Eliza Mace: the thrilling new Victorian detective novel

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In the first of a thrilling new Victorian detective series, Eliza Mace, on the cusp of adulthood, is battling for her independence. Stuck in a crumbling manor house in the Welsh borders in the 1870s, she is thwarted by powers that conspire to protect, control and deceive her. But when her father goes missing in mysterious circumstances, Eliza's determination to uncover the truth is unstoppable.

Joining forces with the charismatic new police constable, Dafydd Pritchard, she sets out to solve the case, but that's no easy task. Her father has run up debts in town and beyond, and there are many who bear him a grudge. As she searches for evidence, Eliza exposes dark secrets that threaten to tear her world apart...

Reviews

'A detective you'll love and a mystery you'll want to solve'Louise Davidson, author ofThe Fortunes of Olivia Richmond

'A must-read for fans of both literary fiction and historical detective novels. The characters are well drawn and the clues are cleverly laid. For Eliza Mace, only sixteen years old, the stakes are high and the game is afoot...'Laura Shepperson, author of The Heroines

'Eliza is a brilliantly feisty and tenacious teenage detective. It was a pleasure to immerse myself in her world' Priscilla Morris, author of the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlisted Black Butterflies

A first-rate historical mystery with a spirited and compelling sleuth. In a world of class divisions, social injustice and closely guarded family secrets, the stakes are high for this fearless young detective. The plot is as twisty as the wooded paths of the forlorn Mace estate, taking the reader on a gripping journey to find the truth about her father and her family's fortunes Katherine Stansfield, author of Falling Creatures

An atmospheric novel of intrigue, with likeable characters and a captivating setting that immerses the reader in the Victorian era. A thoroughly enjoyable mysteryJoanne Burns, author of The Hemlock Cure

'I devouredEliza Macein a couple of days for how witty, fast-paced and well-woven it was... For a book of under 300 pages, admirable care and attention is given to secondary characters and their back stories, which is what makes the book so engaging... Despite being set in the 1870s, the book manages to combine historical nuance and societal aspects of the time with an organic sense of reasoning that perfectly suits modern-day readers.If you love mystery, strong characters and dark English settings, this is the book for you' Medium

'A classy origin story for a series that will no doubt be entertaining, but also carry a political edge... For fans of Victorian detective series, this is highly recommended' Historical Novel Society

'A poised and finely written story set in a delicately observed Welsh border landscape and introducing a heroine as sharp and spirited as Jane Eyre. I look forward to hearing more from the sparky and determined Eliza Mace'Nicholas Murray, author of Aldous Huxley: An English Intellectual

'An absorbing, adroitly plotted mystery which drew me in immediately. Headstrong and obstinate, the novels young protagonist liberates herself from Victorian constraints, launching herself into a future series readers will avidly follow' Tim Pears, author of The Horseman

I loved it - both the historical setting and the gripping crime story Elly Griffiths, author of The Last Word

'Atmospheric and diverting' Jasmine Donhaye, author of Birdsplaining

'A delightful rummage through murky family secrets with a sparkling cast of characters' Jacqueline Yallop, author of Obedience

Charlotte Bront meets Agatha Christie. I loved it Jim Kelly, author of the Cambridgeshire Fens crime series

Author Bio

SarahBurtonhas taught creative writing for Cambridge and Oxford. She has published several books, including two biographies,ImpostorsandA Double Life: A Biography of Charles and Mary Lamb, and the award-winning novelThe Strange Adventures of H, which was also shortlisted for the HWA Debut Fiction Crown.

Jem Poster has taught creative writing for the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Aberystwyth. He is the author of two acclaimed historical novels,Courting ShadowsandRifling Paradise, and co-author, with Sarah Burton, of a handbook for fiction writers,The Book You Need to Read to Write the Book You Want to Write.