About This Book
Genre: Historical Mystery / Regency Mystery
Setting: London, Regency England
Mystery Elements: Amateur sleuth, accused heroine, suspicious neighbors, secrets, abolitionist intrigue, unlikely investigative partners
For readers who love: Clever female sleuths, Regency society with a darker edge, diverse historical mysteries, abolitionist history, suspicious neighbors, social intrigue, and a heroine determined to clear her name.
Next Up: Murder in Drury Lane
Murder in Westminster (Book 1)
Murder in Westminster introduces the strong, capable Lady Abigail Worthing, who must unearth a killer to clear her own name.
Discovering a body on her property presents Lady Abigail Worthing with more than one pressing problem. The victim is Juliet, the wife of her neighbor, Stapleton Henderson. Although Abigail has little connection with the lady in question, she expects to be under suspicion. Abigail's skin color and her mother's notorious past have earned her a certain reputation among the ton, and no amount of wealth or status will eclipse it.
Abigail can't divulge that she was attending a secret pro-abolition meeting at the time of the murder. To her surprise, Henderson offers her an alibi. Though he and Juliet were long estranged, he feels a certain loyalty to his late wife. Perhaps together, he and Abigail can learn the truth. . . . Abigail, whose marriage was not a love match, knows well how appearances can deceive---and how treacherous London's high society can be. Yet who would have killed Juliet, and why? Taking the reins of her life in a way she never has before, Abby intends to find out--but she may uncover more danger than she ever imagined . . .
"A great read to add to your current must-read lists." -- Essence Magazine
"Fans of Regency-era historical mysteries featuring intelligent heroines (such as Andrea Penrose's Lady Arianna or Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily) will find this series a welcome addition to the genre" -- Library Journal
"Riley's inclusive, keenly drawn cast shines a light on the role of people of color in the Regency era.... Snappy dialogue, abundant intrigue, and Abbie and Stapleton's increasingly flirtatious antagonism keep the tension high and the narrative drive strong Smart, fun, and full of moxie." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Riley offers a vibrant picture of the roles Black and mixed-race people played in Regency life. Fans of Bridgerton will enjoy this one." -- Publisher's Weekly
"Riley's prose is unique, nestling a lush, lavish image next to a swift, chopping realization. Her characters are opaque, hiding more than they reveal, and readers are kept on their toes guessing whence the next threat will arrive. Highly recommended." -- Historical Novel Society
'Vanessa Riley deftly combines historical fact with an exhilarating story and a truly inclusive cast of characters in a novel that's not just a great read, but important, shedding light on the abolitionist movement. Murder in Westminster is a triumph: atmospheric, evocative, and utterly irresistible." -- New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander