5 Stars
448 Pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, Fraud, Murder
Hannah Cole is a grieving widow. Her husband was found murdered near the river. He was the possible victim of a robbery. Hannah’s grandfather’s watch that was given by the Russian Tsar was taken along with his money. Hannah’s family has owned and operated a confectionery shop. The ownership now is in question since the death of her husband. One day William Devereaux, a dapper gentleman, comes into her shop. He informs her that he was a friend of her husband and that he had invested some funds with William’s business. He presents her with money which is a dividend from the investment. He begins to charm his way into Hannah’s life. He tells her about having iced cream as a child and researches a recipe for her. When her first attempt fails, William finds a chemist performing chemistry shows and seeks an audience with the man.
The story has a steady but building pace, the characters are very developed, and it is written in the first-person point of view from two different perspectives. The reader is aware of each character’s flaws from the beginning of the book. It is amazing how the author combines these stories with the twists I did not see coming. If you like historical mystery fiction books, you will enjoy reading this one.
