Paris, 1897: France is bursting with Republican fervor and a plethora of initiatives for the promotion of so-called social equality.' '

This mystery is a delicate yet kooky romp. At the book's heart is Mink, formally known as Her Highness Princess Alexandrina, daughter of the Maharaja of Prindur. Raised by her exiled father in England, the princess finds herself destitute upon his death thanks to his taste for luxury.

What would you do if you found an infant boy frozen' 'in the woods? Edie Kiglatuk is faced with this dilemma in M.J. McGrath’s gripping Alaskan mystery

Sano Ichiro, samurai, former police investigator and chamberlain to the shogun, finds three women dead after a major earthquake. After realizing they were not victims of the disaster but murdered in a deadly game, he soon finds himself searching for answers.

Amir Ali has changed his identity to escape from a family feud in India. He claims to be an ex-Thug, a former member of the (made-up) Thuggee cult, which murders people for the sake of killing. As such, he allows himself to be "studied" by a phrenologist—a man who researches the so-called science of skulls and how their shape determines character.

Much like a baguette, this fabulous story is crusty on the outside, sweet on the inside, and once you've had a bit, you can't wait for more.

Whether you read Mr. Churchill's Secretary, the first installment in this series, or you're just making Miss Hope's acquaintance, she'll draw you in from the first page. By the end, you'll be her loyal subject, ready to follow her wherever she goes—especially through the pages of a third installment.