Lady Kiera Gage (nee Darby) and her husband, inquiry agent Sebastian Gage long familiar with the gothic and macabre, are put in close quarters with a puzzling corpse when a revelry turns deadly.

At once an homage to a classic trope and an immersive gothic romance A Stroke of Malice is a compelling historical romance that is not only atmospheric but eerily relevant. And when the investigation takes a treacherous turn, Kiera discovers just how deep the killer is willing to dig to keep their secrets from ever seeing the light of day.Though locked room mysteries are a trope often revisit in the genre, it takes an immense amount of talent for an author to convince you that theirs is, indeed, the first of its kind. It is evident the man met with foul play, and Kiera and Gage soon realize that a ruthless murderer walks among them-and may well be a member of the duchess's own family. The corpse is thought to be the duchess's son-in-law who had purportedly traveled to Paris more than a month earlier. Matters swiftly turn from irksome to downright deadly when the partygoers stumble upon a decomposing body in the castle's crypt. The family appears to be under a great strain, and someone seems determined to cause mayhem among the guests with a series of forged notes. But upon their arrival at the opulent estate, it becomes obvious that all is not merry in their hostess's home.

Though she normally avoids such fashionable, rambunctious events, Kiera is ready to join in the festive merrymaking.

After enjoying a delightful few weeks with her family, expectant mother Kiera and Sebastian Gage have been invited to the Duchess of Bowmont's Twelfth Night party in Traquair, Scotland. Lady Kiera Darby and her husband Sebastian Gage are looking forward to celebrating with new friends at an exciting yearly soiree, but they soon learn that murder never takes a holiday.

A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber