The Doxies Penalty

Sarah Tolerance #4

by Madeleine E. Robins

In England of 1811 Queen Charlotte may be Regent, but the fate of women—particularly Fallen women—can be particularly harsh. To avoid the fate of others of her kind, Sarah Tolerance works as an Agent of Inquiry, using her wits and her skill with a short sword to find lost trinkets and wastrel husbands. But sometimes her cases are not so simple.

When a fallen woman's life savings is stolen, Miss Tolerance is asked to find the culprit. But what begins as a simple case of swindled funds soon turns to murder.

As the investigation twists, and more bodies are discovered, Miss Tolerance and her friend and erstwhile suitor, the magistrate Sir Walter Mandif, find themselves untangling a web of passion, deception, and madness…

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Writing gives Madeleine Robins the chance to focus on many of her ruling passions: cities, history, swordplay, the history of disease, and the future of mankind–with a side order of historical costuming and infrastructure (urban plumbing is far more interesting than you’d think).

Born in New York City, the Author has been, in no particular order, a nanny, a teacher, an actor and stage-combatant, an administrator, a comic book editor, a baker, typist-clerk for Thos. Cook’s Houses of Parliament office, a repairer-of-hurt-books, an editorial consultant, and a writer. She holds a degree in Theatre Studies from Connecticut College, and attended the Clarion Science Fiction Workshop in 1981. She is a founding member of Book View Cafe (http://bookviewcafe.com) where most of her short fiction is available for free!

Reviews

[karlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

In awe at Robins being able to pick up where she left off with Miss Tolerance after fourteen years without missing even a single beat. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised, since The Sleeping Partner came seven years after the second book, and that was arguably the best instalment in the series. Until now? I'm not sure – I loved The Sleeping Partner, and even more so on my recent reread – but The Doxies Penalty certainly gives it a close run. I'm not going to pretend like I've been pining all this time for another Sarah Tolerance book, but going through all three extant ones in anticipation of this new one has made it pretty clear I probably should've been. The Doxies Penalty honestly feels like a gift, not only putting a truly satisfying bow on the series, but laying some pretty intriguing groundwork for new stories, should Robins find the time for them.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Tolerance is back. She has just finished a case of theft, restoring the stolen jewelry, when Cook asks her to see if Sarah can help Cook’s friend, Mrs. Pouter. Mrs. Pouter is one of the Fallen, who had saved her money then invested it in a fund offering nine percent return. She has ceased receiving payments and is concerned. As Sarah investigates, she learns that of the women who sent letters of recommendation, one had been killed by a cart and the other never wrote the letter. Then Mrs. Pouter is murdered. As this is going on, Sarah is concerned with her Aunt Thea’s health - she has had an apoplectic fit. First the doctor, then the surgeon is called; treatment is prescribed. Will Sarah solve Mrs. Pourer’s murder and who is swindling Fallen women? Will her Aunt recover?

[Julia Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world and these characters and it was a pleasure to be there with them again! This book was such a fun read with an interesting premise and an engaging mystery. It was heartbreaking at times and heartwarming at others. I just loved it. Thank goodness for more Sarah Tolerance!