Shocking Deceptions

Penrose & Pyke Mysteries #9

by Rose Pascoe

Penrose and Pyke’s hopes of a quieter life are dashed by a spate of baffling burglaries and a persuasive charlatan promoting a miracle cure.
Dunedin society is up in arms as their valuables vanish without a trace from locked homes. Although the trail leads to an apparent dead end, private detective Charlie Penrose Pyke catches the scent of a shadowy figure lurking behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Grace Penrose Pyke’s curiosity leaves her in a precarious position with life-changing consequences, after she is drawn into an investigation of dubious medical devices. Their combined talents will be needed to unravel this pair of shocking deceptions.

The Penrose & Pyke Mystery series is set during a remarkable period of social upheaval in 1890s New Zealand.

Genres: Historical Mystery

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2025

About the author

Rose Pascoe writes historical mysteries with a dash of romance, when she isn’t plotting real-life adventures. She lives in beautiful New Zealand, land of beaches and mountains, where long walks provide the perfect conditions for dreaming up plots and fickle weather provides the incentive to sit down and actually write the darn things. After a career in health, justice and social research, her passion is for stories set against a backdrop of social revolution. Her heroines are ordinary women, who meet the challenges thrown at them with determination, ingenuity, courage, and humour.

Reviews

[Michigan Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner!

Grace Penrose Pyke is getting closer to her dream of becoming a doctor. She is in her final year of medical school and will graduate at the end of November. However, besides her schooling, Grace has continued to help her PI husband investigate some of his cases.

In book 9 of the Penrose and Luke series, Charlie and Grace find themselves assisting the police in investigating a series of burglaries that all occurred on the same night. In the process, they uncover an electrifying case of medical fraud, some mysterious deaths, and that their little family will soon expand...

Grace is expecting!

With the hep of Grace's Aunt Anne and her new husband, and Charlie's Aunt Lily (who is married to Charlie's partner), the culprit doesn't stand a chance. Another thoroughly plotted and cleverly presented story by Rose Pascoe.

I can't wait to read Number 10: Deadly Demands.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining entry in the series had me guessing who the villain was until about the 75% mark. There are plenty of twists that had me scratching my head and had me wondering what might come next. I enjoy the unique location in which the novel is set (New Zealand). It's a refreshing change from Victorian London. I will be sticking with the series.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting mix of murder, history and medicine. The constant cast of characters continue to develop well and the cast of criminals has its own complexity. An enjoyable read

[Gary and Sandra Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining

This exciting story will have you jumping from one suspect to another in this story of murder, greed and fraud.