***

Violet Hamilton is no ordinary lady?

She is a Lady Detective, who spends her time solving mysteries and unveiling scandals in the bustling seaside town of Hastings and St Leonards, a popular spot for the Victorian middle classes.

But when the body of a local woman is found on the beach, Violet’s efforts to investigate are blocked at every turn.

Is that because, as a woman, she can’t possibly be allowed to think or act for herself? Or is it because someone sinister has Violet in their sights?

Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this delightful mystery of manners that will steal your heart, and transport you to a world of seaside scandal and moonlit balls; dubious doctors and duplicitous crooked lords; adventurous escapades and stolen kisses.

***

Praise for Hannah Dolby:

‘Delightfully quirky, joyful and original’ – Adele Parks

‘Pure joy and utterly charming’ – Faith Hogan

‘Dolby’s character delights with winsome wit and intuition. A fabulous read’ – M J Robotham

‘Hannah Dolby’s second novel is as warm, witty and wonderful as her first.’ – Kathleen Whyman

***

Violet Hamilton is a woman who knows her own mind. Which, in Victorian Hastings, can make things a little complicated…

At 28, Violet’s father is beginning to worry she will never find a husband. But every suitor he presents, Violet finds a new and inventive means of rebuffing.

Because Violet does not want to marry. She wants to work, and make her own way in the world. But more than anything, she wants to find her mother Lily, who disappeared from Hastings Pier 10 years earlier.

Finding the missing is no job for a lady, but when Violet hires a seaside detective to help, she sets off a chain of events that will put more than just her reputation at risk.

Can Violet solve the mystery of Lily Hamilton’s vanishing before it’s too late?

A delightfully joyful, funny and gripping historical novel, perfect for fans of The Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting and The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels.

***

‘Glorious… it’s funny from the start.‘ – The Daily Mail

‘Delightfully quirky, joyful and original… it will help you bounce exuberantly into spring’ – Adele Parks

‘If you loved Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, you’ll love to snuggle up with this novel!’ – Chat