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Set amidst the opulent mansions and cobblestone streets of Old New York, this enthralling historical mystery by Rosemary Simpson brings the Gilded Age to life - in a tantalizing tale of old money, new love, and grave suspicion . . .WHAT THE DEAD LEAVE BEHINDAs the Great Blizzard of 1888 cripples the vast machinery that is New York City, heiress Prudence MacKenzie sits anxiously within her palatial Fifth Avenue home waiting for her fianc's safe return. But the fearsome storm rages through the night. With daylight, more than two hundred people are found to have perished in the icy winds and treacherous snowdrifts. Among them is Prudence's fianc - his body frozen, his head crushed by a heavy branch, his fingers clutching a single playing card, the ace of spades . . . Close on the heels of her father's untimely demise, Prudence is convinced Charles's death was no accident. The ace of spades was a code he shared with his school friend, Geoffrey Hunter, a former Pinkerton agent and attorney from the South and a former Pinkerton agent. Wary of sinister forces closing in on her, Prudence turns to Geoffrey as her only hope in solving a murder not all believe in - and to help protect her inheritance from a stepmother who seems more interested in the family fortune than Prudence's wellbeing . . . Filled with richly colorful characters, fascinating historical details, and thrilling moments of suspense, What the Dead Leave Behind is an exquisitely crafted mystery for the ages.Advance praise for What the Dead Leave Behind "Naturally I always gravitate toward any book set in old New York, and this one exceeded expectations. It has everything one could expect from a historical mystery: set against the blizzard of '88, a smart heroine pits her wits against an evil stepmother out to destroy her." - Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries"An engrossing, complex tale of betrayal and triumph that takes the reader deep into the heart of Gilded Age Manhattan." - Alyssa Maxwell, author of Murder at Rough Point"Rosemary Simpson vividly recreates the world of nineteenth-century New York City in this exciting debut mystery. Every level of society intersects as we explore a world in which corruption touches both the highest and the lowest and nothing and no one is exactly what they seem." - Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder in Morningside Heights"A beautifully crafted mystery, full of intrigue and historical atmosphere, with great characters and the potential for further adventures." - Catherine Lloyd, author of Death Comes to the Fair"A wonderfully colorful cast of characters makes Rosemary Simpson's debut mystery a pleasure to read. Prudence Mackenzie's focus on law, and the depiction of New York City in 1888 is fascinating." - Radha Vatsal, author of A Front Page Affair



About the Author

Rosemary Simpson

Rosemary Simpson was born in New York City and almost immediately began roaming. By the time she entered college she had traveled extensively throughout the United States, the Far East, and Europe where she found a second home in France. After returning to the United States she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in French language and literature. She currently lives near Tucson, Arizona.Rosemary's favorite novel has always been Anya Seton's classic work of historical fiction, KATHERINE. (She's read and reread her way through three editions that were usually held together with tape and rubber bands until another could be bought.) The fascination lies in an inherent conflict between what we know actually happened and the frequent and gaping holes in the historical record. Sometimes there are only a few verifiable facts on which to build a story and recreate a past event. That's the writer's greatest and most enjoyable challenge. She can only make up what can't be proven and cannot violate the integrity of what is known. Writing historical fiction often means wandering through the most obscure, wonderful, and frightening byways of time and geography, WHAT THE DEAD LEAVE BEHIND (available April 25, 2017) is the first mystery in a series set in Gilded Age New York City. It begins with one of many deaths in the Great Blizzard of 1888 and ends with the promise of a uniquely independent future for its wealthy and unconventional heroine. Real life historical figures lend authenticity and a sense of familiarity to this bygone era of extravagant wealth and widespread political corruption. The second volume, LIES THAT COMFORT AND BETRAY, (available January 2018) takes protagonists Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter deeper into the underworld that lies beneath society's glittering facade.Before turning to the world of historical mysteries, Rosemary wrote two standalone novels of straight historical fiction. THE SEVEN HILLS OF PARADISE is the story of the Fourth Crusade, told from the dual perspectives of two men who survived the sack of Constantinople in 1204 and returned to France to record their epic adventures. Geoffroi de Villehardouin was one of the leaders of the crusade, while Robert de Clari was among the poorest of the knights who took the cross. "Absorbing, convincing, graphic and accurate...this novel belongs alongside those of Maurice Druon and Zoe Oldenbourg." (The Atlanta Constitution) DREAMS AND SHADOWS is a sweeping historical novel set in colonial Morocco, New York in the Roaring Twenties, and wartorn Paris during the Nazi Occupation. Based on stories told by family members who remained in Paris throughout the war, the novel seamlessly weaves together fact and fiction. Publishers Weekly said, "Simpson's hauntingly graceful, dignified prose makes this tale unforgettable, as do its unflagging intensity, realism and chilling conclusion."



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