London, 1930. Lucy Hubbard is on the cusp of achieving her dreams. With her first mystery novel debuting with strong sales and glowing reviews, she's been invited by Horace Hazelmoor, the king of crime fiction, to join his elite group of writers—the Cloak and Dagger Club.
Thrilled at the opportunity, Lucy finds herself swept up into Horace's glamorous world at the Ritz hotel. She's even willing to put up with the inconvenient presence of her former fiancé, Frank Murray, the club's rising star who is on track to eclipse Horace as Britain's most popular crime writer.
But when Horace is found with a knife in his back, Frank is the police's prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Lucy knows he's not capable of murder. With suspects galore and the danger rising, these two mystery writers must race to solve the crime—and fight their lingering feelings for each other—before the murderer strikes again.
Santa Says:
The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon is a murder mystery that takes place in 1930s London. The book's title intrigued me but the story itself drew me in. There is an interesting cast of characters who are popular mystery writers of their time all with secrets and intrigues of their own. Horace Hazelmoor, the club’s founder, is the keeper of those secrets and intrigues which he enjoys dangling over them all. Horace craves the spotlight the success of his books brings him but when someone’s light starts to overshadow his there is hell to pay.
The latest interlopers are his mentee Frank Murray whose books are starting to gain ground on his. Lucy Hubbard, a debut novelist, has written her own sleuth who is popular with both readers and critics alike. This is not to be supported! Even juicier in Horace’s eyes is the fact that Frank and Lucy share a past. They were set to wed a few years ago when it all crumbled to dust. They had not seen each other at all in the past three years.
Horace invites Lucy to join the club’s Saturday meeting at London’s Ritz. This is a surprise that wreaks havoc on Frank and Lucy’s life in more ways than one. On the way into the room, Horace provokes Frank and they have an argument. Once in the room, Horace relishes his hold over everyone and becomes increasingly drunk and belligerent. He provokes a usually quiet member of the club to punch him in the face knocking him to the floor. The meeting ends in chaos and the men get Horace back to his room to sleep it all off.
Horace does not sleep it off as he is found dead the next morning. Each of the members are called back to the hotel for questioning and it becomes clear that Frank is a prime suspect based on his loud exchange witnessed by several people in the hotel. Lucy and Frank band together to puzzle out why Frank went to the head of the queue and who the real culprit or culprits are who were responsible for Horace's death.
Throughout their investigation we get a better understanding of the other members and their secrets. Frank and Lucy work through their own demons, pasts and the secrets they bear. It turns out they grew up together and their love story started when they were teens.
I have to say I really enjoyed this book. I usually don’t read traditional mysteries or early 20th century settings. I am delighted to say I may very well be a convert! I struggled writing this review because I didn’t want to give too much away and spoil the book for anyone!
The story was so well thought out and the characters were well rounded by the end. The ending also offered a glimpse of how this club grows and moves on while still holding a bit of intrigue. Grab a copy of this book. You will not be disappointed.
It has been quite a while since I read a period mystery with romance as a subplot. This story sounds like an enjoyable change of pace. Thanks for the review - I’m going to check this book out (literally from the library if I can find a copy in print or ebook)!
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