A Ring of Truth

Description

"Downton Abbey meets Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries!" "Henrietta and Inspector Howard make a charming odd couple in A Ring of Truth, mixing mystery and romance in a fizzy 1930s cocktail." Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author "The creme de la creme of historical fiction," Brit+Co "Brimming with dark plot on every page, this unpredictable literary thrill ride will transport you to the heart of 1930s Chicago and the love story of a lifetime." POPSUGAR In this second book of the series, Henrietta and Clive delightfully rewrite Pride and Prejudice-with a hint of mystery! Newly engaged, Clive and Henrietta now begin the difficult task of meeting each other's family. "Difficult" because Clive has neglected to tell Henrietta that he is in fact the heir to the Howard estate and fortune, and Henrietta has just discovered that her mother has been hiding secrets about her past as well. When Clive brings Henrietta to the family estate to meet his parents, they are less than enthused about his impoverished intended. Left alone in this extravagant new world when Clive returns to the city, Henrietta finds herself more at home with the servants than his family, much to the disapproval of Mrs. Howard-and soon gets caught up in the disappearance of an elderly servant's ring, not realizing that in doing so she has become part of a bigger, darker plot. As Clive and Henrietta attempt to discover the truth in the two very different worlds unraveling around them, they both begin to wonder: Are they meant for each other after all?

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as "Novel Notes of Local Lore," a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago's forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn't have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade.

Awards: 2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards): Gold Winner in Book Series - Fiction 2017 Next Gen indies: Romance Finalist, Mystery Finalist, Best Series Finalist 2017 Readers Favorite: Honorable Mention - Mystery 2018 National Indie Excellence Awards: Regional Fiction Finalist - Midwest 2018 Independent Press Award: Romantic Suspense Winner 2018 Chanticleer Book Awards: Mystery and Mayhem - 1st Place Winner, Historical Fiction (Goethe) Finalist, and Romance (Chatelaine) Finalist 2018 Independent Press Award: Winner in Romantic Suspense 2017 Beverly Hills Book Awards: Regional Fiction Winner - Northeast, Cross-Genre Finalist, and Mystery Finalist 2017 Chicago Writers Association Awards: Shortlisted for Indie Fiction 2017-2018 Reader Views Literary Awards: Adult Fiction Finalists "Henrietta and Inspector Howard make a charming odd couple in A Ring of Truth, mixing mystery and romance in a fizzy 1930s cocktail." Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author "The creme de la creme of historical fiction, A Ring of Truth is the unpredictable mystery you'll be reading and rereading for the rest of 2017." Brit+Co "Brimming with dark plot on every page, this unpredictable literary thrill ride will transport you to the heart of 1930s Chicago and the love story of a lifetime." Popsugar "There's a lot to love about the bloodhound couple at the center of this cozy mystery." Foreword Reviews "The second book of this mystery series is laced with fiery romance so delicious every reader will struggle to put it down. If you devoured Pride and Prejudice, this love story will get your heart beating just as fast." Redbook "A 1930s Chicagoan love story with a heavy dose of thrilling mystery - we bet we have your attention. If you aren't already addicted to Clive and Henrietta's epic love story we recommend you indulge your imagination with the first book and then move on to A Ring Of Truth - the absolutely unputdownable sequel that centers around Clive's mysterious fortune and strange wrath of his affluent family." Bookstr "Set in the 1930s, this romantic mystery combines the teetering elegance of Downton Abbey and the staid traditions of Pride and Prejudice with a bit of spunk and determination that suggest Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs." Booklist "An engaging and effective romp rich with historical details." Kirkus "A sensational story with an exciting setting that readers will enjoy navigating . . . Clive and Henrietta are well-developed, real, and memorable. They are an incredible pair of sleuths and the reader learns to care about them as they are eager to see what happens at the end. A Ring of Truth features great writing with exceptional dialogues and a plot that is swiftly paced, driven by a strong conflict." Readers Favorite "Cox does an excellent job of bringing the 1930s to life with the Chicago setting and details true to the era. The couple's chemistry is endearing, and the background stories, colorful characters, and vividly described scenes also add a lot to the authenticity of the drama." Reader Views "This addicting historical fiction novel will have you wishing you could have experienced 1930s Chicago." - Buzzfeed "Light romance with witty writing, while still maintaining a somber and serious story, this book is a delight." - Independent Book Publishers Association "The characters are well-drawn, with depth. Cox builds anticipation by foreshadowing issues that will come up in future volumes of the series. Hen and Clive's romance is real and touching." - Historical Novel Society "Once that glass slipper fits, how hard is it for Cinderella to adapt to life as the princess after so long as the scullery maid? And how many people are just itching for her to fail? A Ring of Truth features the same well-developed characters, adding depth and complexity to the story, while also giving readers that same "you are there" feeling of a walk back in time." - Chanticleer Reviews, 5 stars! "A Ring of Truth is the second book in the delightful Henrietta and Inspector Howard series, but there's plenty to dive straight into even if you haven't read the last one." Bustle