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Cleopatra Fox #12
Murder and the Missing Treasure
A pirate’s treasure, lost for decades, lures the greedy and adventurer alike. Did someone commit murder to get their hands on it?
When the celebrated biographer of the infamous pirate Blackheart takes a suite at the Mayfair Hotel to live out his final months, Goliath the porter is desperate to ask the one question that has haunted treasure hunters for Where is the loot buried? Forbidden to disturb a guest, he instead visits the man writing the author’s own life story, only to discover him dead at his desk. Accused of the crime, Goliath turns to Cleo and Harry to clear his name.
As they investigate, the danger escalates when a description of Goliath is splashed across the front page of the newspapers. It’s only a matter of time before someone connects the hotel porter to the manhunt, and to Harry, who is secretly hiding him.
The hotel is already under siege from the press, as word spreads that Blackheart’s biographer is in residence. The tantalizing link between the treasure and the murder fuels a frenzy, disrupting the hotel and driving away high-profile guests.
With suspects including a titled heir and a man claiming to be Blackheart’s secret grandson, can Cleo untangle fact from fiction before Goliath is discovered and the hotel’s reputation is ruined? And, more importantly for some, will the location of the hidden treasure finally be revealed?
When the celebrated biographer of the infamous pirate Blackheart takes a suite at the Mayfair Hotel to live out his final months, Goliath the porter is desperate to ask the one question that has haunted treasure hunters for Where is the loot buried? Forbidden to disturb a guest, he instead visits the man writing the author’s own life story, only to discover him dead at his desk. Accused of the crime, Goliath turns to Cleo and Harry to clear his name.
As they investigate, the danger escalates when a description of Goliath is splashed across the front page of the newspapers. It’s only a matter of time before someone connects the hotel porter to the manhunt, and to Harry, who is secretly hiding him.
The hotel is already under siege from the press, as word spreads that Blackheart’s biographer is in residence. The tantalizing link between the treasure and the murder fuels a frenzy, disrupting the hotel and driving away high-profile guests.
With suspects including a titled heir and a man claiming to be Blackheart’s secret grandson, can Cleo untangle fact from fiction before Goliath is discovered and the hotel’s reputation is ruined? And, more importantly for some, will the location of the hidden treasure finally be revealed?
252 pages, Paperback
Published May 31, 2026
About the author
C.J. Archer
122 books5,894 followersC.J. Archer is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical mystery and historical fantasy novels including the GLASS AND STEELE series, the CLEOPATRA FOX MYSTERIES, the MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES and THE GLASS LIBRARY series.
She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.
Subscribe to C.J.'s newsletter to be notified when she releases a new book. Join via her website: www.cjarcher.com
You can follow her on social media to get the latest updates on her books:
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She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.
Subscribe to C.J.'s newsletter to be notified when she releases a new book. Join via her website: www.cjarcher.com
You can follow her on social media to get the latest updates on her books:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CJArcherAuthorPage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcjarc...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
June 7, 2026
Really enjoyed this one! The mystery was particularly good. Lots of red herrings. Lots of Harry + Cleo. I’m so glad Aunt Lilian is making a comeback.
June 11, 2026
honestly the progress that happens between books is glacial because they're all so short, but I really enjoy sitting down for my afternoon with Cleo and knocking it all out in one sitting. they're enjoyable, and Cleo is insane (positive). picking up each new one feels like catching up with an old friend over a long lunch while she's back in town for a little while.
June 9, 2026
Another great mystery! Intrigue & suspense with the sweet hidden romance of our Harry and Cleopatra.
June 7, 2026
I won’t stop reading these, even if they usually leave me a bit disappointed. It hits that part of me that used to love the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.
This time around our intrepid investigators find themselves embroiled in a biographer’s murder. There is quite a bit of needless over complication, which led to a lot of back and forth interviews to the same three suspects. That being said, I had fun as always and look forward to the next Christmas themed installment.
This time around our intrepid investigators find themselves embroiled in a biographer’s murder. There is quite a bit of needless over complication, which led to a lot of back and forth interviews to the same three suspects. That being said, I had fun as always and look forward to the next Christmas themed installment.
June 3, 2026
Another wonderful addition to the Cleopatra Fox series. Exactly what I was hoping it would be. I'm glad the storyline has her aunt getting better. I hope she plays a bigger role in the upcoming books. The slow burn romance with Harry is KILLING ME, but in a good way.
This series has really become one of my absolute favorites. The charming characters, the witty dialogue, the twisty turny storylines that somehow keep murder mystery light and easy to read while still maintaining the integrity of the genre. I really can't say enough good things about these books. The fact that the author is able to release multiple books a year without sacrificing the quality of the stories is so impressive and appreciated. I can't wait for the next release! 10/10, 5 stars.
This series has really become one of my absolute favorites. The charming characters, the witty dialogue, the twisty turny storylines that somehow keep murder mystery light and easy to read while still maintaining the integrity of the genre. I really can't say enough good things about these books. The fact that the author is able to release multiple books a year without sacrificing the quality of the stories is so impressive and appreciated. I can't wait for the next release! 10/10, 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2026
Absolute ride or die fan of this series. Downton Abbey meets Sherlock Holmes with the swooniest slow burn love story? I’m *all in*.
June 16, 2026
Loving this series they get better each time can’t wait for the next
July 8, 2026
4.5 This is such a cozy comforting series for me!
June 5, 2026
It was good. I’m ready for them to go public with their relationship
June 27, 2026
I’ll always read these, and I love the continued development of Cleo and Harry’s relationship. This one felt a bit claustrophobic and repetitive though. It basically took place in four locations—the hotel, the boarding house, the country manor, and the butcher shop. Moving forward, let’s get some character development for Flossie. Actually the entire family was MIA in this one.
June 20, 2026
It was almost good. It's very hard to figure out who did it till the end, since the reason for murder had nothing to do with anything. And the killer didn't have to kill the victim, since the whole thing that caused the killing could've been brushed off.
June 16, 2026
2.75 stars.
Repetitive formula- Archer continues to use the same formula no matter what series it is.
Zero Character development in this book, same nonsense as usual. Protagonist love story doesn't evolve at all and neither does any supporting character arcs (Harmony, Bainbridges).
I've held on for a long time now, and am ready to let it go.
Repetitive formula- Archer continues to use the same formula no matter what series it is.
Zero Character development in this book, same nonsense as usual. Protagonist love story doesn't evolve at all and neither does any supporting character arcs (Harmony, Bainbridges).
I've held on for a long time now, and am ready to let it go.
June 6, 2026
Everyone at the Mayfair Hotel is excited when celebrated author Louis Arkwright comes to stay at the hotel, planning to spend his final weeks or months in comfort there. He is famous for his biography of pirate William Blackheart Watson and many people have tried over the years to decipher the clues he sprinkled in the book to locate Watson’s buried treasure, to no avail. But when the author’s own biographer is murdered at his boarding house, hotel porter Goliath is accused of the killing, and it is up to Cleopatra Fox and Harry Armitage to find the real killer before Goliath is caught…. There are a couple of other plots going on this time around too, including a mysterious private dinner that maid-slash-assistant Harmony is involved in preparing, an invasion of newspaper reporters determined to ferret out Arkwright, and the ongoing worry that Cleo’s uncle will learn of her liaison with Harry, a relationship that is far beyond that of co-workers in Harry’s detective agency. This is the 12th novel in this fast-paced series set in 1900 London, and it’s just as much fun as the earlier books. I think one could pick this up without having read the whole series, although probably the reader would then want to go back to the beginning because Cleo is such an engaging character - beautiful (of course) but also smart and determined and ferociously independent at a time when women were expected to be obedient ornamental accessories to men. Recommended!
July 19, 2026
This series gets better and better.
I am so glad Aunt Lillian's health has improved. It is becoming obvious that the relationship between Cleo and Harry is more than just work colleagues. I am not sure how this will go over with Uncle Ronald and "society". Harry is the friend you want to have when you are in trouble. The perfect person when Goliath is in need of help. I would have thought there would have been more of the hotel staff involved, given Goliath's predicament. However, with the death happening outside of the Mayfair, I guess it makes sense that they were not more involved.
Stolen treasure, stolen moments, and more keep this story moving along. A good read, good pace, and yet slow pace in one area. I liked the arc about the man who came to the Mayfair Hotel to die - was that really a "thing"? The idea of a waited-on hospice - did that really happen, I wonder. So interesting.
I was a little lost in how this was going to be resolved, but the story got there in the end with a lot of fun characters.
Happy Reading!
I am so glad Aunt Lillian's health has improved. It is becoming obvious that the relationship between Cleo and Harry is more than just work colleagues. I am not sure how this will go over with Uncle Ronald and "society". Harry is the friend you want to have when you are in trouble. The perfect person when Goliath is in need of help. I would have thought there would have been more of the hotel staff involved, given Goliath's predicament. However, with the death happening outside of the Mayfair, I guess it makes sense that they were not more involved.
Stolen treasure, stolen moments, and more keep this story moving along. A good read, good pace, and yet slow pace in one area. I liked the arc about the man who came to the Mayfair Hotel to die - was that really a "thing"? The idea of a waited-on hospice - did that really happen, I wonder. So interesting.
I was a little lost in how this was going to be resolved, but the story got there in the end with a lot of fun characters.
Happy Reading!
June 11, 2026
The author of a biography about a famous pirate has come to the Mayfair Hotel to live out his days. He has hired a biographer to share details about his own life including the mystery of the treasure that the pirate supposedly hid. But someone has murdered the biographer at his lodging house and stolen his notebook. Cleopatra and Harry are drawn into the case because Goliath, one of the Mayfair’s porters, had visited the author that morning. The suspects include the biographer’s fiancée, the landlady, another man who lived in the lodging house, and an aging actress whose unflattering biography the man had written earlier. As with the previous books in this series, I listened to the story not only while driving, but whenever I could squeeze time during the day. The dialogue is witty, the actions and motives are believable, and the characters grow and develop. The next book is scheduled to release in December, and I can’t wait!
July 10, 2026
Great read
This story went so fast and so quick there was so much going on all the action all the characters fantastic everything she writes is really really good so if you're looking for a quick easy series that's so good easy to get into pick up this book you'll love it you can read from the beginning Or you can start with book 5 each is his own individual story but then the backdrop is that chloe and mister Armitage harry have A thing going on so from book 1 to book 13 it's fantastic Pick it up and read it you'll love it you'll love it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did I couldn't put it down
This story went so fast and so quick there was so much going on all the action all the characters fantastic everything she writes is really really good so if you're looking for a quick easy series that's so good easy to get into pick up this book you'll love it you can read from the beginning Or you can start with book 5 each is his own individual story but then the backdrop is that chloe and mister Armitage harry have A thing going on so from book 1 to book 13 it's fantastic Pick it up and read it you'll love it you'll love it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did I couldn't put it down
June 14, 2026
This one seemed all over the place - like even the author didn’t know who the killer was until the end and just pinned it on someone. It was a bit boring as well. I didn’t like any of the new characters and there was very little interaction with the characters of the books that I do enjoy - like her cousins and the hotel staff. Cleo isn’t my favorite character and so when it’s all about her I don’t enjoy them as much. Cleo and Harry often bore me - especially when they keep interviewing the same people over and over again. There has to be a better way to move the investigation forward.
June 30, 2026
4 Stars
***LIBBY Audio***
MC's: Cleo and Harry
Goliath stumbles upon a murdered man, and is seen leaving the scene. Naturally he becomes the prime suspect. Cleo and Harry team up to find the real killer, and the promises to find the notebook that can hold the clues as to why this all happened.
There is a slight thaw within Cleo's family towards Harry...very slight. There is a slight thaw with Harry's mom towards Cleo. Thank goodness I enjoy the stories as a whole because by the time Cleo and Harry truly get together I may be too old to care!!! 😂
***LIBBY Audio***
MC's: Cleo and Harry
Goliath stumbles upon a murdered man, and is seen leaving the scene. Naturally he becomes the prime suspect. Cleo and Harry team up to find the real killer, and the promises to find the notebook that can hold the clues as to why this all happened.
There is a slight thaw within Cleo's family towards Harry...very slight. There is a slight thaw with Harry's mom towards Cleo. Thank goodness I enjoy the stories as a whole because by the time Cleo and Harry truly get together I may be too old to care!!! 😂
July 20, 2026
What am I going to binge once I’m caught up on #13? 😭
*minor spoilers ahead*
📚 still absolutely loving my Nancy Drew + a sprinkle of Bridgerton series 💕
📚 another great mystery with lots of intrigue and confusion! I again guessed just the wrong person as a murderer lol and loving how the stakes continue to grow, with their friend being the one accused of murder! 😳
📚 when the heck is Cleo going to grow a pair and tell her family about Harry?! Ay Diós mío
Can’t wait to dive into the next one, even though I’m sad I’ll be up to date and can’t binge anymore 🥲
*minor spoilers ahead*
📚 still absolutely loving my Nancy Drew + a sprinkle of Bridgerton series 💕
📚 another great mystery with lots of intrigue and confusion! I again guessed just the wrong person as a murderer lol and loving how the stakes continue to grow, with their friend being the one accused of murder! 😳
📚 when the heck is Cleo going to grow a pair and tell her family about Harry?! Ay Diós mío
Can’t wait to dive into the next one, even though I’m sad I’ll be up to date and can’t binge anymore 🥲
June 9, 2026
Such a warm feeling to be back within the pages of Cleo's world, and I couldn't stop laughing at Goliath's stupidity for getting himself wrapped up in this mess. Archer has an incredible way of making us feel at home with these characters without ever losing the original spark that made us fall in love with them in the first place. I hope this series continues for many more books - and with a shorter gap between each one!
June 10, 2026
This is probably one of my favorite Cleopatra Fox books yet! I love pirate stories, and having Blackheart’s missing treasure at the center of the mystery was such an exciting plot point! I would have loved to see more Harmony, but I did love the fact that Cleo’s family all played a small part in finding the murderer. I also adore Cleo and Harry together, but I am still hoping for the day they can tell Cleo’s family of their relationship!
June 18, 2026
Always great fun to return to the Mayfair Hotel with Cleo, Harry and the cast of characters that make these mysteries so delightful.
This mystery involves pirates treasure a murder of a biographer who may know its whereabouts and a whole set of twists and turns that put Cleo and Harry back on the case to solve and help prove a friend is innocent.
It had me guessing at every turn. Can’t wait for the next installment and seeing where the romance progresses between our main characters.
This mystery involves pirates treasure a murder of a biographer who may know its whereabouts and a whole set of twists and turns that put Cleo and Harry back on the case to solve and help prove a friend is innocent.
It had me guessing at every turn. Can’t wait for the next installment and seeing where the romance progresses between our main characters.
July 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ Murder and the Missing Treasure
I’m deducting half a star because there’s a difference between a slow burn and straight up torture. 😂
The mysteries are always fabulous, clever, and so well planned, and the characters continue to be so much fun to follow.
But please, for the love of all things bookish... can we finally tie up the romance? This tiptoeing around each other is absolutely 💀 me. Even with my impatience, this was another fantastic installment. 📚🔎
I’m deducting half a star because there’s a difference between a slow burn and straight up torture. 😂
The mysteries are always fabulous, clever, and so well planned, and the characters continue to be so much fun to follow.
But please, for the love of all things bookish... can we finally tie up the romance? This tiptoeing around each other is absolutely 💀 me. Even with my impatience, this was another fantastic installment. 📚🔎
June 3, 2026
Murder and the Missing Treasure by C.J. Archer is yet another entertaining and engaging mystery that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I just devoured it.
There were all the usual characters with some showing their softer side. No spoilers I promise
Now to wait until December for the next instalment and await my immediate reading slump!
There were all the usual characters with some showing their softer side. No spoilers I promise
Now to wait until December for the next instalment and await my immediate reading slump!
June 17, 2026
Another delicious murder mystery for my favorite sleuths, Cleo and Harry, to solve. Goliath is the unwitting suspect in the murder of a biographer, and it’s down to Cleo and Harry to prove his innocence and catch the real killer. I have yet to read a CJ Archer book that hasn’t immersed me in the story.
June 18, 2026
I noticed that after reading two or three contemporary romances in a row, I always crave a shift to historical fiction or mystery. This book delivered exactly what I was looking for! As the 12th book in the series, the mystery was intriguing, and the resolution was highly satisfying. I can’t wait to read more from this series!
June 26, 2026
This has been an enjoyable series. I love that Aunt Lillian is making a comeback and doing better. I also really enjoy the relationship between Cleo and Harry - Even though it is moving at a snails pace!
The overall character development throughout the series has been wonderful to experience. I also enjoyed the "storytelling" this time around. It was interesting, and sweet.
The overall character development throughout the series has been wonderful to experience. I also enjoyed the "storytelling" this time around. It was interesting, and sweet.
July 19, 2026
I love what I call these fluffy English murders. Interesting characters and an intreating story that moves right along. The best part is the actual criminals getting their comeuppance. I love Cleo and Harry and I think that have found a new little cozy series to fill in while I am waiting for my library selections.
June 7, 2026
I did feel like I knew more on who the killer was but there was still of course multiple possible scenarios being presented. The progress of Harry and Cleopatra doesn’t present much farther. I can’t wait for the next book to come out in December. And it has a mistletoe in the name. Can’t wait!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews