Deadly Engagement: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Mystery Book 1)

First in Series Special Price

Spring 1763. Career diplomat Alec Halsey returns to London to the shocking news his estranged brother, the Earl of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but is engaged to the woman Alec hoped to marry. The dead man’s mother wants Alec to investigate, so he reluctantly attends a weekend house party celebrating the engagement. Houseguests get more than they bargained for when a lady’s maid is murdered, the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead. Uncovering a connection between these sinister acts and his brother's duel, Alec confronts a cruel twist of fate and why his brother will go to any lengths to ruin him in Polite Society.

Lucinda Brant's mysteries explore the darker side of her richly authentic 18^th century world. Along with her trademark wit and high drama there are deeper subplots and even quirkier characters that will have you shuddering and laughing in equal measure!

A USA TODAY bestseller
Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year Finalist
Full-length novel (102,000 words, about 400 standard printed pages)
Non explicit (mild sensuality, mild violence)
Character-driven amateur sleuth

“I challenge anyone to read Deadly Engagement and not crave more from the handsome Alec Halsey with his high sense of morals, dark good looks, and divine analytical mind.” —Francine Zane, Readers’ Favorite, rated 5 STARS

“An exciting and gripping tale of passion, murder and mistaken identity. This is one Georgian page-turner I savored until the very end.” —Jill MacKenzie, All About Murder

Connecting Books

Many readers enjoy Lucinda Brant's books as part of a wider series since her characters inhabit the same meticulously-researched 18th Century world with people and events cross-referenced throughout. Should you wish to read each series in chronological order, here is the sequence:

Alec Halsey Mysteries
Spring 1763 DEADLY ENGAGEMENT (Country house murder and mayhem)
Autumn 1763 DEADLY AFFAIR (A poisoned vicar and the mysterious Miranda)
Winter 1763 DEADLY PERIL (Bloody intrigue abroad)
Summer 1764 DEADLY KIN (Evil lurks in Edinburgh) In progress

Salt Hendon Series
1763 SALT BRIDE (Magnus and Jane)
1767 SALT REDUX (Antony and Caroline)
SALT HENDON COLLECTION—boxed set with bonus novella SALT ANGEL

Roxton Family Saga
1740s NOBLE SATYR (Renard and Antonia)
1760s MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE (Julian and Deb)
1770s AUTUMN DUCHESS (Antonia and Jonathon)
1770s DAIR DEVIL (Dair and Rory)
1770s PROUD MARY (Mary and Christopher) In progress
1780s SATYR’S SON (Henri-Antoine and Lisa) In progress