The Heir - by Darcie Wilde (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

For fans of The Crown, Young Victoria, and all things British royalty is a new mystery set in 1830s London and starring none other than the young Princess Victoria - future Queen of England - as a rebellious amateur sleuth.

Destined for a life beyond her wildest dreams, born fifth in succession to the throne, and determined to get to the bottom of a most foul puzzle, the future queen vows to solve the mystery of a dead man scandalously discovered on the grounds of Kensington Palace--by her!

The young Victoria remembers nothing but Kensington Palace. Arriving as a baby, she has been brought up inside its musty, mold-ridden walls. Others may see the value of Kensington's priceless artifacts and objets d'art, but the palace is a jail cell for young Victoria. Raised with an incredibly strict regimen to follow, watched at all times by her mother, the controlling, German-born Victoire, and Victoire's prized advisor, the power-hungry Sir John Conroy, the bright 15-year-old is allowed no freedom at any time--except that which she steals or wheedles for, always in the company of Conroy's resentful daughter, Jane.

But one fateful afternoon, Victoria slips away from her mother to ride out on her beloved gelding, Prince. With reluctant Jane in tow, the princess gallops out from the palace green. But what would normally be an uneventful trot around very familiar terrain presents the mutinous princess with a most bewildering sight--a dead man, and on the grounds of the palace, no less.

Determined to get to the bottom of the inscrutable puzzle, young Victoria is met with shocking disrespect and any number of obstacles. Sir John lies to her, her uncles and aunts join with her mother to stonewall her questions and curtail her movements. But Victoria will not be deterred. With Jane Conroy as a tentative and untrustworthy ally, Victoria's first "case" is underway . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Darcie Wilde's Mysteries

"Rosalind Thorne treads a knife edge in [Regency] London....Penniless, she maintains her small household by helping more prosperous members of the haute ton solve their problems....Wilde springs a series of surprises....that are also opportunities for the reader to bond with her....Compelling." --Kirkus Review, STARRED REVIEW on The Secret of the Lost Pearls

"Well-crafted...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...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." --Publishers Weekly on The Secret of the Lost Pearls

"Fans of female-led historical mysteries will delight in the way Rosalind traverses both the respectable drawing rooms and the seamy underside of Regency London hidden beneath the manners and tea." --Historical Novel Society on The Secret of the Lost Pearls

"Compelling period drama." --Kirkus Review on A Counterfeit Suitor

"Meticulously crafted...Rosalind is an empathetic, perceptive lead, and her relationships with her caring friends add much to the book's appeal. A plot as complex as a Chinese puzzle box will keep readers turning the pages. Wilde offers a fascinating, richly detailed look at Regency society." --Publishers Weekly on A Counterfeit Suitor

"A well-researched story, the narrative is fast-paced with spot-on dialogue...An absolute delight." --Historical Novel Society on A Counterfeit Suitor

"Wilde writes about high society social codes the same way Phoebe Waller-Bridge makes cheeky asides in "Fleabag." --Bookpage on A Lady Compromised

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

"Wilde's description of people, places, and events create an immersive experience for the reader...A Lady Compromised portrays the outwardly straight-laced mores a complicated social connections of the country gentry vividly through a varied cast of characters." --Mystery Scene on A Lady Compromised

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

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.