CANR
WORK TITLE: Murder at King’s Crossing
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://andreapenrose.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: LRC Aug 2022
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married.
EDUCATION:Yale University, B.A., M.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, novelist, and graphic designer. Creative director of a lifestyle sporting magazine.
AWARDS:Gold Leaf Awards, two; Holt Medallion Award of Excellence, 2008; Daphne Du Maurier Award for Historical Romantic Mystery/Suspense, 2009, for Seduced by a Spy; Career Achievement Award in Regency Romance, Romantic Times Book Club.
WRITINGS
Contributor to anthologies, including Regency Christmas Spirits, Signet (New York, NY), 2001, and Regency Christmas Courtship: Five Stories, Signet (New York, NY), 2005. Coauthor of the blog Word Wenches.
SIDELIGHTS
Andrea DaRif is a graphic designer and romance novelist who writes under several pseudonyms as well as under her own name. She has primarily written Regency-set historical romances, originally as Andrea Pickens and then as Cara Elliott. Most recently she has written Regency as well as historical mysteries under the name Andrea Penrose. She has also written a pair of novels under her given name. The author notes on her website that she began writing at the age of five and that her focus on Regency romances stemmed from her love of the era after reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
About her predilection for writing novels set in the past, DaRif (as Penrose) told Word Wenches: “One of the things I love about history is that our views about the past are constantly evolving as we discover new information. I find it really exciting that more and more stories outside the traditional narratives are coming to light, and unsung people whose accomplishments have until now been lost in the shadows are getting the recognition they deserve.”
The author’s 1999 romance The Hired Hero, written as Pickens, tells the story of a patriotic noblewoman, Lady Caroline Talcott, who becomes aware of information important to England’s war with France and Napoleon. When she heads off to London to reveal the information, she is saved from assassins by the Earl of Davenport. Somewhat of a rake, Davenport promises to protect Caroline as long as she pays him. “All in all, The Hired Hero is a fast-paced, entertaining read,” wrote Jean Mason on the Romance Reader website.
Second Chances features a romance between Allegra Proctor and the Earl of Wrexham. Allegra has been hired to tutor Max, the Earl’s intelligent but underachieving son. The widowed Allegra has taken the job partly to retrieve a valuable book that she believes has been stolen from her by the earl’s next-door neighbor. Soon Max and the earl join in Allegra’s plans to get the book back. “There’s much to like about this book,” wrote Lesley Dunlap in a review on the Romance Reader website, adding: “The characters are well-drawn and appealing.”
A Diamond in the Rough finds Honoria Dunster posing as a young male caddie. When she signs on to caddy for Adrian, Viscount Marquand, who is involved in a high-stakes golfing match, she begins to fall in love with Adrian, who is already engaged to one of the most beautiful women in London. Writing in Romance Reader, Mason commented: “Pickens provides, in addition to her romance, a fascinating look at the game of golf in its infancy.”
The Major’s Mistake revolves around a husband’s mistaken belief that his wife has been unfaithful. Lord Averill assaults Lady Miranda after she refuses his sexual advances in the library. He immediately tells Miranda’s husband, Julian Grosvenor, that she has been kissing another man in the library. When Julian races off and discovers his wife nearly undressed, he assumes the worst and joins the military, leaving Miranda behind. Six years pass before Julian returns to discover that his ex-wife, ruined by the divorce, is living with her six-year-old son in a state of disgrace and destitution. “The strongest aspect of this plot is Sterling’s trying to come to terms with his unexpected fatherhood,” noted Romance Reader website contributor Lesley Dunlap.
In A Lady of Letters, Augusta Hadley is hiding her political activism and her attacks against child labor by publishing her writings under the pseudonym the “Firebrand.” The Earl of Sheffield begins to write to the “Firebrand,” who has reawakened his social consciousness. Although the two have met socially, they never liked each other. However, their correspondence eventually leads to romance as the earl joins Augusta in finding out who is involved in the disappearance of local poor children. Calling the romance “a cleverly plotted story,” Romance Reader website contributor Mason observed: “Knowing that the hero and heroine have this anonymous relationship while they are squabbling their way to attraction provides additional charm to the tale.”
In The Banished Bride, Elizabeth Jane Aurora, who is only fourteen years old, marries the young James Hadley Alexander Fenimore based upon the outcome of a card game played by the two young peoples’ noble parents. Alexander then departs for India, leaving his young bride alone to survive on a small stipend. Alexander returns thirteen years later on a secret mission to capture a female spy and mistakenly thinks that Aurora is his quarry, unaware that she is the woman he married years earlier.
“Aurora is an interesting character,” wrote Romance Reader contributor Mason. Writing in Booklist, John Charles noted the author’s “exquisitely subtle sense of characterization is matched by polished, witty prose.”
The author commented on her home page that she was inspired to write her “Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Extraordinary Young Ladies” trilogy by watching old James Bond movies but wishing that the hero was instead a heroine. So she set out to write a series of novels set in Regency England and revolving around Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Select Young Ladies, which is a secret school that trains women as spies, assassins, and whatever else England may need. The first book in the trilogy, The Spy Wore Silk, revolves around a street urchin named Siena. The Marquess of Lynsley is constantly on the lookout for young girls with ingenuity, and at the age of twelve Siena shows that she has many talents. He recruits her to the secret school, where she is taught not only how to fight but also how to seduce men and fit into high society. Her first assignment is to infiltrate the Gilded Page Club and find out who is trading secret documents with France. During her mission, she meets the Earl of Kirtland, a member of the club who may be spying for France but whose sensuality and ability to match wits with Siena ultimately threatens her mission.
“There is delicious verbal sparring that takes place between almost every character showing some of the famed wit that authors often ascribe to their characters without really showing it,” wrote a contributor to the Dear Author website. A Publishers Weekly contributor commented: “Regency fans should enjoy this innovative and adventurous foray.”
Seduced by a Spy finds Shannon, another student at Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Select Young Ladies, looking for a deadly assassin. Her mission leads her to work with Alexandr Orlov, a handsome Russian spy. Writing for Booklist, Charles noted that the author’s “exquisitely subtle sense of characterization is matched by polished, witty prose.”
The Scarlet Spy is the third book in the “Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Extraordinary Young Ladies” series and features Sofia, who is an expert at the martial arts and at the same time possesses the bearing of the upper class, which allows her to mingle easily with the social elite. Her assignment is to infiltrate the highest government circles to root out corruption. The Marques of Lynsley asks Deverill Osborne to introduced Sofia, who is posing as an Italian contessa, into British society. Deverill eventually begins to suspect that there is more to Sofia than just being a rich contessa.
“Spies, silks and swordplay—what more could you want in a historical romance?,” wrote Alexandra Cenni in a review on the Romance Readers at Heart website. In his review in Booklist, Charles commended the author for “deftly blending an expertly realized historical setting and a deliciously subtle sense of wit.”
DaRif has also written a few series of romance novels under the pseudonym Cara Elliott. Each book in the “Circle of Sin” trilogy—To Sin with a Scoundrel, To Surrender to a Rogue, and To Tempt a Rake—focuses on one of three women who are members of the Circle of Scientific Sibyls, also known as the Circle of Sin.
Also released under the Elliott pseudonym was the “Hellions of High Street” series . The series follows the Sloane sisters, Olivia, Anna, and Caro, and the first installment, Scandalously Yours, focuses on Olivia. The heroine works as a political writer, and she is working toward the passage of a new soldiers’ aid law. She comes across an ad placed by the Earl of Wrexham’s son, the young man wants to find a wife for the earl. Since the earl is a war hero, Olivia believes she can convince him to join her crusade, so she answers the ad under false pretenses. As they work together, sparks begin to fly.
Commenting on the series on the Historical Novel Society website, a reviewer warned that “repeated and protracted amorous encounters do little to advance plot or develop character.” Yet, the reviewer announced that “ Scandalously Yours is recommended, but read the others only if you are curious to learn how the younger sisters fare and do not mind melodrama.” Kathe Robin, writing on the RT Book Reviews website, was even more positive, asserting that “Elliott’s series starter is as unconventional, charming and just plain fun as any reader could desire.”
Scandalously Yours was followed by Sinfully Yours and Passionately Yours. In the latter series installment, Caro Sloane travels to Bath with her mother. Caro is looking for love, and she’s disappointed that there aren’t more eligible bachelors in the spa town. She turns to her friend Isabelle for entertainment, and the pair are getting along quite well. Then, Caro learns that Isabelle is Alex McClellan’s sister. After Alex arrives in Bath, he watches as Caro successfully defends Isabelle from an attacker. Caro’s actions put her in the line of danger, and Alex steps forward to help her.
Passionately Yours largely fared well with critics, and RT Book Reviews website correspondent Robin found that “the fast pace and delicious dialogue enhance this delightful battle-of-wills love story.” A contributor to the Martha’s Bookshelf website was also impressed, declaring: “Ms. Elliot does a lovely job with word phrasing for descriptions and engaging dialogue. There is a background of intrigue and Caro does ultimately get her own dangerous adventure.” As an online Keeper Bookshelf columnist advised: “Looking for an involved, fun Regency romance to touch your heart and keep you turning pages then pick up Passionately Yours. You will enjoy the time spent with these characters.”
With the novel Murder on Black Swan Lake, DaRif begins another series, this time under the Penrose pseudonym. The inaugural novel in the “Wrexford & Sloane” series, this historical mystery is set in England. The main protagonist is the Earl of Wrexford, a man with a highly refined intelligence and deep interest in science. However, he is easily bored and occasionally reckless, a man who is intolerant of those he considers to be pompous, arrogant, or foolish. The local reverend, Josiah Holworthy, falls squarely into these categories, especially after he takes to the pulpit to accuse the earl of debauchery. As a result, they become bitter foes carrying on a public war of words with each other. Their conflict even attracts the attention of a noted political cartoonist of the day, A.J. Quill, who gleefully lampoons both of the men in well-received drawings.
The trouble between the Earl of Wrexford and Reverend Holworthy ends, however, when the clergyman is found dead, his face disfigured by acid and his throat violently slashed from ear to ear. The earl immediately falls under suspicion, though he vigorously denies any involvement in the killing. Unexpectedly, the earl makes a discovery about the irritating A.J. Quill: the original Quill is dead, and his identity has been taken over by his widow, Charlotte Sloane. Charlotte thinks her deception may be exposed, but the earl has a better idea: he asks her to use her resources and connections to find out what happened to the dead reverend and who killed him. Charlotte and the earl enter into a shadowy underworld where ancient arts, mysticism, and even alchemy are taken seriously.
Murder on Black Swan Lake is an “extraordinary and deftly crafted read by a master of the genre, making this simply outstanding novel an unreservedly recommended addition” to library mystery collections, commented an Internet Bookwatch contributor. “The novel moves at a quick pace, the science is fascinating, and Charlotte and Wrexford are well-fleshed out,” observed Diane Scott Lewis in a review on the Historical Novel Society website.
The second “Wrexford & Sloane” novel, Murder at Half Moon Gate, returns to the period of the first book as the Earl of Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane team up to solve inventor Elihu Ashton’s murder. The dead man’s wife, Isobel, believes he may have been killed so that someone could get access to his latest invention, which has the potential to make the person who claims credit for it very rich. With the help of Charlotte’s network, including a group of street children, the sleuths work through the suspects and motives, discarding distractions and attempts to make the murder look like the work of a group of radical workers who have been displaced by encroaching technology.
With this novel, “Penrose deftly combines a Regency romance with a tricky mystery that delves into social unrest and the darker side of this storied period,” commented a Kirkus Reviews writer.
Penrose continued her “Wrexford & Sloane” series with Murder at Kensington Palace, which finds Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford on a quest to solve the murder of Charlotte’s cousin Cedric and release Cedric’s twin, Nicholas, from prison after he is arrested for the crime. When Wrexford is finally able to talk to Nicholas, the imprisoned man reveals helpful information about an organization called the Eos Society as well as a woman named Lady Julianna Aldrich, whom Cedric and a few other men had been romantically pursuing. On her end, Charlotte attempts to get close to Cedric and Nicholas’s scientific peers for answers while navigating her growing attraction to Wrexford and raising two young waifs, Hawk and Raven. A contributor in Publishers Weekly noted that “Penrose does a good job linking the mystery to the period’s scientific and social changes.”
Wrexford and Sloane return in Murder at Queen’s Landing. When the body of a clerk for the East India Company is found, the sleuths get involved in yet another murder investigation. This time the suspect is the brother of Charlotte’s friend Lady Cordelia Mansfield. At the same time, Wrexford has loaned his friend Christopher Sheffield a sum of money for a new business venture, despite knowing little about the endeavor or who Sheffield’s partners are. When Cordelia and her brother, Jameson, flee, Sheffield divulges that Cordelia had been one of his business partners. As they work to unravel the mystery, Wrexford and Charlotte discover that a high-ranking executive at the East India Company is likely extorting Cordelia and Jameson for political gain.
According to a Kirkus Reviews contributor, Murder at Queen’s Landing is Wrexford and Sloane’s “most thorny, dangerous case to date” and an “action-packed brainteaser.” A contributor in Publishers Weekly agreed, noting that Penrose “captures the Regency era’s complexities in vivid settings, contrasting milieus, and a wealth of fascinating details.”
Penrose advances Charlotte and Wrexford’s love story in her next “Wrexford & Sloane” novel, Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens. The now-engaged couple are preparing for their wedding when Wrexford is called to a crime scene at the Royal Botanic Gardens, where renowned scientist Josiah Becton has been poisoned. Mr. Becton had been on the verge of announcing his research on a plant with malaria-fighting properties and hoped to offer the cure for free. But greedy rivals wanted to steal it and profit off Becton’s life-saving formula. Wrexford and Sloane’s ward Hawk believes he saw the killer leave the gardens, so with help from a number of friends, Wrexford and Charlotte attempt to solve another murder before they walk down the aisle. A Kirkus Reviews contributor said the story was elevated by the “Regency-period romance and history,” and a Publishers Weekly writer affirmed that it “roars to an exciting climax.”
[open new]The Napoleonic Wars have come to a close by Murder at the Serpentine Bridge, wherein Wrexford and wife Charlotte get mixed up in a fresh mystery when their dog discovers a body in the Serpentine, the lake in Hyde Park. The deceased was an inventor whose ingenius design for a new rifle has gone missing from his office. When a government agent recruits Wrexford—and hints that the identity of troublesome A.J. Quill is not unknown to his superiors—Wrexford and Charlotte aim to solve the murder and recover the design documents before they reach enemy hands. A Kirkus Reviews writer hailed the sixth “Wrexford & Sloane” volume as “charming” and “action-packed,” while a Publishers Weekly reviewer found it “roisterous,” with “fascinating and well-researched” historical events unfolding as the “host of intrepid heroes and heroines pit their wits against dastardly villains.”
Another invention design, this time for an ocean-crossing steam engine, is at the heart of Murder at the Merton Library. After a research lab fire and the murder of an Oxford librarian, Wrexford reckons that a stolen manuscript might hold the key not only to the mayhem but also to the ambush that killed his brother Thomas. A Kirkus Reviews writer called this title “an excellent mystery bolstered by fascinating information about a life-changing invention.”
Murder at King’s Crossing finds the wedding of Charlotte’s friend Lady Cordelia Mansfield, a mathematician, disrupted by the discovery of the body of scientist Jasper Milton, who had an invitation for Cordelia’s cousin Oliver in his pocket. Milton had devised a bridge of superior mathematical proportions, with the schematics potentially making the Russians rich and the French powerful, unless Wrexford can help the British stop them. A Kirkus Reviews writer praised Murder at King’s Crossing as “a complex and surprising mystery enhanced by historically accurate information about the science and society of the period.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer affirmed that Penrose “elegantly weaves insights about the period’s politics and technological innovations into a splendid mystery.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 1, 2002, John Charles, review of The Banished Bride, p. 1098; February 1, 2008, John Charles, review of Seduced by a Spy, p. 34; September 15, 2008, John Charles, review of The Scarlet Spy, p. 43; November 1, 2011, John Charles, review of Too Wicked to Wed, p. 33; October 15, 2021, Karen Muller, review of Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens, p. 28.
Internet Bookwatch, August, 2017, review of Murder on Black Swan Lake.
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2018, review of Murder at Half Moon Gate; July 15, 2019, review of Murder at Kensington Palace; August 1, 2020, review of Murder at Queen’s Landing; July 15, 2021, review of Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens; August 1, 2022, review of Murder at the Serpentine Bridge; August 15, 2023, review of Murder at the Merton Library; September 1, 2024, review of Murder at King’s Crossing.
Publishers Weekly, April 2, 2007, review of The Spy Wore Silk, p. 43; January 18, 2010, review of To Sin with a Scoundrel, p. 35; December 20, 2010, review of To Tempt a Rake, p. 40; September 12, 2011, review of Too Wicked to Wed, p. 62; April 6, 2015, review of Passionately Yours, p. 45; May 22, 2017, review of Murder on Black Swan Lake, p. 74; August 26, 2019, review of Murder at Kensington Palace, p. 95; August 24, 2020, review of Murder at Queen’s Landing, p. 52; July 26, 2021, review of Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens, p. 63; August 15, 2022, review of Murder at the Serpentine Bridge, p. 52; August 5, 2024, review of Murder at King’s Crossing, p. 40.
ONLINE
All about Romance, http://www.likesbooks.com/ (December 20, 2009), Jane Granville, review of The Scarlet Spy; (March 24, 2018), Caz Owens, review of Murder on Black Swan Lake.
Andrea Penrose website, http://www.andreapenrose.com (December 26, 2024).
CrimeReads, https://crimereads.com/ (December 26, 2024), author profile.
Crimespree, https://crimespreemag.com/ (November 20, 2023), Elise Cooper, author interview.
Criminal Element, https://www.criminalelement.com (October 7, 2021), review of Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Dear Author, http://dearauthor.com/ (December 20, 2009), review of The Spy Wore Silk.
Fantastic Fiction, http:// www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ (January 17, 2010), brief bio of author.
Historical Novel Society, https:// historicalnovelsociety.org/ (January 27, 2016), review of the “Hellions of High Street” series; (March 24, 2018), Diane Scott Lewis, review of Murder on Black Swan Lake.
Keeper Bookshelf, http://www.keeperbookshelf.com/ (January 27, 2016), review of Passionately Yours.
Lit Bitch, http://www.thelitbitch.com/ (July 7, 2017), review of Murder on Black Swan Lake; (June 10, 2020), review of Murder at Queen’s Landing.
Literary Hub, https://lithub.com (December 23, 2021), New Books Network, “Andrea Penrose Discusses Her Latest Title in the Wrexford & Sloane Mystery Series,” interview with author.
Martha’s Bookshelf, http:// marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/ (May 30, 2015), review of Passionately Yours.
Mystery and Suspense, https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ (December 26, 2024), Elise Cooper, author interview.
Risky Regencies, http://riskyregencies.blogspot.com/ (March 2, 2008), Amanda McCabe, “Riskies Welcome Back Andrea Pickens!,” interview with author.
Romance Reader, http://www.theromancereader.com/ (December 20, 2009), Jean Mason, reviews of The Banished Bride, A Diamond in the Rough, The Hired Hero, A Lady of Letters, and Code of Honor; Lesley Dunlap, review of Second Chances and The Major’s Mistake.
Romance Reader at Heart, http:// romancereaderatheart.com/ (December 20, 2009), Alexandra Cenni, review of The Scarlet Spy.
RT Book Reviews, http://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (January 27, 2016), Kathe Robin, reviews of Scandalously Yours and Passionately Yours.
Word Wenches, https://wordwenches.typepad.com/ (September 25, 2022), “Andrea Penrose on Murder at the Serpentine Bridge,” author interview.
I began my writing career at age five, creating a number of Westerns lavishly illustrated with crayon drawings of horses and cowboys. However, I have since moved on to Regency England, an era that has fascinated me ever since I picked up a copy of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. (Clearly I have a thing for Men in Boots.)
Books have always been an important part of my life. I have always been a voracious reader, and I have always had a very vivid imagination . . . so much so that I think at times it worried my parents that I was so happy in my own little world, drawing pictures and creating stories. My teachers will also tell you that I was the class history geek, even in grade school. I don’t really know why, but I have always been fascinated with the past.
cowboys-350wAs an undergrad at Yale, I majored in art—though I took enough history courses to have majored in that subject as well—and went on to get a MFA in Graphic Design at the Yale School of Art, concentrating in publication design. So I guess you could say I have always had a left brain-right brain sort of love affair with the printed page.
byron-350wSo why did I choose the Regency time period for my mysteries? I love the era because it was such a fabulously interesting time and place—it was a world aswirl in silks, seduction and the intrigue of the Napoleonic Wars. Radical new ideas were clashing with the conventional thinking of the past, and as a result, people were challenging and changing the fundamentals of their society. For example, you had Beethoven composing emotional symphonies, Byron composing wildly romantic poetry about individual angst, J.M.W. Turner dabbling in impressionistic watercolors and Mary Wollstonecraft writing the first feminist manifestos . . .
In so many ways, it was the birth of the modern world, and for me, its challenges, its characters and its conflicts have such relevance to our own times . . . and hey, who can resist men in breeches and boots!
I hope you enjoy my books!
Andrea Penrose
Andrea started writing westerns at the astonishing age of five, complete with crayon drawings to illustrate them. So it is no surprise that she got a Masters in Graphic Design at the Yale School of Art and worked in publication design plus she is an established author of romance novels under the name Cara Elliott.
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical
New and upcoming books
September 2024
thumb
Murder at King's Crossing
(Wrexford & Sloane Mystery, book 8)
Series
Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery
1. Sweet Revenge (2011)
2. The Cocoa Conspiracy (2011)
3. Recipe for Treason (2012)
The Stolen Letters (2017)
4. Smoke & Lies (2018)
5. A Question of Numbers (2019)
6. A Tangle of Serpents (2020)
7. A Swirl of Shadows (2022)
8. The Thunder of Stones (2024)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumb
Wrexford & Sloane Mystery
1. Murder on Black Swan Lane (2017)
2. Murder at Half Moon Gate (2018)
3. Murder at Kensington Palace (2019)
4. Murder at Queen's Landing (2020)
5. Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens (2021)
6. Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (2022)
7. Murder at the Merton Library (2023)
8. Murder at King's Crossing (2024)
thumbthumbthumbthumb
thumbthumbthumbthumb
Novels
The Diamond of London (2024)
Andrea PenroseAndrea Penrose is the bestselling author of Regency-era historical fiction, including the acclaimed Wrexford & Sloane mystery series, as well as Regency romances written under the names Cara Elliott and Andrea Pickens. Published internationally in ten languages, she is a three-time RITA Award finalist and the recipient of numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery and two Gold Leaf Awards. A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks.
Andrea Penrose
Andrea Penrose is the USA Today bestselling author of Regency-era historical fiction, including the acclaimed Wrexford & Sloane mystery series, as well as Regency romances written under the names Andrea Pickens and Cara Elliott. Published internationally in ten languages, she is a three-time RITA Award finalist and the recipient of numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery and two Gold Leaf Awards. A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era’s swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career.
Interview by Elise Cooper
Q: What sparked your interest in creating this historical series?
Andrea Penrose: I’ve always loved the Regency era, but not just because of Jane Austen’s pastoral village life or the glitter and glamor of London’s aristocratic ballroom. Like our era, it’s a world in throes of momentous change. Radical new ideas were clashing with the conventional thinking of the past. People were questioning the fundamentals of society, and as a result they were fomenting changes in every aspect of life— from politics, art, and music to social rules, science, and technology.
New inventions were disrupting everyday life, and I found that a fascinating parallel to our own current era. So, I thought it would be interesting to use a technological innovation as a catalyst for each mystery in the series. Change is frightening, and so it seemed a very rich and complex theme to weave into the stories, especially given its relevance to modern readers.
Q: What is your process for integrating historical advancements into your narrative?
Andrea Penrose: I’m a history nerd, so I love going down research rabbit holes! I first look with a bird’s eye view at what are some of the main areas of life that technology was changing, and then I dive in for specific research. It’s fun to find an object we take for granted—like a propeller—and see that it was a momentous invention, with a lot of wrong turns before they got it right.
Q: What drew you to set your stories during the Napoleonic Wars?
Andrea Penrose: All of Europe was at war for over a decade, and the international conflicts allows for an added layer of intrigue and skullduggery. The stakes are high, and that helps add tension to my plots.
Q: Could you introduce us to the character of Charlotte and her role in the series?
Andrea Penrose: She’s caring and compassionate, and because of her backstory (no spoilers!) she’s very aware of the inequalities in the world and uses her secret identity as London’s most popular satirical artist to keep the leaders of society from abusing their power. One of the overall subplots in the series is how she and Wrexford—who are forced by circumstance to partner as unwilling allies in the first book—learn to see things from a different perspective as they work together and come to appreciate and admire each other’s strengths.
Q: What makes Wrexford a compelling character, particularly in his role as a sleuth?
Andrea Penrose: As a brilliant scientist, Wrexford is ruled by logic and like Charlotte he is a very careful observer, which makes him an excellent sleuth. He’s also passionate about right and wrong, and so despite their differences, they make a perfect team for solving complex mysteries.
Q: Tell us about the young characters, Raven and Hawk, and their significance in the story.
Andrea Penrose: The “Weasels” were great fun to create. They are two orphan brothers, abandoned in the slums at a very early age—alas, an all too true story in that era. They had to be very clever and resourceful to survive, and when Charlotte takes them under her wing, they prove extremely helpful in assisting her to learn the secret scandals of the rich and powerful.
Q: Can you provide insight into the antagonists of your latest book?
Andrea Penrose: In this book there are several of them, and I wanted to show a range of “evil.” There are so many temptations—greed, envy, pride, to name just a few—that seduce people to do bad things, and I wanted to work with the nuances of that and make readers think about what draws people to the dark side.
Q: What can your readers expect next from your writing desk?
Andrea Penrose: The next book has already been turned in! Readers can check my website and social media for a reveal of the title and cover right after the New Year!
Review by Elise Cooper
Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose blends inventions within a mystery. Readers try to figure out how is a scientific invention related to a murder.
In this story, distraught librarian Neville Greeley asks his family friend Wrexford to come to Oxford. But just before Wrexford can meet with Greeley the librarian is murdered. Meanwhile, Wrexford’s wife, Charlotte, is investigating a suspicious fire that has destroyed the laboratory of inventor Henry Maudslay. British naval operatives, German researchers, and Russian spies were all keenly interested in Maudslay’s research and become people of interest. Penrose brings back many of her characters to help in both investigations including the Wrexfords’ clever wards, former street urchins Raven and Hawk. Readers’ search for clues within the story to see the relationship between the murder and the fire.
INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA PENROSE
by Elise Cooper | Nov 20, 2023 | Author Interviews, Books, Features
Murder at the Merton Library
Wrexfor & Sloane Mystery Book 7
Andrea Penrose
Kensington Pub
July 23rd, 2024
Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose blends inventions within a mystery. Readers try to figure out how is a scientific invention related to a murder.
In this story, distraught librarian Neville Greeley asks his family friend Wrexford to come to Oxford. But just before Wrexford can meet with Greeley the librarian is murdered. Meanwhile, Wrexford’s wife, Charlotte, is investigating a suspicious fire that has destroyed the laboratory of inventor Henry Maudslay. British naval operatives, German researchers, and Russian spies were all keenly interested in Maudslay’s research and become people of interest. Penrose brings back many of her characters to help in both investigations including the Wrexfords’ clever wards, former street urchins Raven and Hawk. Readers’ search for clues within the story to see the relationship between the murder and the fire.
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the series?
Andrea Penrose: I’ve always loved the Regency era, but not just because of Jane Austen’s pastoral village life or the glitter and glamor of London’s aristocratic ballroom. Like our era, it’s a world in throes of momentous change. Radical new ideas were clashing with the conventional thinking of the past. People were questioning the fundamentals of society, and as a result they were fomenting changes in every aspect of life— from politics, art, and music to social rules, science, and technology.
New inventions were disrupting everyday life, and I found that a fascinating parallel to our own current era. So, I thought it would be interesting to use a technological innovation as a catalyst for each mystery in the series. Change is frightening, and so it seemed a very rich and complex theme to weave into the stories, especially given its relevance to modern readers.
EC: How did you get the idea for this story?
AP: I’m a history nerd, so I love going down research rabbit holes! I first look with a bird’s eye view at what are some of the main areas of life that technology was changing, and then I dive in for specific research. It’s fun to find an object we take for granted—like a propeller—and see that it was a momentous invention, with a lot of wrong turns before they got it right.
EC: Why the Napoleonic era for the setting?
AP: All of Europe was at war for over a decade, and the international conflicts allows for an added layer of intrigue and skullduggery. The stakes are high, and that helps add tension to my plots.
EC: Can you please describe Charlotte?
AP: She’s caring and compassionate, and because of her backstory (no spoilers!) she’s very aware of the inequalities in the world and uses her secret identity as London’s most popular satirical artist to keep the leaders of society from abusing their power. One of the overall subplots in the series is how she and Wrexford—who are forced by circumstance to partner as unwilling allies in the first book—learn to see things from a different perspective as they work together and come to appreciate and admire each other’s strengths.
EC: Can you please describe Wrex?
AP: As a brilliant scientist, Wrexford is ruled by logic and like Charlotte he is a very careful observer, which makes him an excellent sleuth. He’s also passionate about right and wrong, and so despite their differences, they make a perfect team for solving complex mysteries.
EC: Can you describe Raven and Hawk?
AP: The “Weasels” were great fun to create. They are two orphan brothers, abandoned in the slums at a very early age—alas, an all too true story in that era. They had to be very clever and resourceful to survive, and when Charlotte takes them under her wing, they prove extremely helpful in assisting her to learn the secret scandals of the rich and powerful.
EC: Can you describe the bad guys?
AP: In this book there are several of them, and I wanted to show a range of “evil.” There are so many temptations—greed, envy, pride, to name just a few—that seduce people to do bad things, and I wanted to work with the nuances of that and make readers think about what draws people to the dark side.
EC: Next book?
AP: The next book has already been turned in! Readers can check my website and social media for a reveal of the title and cover right after the New Year!
THANK YOU!!!
Andrea Penrose on Murder at the Serpentine Bridge
Murder at the Serpentine Bridge-smallNicola here, and today I have the huge pleasure of interviewing the Wenches’ own Andrea Penrose about her latest historical mystery. Murder at the Serpentine Bridge is book six in the Wrexford and Sloane series, featuring the irresistible combination of the Earl of Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane aka A J Quill (and now of course Countess of Wrexford.) The book been garnering rave reviews and rightly so – I’ve enjoyed all of the series very much but this one could be my favourite so far! It’s a clever and compulsive mystery, the historical backdrop is fascinating and the cast of characters is as nuanced and interesting as ever - it was great to meet old friends again!
So, without further ado, let’s dive in and find out more!
Gent 4aWhat particularly draws you to writing mysteries set in the Regency period?
I love the era because it was a fabulously interesting time and place. Radical new ideas were clashing with the conventional thinking of the past. People were questioning the fundamentals of society, and as a result they were fomenting changes in every aspect of life. Romanticism was taking hold, bringing a new wave of individual expression. New technology was disrupting everyday life as the Industrial Revolution began cranking into high gear. In so many ways, it was the birth of the modern world, and for me, its challenges, its characters and its conflicts have such relevance to our own times.
Dividing the worldPlease tell us more about Murder at the Serpentine Bridge, Book Six in the Wrexford and Sloane series.
Well, sometimes history gives an author a more perfect setting for a diabolical mystery that one dare dream up on one’s own! The Peace Celebrations, held in London during the summer of 1814 to honor the defeat of Napoleon and his exile to the isle of Elba, brought all the major heads of Europe together for a non-stop two-week party filled with glittering balls, spectacular fireworks, mock naval battles on the lake in Hyde Park, horse races at Royal Ascot and champagne-fueled banquets and entertainments. The possibilities for intrigue and skullduggery were endless!
Charlotte and Wrexford are hoping for a quiet summer of settling into their new marriage. But when Wrexford and their two young wards, Raven and Hawk, discover a body of an innovative inventor floating in the Serpentine, they all find themselves drawn into a diabolical intrigue. The dead man’s prototype for a revolutionary new weapon has gone missing from a British military research laboratory, and when the government learns that it’s being offered by secret auction to the highest bidder, they ask Wrexford to help in recover it—a request that is fraught with complications as a family member by marriage may be involved. But as old secrets tangle with new betrayals, Charlotte and Wrexford, along with their trusted inner circle of family and friends—which now includes a new fledgling friend for Raven and Hawk—must outwit a cunning villain to prevent the situation from igniting a new war.
Park-Soldiers AEach book in the series is connected to a geographical location in London. How do you choose these settings?
The mystery itself helps define the locales. For example, Murder at Queen’s Landing involved skullduggery within the East India Company, so a lot of the action took place down in the docklands. I love London and have spent hours walking around the different neighborhoods and visiting historic places like Kensington Palace and the Royal Institution so I can have a real feeling for what they are. I’m a very visual writer, so I feel that the setting is a “character” in the book. I also have a fabulous vintage digital map of London that I can blow up and find specific streets, alleyways and bends in the river in which to pinpoint the action.
Each book also explores a scientific discovery or invention of the era, which is a fascinating perspective. What inspired you to focus on this aspect of the Regency period?
It really struck me that like our era, the Regency was a time of momentous change. And science and technology was an elemental catalyst for fomenting those changes. It was both exciting and frightening. And I find that that tension—the Good and Evil of Progress—is really interesting to play with as a concept for a mystery.
LC-56_165-004
Chevalier_de_Saint-GeorgesBlack history is a prominent and very interesting theme in the story . Please tell us about your research into these stories that are only just beginning to be told.
One of the things I love about history is that our views about the past are constantly evolving as we discover new information. I find it really exciting that more and more stories outside the traditional narratives are coming to light, and unsung people whose accomplishments have until now been lost in the shadows are getting the recognition they deserve.
Using some of these new resources, my research led me to learn that during the Regency there were vibrant and thriving Black communities in London and other parts of Britain percolating with intellectual, economic and artistic creativity. So I wanted this story to reflect the real multicultural diversity that existed in the era.
How do you plan out the structure of your books and manage all the threads that need to be knitted together for a mystery? (Asking for a friend 😊)
Umm, well to quote what Wellington said about Waterloo, my keeping all the threads in my mysteries from getting hopelessly tangled is always “a close-run thing.” I am a total pantser, and can’t make myself outline a book. My brain simply doesn’t work that way, so I have to trust that the “ah-ha” moments of how things fit together will happen as I’m going along. Which is why a “plotting walk” is part of my daily writing schedule. I often need to jog the brain cells into telling me what’s next!
BattleYou describe the two faces of the Regency period beautifully: “In the stews of London, the ugliness was there for everyone to see. But in Mayfair, a veneer of wealth and privilege could often hide a core of rot.” What do you think it would really have been like to live in Regency London? Do you see modern-day parallels in the Regency era?
I think in every era there is the same dichotomy. If you are wealthy and of high social status, you live quite well, if you are not of the privileged class, life is very tough. We like to think we are making progress, but human nature does seem to have an elemental Good vs. Evil conflict within it, so it’s a never-ending fight to try to make a fairer society. (I have to admit, I would like to have lived in the Regency during the Peace Celebrations and experienced that amazing fortnight of over-the-top partying!)
Your cast of characters is as varied as it is vividly drawn. Do they drive your story with their inter-relationships and their character traits or do you start with the mystery and fit them around it?
I love creating people and their interrelationships, so while I do sit down first and pick the “McGuffin—ie, the particular bit of science or technology that will be the core element of the mystery, it’s how the mystery affects the characters that is my main focus. I’ve found that adding a new person to Charlotte and Wrexford’s world helps keep things fresh and moving in unexpected ways. I had great fun introducing Peregrine to Raven and Hawk in this current book . . . and watching the feathers fly!
Can you give us a glimpse of what’s next for Wrexford and Sloane – personally and professionally?
Book Seven of the Wrexford & Sloane series is already turned in and there are at least two more coming after that. I’m also working on an exciting new historical fiction project—a fictional biography of Lady Hester Stanhope—that has been absolutely fascinating to research. Stay tuned for more on that in a future blog!
Fireworks at Hyde ParkThank you very much for telling us more about Murder at the Serpentine Bridge, Andrea! It’s been fascinating to hear more about what goes on “behind the book” and we’ll also be looking forward to reading about Lady Hester Stanhope on the blog! (If you haven’t already ordered a copy of Andrea’s latest, I recommend picking it up as soon as you can. It’s a super read!)
To be in the draw for a free copy of Andrea’s book, leave a comment on the blog or respond to these questions…
Penrose, Andrea MURDER AT THE SERPENTINE BRIDGE Kensington (Fiction None) $27.00 9, 27 ISBN: 978-1-4967-3253-8
An aristocratic sleuthing duo seeks a killer in Regency London's back alleys and drawing rooms.
The Earl of Wrexford and his wife, Charlotte, have had a great deal of experience with mysteries, and their wards, Raven and Hawk, former street urchins with a scientific bent, are always up for a new adventure. So when their dog turns up a body floating in Hyde Park's lake, the Serpentine, their curiosity is piqued. The late Jeremiah Willis--whose father was a formerly enslaved man from Virginia and mother a White Englishwoman--was an inventor of note, and Wrexford and Charlotte soon learn that his orphaned nephew, young Peregrine, stands to inherit a large estate from the other side of his family. But Peregrine's Uncle Belmont, who turns out to be married to Charlotte's brother's sister-in-law, resents the fact that his older brother's late-in-life son will inherit the estate he'd long regarded as his. The boys soon become friends, and Peregrine joins the Wrexfords in London, where a government representative asks Wrexford to find the person who killed Willis and stole the design for a revolutionary rifle and, of course, to recover the papers setting forth that design. The representative, who's not above a little blackmail, hints that his higher-ups know that Charlotte is the gadfly illustrator A.J. Quill, who often criticizes government policy. In honor of a celebration of peace, London is awash in visiting leaders and royals, including the czar of Russia. Once Wrexford learns that there's to be a secret auction for the papers, he determines with the help of his family and friends to find them first and uncover a killer.
A charming, action-packed mix of historical mystery and Regency romance.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Penrose, Andrea: MURDER AT THE SERPENTINE BRIDGE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A711906708/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=077b724d. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Andrea Penrose. Kensington, $26 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4967-3253-8
At the start of Penrose's roisterous sixth Wrexford and Sloane mystery (after 2021 's Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens), the Napoleonic Wars are finally over, and the Prince Regent has invited the sovereigns of Europe to London for a gala peace celebration. Charlotte Sloane, whose secret identity is scathing political cartoonist A.J. Quill, has finally married the dashing Earl of Wrexford, and they have created an unorthodox family with their two rambunctious, streetwise wards. But after the boys discover the body of engineering wizard Jeremiah Willis floating in a lake in Hyde Park, Charlotte's long-desired life of domesticity will have to wait a while longer. Willis was designing a fearsome secret weapon, but the prototype for his invention is missing, and the Crown's spymaster, Lord Grentham, recruits Wrexford to retrieve it befote it falls into the hands of a foreign enemy. Fascinating and well-researched historic events compensate for a plot that unwinds slowly and sometimes tediously as a host of intrepid heroes and heroines pit their wits against dastardly villains. Readers who enjoy a colorful depiction of Regency England without demanding strict plausibility will have fun. Agent: Gail Fortune, Fortune Talbot Agency. (Oct.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Murder at the Serpentine Bridge: A Wrexford & Sloane Historical Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 34, 15 Aug. 2022, p. 52. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A715674452/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8d36f705. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Penrose, Andrea MURDER AT THE MERTON LIBRARY Kensington (Fiction None) $27.00 9, 26 ISBN: 9781496739933
Regency aristocrats take an unusual interest in scientific inventions, social issues, and murder.
Charlotte, Countess of Wrexford, is known to a select few people as satirical cartoonist A.J. Quill, a thorn in the side of the powers that be. With her husband, Wrexford, their friend Christopher "Kit" Sheffield, and Kit's fiancee and business partner, Lady Cordelia Mansfield, a mathematician, she's solved many a mystery with a scientific bent. The Wrexfords' clever wards, former street urchins Raven and Hawk, can easily help them by slipping back into their old roles if need be. A fire in a warehouse housing the research lab of brilliant engineer Henry Maudslay kicks off an investigation that will uncover dangerous secrets. Maudslay is one of many people striving to invent a steam engine powerful enough to propel a ship across the ocean by a method yet to be perfected. Then Wrex gets a letter from Neville Greeley, head librarian at Oxford's Merton College Library and his late brother's best friend, asking him to visit as soon as possible; when he arrives, he finds that Greeley has been murdered, prompting him to investigate. Did a British traitor set up the French ambush that killed Wrex's brother, Thomas? One likely clue is a stolen manuscript that may be involved in the struggle between monied interests and foreign powers to bring the steamship to life. Despite their different paths of investigation, all the sleuths come together to solve a case with surprising ramifications.
An excellent mystery bolstered by fascinating information about a life-changing invention.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Penrose, Andrea: MURDER AT THE MERTON LIBRARY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A760508304/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=aded037c. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Murder at King's Crossing: A Wrexford and Sloane Mystery
Andrea Penrose. Kensington, $27 (368p) ISBN 978-1-4967-3996-4
Penrose maintains a brisk pace in her finely wrought eighth Regency-era adventure for the Earl of Wrexford and his cartoonist wife, Charlotte Sloane (after Murder at the Merton Library). At the outset, the couple has offered their country home for the wedding of their friends Christopher Sheffield and Lady Cordelia Mansfield. The festivities take a grim turn when police discover the body of Lady Cordelia's childhood friend, mathematician Jasper Milton, beneath a nearby bridge, with her cousin Oliver's invitation in his pocket. Cordelia enlists Wrexford and Charlotte to investigate, and the sleuths quickly become entangled in a Gordian knot of international intrigue involving Milton's groundbreaking mathematical theories about bridge construction. Penrose elegantly weaves insights about the period's politics and technological innovations into a splendid mystery that offers a peek at the darker corners of Eton, the elite British boys' school, which becomes crucial to Wrexford and Charlotte's investigation as they learn of Milton's connections to the school. This reliable series continues its winning streak. Agent: Gail Fortune, Fortune Talbot. (Oct.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Murder at King's Crossing: A Wrexford and Sloane Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 30, 5 Aug. 2024, p. 40. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A804959340/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8f048312. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Penrose, Andrea MURDER AT KING'S CROSSING Kensington (Fiction None) $27.00 9, 24 ISBN: 9781496739964
The Regency period produced many inventions. The plans for one of them provide a motive for murder.
Charlotte, Countess of Wrexford, rejoices in the wedding of her best friend, Christopher "Kit" Sheffield, to mathematician Lady Cordelia Mansfield. All goes as planned until an intruder to Wrexford Manor must be driven off by Charlotte's husband, the Earl of Wrexford, and "the Weasels," two street lads educated and adopted by her family. After the ceremony, a magistrate and a surgeon arrive to announce the murder of an unidentified man with a wedding invitation in his pocket, whom they assume to be Cordelia's cousin Oliver Carrick. Hearing their description, Cordelia realizes that the dead man is actually Oliver's fellow scientist and her old friend Jasper Milton, immediately making Oliver a suspect. The four friends and the Weasels, who've been instrumental in solving previous mysteries, quickly delve into this one. Jasper had been working on ideas to improve bridges in a time when transportation is mostly for the rich. A brilliant engineer, he was also philosophically opposed to the rich getting richer on the backs of the poor. Apparently several French factions are desperate to get the plans, including one that hopes to sell them to Russia for enough money to return Napoleon to power. Since His Majesty's government and plenty of businesspeople are also anxious to get the plans, it's no easy task to figure out which of them murdered Jasper. A conference brings many of the players together, giving the sleuths a chance to search for answers. They go down several dangerous and blind alleys in their painful hunt for the truth.
A complex and surprising mystery enhanced by historically accurate information about the science and society of the period.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Penrose, Andrea: MURDER AT KING'S CROSSING." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A806452812/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=bdcdc0e1. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.