BELOVED AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN VANESSA RILEY
TAKES READERS BEHIND-THE-VELVET-CURTAIN
TO SOLVE A MURDER THAT COULD
JEPORDIZE THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY WITHIN THE BRITISH EMPIRE
~MURDER IN DRURY LANE Book #2 in The Lady Worthing Mysteries, on sale October 24, 2023~
Praise for MURDER IN WESTMINSTER by Vanessa Riley, book #1 in The Lady Worthing Mysteries
“Riley’s inclusive, keenly drawn cast shines a light on the role of people of color in the Regency era…Snappy dialogue, abundant intrigue, and Abbie and Stapleton’s increasingly flirtatious antagonism keep the tension high and the narrative drive strong Smart, fun, and full of moxie.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Riley’s storytelling gift is strong and her prose is lovely and evocative. She made me see 1806 London in an entirely new way I’m a fan of Jane Austen as well as Dianne Freeman and many others – but she gave me the gift of an expanded perspective, along with a really well-told mystery.” —Mystery Scene Magazine
“Murder in Westminster (historical mystery) is sure to be a great read to add to your current must-read lists.” —Essence Magazine
“Riley’s prose is unique, nestling a lush, lavish image next to a swift, chopping realization….The book is an absorbing experience, a complicated mystery rooted in the compelling historical struggle for abolition that navigates the nuances of race and class with a heroine the reader can’t help but love. Highly recommended.” —Historical Novel Society
An authority on the history of Black and other diverse populations in the Regency era, Vanessa Riley’s historical romances (Kensington) and fiction (William Morrow) have established her as the go-to author for readers looking for stories highlighting multicultural communities, strong sisterhoods, and powerful persons of color. Her Rogues & Remarkable Women historical romance series has landed her on Best of lists at Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, NPR, Oprah Daily, and many more, while earning high praise from fellow authors including Julia Quinn, Sarah Maclean, and Kristan Higgins. Her first historical fiction novel, Island Queen (2021), was a GMA Buzz Pick, Indie Next Pick, and a New York Times Editors’ Choice, and television rights have been snapped up by Bridgerton producer Julie Anne Robinson, with Adjoa Andoh named as executive producer.
Now, Riley returns to bookshelves with MURDER IN DRURY LANE, the second installment of her critically acclaimed Lady Worthing series. Bringing Riley’s vivid depictions of the race and class diversity of the Regency-era to the ever-popular genre of historical mystery, the novel follows the strong, clever, and captivating Lady Abigail Worthing, an aristocrat whose skin color and notorious family history have left her with few friends she can rely on. With her husband away indefinitely, Lady Worthing finds respite enjoying plays at the Drury Lane Theatre until she is pulled behind-the-curtain and tasked with solving a murder that suspects a leading advocate of the cause dearest to her heart—the abolition of slavery within the British empire.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Portraying the true diversity of the Regency-era and the hidden intrigue of England’s abolitionist movement, this vibrant, inclusive new historical mystery from acclaimed author Vanessa Riley features an engaging heroine with an independent streak, a notorious past, and a decided talent for sleuthing…
Pressed into a union of convenience, Lady Abigail Worthing knew better than to expect love. Her marriage to an absent lord does at least provide some comforts, including a box at the Drury Lane theater, owned by the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Abigail has always found respite at the theater, away from the ton’s judgmental stares and the risks of her own secret work to help the cause of abolition—and her fears that someone from her past wants her permanently silenced. But on one June evening everything collides, and the performance takes an unwelcome turn . . .
Onstage, a woman emits a scream of genuine terror. A man has been found dead in the prop room, stabbed through the heart. Abigail’s neighbor, Stapleton Henderson, is also in attendance, and the two rush backstage. The magistrate, keen to avoid bringing more attention to the case and making Lady Worthing more of a target, asks Abigail not to investigate. But she cannot resist, especially when the usually curmudgeonly Henderson offers his assistance.
Abigail soon discovers a tangled drama that rivals anything brought to the stage, involving gambling debts, a beautiful actress with a parade of suitors, and the very future of the Drury Lane theatre. For Abigail, the case is complicated still further, for one suspect is a leading advocate for the cause dearest to her heart—the abolition of slavery within the British empire. Uncovering the truth always comes at a price. But this time, it may be far higher than she wishes to pay.
TALKING POINTS:
- Crafting mysteries and crime fiction with a strong female lead attempting to define her role in the world and struggles with society expectations in 1806 England
- Dedicated to depicting multi-culture communities with powerful persons of color in her books
- Vanessa immersed herself in research to weave real-life stories into her writing by reading books, academic papers, old newspapers, and visiting the real Drury Lane in London
- Vanessa left a career in engineering to pursue writing full-time and can discuss starting over
- Marriage during the Regency-era
- Why the Lady Worthy series is a homage to popular classic series such as Murder, She Wrote; Matlock; Remington Steele; Dynasty; and Dallas.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of historical romance, mystery, and fiction featuring realistic multicultural communities and powerful persons of color. Her works have been reviewed by the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Publisher Weekly, and the New York Times. Riley, of Southern, Irish, and Trini background, was named the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year Awards Literary Fiction Winner for Sister Mother Warrior. Riley holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and an MS in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. She also earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. Riley’s research skills have helped NASA, GM, Hewlett Packard, and several startups. Yet, her love of history (Caribbean, Georgian, and Regency) and lattes overwhelmed her passion for math and has led to the publication of over twenty titles. A frequent speaker at literary, women’s, and STEM events, she lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her military husband and teenage daughter.
Visit Vanessa Riley online at:
Facebook: @VanessaRileyAuthor
Twitter: @VanessaRiley
Instagram: @VanessaRileyAuthor
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