and can be found online at DarcieWildeRomance.com.