The Dishonest Miss Take

Murphy debuts with a wonderfully cozy queer fantasy that follows Clara Blakely, the daughter of two of Victorian London’s most notorious criminals, as she attempts to clear her name of a murder charge. Though Clara’s committed many crimes in her time, she’s innocent of killing Lord Balthasar Forgo. The accusation once wouldn’t have rattled her, butshe’s newly trying to maintain a respectable reputation. She seeks out the real assassin, Morgan Murdur, hoping to persuade her to turn herself in. Unsurprisingly, Morgan refuses, though she does offer to help Clara clear her name another way. The women turn their focus to who issued the murder contract and why, and their investigation eventually uncovers a conspiracy involving the closure of a public commons and the unchecked environmental impact of a nearby factory. Clara hopes to expose the truth with the help of her magic, but with powerful enemies working against her, her reputation winds up even more tarnished than before. There’s humor aplenty alongside the gore and action and the sweet romance between Clara and Morgan enhances the gripping plot. This quirky outing satisfies. (June)