Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective A delightful new historical cosy crime mystery, perfect for fans of THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES, BRIDGERTON and THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure. Only her fine eyes can uncover the truth.

'Pure indulgence! Full of ardent amours, dastardly deeds and rakish rogues' KATE FORSYTH

'Miss Bingley dismounts her high horse and reinvents herself as a brilliant detective ... A rollicking tale' AMANDA HAMPSON

'Miss Bingley delivers delicious snark and fabulous sleuthing fun' ALISON GOODMAN

Two years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, 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.

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.

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.

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.

PRAISE

'Miss Bingley dismounts her high horse and reinvents herself as a brilliant detective in this thoroughly enjoyable Regency romp ... A rollicking tale' Amanda Hampson, bestselling author of the Tea Ladies series

'Imaginative and original. A delightful romp with some of literature's favourite characters. I was carried away from the first page' Belinda Alexandra, bestselling author of The Masterpiece

'Pure indulgence! Full of ardent amours, dastardly deeds and rakish rogues' Kate Forsyth, bestselling author of Psykhe

'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' Sophie Green, bestselling author of Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel

'Thoroughly entertaining - revisiting Austen's world is a joy' Toni Jordan, bestselling author of Prettier If She Smiled More

'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' Tess Woods, bestselling author of The Venice Hotel

'Miss Bingley delivers delicious snark and fabulous sleuthing fun. I loved it!' Alison Goodman, bestselling author of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

'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' Publishers Weekly (US)

'A critique of colonialism that still reads with the coziness of a cup of tea' Library Journal (US)

'I can only assume that Jane Austen would be delighted to read of Miss Bingley's exploits. An elegant and utterly accomplished mystery' Sulari Gentill, bestselling author of The Woman in the Library and The Mystery Writer

'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' Meredith Jaffe, bestselling author of The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prisonand The Tricky Art of Forgiveness

'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' Pamela Hart, author of The Charleston Scandal, Digging Up Dirt and An A-List for Death

'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!' Kyra Geddes, author of The Story Thief

'Wonderful scene setting and addictively pacey, this book will delight Jane Austen and Agatha Christie fans alike' Fliss Chester, author of the Cressida Fawcett Mysteries

'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' Anthea Hodgson, Rachael Johns' Book Club