Paris, 1889. The Exposition Universelle glitters with electric light, soaring iron, and the promise of a brighter future. To American bookseller Emma Greene, it is the most extraordinary thing she has ever seen.
Then her oldest friend is found dead beneath its lights.
Engineer Daniel Harrington’s death is quickly dismissed as a tragic electrical accident. Emma knows better. Days before he died, Daniel confided that something was wrong with the Exposition’s inspection records, something serious enough to make him afraid.
When Inspector Étienne Lefèvre quietly asks for her help, Emma needs little convincing. With the irrepressible Cécile and sharp-eyed Luc at her side, she follows the clues through silk ateliers, hotel suites, engineering demonstrations, and the glittering halls of the fair.
But Daniel had been asking dangerous questions. Powerful men have fortunes and reputations at stake. Someone has begun following Emma through the crowds. And the closer she gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that Daniel’s death was no accident.
Lefèvre has strict ideas about how far Emma should involve herself. Emma has strict ideas of her own. Yet as the investigation grows more dangerous, it becomes harder for either of them to ignore that his concern for her is no longer entirely professional.
Book 2 in the Belle Époque Bookshop Mysteries. Reading book 1, Secrets of the Maison Fournier, is recommended for the fullest character and relationship experience, but it is not required to enjoy this mystery.
An atmospheric historical cozy filled with glamorous Parisian locations, bookish sleuthing, found family, and a clean slow-burn romance. Perfect for readers of Deanna Raybourn, Tasha Alexander, Rhys Bowen, and fans of Miss Scarlet and The Duke.
