The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House

A clockmaker gets embroiled in a complicated plot involving an unexpected inheritance in this twisty Edwardian mystery from Politano (The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple). When a strange woman informs Sydney Forrester that she’s inherited an estate on a nearby island, she is understandably confused: she’s never met the uncle who owned the estate and isn’t certain of the woman’s identity. But Sydney’s curiosity is piqued and, sensing that God wants her to embark on the adventure, she sets out to claim her inheritance. Things go awry almost immediately after she arrives on the island, however. Not only do distant cousins and fellow heirs Dane Hutchcraft and Tom Jolly cast doubt on Sydney’s claim to the estate, she also discovers that her uncle died under suspicious circumstances. When it becomes clear that her cousins are planning to frame her for the murder and steal her inheritance, Sydney teams up with handsome butler André Montagne to solve the mystery of her uncle’s death and prove her innocence. While the large cast of side characters can be tough to keep straight, the textured, creepy setting makes for a captivating backdrop. Readers will be on tenterhooks from start to finish. (Apr.)