An Intriguing Lady

Lady Frances Ffolkes is an unusual woman in a period of time when unmarried women didn't venture their opinions. Death on the Sapphire by R.J. Koreto introduces Lady Frances Ffolkes, an unmarried titled lady who does not live with her family. Very unusual in the early 1900s.

When Katherine Colcombe, the sister of the late Major Danny Colcombe asks Lady Frances for assistance in finding a manuscript her brother wrote before he died, Lady Frances is intrigued. Danny had told his sister if anything happened to him, she was to take the manuscript to Lady Frances and see about having it published. When Kat looks for the manuscript, she discovers it is missing.

Danny's manuscript was a war memoir based on his experiences during the Boer War, a period in British history best forgotten. When Frances confirms the manuscript is missing, she determines it must have been stolen and wonders what it contains.

Before long Lady Frances finds herself caught between Scotland Yard and the Special Branch in a race to find the manuscript. What is in the manuscript that has caused the British government so much concern?

When people begin to die around her, Lady Frances knows she has stumbled on something explosive. Along with her Lady's Maid, the resourceful June Mallow, Lady Frances pieces together what makes the missing manuscript so powerful.

Lady Frances is resourceful and an excellent character. I enjoyed her dedication to her causes especially women's suffrage in a period of time when many men thwarted the efforts of women to gain the vote. I look forward to other books in the series.

For other books by R.J. Koreto, click here.