Murder, Chocolate, and Other Unsuitable Refreshments at a Ladies’ Academy

A Cozy Regency Mystery of Love and Murder

Proper young ladies are meant to perfect their French verbs, not witness a murder by chocolate at a ladies’ academy.

Lydia Ashcroft, fallen gentlewoman and ruthlessly competent instructress, has three priorities: keep Madame Rochfort’s Academy solvent, keep thirty girls from disgracing themselves over the tea things, and keep her younger brother in school. When their most important patron keels over during morning chocolate in a very final fashion, Lydia smells more than a weak heart. Cups have moved, chocolate smells wrong, and the magistrate is distressingly keen to call it Providence and go home to his supper. Unfortunately, if anyone must be blamed, it will be a servant or a scholarship girl; if scandal takes hold, the academy, the girls’ futures and Lydia’s own livelihood are finished.

Enter Captain Hugh Merrick, new fencing master, retired officer and inconveniently observant man who treats drawing rooms like battlefields and allies like promises. Together, Lydia and Hugh pick their way through gossiping pupils, rattled servants, trustees with secrets, and one very determined patroness, in a clue rich, fair play mystery that refuses to stay politely in the background.

Perfect for readers who enjoy cozy Regency mystery, boarding school intrigue, witty, slow build partners in sleuthing and romance that simmers rather than steams, this is a closed door slow burn romance with a happy for now ending and non gory deaths, heavy on character, banter and consequence.

Take your seat in the salon, mind your cup, and start reading before the chocolate cools.