Tell Me No Lies

The second “Lady Dunbridge” mystery (following Ask Me No Questions) is a witty, entertaining romp through elite society in early 20th-century New York. Philomena Amesbury reflects on her fortunate new life as a happily widowed aristocrat enjoying her freedom and luxurious lifestyle at the Plaza Hotel, courtesy of a shadowy agency requiring her crime-solving skills. The mysterious Mr. X tells Phil to expect a visitor, and Luther Pratt duly arrives in need of her services, as he fears social and financial scandal ensuing from the suspicious death of Perry Fauks, heir to an industrial empire, at his daughter’s debut. Phil gathers her team: Lily, her enigmatic lock-picking maid, and Preswick, her proper English butler with a penchant for detective novels. Meanwhile, Phil, her cohorts, and handsome Det. Sergeant Atkins collaborate to solve multiple crimes and avert the collapse of a fragile financial market.