Secrets in the Stones

Book excerpt: The 18th-century meets the sharp blade of forensic science... Newly released from the notorious asylum known as Bedlam, Lady Lydia Farrell finds herself in an equally terrifying position - as a murder suspect - when she stumbles upon the mutilated body of Sir Montagu Malthus in his study at Boughton Hall. Meanwhile, Dr Thomas Silkstone has been injured in a duel with a man who may or may not have committed the grisly deed of which Lydia is accused. Despite his injury, Thomas hopes to clear his beloved's good name by conducting a postmortem on the victim. With a bit of detective work, he learns that Montagu's throat was slit by no ordinary blade, but a ceremonial Sikh dagger from India - a clue that may be connected to the fabled lost mines of Golconda. From the mysterious disappearance of a cursed diamond buried with Lydia's dead husband, to the undying legend of a hidden treasure map, Thomas must follow a trail of foreign dignitaries, royal agents - and even more victims - to unveil the sinister and shocking secrets in the stones... The Dr Thomas Silkstone Mysteries are perfect for fans of Antonia Hodgson's The Devil in the Marshalsea, E. S. Thomson's Jem Flockhart series and Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent. Praise for Tessa Harris: 'A densely plotted yarn about a crafty 18th-century poisoner wreaking havoc on the Oxfordshire estate of a noble family . . . we await - indeed, demand - the sequel' New York Times Book Review 'Harris' research is meticulous. The results are a historical CSI with a romance and excellent mystery' Romantic Times 'Populated with real historical characters and admirably researched, Harris's novel features a complex and engrossing plot' Library Journal 'The author will have you flipping the pages at each unexpected turn in the plot. The novel is an absorbing read with a shocking twist at the end' Historical Novel Society 'Well-rounded characters, cleverly concealed evidence, and an assured prose style point to a long run for this historical series' Publishers Weekly Starred Review 'The exceptionally strong historical background in this 1780s London-set novel makes it impossible to put down. With each book, the mysteries have become stronger . . . Silkstone is an admirable character and he captures readers' emotional interest' RT Book Reviews The Dr Thomas Silkstone Mysteries: The Anatomist's Apprentice The Dead Shall Not Rest The Devil's Breath The Lazarus Curse Shadow of the Raven Secrets in the Stones