I am so excited to have Kate Parker drop by today for a visit to tell us about The Conspiring Woman.
The Conspiring Woman, Book #4 of the Victorian Bookshop Mystery series, begins a few months after The Royal Assassin ends in the deepest part of winter. Georgia gets a new case from a father about his missing son. The child is only seven. Georgia is terrified for the child until the father adds the boy was last seen with his mother. The father doesn’t want his wife returned.
As Georgia begins to investigate, she learns about other well-to-do women who have vanished into the London fog. How she wishes she had the help of her closest confidants, but Emma is on her honeymoon, Aunt Phyllida is nursing a friend through a serious illness, and the Duke of Blackford is in the States checking out his investments.
Georgia finds the forward thinking daughter of the aristocracy who has been hiding the woman and her son. When the wealthy mother’s body is fished out of the Thames, Georgia returns to take the child to his father, only to discover the boy, her heir, is missing. And then the weather worsens.
As a bonus, the first chapter of the first book in a new series, Deadly Scandal, set in London in the late 1930’s is included.
About The Author
Kate Parker grew up reading her mother’s collection of mystery novels, and now she can’t write a story without someone being murdered in some fiendish way. It’s taken her years to convince her husband she hasn’t poisoned dinner; that funny taste is because she can’t cook. Her children have grown up to be surprisingly normal, but two of them are developing their own love of literary mayhem, so the term “normal” may have to be revised.
Her love of history has led her to write the Victorian Bookshop Mystery series, Regency novellas in Christmas Revels and Christmas Revels II, and a new series next year she’s calling the Deadly series. In all cases, bodies drop, clues are followed, and an intrepid lady sleuth saves the day. She can be reached at www.kateparkerbooks.com and on Facebook.
The Conspiring Woman
(Victorian Bookshop Mysteries)
4th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Setting – London – UK
JDP Press (October 4, 2015)
Paperback: 302 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0996483100
E-Book ASIN: B015RZOK30
The fourth in the Victorian Bookshop Mystery series. Georgia Fenchurch must find a missing boy and his mother. When the mother is found dead, the race is on to find the child. Georgia searches to learn who was behind the mother’s murder and the disappearance of not only this woman, but several more well-to-do women in late Victorian London. Meanwhile, Georgia is counting the days until the Duke of Blackford returns from his business trip to America. As much as she wants to see him, she fears he will return with a rich American bride like so many other British aristocrats. Can she rescue the young boy and win the duke?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I am so sorry to see this series ending. It truly is one of my favorites. Kate has wrapped things up with a magnificent bow.
The Archivist Society has a new case. A woman and her son are missing and strangely the husband only wants his son found. This raises many flags for Georgia especially when the mother is murdered. Sir Edward becomes her prime suspect. She travels all over London to find the boy and when she finds him she has huge reservations about reuniting him with his father.
The Duke of Blackford is traveling about America and Georgia can’t wait until he returns. She is afraid he may have found a bride while he was gone. His letters don’t ease her fears.
Kate Parker transports us to Victorian England. The imagery is superb. I don’t think I could ever live in England with all that rain but the cover of the book looks so inviting at this time of year.
The characters in the series are some of the most enjoyable I have known. Georgia seems to have no fear and her inquisitive nature makes her a top-notch sleuth. Blackford is quite a gentleman and needs a woman like Georgia. Sir Broderick deals with a disability on a daily basis but leads The Archivist Society and negotiates the sales of treasured books better than anyone else could. As a disabled person myself it is so good to read about a man like him. All of the characters are wonderfully created and so full of depth.
In addition to the missing boy mystery, the author also wraps up the mystery of Georgia Fenchurch parent’s death and the incident that left Sir Broderick in a wheelchair. I was very surprised with the way this played out. What people would do for a rare book is just astounding.
Things do wrap up quickly because the author did not want to leave her readers hanging. When a publisher ends a series the author often doesn’t know until the last book has been released. I applaud Kate Parker for self publishing this last book. I would love to read more about these characters but am excited to know she has a new series in the works. She shares the first chapter of Deadly Scandal with us and it looks very promising.
I have loved every book in this series. The trips back in time are so captivating. I recommend reading this series in order to follow the progression but they each can be read on their own. Thank you Kate for sharing Georgia and her friends with us.

I am giving away my review copy!!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.
Leave a comment for Kate for 5 Bonus Entries.
Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.
If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End December 22, 2015 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Click Here For Entry Form
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”