<p><strong>A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure. </strong><strong>Only her fine eyes can uncover the truth.</strong></p><p><strong>'Pure indulgence! Full of ardent amours, dastardly deeds and rakish rogues' KATE FORSYTH</strong></p><p><strong>'Miss Bingley dismounts her high horse and reinvents herself as a brilliant detective ... A rollicking tale' AMANDA HAMPSON</strong></p><p><strong>'Miss Bingley delivers delicious snark and fabulous sleuthing fun' ALISON GOODMAN</strong></p>
<p>Two years after the events of <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>, Miss Caroline Bingley is staying at her brother's country estate close to Pemberley, wondering if there's more to life than cribbage and paying calls.</p><p>So when Georgiana Darcy's maid, Jayani, vanishes and Georgiana disappears in search of her, Caroline races after them to London, only to discover a shocking, cold-blooded murder.</p><p>Soon Caroline is careering through the grimy underbelly of the city, demanding answers of malevolent footmen, reluctant magistrates, Indian dockhands, and mysterious East India Company men.</p><p>As Caroline exercises her superior powers of investigation, she finds out exactly what an accomplished, independent woman with a sharp mind and a large fortune can achieve – even when pitted against secrets, scandal, and a murderer with no mercy.</p><p><strong>PRAISE</strong></p><p>'Miss Bingley dismounts her high horse and reinvents herself as a brilliant detective in this thoroughly enjoyable Regency romp ... A rollicking tale' <strong>Amanda Hampson, bestselling author of the Tea Ladies series</strong></p><p>'Imaginative and original. A delightful romp with some of literature's favourite characters. I was carried away from the first page' <strong>Belinda Alexandra, bestselling author of <em>The Masterpiece</em></strong></p><p>'Pure indulgence! Full of ardent amours, dastardly deeds and rakish rogues' <strong>Kate Forsyth, bestselling author of <em>Psykhe</em></strong></p><p>'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader who loves an ever-compelling story is in need of a new heroine by the name of Caroline Bingley, and shall not regret for one second the time spent with her in this new novel' <strong>Sophie Green, bestselling author of <em>Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel</em></strong></p><p>'Thoroughly entertaining - revisiting Austen's world is a joy' <strong>Toni Jordan, bestselling author of <em>Prettier If She Smiled M</em></strong><em><strong>ore</strong></em></p><p>'A riotously fun, whip-smart and genuinely intriguing read! I loved being transported back to the world of Pride and Prejudice in such a fresh, twisty take. Be still my Austen-loving heart' <strong>Tess Woods, bestselling author of <em>The Venice Hotel</em></strong></p><p>'Miss Bingley delivers delicious snark and fabulous sleuthing fun. I loved it!' <strong>Alison Goodman, bestselling author of <em>The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies</em></strong></p><p>'Refreshingly, Gardiner and Kumar don't sand down Caroline's less agreeable qualities, and instead use her flagrant classism and stubbornness to infuse the narrative with a welcome degree of friction. That character depth, plus a well-oiled whodunit plot, help this stand out in a crowded field. Austenites will look forward to the next installment' <strong><em>Publishers Weekly</em> (US)</strong></p><p>'A critique of colonialism that still reads with the coziness of a cup of tea' <em><strong>Library Journa</strong></em><strong>l (US)</strong></p><p>'I can only assume that Jane Austen would be delighted to read of Miss Bingley's exploits. An elegant and utterly accomplished mystery' <strong>Sulari Gentill, bestselling author of <em>The Woman in the Library</em> and </strong><em><strong>The Mystery Write</strong>r</em></p><p>'The witty and formidable Caroline Bingley proves a most tenacious amateur sleuth in this deliciously entertaining romp through Regency London where murder most foul and ladies of leisure and fortunes become unlikely bedfellows. A richly realised setting and sharply drawn characters made for the perfect reading escapade into Jane Austen's world' <strong>Meredith Jaffe, bestselling author of <em>The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison</em></strong><strong>and </strong><em><strong>The Tricky Art of Forgiveness</strong></em></p><p>'An intriguing, sharply funny and beautifully written mystery. So much fun and beautiful attention to historical detail. I zipped through it in a day, and laughed out loud as I read. Miss Austen would approve' <strong>Pamela Hart, author of <em>The Charleston Scandal</em>,<em> Digging Up Dirt</em> and <em>An A-List for Death</em></strong></p><p>'Utterly delightful! Miss Caroline Bingley is revealed as a perfectly imperfect heroine in this charming Austen-inspired escapade. Beyond its entertaining surface and mannered Regency dialogue also lies a shrewd critique of British imperial rule and a resounding message of female empowerment. As Miss Bingley would say, no hand wringing allowed!' <strong>Kyra Geddes, author of <em>The Story Thief</em></strong></p><p>'Wonderful scene setting and addictively pacey, this book will delight Jane Austen and Agatha Christie fans alike' <strong>Fliss Chester, author of the Cressida Fawcett Mysteries </strong></p><p>'Murder, mystery and tea - from fine drawing rooms to the alehouses of Georgian London Miss Bingley is the perfect companion - and the perfect detective ... Sparkles with charm' <strong>Anthea Hodgson, Rachael Johns' Book Club</strong></p>
