Brighton Belle

"Great fun. The world needs Mirabelle's feistiness, intelligence, and charm." --James Runcie, author of the Grantchester mysteriesIn post-World War II England, former Secret Service operative Mirabelle Bevan becomes embroiled in a new kind of intrigue…1951: In the popular seaside town of Brighton, it's time for Mirabelle Bevan to move beyond her tumultuous wartime years and start anew. Accepting a job at a debt collection agency seems a step toward a more tranquil life. But as she follows up on a routine loan to Romana Laszlo, a pregnant Hungarian refugee who's recently come off the train from London, Mirabelle's instincts for spotting deception are stirred when the woman is reported dead, along with her unborn child. After encountering a social-climbing doctor with a sudden influx of wealth and Romana's sister, who seems far from bereaved and doesn't sound Hungarian, Mirabelle decides to dig deeper into the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Aided by her feisty sidekick--a fellow office worker named Vesta Churchill ("no relation to Winston," as she explains)--Mirabelle unravels a web of evil that stretches from the Brighton beachfront to the darkest corners of Europe. Putting her own life at risk, she must navigate a lethal labyrinth of lies and danger to expose the truth. Praise for Brighton Belle"Beneath that prim exterior lies a fearless, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of gal. One part Nancy Drew, two parts Jessica Fletcher, Mirabelle has a dogged tenacity to rival Poirot." --Sunday Herald "Unfailingly stylish, undeniably smart." --Daily Record"I was gripped from start to finish." --Newbooks "Plenty of colour and action . . . will engage the reader from the first page to the last. Highly recommended."--Bookbag"Fresh, exciting and darkly plotted, this sharp historical mystery plunges the reader into a shadowy and forgotten past." --Good Book Guide"Early 1950s England is effectively portrayed in this intriguing mystery story... An excellent read for the beach or a long flight." --Historical Novel Review"After many twists and turns, she finally unravels the mystery in an entertaining romp pitting her wits against underworld characters and scheming impostors." --Bookseller