A shooting party at a remote country estate becomes deliciously complicated when Pat Merton reconnects with her old friend Jimmy—only to find herself utterly captivated by his fiancée, the witty and radiant Fenella. As the two women's attraction becomes impossible to ignore, the house itself grows thick with secrets: affairs, blackmail, and dangerous lies lurking beneath the surface of polite society. When a murder rocks Rodington Court, Pat and Fen must navigate their impossible feelings for each other while working together to uncover the truth—before the killer's identity destroys them all. It's a delightfully tense blend of romance, mystery, and that perfect K.J. Charles wit, where the greatest danger might be falling in love with the wrong woman at exactly the right time.

Reading soundtrack

Listen while you read

Spotify

yearningtensesmolderingelegantforbidden

Atmospheric 1920s-inspired indie folk with smoldering jazz undertones. Yearning vocals over fingerpicked guitar, sultry strings, and brooding orchestral moments. Mix languid ballads with tension-building tempo shifts. Think Nick Cave, Phoebe Bridgers, and vintage lounge noir—restrained desire with dangerous edges.