First published 2009
Diana Holland stands in the shadow of her sister Elizabeth's sudden death, watching Manhattan's elite dissect every detail of the tragedy. The Holland family's reputation now rests on Diana's shoulders, while she navigates a world where former allies have become enemies. Henry Schoonmaker, who once loved Elizabeth, finds himself pursued by the calculating Penelope Hayes, Elizabeth's former best friend who sees opportunity in grief. Meanwhile, Lina Broud, who once served as Elizabeth's maid, discovers that secrets and gossip hold more power than money or noble birth in New York's glittering social circles. Old friendships crumble as rivalries emerge, and each character guards dangerous knowledge that could destroy the others. Diana must learn to survive in a society where scandal spreads faster than truth and where one whispered rumor can end a family's standing forever. The stakes grow higher as past secrets threaten to surface, forcing each person to choose between loyalty and self-preservation in a world where reputation means everything.
Genres: fiction, romance, 20th-century, 21st-century, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, loyalty, secrets
Setting: Manhattan, New York
Period: 19th Century, 20th Century
448 pages · Library Binding · Turtleback Books