Sophie Strong Book 1
A notorious woman is murdered, and reporter Sophie Strong stumbles onto the story. Does she have what it takes to find the killer before it’s too late?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 1912: As the only female reporter at the Milwaukee Herald, twenty-two-year-old Sophie Strong is thrilled when she’s invited to cover the party of the season. Soon she’s swept into the opulent world of the city’s wealthy brewing families. But before she can even get to her typewriter, she discovers a murder victim. The intriguing Detective Jacob Zimmer warns her to leave sleuthing to the police, while Sophie’s editor insists she focus on tea parties and fashion shows. But when her friend Clara Elliot comes under suspicion, Sophie is determined to uncover the truth—even if she risks her own life along the way. Check out this historical mystery sure to intrigue fans of Rhys Bowen, Alyssa Maxwell, and Victoria Thompson.
Sophie Strong Book 2
Aspiring reporter Sophie Strong uncovers deadly secrets lurking in the aisles of a 1912 department store. Will she risk everything to expose a killer?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 1912:
Sophie Strong yearns for a thrilling undercover mission like those of her idol, journalist Nellie Bly. Her dreams of adventure are dashed when her editor assigns her to the mundane role of a shopgirl. But appearances can be deceiving. The job takes a sinister turn when a fellow employee meets a tragic end. Suddenly, Sophie and her coworkers fall under suspicion. Determined to prove their innocence and driven by insatiable curiosity, she embarks on her own covert investigation. Detective Jacob Zimmer urges her to leave the pursuit of criminals to the professionals, but she can’t resist plunging into the web of secrets, lies, and hidden motives. Sophie explores the shadows of one of the city’s most popular department stores, and each step closer to the truth lures her into more danger. Will she expose the killer before she, too, becomes a victim?
The Rose Code, by Kate Quinn
What mystery lover can resist exploring Bletchley Park, the English estate that became a code-breaking hub during World War II? Three brilliant, unappreciated young women find themselves recruited for the cause: a partying society princess, a strong-willed fighter determined to escape poverty, and a timid girl cowed by her domineering mother. Their paths are tangled in friendship and secrecy. By 1947, they’re enemies, and one has been committed to an asylum. A mysterious, coded letter draws them together again. Can they crack the code and lay their torments to rest?
The Great Loveda Brown, by Jolie Tunnell
It’s 1912, and Loveda Brown’s violent ex-husband is on her trail as she heads west through California. She takes refuge in a town called Idyllwild. But when a murder victim is found the next day, she discovers she’s a prime suspect. Will she be able to convince the sheriff of her innocence and continue her journey? This book takes place in the same year as Strong Suspicions, which isn’t a common timeframe for historical fiction. It’s the first in the series (five books so far), so there’s a lot to look forward to!
The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
You had me at “librarian”—I adore a book about books. In 1905, Belle da Costa Greene, still in her twenties, becomes the curator for J.P. Morgan’s collection of rare books and art. She uses her negotiation savvy to add dazzling treasures to the Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle’s story is intensified by the fact that she hides her true identity as a light-skinned Black woman, passing as Portuguese to achieve success in a racist world. I’m a fan of Marie Benedict (alias Heather Terrell) from her previous best-seller, The Only Woman in the Room. She coauthors this story with Victoria Christopher Murray, an award-winning author of more than twenty novels.