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Cleopatra Fox #12
Murder and the Missing Treasure: Cleopatra Fox Mysteries, Book 12
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?
Audible Audio
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
C.J. Archer
115 books5,841 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
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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 - 15 of 15 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 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 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!
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 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 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 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!
June 4, 2026
Excellent mystery!
This mystery holds enough twists to keep one guessing! I hope we will learn more about one of the newly introduced characters.
This mystery holds enough twists to keep one guessing! I hope we will learn more about one of the newly introduced characters.
June 5, 2026
It was good. I’m ready for them to go public with their relationship
June 5, 2026
Another fun entry in the Cleopatra Fox murder mystery series. I enjoy these books as much for the mysteries as for the delightful characters.
Looking forward to the next installment due Dec 2026.
Looking forward to the next installment due Dec 2026.
June 6, 2026
I can't wait to read these when they come out! I'm obsessed! I loved all of it. The only sad part is that they're too short 🥲
June 6, 2026
Keep writing this series, and I’ll keep reading it. I’m addicted.
June 8, 2026
Listened to audiobook - actual rating 4.5/5🌟
June 9, 2026
Another great mystery! Intrigue & suspense with the sweet hidden romance of our Harry and Cleopatra.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews