cover image The Heiress Bride

The Heiress Bride

Madeline Hunter. Zebra, $8.99 mass market (304p) ISBN 978-1-4201-5001-8

The mystery of the Duke of Hollinburgh’s murder comes to a suspenseful close in bestseller Hunter’s final A Duke’s Heiress Regency (after Heiress in Red Silk). The eccentric late duke left fortunes to three unrelated and unsuspecting women, much to his avaricious family’s chagrin. Two of these women have already accepted their inheritance, but Nicholas Radnor, the new duke, has yet to locate the third. So he’s shocked when she shows up at his door. Unaware that she was named in the duke’s will, Iris Barrington calls on Nicholas hoping to gain access to his library to search for a Psalter her grandfather was accused of stealing and so clear his name. While waiting for his solicitor to verify her identity, Nicholas hires Iris to appraise his library, hoping there’s enough value to clear his financial ailments. The pair are instantly attracted and quickly fall into bed, leading to some steamy scenes but not enough buildup to really get readers on board with their love story. Meanwhile, they’re both in danger from the duke’s murderer, who is still at large. The mystery far outshines the romance, but for fans who’ve been waiting for the killer to be revealed since book one, this is sure to satisfy. (June)