The Bird of Bedford Manor

A mystery centering a shady stalker unfolds against a Regency England backdrop in the captivating latest from Griep (Of Silver and Secrets). Juliet Finch has been in dire financial straits since her father died a few years ago, and she now relies on poaching game to feed herself along with her aunt and uncle. When Henry Russell, who’s caring for the local Bedford Manor in his father’s absence, catches Juliet shooting birds on estate property, he decides to use her skills to hunt down his sister Charity’s stalker. The attraction between Juliet and Henry is instantaneous as they team up to search for the offender, but Juliet’s been burned by men before and is slow to trust. When Juliet is framed for a crime and Henry fails to defend her, she’s left on her own to find the target before it’s too late—and must decide whether she can start anew with Henry and restore the faith that’s been eroded by years of poverty. Griep masterfully conjures a dark, uneasy atmosphere as the threats against Charity and Juliet grow increasingly dire, while the chemistry between rule-following Henry and feisty Juliet adds energy. Fans of clean historical fiction will be swept up. (Feb.)