With the same flawless storytelling that earned her the CWA Historical Dagger Award, Barbara Cleverly delivers a dazzling new novel. Sweeping us to the exotic island of Crete in 1928, Cleverly introduces a marvelous new heroine: whip-smart and spirited Laetitia Talbot, an aspiring archaeologist with a passion for adventure-and for the mysteries that only the keenest eyes can see. Born into a background of British privilege, Laetitia Talbot has been raised to believe there is no field in which she may not excel. She has chosen a career in the male-dominated world of archaeology, but she approaches her first assignment in Crete the only way she knows how-with dash and enthusiasm. Until she enters the Villa Europa, where something is clearly utterly amiss... Her host, a charismatic archaeologist, is racing to dig up the fabled island's next great treasure-even, perhaps, the tomb of the King of the Gods, himself. But then a beautiful young woman is found hanged and a golden youth drives his Bugatti over a cliff. From out of the shadows come whispers of past loves, past jealousies, and ancient myths that sound an eerie discord with present events. Letty will need all her determination and knowledge to unravel the secrets beneath the Villa Europa's roof-and they will lead her into the darkest, most terrifying place of all....
Laetitia Talbot Series
This series follows the journey of an ambitious young woman from a prominent British family, diving headfirst into the male-dominated world of archaeology. Her adventures take her to exotic locales where she encounters ancient mysteries and dangerous secrets. Each case demands not only her sharp intellect and archaeological knowledge but also her courage to confront hidden threats. She unravels intricate plots that intertwine the past with the present, venturing into dark and perilous places to uncover the truth.
Recommended Reading Order
A Laetitia Talbot Mystery - 2: Bright Hair About the Bone
- 401 pages
- 15 hours of reading
In Burgundy, France, in 1926, a famed archaeologist dies a terrible death in a country not his own . … Thus begins CWA Historical Dagger Award winner Barbara Cleverly’s dazzling new mystery novel. And soon aspiring archaeologist Laetitia Talbot will find herself embroiled in a murderous conspiracy centuries in the making.Letty’s joy at snaring a place in the excavation of an ancient church in Burgundy is dimmed by the tragedy of her godfather Daniel’s violent death. But when Letty receives a posthumous encoded message, she begins to believe that Daniel’s death was not a random act. Her investigation into Daniel’s murder sends her on a journey into a country’s remote history…into the orbit of a privileged French family harboring its own damning secret…into ancient Celtic mysteries and one sacred truth kept through the ages. It is an explosive revelation that could rock modern Christianity—and force a killer out of the shadows as a country devastated by one war lays the groundwork for another.…
A Darker God
- 416 pages
- 15 hours of reading
Set in 1928 Athens, the story follows aspiring archaeologist Laetitia Talbot as she embarks on a dangerous quest to uncover a conspiracy filled with betrayal and vengeance. As Letty delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself in a race against time, facing the threat of impending violence that could change everything. Award-winning author Barbara Cleverly weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, immersing readers in a richly atmospheric backdrop.