Monte Carlo 1912

Londoner Ruby Redlick now resides in 'Wicked Monte' with her mentor, La Belle Otero, the world's greatest courtesan. Her day consists of roulette at the casino and taking chocolat on the terrace with an enticing young dancer from the Ballets Russes named Nijinsky. To alleviate the glamorous tedium, she toys with making her idea of a private detective agency a reality.

Ruby finds herself confidante to the second Mrs Astor, wife of Gilded Age New York millionaire JJ Astor IV and when a single dismembered hand in a suitcase is discovered in the Astor suite, she's called to investigate. She uncovers a race to gather mysterious ancient Egyptian artefacts and a secret gathering of American bankers anchored in private yachts on the bay. Ruby is certain these two events are connected and linked to the hands in the suitcases via occult practices.

Tig - the thin man from the ministry in London turns up on the Riviera and pressures Ruby into secret intelligence work, assuring her that a war like no other is on the horizon.

And then he books passage for her on the world's largest ocean liner.

The Ruby Redlick historical mysteries move beyond traditional whodunnits-in-the-drawing-room to expose the conspiratorial social, economic and psychological ravaging of British society in the Edwardian era. Each book features many real life personalities such as Ruby sleuthing with Conan Doyle. For lovers of true crime mystery, events in the series are fictionalised from real life toward thrilling and thought-provoking questions. For lovers of Downton, Maisie Dobbs and all things English country house in the time of the Belle Epoque.