Part of Below Stairs Mystery, book 9
First published 2026
Kat Holloway works as a cook in Victorian London, but she has become skilled at solving crimes. Her beloved Daniel McAdam knows nothing about his childhood except that someone saved him from the streets years ago. A man appears claiming he can reveal Daniel's origins, but this informant dies moments before their planned meeting. Daniel decides to track down the killer himself. He asks Kat to help him, and she agrees without hesitation. Their investigation leads them into London's dangerous East End, where enemies from Daniel's forgotten past still lurk. These adversaries despise Daniel's current work with the police and will use violence to protect their secrets. As Kat uncovers disturbing details about Daniel's history, she begins to question whether she wants to know the full truth. She worries that discovering his real name and family background might destroy the love they have built together.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, mystery, crime, adult-fiction, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, gritty, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, mystery-investigation, secrets-revealed, slow-burn-romance
Setting: Victorian London, East End, Blackfriars
Period: Victorian era, 19th century
320 pages · Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: murder, violence