The Mayfair Dagger

A witty, feminist mystery set in the heart of nineteenth-century London, this daring adventure featuring an intrepid woman detective will thrill fans of Deanna Raybourn and Katharine Schellman.

London, 1894. Albertine Honeycombe never wanted a husband and certainly not the one with fifteen children that her cousin, Aubrey, is trying to marry her off to. She reinvents herself as Countess Von Dagga, a private detective aiding the upper echelons of women in society. As the Countess, she is a married woman, with a conveniently absent husband who doesn’t exist, which allows her far more freedom than being single.

When Lord Grendel, from whom she has recovered blackmail letters, is murdered, Albertine is suspect number one—having been the last person to see him. And when the Duke of Erleigh comes looking for her utterly fictitious husband, she realizes she has landed herself in hot water, without a tea bag. When Albertine also becomes the prime suspect in her fictional husband’s death, things are looking grim.

Unless Albertine can prove who murdered Lord Grendel and clear her name, her choices are stepmothering enough small children to start a school or hanging from the end of Her Majesty's rope.Praise for The Mayfair Dagger:
“Mystery, romance, and quirky characters combine in January’s funny historical adventure.”
—Library Journal, starred review

“A rollicking comedy of errors combines mystery and romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“The love story is sweet and breezy.”
—Publishers Weekly

“For fans of romantic suspense and cozies looking for intrigue in their next read.”
—Booklist

“A fun and compelling read from start to finish . . . Confirms [January's] full mastery of the cozy mystery genre.”
—Midwest Book Review

“A pleasant read.”
—Historical Novels Review

“A great novel. The characters, story, setting and love story all gel together, with some funny moments thrown in.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“An effervescent mystery with a resourceful, daring sleuth heroine and a nice swig of romance.”
—Laura Joh Rowland, author of River of Fallen AngelsAva January is a historical writer with a passion for mystery, and when she’s not found soaking up the Queensland sun with her two young sons, she can be found eavesdropping on conversations in cafes and making up entire backstories (and murderous intents) for unsuspecting bystanders. When she grows up, she’d like to be Miss Marple.