Enchanted Hill - by Emily Bain Murphy (Paperback)

About the Book

"The year is 1930 and Cora McCavanagh is posing as a maid at Hollywood magnate Truman Byrd's legendary estate. She's closing in on the damning evidence she needs for a high-profile client. An aspiring PI, Cora was trained by her father, a former prison guard at the notorious Pelican Island, where Cora grew up surrounded by hardened criminals. Which is why she recognizes Jack Yates as soon as he walks through the door. The last time she saw him was on an ill-fated night that changed the course of her life and still haunts her more than a decade later. Cora never expected to see Jack again-and now a single misstep could cause both their secret identities to come crashing down. They strike a tentative truce to help each other during a week of parties overflowing with champagne and caviar. But there are puzzles hidden in every corner of Truman Byrd's labyrinthine estate, and if Cora is to finally learn the truth about Jack Yates, she must unravel a sinister history that the rich and powerful will do anything to keep concealed"--

Book Synopsis

Escape to Enchanted Hill in this historical mystery where two people with a dark, shared past collide while working undercover at a glittering mansion on the California coast.

The year is 1930 and Cora McCavanagh is posing as a maid at Hollywood magnate Truman Byrd's legendary estate. She's closing in on the damning evidence she needs for a high-profile client.

An aspiring PI, Cora was trained by her father, a former prison guard at the notorious Pelican Island, where Cora grew up surrounded by hardened criminals.

Which is why she recognizes Jack Yates as soon as he walks through the door. The last time she saw him was on an ill-fated night that changed the course of her life and still haunts her more than a decade later. Cora never expected to see Jack again--and now a single misstep could cause both their secret identities to come crashing down.

They strike a tentative truce to help each other during a week of parties overflowing with champagne and caviar. But there are puzzles hidden in every corner of Truman Byrd's labyrinthine estate, and if Cora is to finally learn the truth about Jack Yates, she must unravel a sinister history that the rich and powerful will do anything to keep concealed.

Filled with intrigue and Old Hollywood glamour, Enchanted Hill is an unforgettable historical romance set in a world you won't want to leave, and is perfect for fans of historical fiction books like the Molly Murphy Mysteries, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Kate Morton books.

Review Quotes

"A piercing and poetic look at the grit beneath the glitter of America's rich and powerful in 1930, Enchanted Hill offers beautifully sculpted passages and unexpected twists. Glamour, tricks, and betrayals keep the pace galloping and the story enthralling. Captivating, from start to finish." --Shana Abé, New York Timesbestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor

"Set amid the opulence and corruption of a thinly disguised Hearst's San Simeon during the Golden Age of Hollywood, this compelling story takes the reader on a breathtaking ride of redemption and revenge." --Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook

"Evocative and compelling from the first sentence, Murphy's Enchanted Hill artfully transports the reader to the storied mansion of a 1930s Hollywood magnate where the silver screen sparkle blinds guests to the seedy underbelly housed in its halls--which is just as well for Cora, who is hiding secrets of her own after growing up on an isolated prison island. Mysterious, romantic, rich with historical detail, and impeccably written, Enchanted Hill is impossible to put down, the kind of novel that made me fall in love with historical fiction!"
--Joy Callaway, international bestselling author of All the Pretty Places

"Murphy's particular blend of historical fiction, mystery, and romance hits all the right notes, and its twists make it a dangerous read for those who promise 'just one more chapter' before finding themselves up all night. The journey through Enchanted Hill is an exciting one. Once it has been picked up, it's hard to put down."-St. Louis Magazine

"...likable characters and riveting backstory."-Kirkus Reviews

"A legendary Hollywood estate becomes the setting for sinister secrets in Enchanted Hill."-PopSugar

"A will-they-won't-they romance adds to the intrigue and fans of both historical mystery and romance will find much to like here."-Library Journal

About the Author

Emily Bain Murphy was born in Indiana and raised in Hong Kong and Japan. She graduated from Tufts University and has also called Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California home. Murphy is the author of two critically acclaimed young adult novels: The Disappearances, which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, and Splinters of Scarlet. Murphy lives in St. Louis with her husband and three children, where she's always on the lookout for beautiful old mansions hiding new stories. Find her online at Instagram @emilybainmurphy and www.emilybainmurphy.com.