by Dana Mentink
First published 2026
Saul Niffler witnesses a body plummet from a penthouse window at the Grand Mallard Marquee, but when he looks for evidence, nothing remains. The reformed jewel thief needs his new job as Duck Commandant at this luxurious San Francisco hotel. Getting involved in mysterious deaths threatens his second chance at honest work. Kitty Rossi, a determined hotel guest with dreams of becoming a Pinkerton detective, refuses to let the matter drop. She recruits Henry the elevator operator to investigate strange incidents throughout the building. Despite his reservations, Saul joins their amateur detective work. The trio discovers troubling clues about Saul's missing predecessor and makes a disturbing find in the hotel's drainage system. Their investigation reveals multiple murders have occurred within the Marquee's elegant walls. A killer moves freely through the hotel's corridors while Saul struggles between protecting his employment and protecting lives. The mystery deepens as more guests face mortal danger in this 1905 San Francisco setting.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, clever, fast-paced, intriguing, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family, reluctant-hero, second-chance
Setting: Grand Mallard Marquee, San Francisco
Period: 1905
336 pages · Paperback · Love Inspired Trade
Content warnings: death, murder