Murder in Bloomsbury (Atlas Catesby #2) by D.M. Quincy Published by Crooked Lane Books on February 13th 2018
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Acclaimed author D. M. Quincy is back with a second captivating mystery as adventurer Atlas Catesby must put aside his own feelings for Lady Lilliana as they work together to get justice for someone she holds dear.
Aristocratic adventurer Atlas Catesby has spent the last year trying to forget Lady Lilliana Warwick, but when she reappears in his life imploring him to help her solve a murder, Atlas feels compelled to say yes.
The ner’re-do-well brother of Lilliana’s maid died of arsenic poisoning. Authorities are ruling his death an accident, but his sister suspects he was murdered. As Atlas and Lilliana investigate, they discover that the victim had a mysterious lover—a high-born lady he threatened with scandal after she spurned him. When they finally uncover her shocking true identity, the case blows wide open and it turns out there is a whole string of women who had reason to kill the handsome charmer. Now, as Atlas fights his growing feelings for Lilliana, they must work together to catch the assassin before the killer gets to them first.
Perfect for fans of Charles Finch and C. S. Harris, Murder in Bloomsbury is the magnificent second Atlas Catesby mystery.
“Sir? Are you awake?” The distant voice, halting and uncertain, cut through the morning stillness, penetrating Atlas Catesby’s deep slumber. “He says it’s urgent.”
Atlas rolled over, his body heavy with lethargy. It took a moment for his valet’s voice to pierce his slumber-slogged mind. He swallowed against the dryness in his throat, his voice scratchy. “What is it?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, sir.” Jamie spoke hesitantly. Just a few short months ago, he’d been a houseboy in a modest country home and was still adjusting to his newly elevated status as a gentleman’s valet.
“Then why are you?” Trying to recall what day it was, Atlas pressed a palm flat against his left temple, where sharp pain hammered like a righteous blacksmith behind his eye.
“There’s a message for you. It was just delivered.”
So early in the morning? “What time is it?”
“Half past ten, sir.”
Atlas blinked and tried to order his mind. He rarely slept late. The reason for his current somnolent state, for the relentless drumbeat in his head, slowly took shape in his memory. Last evening’s events flowed back like a lazy river, filling the fuzzy spaces in his mind. He remembered a prodigious amount of wine as well as the source of the cinnamon scent that still lingered in the air. Her uncomplicated feminine smile had beckoned him to bed, a balm for the inner bleakness that had permeated almost everything since his recent return to London.
He slid a hand across to the other side of the bed, only to find an empty space where she should have been. The cool bedclothes suggested the spot had been abandoned hours ago. Relief loosened his muscles, even as a stab of guilt assailed him.
The door creaked as Jamie pushed it farther open. His eyes widened at something on the worn parquet floor.
“Begging your pardon, sir.” He flushed, painful florid splotches painting his full cheeks. The boy’s curious gaze darted to the mahogany-framed bed and bounced away from it just as quickly.
Atlas lifted his weight onto one elbow, squinting as a sharp blade of morning light cut across his face. Following the trail of Jamie’s gaze, he spotted the cause of his valet’s discomfiture. A woman’s stays were strewn on the floor next to the pantaloons Atlas had carelessly tossed aside during the previous evening’s urgent, slightly drunken coupling.
Atlas felt the heat rise in his own face. He was still unaccustomed to having servants underfoot during his most private moments. And the boy had never witnessed his master in intimate company with a woman, not since coming into his employ almost a year ago. Granted, Atlas had been gone most of that time, but still, he did not make a practice of taking respectable ladies to bed in order to slake his lust.
“Leave the message on the table.” He spoke curtly, suddenly feeling self-conscious of his nudity beneath the bedclothes, even though, as his valet, Jamie had certainly seen him stripped to the skin before.
The boy seemed to find the bedpost’s ornate carving extraordinarily interesting, for his gaze never left it. “It’s just that…you see…there’s…” he stammered.
Atlas suppressed a curse. How long was Jamie going to remain in the chamber? “What is it? Spit it out.”
Jamie cleared his throat, shifting from one long gangly leg to the other but showing no apparent inclination to quit the room. “There’s a footman here. He insists on waiting for your answer or for you to accompany him.”
“Accompany him where? Whose footman is he?” Few people knew he was in town, save his friend, the Earl of Charlton, who employed Jamie whenever Atlas traveled abroad. “Is the note from Charlton?”
“No, sir.”
“Then who?”
“I’m sure I couldn’t say, sir. But his livery…it’s the same as the bloke that came last fall.”
Atlas froze. It couldn’t be. “Black-and-gold livery?”
“Yes, sir.” Jamie nodded eagerly. “That’s it.”
A bittersweet sensation sliced through his lungs. Black-and-gold livery could only belong to the Duke of Somerville. Lilliana’s brother. Not Lilliana, he reminded himself harshly. Roslyn. Lady Roslyn Lilliana Sterling. The woman he’d been trying to forget for the past nine long months.
Slipping out from under the bedclothes, he touched his feet to the frayed carpet. Unmindful of his bare state, he strode across the chamber and reached for his crumpled clothes.
“I wonder what the devil he wants.” Atlas pulled on his trousers, half skipping on one foot to maintain his balance. Pulling his linen shirt over his head, he slipped out to his sitting room and crossed barefoot into the entry hall, where the duke’s servant awaited him.
The polished brass buttons and gold braiding adorning the young man’s uniform glittered like twinkling stars against the fine black wool fabric. The footman wore the livery to excellent advantage; he was tall and well made, as were all the footmen in Mayfair’s finest homes. Only the best accoutrements would do for the metropolis’s highest born.
And few births were superior to Somerville’s. Even among dukes, he stood at the highest rung, just below the royal dukes. Although, if the rumors were to be believed, Somerville was wealthier than the Royals.
Atlas took the note and broke the seal. He hadn’t recognized the emblem on the previous occasion when the young duke had written to him, but now the glossy smooth wax medallion made him think of the man’s sister.
Somerville had, of course, used an entire sheet of paper to write the short note. Cost was no issue. The missive, written in fluent, confident strokes, bade Atlas to attend his grace at his earliest convenience. Nothing else. No explanation. It was practically a command.
Irritation simmered along the surface of Atlas’s skin. He wasn’t one of Somerville’s lackeys. He crumpled the sheet in one large hand, intent on instructing the footman to tell his employer to go to the devil.
But—he paused—what if something had happened to Lilliana? Or one of her children? His resolve to stay away, to put Lilliana from his mind, evaporated like morning dew once the sun broke.
He gave the footman a sharp nod. “Inform his grace that I’ll attend him this afternoon.”
Leave a comment for a chance to win a hardback copy of “Murder in Mayfair” Book 1 in the Atlas Catesby mystery series, recently named a Library Journal Best Book of 2017. (Print in the US, UK, Canada & Australia. Digital everywhere else.)
Question: D.M Quincy likes to read and write historicals because she enjoys exploring the manners and societal restrictions of the time. What do you like about reading about the past? Do you have a favorite historical time period and place that you like to read about?
About D.M. Quincy
D.M. Quincy is an award-winning television journalist who has covered dozens of crimes, including violent unsolved murders that stayed with her for years afterwards.
She’s pretty sure that had something to do with her decision to write her own stories in which a brilliant amateur detective always gets the bad guy (or girl), thus making sure that justice is always served.
As a US Foreign Service brat, D.M. spent most of her childhood roaming the world, which is probably why the protagonist in her Atlas Catesby mystery series travels to far-flung places as often as he can.
When she isn’t hunched over her laptop researching ways for her villains to kill people, D.M. reads, spends time with her family, devours foreign television mystery series on Netflix, and plots her next travel adventure.
I enjoy Regency the most followed closely by Victorian. The polite manners keeps characters from chaos. I wish we still had a lot of these manners today!
I like some of the same things Elaine!
I enjoy novels written during the World War ll era since the stories are memorable, unforgettable, profound and meaningful. The 1940’s shaped our world as we know it. The locale which is fascinating and captivating is Italy, England, France and Eastern Europe. Reading about the past informs me about life, struggles,t rials and tribulations and how people struggled for their freedom and security. This is thought provoking and ever lasting.
Anne,
What a thoughtful and thought-provoking answer. You might like books by my friend Jennifer Robson, who writes wonderful books set during WWI.
I love to reading about the past because it’s a way to realize how far we have come but yet what we may have given up to get here. I enjoy finding out how they lived and did back in other times. Some even connect me with how my ancestors might have lived. Can’t think of a time frame that I don’t enjoy IF the story is written property.
Thank you so much for this amazing chance to win a hardback copy of ““Murder in Mayfair”. I’d very much love a chance to read this book.
Hi Kay,
I agree! Historicals do make us realize how far we’ve come. Researching the history for the setting of these mysteries is one of my favorite parts of writing the books. Good luck with the giveaway!
I like historical romances/mysteries because I find them to be a nice escape. It truly becomes a break from my day to day life and I find that to be relaxing. And my favorite authors do such good research that I usually wind up learning something about a different place or time! Thank you — I am looking forward to the next Atlas book.
HI Suz — I think the escape factor is a big reason why I write historicals rather than contemporaries!
I love it all, from Victorian, to Regency, to the Knights of The Round Table! Love them, if they are accurate, well written, and you can’t wait until the next one!
Carol — I love reading in all time periods as well but I find that I prefer the period before 1900.
I enjoy historical fiction (Civil War era). If I could time travel, that would be when I’d like to travel back to. Growing up in the South, I’ve always been charmed by the Deep South, the clothing, the food/drink, carriages, etc.
Hi Dawn — My mother grew up in the South and it definitely has its own charm.
I live it! Puts me in mind of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes!!! Some of my favorites!!!
Kathleen — I hope you enjoy the series!
I love the grandeur of many historical eras…although I don’t think I’d enjoy a “corset.” However, from Napoleon’s France to Victoria’s England thru to Downton Abbey just before World War I is of great interest.
Kathleen — I’ve always thought the same same about wearing a corset. Until some of the enactors in historical Williamsburg told me they love to wear stays because it makes them stand up straight and feel all pulled in.
I love the Regency Era. I love the mannerisms, the way they dressed, and talked. I didn’t however like the way everything was so segregated between the classes, but I understand it. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite of these books and has built my love for this era. I think they call it the era Georgian era. At least that is what I think we call the Regency Era…I could be mistaken.
Mary
Hi Mary — Jane Austen’s book definitely helped form my love of the Regency, too.
I enjoy Regency, Victorian and Medieval stories. I like to read about the manners and customs of the past. I also enjoy stories with mystery and suspense, I like to work out the ending but rarely get it right!
Cheryl — As a reader, I also love a little suspense, even when I’m not reading a mystery!
Cheryl – Some of the readers have been able to work out the endings for both Murder in Mayfair and Murder in Bloomsbury but others have not. Good luck on the giveaway!
I am a voracious reader, so I read “anything and everything!” I have led several book groups at my local Barnes and Noble store. And, my volunteer crochet/knitting group at the library also discusses books as we create items for local charities. I prefer reading about WW II for there’s so much that we were never taught in school. I have reviewed advanced copies of books and am available if you need a reviewer.
Pat — I feel the same about learning about WWII. In US history classes we didn’t learn much about WWII because by the time we got to that time period, it was almost time for school to let out for the summer.
I am a voracious reader, so I read “anything and everything!” I have led several book groups at my local Barnes and Noble store. And, my volunteer crochet/knitting group at the library also discusses books as we create items for local charities. I prefer reading about WW II for there’s so much that we were never taught in school. I have reviewed advanced copies of books and am available if you need a reviewer.
I love mysteries of any time period. As long as there is a good plot twist, a mystery will always keep me engaged till the last page!
Karen — Me too!
I read mostly Regency historicals but I enjoy reading about many different time periods. I recently read a Civil War romance that was fantastic and also a Gilded Age gothic that I loved too. One of my all time favorites is the Amelia Peabody series which is set mostly in Egypt in the late 1800s. I almost always learn something that I didn’t know about the time period when I read a historical and that makes me want to read more! I also love reading about female characters based on historical figures.
Eileen — What was the titled of the Gilded Age gothic? That sounds intriguing!
The English Wife by Lauren Willig. Her Pink Carnation series is wonderful too!
I like ve to read all time periods of historical fiction. It is interesting to see the customs of
society in each time period, the spoken and written word, the clothing of all the classes
and although I believe I have been spoiled by living in this modern age, I still enjoy
visiting the historical times & places.
Carol — I enjoy visiting too but in reality would probably hate to live without modern comforts!
I love anything that is Victorian or Historical Regency, so any author that can write in these genres is definitely in my Kobo /or my reading library. I would Love, Love to win Murder in Mayfair.
Dianne — Good luck! Victorian and Regency are also my favorites but I like Gilded Age too.
I love reading historical fiction, love hearing about the fashions, “listening” to the conversations, the mannerisms of the day, etc. I wouldn’t know what to do without a book in my hands! Looking forward to winning, reading & reviewing Murder in Mayfair”
Bonnie — I feel sorry for people who don’t enjoy reading. My 16-year-old hates it and I wonder how he can still get excellent grades without reading more than just what is assigned to him.
Historical fiction is one of top two favorite genres because I love learning about other time periods and historical events. I wish I would have paid more attention during history classes (haha), but I think fiction stories make it seem more real than only facts in a class book. I don’t have a favorite era at this point but would to read more about early America, the 1950-70s. Thanks for the chance to win!
Rebecca — Have you seen Grantchester on PBS? That’s based on a mystery series set in the 1950s and I think it’s excellent.
Love the twenties. Lee Strauss with Ginger Gold and Alice Duncan with Daisy Gumm Majesty are great reads. Need to have the mystery element and both these authors do a great job. And of course Agatha Christie! The things that women had to go through!!
Cathy — I do love the Twenties too but I haven’t read much in that time period to be honest.
I enjoy the dialogue between the characters
Joyce — In the end, it’s the dialogue that makes a really great book, don’t you think?
I love the Regency period. I also love anything pertaining to Scottish History.
Teresa — Me too. On both counts 🙂
mmm…I enjoy historical based novels, most especially mysteries. I do like Regency, Victorian, and the eras 1920s and 1930s.
Anne – I haven’t read much set int he 1920s and 1930s but I would like too.
I like going back in time to the way of life, clothes, dating rituals etc.
Linda — I do too. I love looking at fashion plates from the Regency period to help inspire what the female characters are wearing in my books.
I like Victorian because the people have manners and know what lines not to cross.
Marie — All of those rules are what make historicals fun to read and they’re educational too!
I love reading historical books because it gives you a insight on a little slower time and less in a hurry people where. They didn’t need to have the answer right this second. And the closeness & trusting of each other at that time. And the manners of how people acted towards each other.
Cynthia — It certainly seems like it was a much simpler time.
There is a fascination into past events and the different rules of society. Just the different aspects of clothing, occupations, family dynamics…. all of it really.
I love to read right across history.
I love historical romance! Any time period, but I especially like when they take place during the Napoleonic Wars. I read Pride and Prejudice and that is what started my fascination with historicals. I love everything about them, and I can’t pick one up without learning something new. I love how it takes you back in time. How they dressed, how they behaved, what was acceptable, how they talked. Really…. I am fascinated by it all. Thank you for the chance 💕
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Candace, you are the winner of the Hardcover copy of Ms. Quincy’s book!! 🙂 Happy Mail and Reading is in your future.
Buried Under Romance
I am also a voracious reader who likes several time periods from The Victorian era to World War Ii . There are so many good books telling about the societies the mysteries and the history of each period.
I love reading books set in different time periods. Regency and medieval are my favorites. I like that the gender roles aren’t blurred but the heroines are still strong, clever, and feist, yet remain ladylike.
I had problems with my eyes until I was thirty-five. I have been making up for it ever since. Now I am almost never without a book in my hand. I really enjoy Regency and Victorian stories, but then I enjoyed the Clan of the Cave Bear Series too and other historicals. I am addicted to books.
I love reading about the past and often wish I could live it. I enjoy stories about the Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600’s. Thanks for the chance.
My favorite time period to read about is the opening of the Old West. I like cowboys, horses and history. There were some amazing peoplw and discoveries from that time period.
I love historical novels. Helps me imagine what life was like back in the days.
I like reading books in the victorian era and about the highland lairds. I like to read about how they interact with each other. The history of the times and the scenery of each time. I like romance and mystery and if I can get both in the same book that makes it even better.
I actually love reading in almost any time period. I love the regency era but also the Victorian when industry started to blossom. The medieval and Highlanders are a force until themselves and anything in between. I do enjoy the western historicals in the that gives a taste of the old west. Each era in history has it’s own amazing story.
I’ve always loved history. It’s fun to find out what is different from now (like the progress we’ve made in technologies), but what is the same (like people)