Another day, another grand scheme! The thieving Fitzglen family are back in this second instalment of the spellbinding Theatre of Thieves gothic mystery series set in Victorian England.
London, 1908. The Fitzglens, one of London's leading theatre families and part-time thieves, are plotting their next scheme when they receive terrible news about Great Uncle Montague. He's been killed in a tragic accident at his Notting Hill home.
Montague will be much missed, not just for his talent in art forgery, but his death provides an unlooked-for opportunity: the chance to search for his infamous iron box. No one knows what it contains - if, that is, it even exists - but Jack Fitzglen is certain it has to be something highly valuable . . . or extremely dangerous. Why else would the grand master of storytelling have refused to even drop a hint?
Jack is amazed when he finds the box - and even more amazed by its contents. An unknown play by one of Ireland's leading playwrights, entitled The Murderer Inside the Mirror. Jack reads the first few pages, and is struck by a nameless feeling of dread. But even he has no idea what kind of dangerous adventure the manuscript will take him on - one which will tangle him in revenge, madness . . . and murder.
This unsettling gothic historical mystery, following Chalice of Darkness, will appeal to fans of Daphne du Maurier, Laura Purcell, Rebecca James, Sarah Waters and Stuart Turton.
Industry Reviews
The story is dense, complex, and twist filled, and readers will be riveted by this suspenseful, provocative read packed with depth, drama, and charm * Booklist *
Superb . . . Lovers of British historical mysteries with a dash of romance and gothic atmosphere will clamor for more * Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Chalice of Darkness *
In this taut, Gothic-style mystery, Rayne offers a gripping plot with plenty of suspense and period ambience * Booklist on Chalice of Darkness *
Frightful fun with haunted history and a blustery thespian * Kirkus Reviews on Chalice of Darkness *
A dark drama of violence and murder * Library Journal on Chalice of Darkness *
A fascinating history is folded into a spectral mystery * Kirkus Reviews on The Murder Dance *
Vivid flashbacks to the troubled history of the Rivers clan complement the present-day action, which builds to a creepily satisfying conclusion. Readers will hope this series has a long run * Publishers Weekly on The Murder Dance *
The Fox novels are a joy to read. They're beautifully written, with a strong protagonist and very cleverly constructed stories. Each of the Fox novels has been better than the last - with more-complex stories that ratchet up the suspense to a new level . . . Fans of Phineas Fox will be lining up for this one * Booklist Starred Review of The Devil's Harmony *
Rayne writes with panache and imagination . A chocolate box of classical music, banter, historic tidbits, and spooky stories * Kirkus Reviews on The Devil's Harmony *
An intricate tale of music, love, betrayal, and self-sacrifice . Fans of intelligent historical mysteries will be rewarded * Publishers Weekly on The Devil's Harmony *
