Showing results by narrator "Sasha Higgins" in All Categories

London, 1952: Forty-six-year-old Elizabeth Dalloway feels she has failed at most everything in life, especially living up to her mother, the elegant Mrs. Dalloway, an ideal socialite and model of perfection until she disappeared in the summer of 1923—and hasn’t been heard from since. When Elizabeth is handed a medal with a mysterious inscription from her mother to a soldier named Septimus Warren Smith, she’s certain it contains a clue from the past.

Determined to avenge her father's death, Courtney Johnston finds her destiny intertwined with Slayde Huntley, who hopes to ransom his missing sister with the cursed diamond his family has treasured for generations.

Lady Darriby-Jones had hoped for a peaceful Mothering Sunday, a quiet return to her charming estate after the chaotic business of sorting out her daughter's trust fund in London. But serenity is swiftly derailed when she's met at Darriby Halt station by none other than DCI 'Rude' Manners—Britain's most bumbling detective—who promptly accuses her of murdering her own maid.

Lady Darriby-Jones is bursting with joy as her only daughter prepares to wed a cherished member of her household staff—someone who's become like family. But the celebrations take a dark turn when one of the wedding planners is found dead, an arrow piercing their heart.

When an American party of intellectuals, who boast of knowledge of a rare slug species, ask Lady Darriby-Jones to stay at Darriby Hall, she hesitantly agrees. She is in for a rude awakening when one of them is found dead with a gunshot wound. She thought it would be a matter that might be swept under the carpet until she's identified as a suspect. It leads her to wonder:Who's the trigger-happy culprit? When did they turn into a slug-slayer? How on earth did they pull off this shocking slug-icide? And . . . Why, oh why, would anyone shoot a slug savant?

Lady Melanie Rutherford has spent the last year avoiding society's harsh glare. After a devastating family tragedy, she's become more comfortable in the shadows than in the spotlight—until a scandal threatens to destroy her family for good. Desperate to protect her loved ones, she makes a shocking proposal to the Duke of Malum: a fake betrothal to quiet the gossips. The Duke of Malum thrives on defying society's expectations. With a mysterious past, a dangerous reputation, and a brothel to his name, he's the last man anyone would expect to play hero.

Lord Dudley Beauchamp is utterly miserable. A cannon blast damaged his left eye, so he has been released from the Royal Navy and forced to return home to London. He only wants to be left alone, but his family and friends refuse to let him be. They convince him to travel to Felixstowe for a fortnight in hopes that a change of scenery will do him good. Once there, he meets his friend’s infuriating cousin, who is quite possibly the most obstinate woman he has ever met.

When Lady Darriby-Jones encounters a roadblock on her quest to reclaim her beloved Rolls-Royce, she dismisses it as another molehill magnified by the local constabulary into a mountainous mess. Little does she know, the kerfuffle involves more than a traffic hiccup—it's a symphony of chaos orchestrated by the untimely demise of her dodgy yet reliable mechanic. Her mechanic may not have been a choir boy, but a dead one?

Lady Isabella Beauchamp is beautiful, clever and rich. But she is not happy with the restrictions that Society has placed upon her. She is determined to prove that she can be so much more than what people expect her to be, even if it means that she is destined to become a spinster. Lord Ewin Colborne has been in love with Isabella since they were little children, but she only seems to hold contempt for him.

When Lady Darriby-Jones sees off her husband's nephew at the train station, she considers her good deed for the day complete. Rewarding herself with a day of shopping in the city, she revels in the anticipated tranquility of her return to the Darriby estate. However, her satisfaction shatters upon receiving a distressing message upon her return—Freddie never reached his destination. With a sinking feeling, Lady Darriby-Jones embarks on a journey up north, determined to unravel this mystery. As she delves into the disappearance, the plot thickens with the discovery of a lifeless body.

Lady Madalene Ramsbury has been summoned home from Miss Bell’s Finishing School to some unfortunate news. In three weeks, she is to be married to a man she’s never met. Rather than face a life she does not want; she flees from her own engagement party and elicits help from a most unlikely source. Society’s golden boy, Everett, the Marquess of Northampton, was outraged when a young woman suddenly appeared in his curricle. Was she attempting to trap him into an unwanted marriage? It would be just like some overzealous mother to put her up to such a ploy.

England, 1926. Just days before Lord Darriby-Jones is scheduled to enlighten the world at the Annual Limacology Symposium, his secretary unceremoniously bids adieu to her employment. It's now up to Lady Darriby-Jones to find a replacement. In a twist of fate, she stumbles upon a commoner from a neighboring town willing to accept the role, despite the slug-dismantling duties that await him. He's positively thrilled at the chance to rub elbows with true aristocrats, even if his job involves less glamorous endeavors.

Aurora Huntley, free-spirited sister to the earl of Pembourne, lives under the dark shadow of the black diamond. The victim of threats from privateers who believe her brother possesses the precious stone, Aurora is a virtual prisoner in her own home. She now faces a fate worse than death: an arranged marriage to an uninspiring suitor. Craving adventure and freedom, Aurora has no choice but to do something shocking, something scandalous . . .

A pretty face, a fabulous gown, a flutter of lashes at just the right moment - Miriam had been taught she must use all these things to land a wealthy husband. Much preferring the company of books to people, the only thing that stopped Miriam from fleeing to the countryside was her younger sister - who was counting on Miriam to make a match that would ensure she could care for her mother and sister properly.

In nineteenth century Norland, magic is forbidden, punishable by death. But it's coming for Clara. Clara was born to the nobility at a time when rank and power are often more valuable than the bonds of family. Her parents have plans for her, none that she wants, all involving her arranged marriage. From her birth, her entire life has been planned out-only what a future wife in society needs to know. Every step of her path is meant to end with her walking down an aisle and then popping out heirs.

Upon arriving at her grand estate, Lady Darriby-Jones finds it swarming with security forces, their presence a necessity to protect a royal dignitary from Eastern Europe. This mysterious guest, a young noble who recently lost a sibling to a brutal murder in London, is thrust into Lady Darriby-Jones's care for safekeeping. As she struggles to maintain the grace and order of her household amidst the disruption, Lady Darriby-Jones begins to unravel the tragic and lonely life of the royal guest, whose title conceals a world of misery.

Against her will and better judgment, the elegant Lady Darriby-Jones sets off with her loyal household to the picturesque coast of Devon. Her destination? The charming estate of her dear friends, the identical Barrington-Webb triplet sisters. Renowned for their flourishing military supply firm, inherited from their late father, the Barrington-Webb sisters have always been the darlings of Devonshire society.

As Lady Darriby-Jones enjoys a spot of tea with an esteemed guest on the Darriby estate, news of a murder crashes the party, leaving her with a bitter aftertaste. Lady Darriby-Jones knows she faces a murder investigation with a twist—the victim's a local constable, and all eyes are on the hapless and recently demoted DCI Rude Manners as the prime suspect. While Manners may have excelled at incompetence and whining, murder seems a tad ambitious for his resume. While the town gossips, Lady Darriby-Jones dons her detective hat, ready to untangle the truth from a web of incompetence.

Join Lady Darriby-Jones in this 1920s cozy mystery, a whimsical, laughter-inducing adventure where witty sleuthing meets eccentricity galore.

Haunted by her past, Lady Caroline Martindale fled England for the solace of her godmother's palazzo in Venice. But if Caro was hoping to escape the charms of marriage-minded men, she's come to the wrong place. And she'll resort to extreme measures to spurn the advances of a dangerously determined Venetian marquis. Though most of his friends have married off, Gervais, Earl of Huntley, remains bent on eluding the parson's mousetrap. But his convictions begin to falter when he arrives in Venice and meets his match in the alluring Lady Caro.