β Scribed by M. Louisa Locke
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Its the summer of 1879, and Annie Fuller, a young San Francisco widow, is in trouble. Annies husband squandered her fortune before committing suicide five years earlier, and one of his creditors is now threatening to take the boardinghouse she owns to pay off a debt.
Annie Fuller also has a secret. She supplements her income by giving domestic and business advice as Madam Sibyl, one of San Franciscos most exclusive clairvoyants, and one of Madam Sibyls clients, Matthew Voss, has died. The police believe his death was suicide brought upon by bankruptcy, but Annie believes Voss has been murdered and that his assets have been stolen.
Nate Dawson has a problem. As the Voss family lawyer, he would love to believe that Matthew Voss didn't leave his grieving family destitute. But that would mean working with Annie Fuller, a woman who alternatively attracts and infuriates him as she shatters every notion he ever had of proper ladylike behavior.
Sparks fly as Anne and Nate pursue the truth about the murder of Matthew Voss in this light-hearted, cozy historical mystery set in the foggy gas-lit world of Victorian San Francisco.
Maids of Misfortune is the first book in M. Louisa Lockes historical mystery series, see also, Uneasy Spirits, and Bloody Lessons, as well as the two short stories based on the characters from the novels, Dandy Detects, and The Misses Moffet Mend a Marriage.
"This historical mystery set in the foggy gas-lit world of Victorian San Francisco is a complete package of a modified locked room puzzle, more than one murder, daring undercover snooping, romantic tension and a few twists and turns for a powerhouse of a debut novel." -Ariel Heart, Mysteries and My Musings
"From beautiful Victorian houses to horses, carriages, manners, dress, lifestyles, fog, and gas-lamps, the setting is rich with authenticity. The author's research is thorough, and her descriptions contain details that are interesting and satisfying to readers who love this era. Locke's mysteries should develop a loyal audience quickly." -Penny Leisch, Story Circle Book Reviews
"Maids of Misfortune is smoothly written, with appealing characters and a strong female lead in a story filled with real detection, a lot of period detail (is there a better way to get into the details of everyday life than through the eyes of a servant?), and a bit of banter-filled romance to help stir the pot."-Kim Malo, MyShelf.com
M. Louisa Locke, a retired professor of U.S women's history, features women's occupations in her Victorian San Francisco Mystery series. In Maids of Misfortune, Annie Fuller, a widowed boarding house keeper and pretend clairvoyant, goes undercover as a domestic servant to solve a murder, in Uneasy Spirits, Annie and romantic interest, San Francisco lawyer Nate Dawson, investigate fraudulent trance mediums, and in Bloody Lessons, they try to determine who is attacking San Francisco teachers. The fourth book in the series, Deadly Proof, due out in early 2015, is about women in the San Francisco printing industry. Dr. Locke is on the Board of Directors of the Historical Fiction Authors Cooperative, writes about self-publishing at mlouisalocke.com/blog/ and is an active member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Pages : 331
A Mystery
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Itβs the summer of 1879, and Annie Fuller, a young San Francisco widow, is in trouble. Annieβs husband squandered her fortune before committing suicide five years earlier, and one of his creditors is now threatening to take the boardinghouse she owns to pay off a debt. Annie Fuller also has a secre
It's the summer of 1879, and Annie Fuller, a young San Francisco widow, is in trouble. Annie's husband squandered her fortune before committing suicide five years earlier, and one of his creditors is now threatening to take the boardinghouse she owns to pay off a debt. Annie Fuller also has a secret
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