Kier and Levett Mystery

A grand showcase for technology, art, design, and . . . murder. London, 1851, and the Great Exhibition is on. A soaring success despite months of dour predictions, it is the event of the year, on front pages and wagging tongues the world over-and Miss Kara Levett is thrilled to be in the middle of it. The daughter of a baron and an exhibitor herself, she happily demonstrates her elaborate automatons and case clocks to the crowds. But her situation grows perilous when a man is murdered in the Crystal Palace and she becomes the prime suspect. With the unexpected aid of Mr. Niall Kier, a reserved Scottish blacksmith, artist and fellow exhibitioner with secrets of his own, Kara begins the work the Metropolitan Police show no inclination for-finding the true killer. Together, Niall and Kara dig up international espionage schemes and sordid family secrets, and chase clues from Victorian high society to the London slums, all while trying to stay ahead of the villains who seek to make her the next victim.

Secrets hide in the Druid's Grove, in a murderer's heart, and in Niall Kier's past . . . October 1851. After millions of visitors and months of success, the Great Exhibition is winding down. Mr. Niall Kier and Miss Kara Levett are busy with the celebrations planned for the last weeks-and with all the commissions their involvement has brought them. Their artistic works stall, though, when the closing ceremonies are interrupted by a murder. Suddenly, a friend is under suspicion and the murder has been linked to the Druid's Grove, the secret society in which Niall is a member and Kara has just been inducted. They dive in, hoping to quickly clear their ally's name, except nothing is simple in the Grove and no one is exactly who they seem to be. Niall and Kara put their talents and resources to work once more, but they find that old, sinister secrets might be behind the present-day bloodshed. And as they investigate, it appears someone might also be digging about in Niall's mysterious past.

Old secrets dragged into the light . . . can turn deadly. Someone wants Niall Kier's secrets exposed-even if they lead to scandal, unrest . . . and murder. Miss Kara Levett has discovered a talent for unearthing secrets and truths, but she's vowed not to turn it on her friend-and more-Mr. Niall Kier. His secrets are his own, until he chooses to share them. Unfortunately, someone else is not so patient. Niall needs to find who is digging so furiously into his past-and why they are so eager to unleash the scandal that could follow. But when a woman is murdered at the lake that Kara has dedicated to her women's club, it is discovered that the victim was connected to a woman from Niall's past-and Kara dives into the enquires. After all, she's made no promises in that direction. It soon becomes clear that the tangle of clues and conspiracies are related, and when their friend is abducted and held for the ransom that can prove Niall's past, they must work together-to save their friend, to protect Niall's secrets . . . and perhaps, even the nation.