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A Lady Arianna Regency Mystery #9
The Price of Paradise
A gripping Regency tale of greed, temptation, and the deadly dance between truth and lies.
London, 1817: For Arianna and Saybrook, a rare interlude of peace at their country estate with their young son has been a much-needed respite from their undercover missions for the British government. But when an old friend arrives in London as part of an American diplomatic mission and requests their help, they are drawn back into danger.
Asked to advise on a volatile political issue that threatens the balance of power in the New World, Arianna and Saybrook are soon entangled in a web of secrets and betrayal. At its center is a charismatic British war hero turned adventurer who is seeking government support in creating a new country in the Caribbean—a paradise on earth which he claims offer wildly profitable investment opportunities.
But when a reclusive gadfly is murdered, the intrigue turns deadly. Clues emerge, loyalties fracture, and the truth proves far more dangerous than they imagined. With enemies closing in and consequences echoing across continents, Arianna and Saybrook must unmask a cunning villain—before the search for answers makes them the next targets.
Perfect for fans of historical mystery and strong female protagonists.
London, 1817: For Arianna and Saybrook, a rare interlude of peace at their country estate with their young son has been a much-needed respite from their undercover missions for the British government. But when an old friend arrives in London as part of an American diplomatic mission and requests their help, they are drawn back into danger.
Asked to advise on a volatile political issue that threatens the balance of power in the New World, Arianna and Saybrook are soon entangled in a web of secrets and betrayal. At its center is a charismatic British war hero turned adventurer who is seeking government support in creating a new country in the Caribbean—a paradise on earth which he claims offer wildly profitable investment opportunities.
But when a reclusive gadfly is murdered, the intrigue turns deadly. Clues emerge, loyalties fracture, and the truth proves far more dangerous than they imagined. With enemies closing in and consequences echoing across continents, Arianna and Saybrook must unmask a cunning villain—before the search for answers makes them the next targets.
Perfect for fans of historical mystery and strong female protagonists.
- GenresMystery
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Andrea Penrose
25 books2,044 followersAndrea Penrose is the USA Today bestselling author of Regency-era historical fiction, including the acclaimed Wrexford & Sloane mystery series, as well as Regency romances written under the names Cara Elliott and Andrea Pickens. Published internationally in ten languages, she is a three-time RITA Award finalist and the recipient of numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery and two Gold Leaf Awards.
A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era’s swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks.
A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era’s swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 27, 2026
Good but needs some linguistic editing...
The author has a marvelous turn of phrase and the Wrexford and Sloan series is well edited. However, Ariana frequently suffers from phrases "out of time" for the period or even gutter cant that weren't used by the class she is depicting. The stories are well developed, but a bit more editing to the linguistic detail would make ready less "off-putting" and more enjoyable.
The author has a marvelous turn of phrase and the Wrexford and Sloan series is well edited. However, Ariana frequently suffers from phrases "out of time" for the period or even gutter cant that weren't used by the class she is depicting. The stories are well developed, but a bit more editing to the linguistic detail would make ready less "off-putting" and more enjoyable.
August 14, 2026
International intrigue and murder in Regency England
A true story is the backdrop to this tale of espionage, murder, fraud, and larger than life characters. It will appeal to readers who enjoy historical mysteries and fiction, complex plots, and well-drawn settings. Many of the characters are recurring from earlier books in the series, but the novelty of the plot means the book can be read as a standalone (although the entire series is great).
A true story is the backdrop to this tale of espionage, murder, fraud, and larger than life characters. It will appeal to readers who enjoy historical mysteries and fiction, complex plots, and well-drawn settings. Many of the characters are recurring from earlier books in the series, but the novelty of the plot means the book can be read as a standalone (although the entire series is great).
August 4, 2026
It had been so long since the last book, I wondered if the author has plans to publish any more. When I found this up for release, I was quite looking forward to it. It was pretty good, though the culprit was a little obvious.
June 16, 2026
Arianna and Saybrook seem once again to have the resiliency of unraveling the political intrique which would have resulted in international disaster. Always fascinating.
July 19, 2026
complicated plot
Good to see Ariana and Saybrook again. The story kind of dragged and the machinations were so complicated. Good series.
Good to see Ariana and Saybrook again. The story kind of dragged and the machinations were so complicated. Good series.
August 18, 2026
as always, simply amazing!
Wonderful characters, the type that lives on in your mind even after you turn the last page! Unique story line, truthful historical details… just perfection! As always from this author!
Wonderful characters, the type that lives on in your mind even after you turn the last page! Unique story line, truthful historical details… just perfection! As always from this author!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews