First published 2025
Mona, daughter of Anna Madrigal, has inherited Easley House through her late husband Lord Roughton. The Cotswolds castle now serves as her guest house in the English countryside. As the summer solstice approaches, Mona brings together the familiar faces from San Francisco's 28 Barbary Lane. Bonfires light up the evening while the garden party reaches full swing. What begins as a celebration takes an unexpected turn when crime enters the picture. Maupin crafts a queer mystery that playfully mimics British detective comedies, where murder becomes the backdrop for entertainment rather than genuine terror. The reunion of beloved characters from the Chronicles of San Francisco series creates new possibilities for romance and intrigue. Set against the pastoral beauty of rural England, old relationships face fresh complications while new desires surface among the guests.
Genres: romance, mystery, contemporary, queer
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, murder-mystery
Setting: Barbary Lane, Cotswolds, Easley House, England, San Francisco
Period: Summer Solstice
288 pages · Paperback · L’Olivier