Lady Sherlock: Circle of the Smiling Dead (Volume 1)

LADY NATASHA (TASHA) DORRINGTON, an emancipated and brilliant detective in 1906 London, is drawn into a deadly mystery involving an ancient pagan curse and a diabolical scheme to plunge Europe into a devastating war. 

An Admiralty courier is murdered, and plans for the Dreadnought -- a new battleship that will upset the balance of naval power -- are stolen. All evidence implicates Great Britain’s international rival: Germany. Tasha is summoned to help solve the crime. She is thus observed by DEIRDRE, the Priestess of a malevolent cult intent on exacting vengeance on Western Civilization for the long-ago decimation of her religious sect. Cleverly leveraging the greed of giant armaments firms in England and Germany, Deirdre plans to frame Germany in an attack on the Dreadnought. In her arrogance, Deirdre decides to simultaneously engage Tasha in a contest of wits.

The story moves from fog-bound London to a desolate island off the coast of Scotland. Deirdre manipulates Tasha's overconfidence, crafting a mystery to lure her into a labyrinth of false leads, lethal traps, and an unexpected romance. As Tasha pieces together the puzzle, Deirdre plays her top card and strikes at Tasha's vulnerable heart by kidnapping her young daughter - left defenseless in her Mother's occupational absence.

It is an epic struggle between two formidable women: one madly intent on enslavement and revenge, the other fighting for a free and rational humanity—as well as the precious life of her only daughter.

"Sherlock Holmes fans will find much to enjoy in this intriguing addition to the literary canon inspired by Conan Doyle's iconic creation. Lady Natasha Dorrington, however, is a character strong enough to sustain the interest of readers who know nothing of the infamous resident of Baker Street. An ingenious and compelling plot provides this fascinating female detective with twists and turns aplenty. I very much look forward to further Lady Sherlock adventures in the future."—Max Kinnings, author of Hitman