The Meriwell Legacy

#1 NYT-bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns with her favorite sleuths to unravel a tangled web of family secrets and expose a murderer.

When Lord Meriwell collapses and dies at his dining table, Barnaby and Penelope Adair are summoned, along with Inspector Basil Stokes, to discover who, how, and most importantly why someone very close to his lordship saw fit to poison him.

When Lord Meriwell dies at his dining table, Nurse Veronica Haskell suspects foul play and notifies his lordship’s doctor, eminent Harley Street specialist Dr. David Sanderson. In turn, compelled by a need to protect Veronica who is at Meriwell Hall as David’s behest, David calls on his friends Barnaby and Penelope Adair for assistance.

However, as the fateful dinner was the first of a house party being attended by the local MP and his family, the Metropolitan Police commissioners also consider the Adairs’ presence desirable, and consequently, Barnaby and Penelope accompany Stokes to Meriwell Hall.

There, they discover a gathering of the Meriwell family intended to impress the visiting Busseltons so that George Busselton, local MP, will agree to a marriage between his daughter and Lord Meriwell’s eldest nephew, Stephen. But instead of any pleasant sojourn, the company find themselves confined to the hall and grounds while Stokes, Barnaby, and Penelope set about interviewing everyone and establishing facts, alibis, and the movements of those in the house.

To our investigators’ frustration, while determining the means proves straightforward, and opportunity reduces their suspect list, motive remains elusive, and their list of suspects stays stubbornly long.

Then the killer strikes again, but even then, the investigators are left with the same suspects and too many potential reasons for the second death.

What did the killer hope to gain?

More importantly, will he kill again?

At last, the investigators stumble on a promising clue, yet following it requires sending to London for information, and their frustration builds. As the clock ticks and they doggedly forge on, they uncover more and more facts, yet none allows them to identify which of their prime suspects is the murderer.

Will they get the breakthrough they need, one sufficient to exonerate the innocent?

When the answer arrives, they discover that the Meriwell family legacies are more far-reaching than anyone realized, and that the crimes involved and the motivation for the murders is far more heinous than anyone imagined.

A historical novel of 78,000 words interweaving mystery and murder with a touch of romance.

“A mystery's afoot when Lord Meriwell collapses at dinner, poisoned. Which one of his family members or esteemed dinner guests has means and motive to want the wealthy man dead? Investigator wife-and-husband team Penelope and Barnaby Adair are on the case, assisting Scotland Yard in catching the killer. Fans of historical fiction and murder mystery aficionados will enjoy this well-plotted and suspenseful story.” Brittany M., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing

“An MP and his family are enjoying a house party at Meriwell Hall when Lord Meriwell dies by poisoning at dinner one night, and many of those who gathered around the table that evening stand to gain from their host's demise. When some talented aristocratic sleuths are summoned to help solve the murder, the unmasking of the culprit is simply a matter of time. More mystery than romance, this new tale from Stephanie Laurens features a barrelful of red herrings and is a delight to read.” Angela M., Copy Editor, Red Adept Editing
 

“Penelope and Barnaby Adair have solved several mysteries for the social elite of Regency London. So when Lord Meriwell dies under suspicious circumstances at his country estate, it's natural for Inspector Basil Stokes to enlist their help in clarifying matters. Did Meriwell succumb to old age, or was he felled by a cash-strapped descendent desperate for an inheritance? In genteel but relentless fashion, the investigators untangle a web of family intrigue—and a few romantic matches.” Kim H., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing