Death and the Cyprian Society
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- $3.99
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
Arabella Beaumont, courtesan, adventuress, and sleuth, romps her way through Regency London into a dangerous affair of blackmail. . .
Arabella Beaumont is the fortunate possessor of one of England's most celebrated bodies--with a formidable business brain to match. Her latest venture: transforming a London hotel into a social club for courtesans. To afford the lavish renovations, Arabella needs her featherbrained friend Constance Worthington to repay the fortune she owes her. And now that Constance has a wealthy protector, Pigeon Pollard, she's finally good for the cash.
Alas, the imprudent Constance has also been dallying with Lady Ribbonhat's footman, and a mysterious blackmailer is threatening to tell all. If Constance pays up, there will be no money left for Arabella's renovations;if she doesn't, the cuckolded Pigeon is bound to leave her penniless. But as the case escalates rapidly from extortion to murder, Arabella's life, as well as her fortune, hangs precariously in the balance. . .
Praise For Death And The Courtesan
"Saucy. . .the effervescent and free-thinking Arabella is a delightful heroine." --The Bellingham Herald
"Historical mystery readers fond of arch and ribald takes on the genre will best appreciate Christie's debut." --Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Christie's quirky third Arabella Beaumont mystery (after 2014's Death Among the Ruins), the Regency courtesan sets out to create a club the Cyprian Society for the pleasure of her London colleagues. To complete the project, Arabella needs the 40,000 she's owed by Constance Worthington, a rather stupid woman who now has a wealthy protector. Constance says she cannot repay the debt, because she's being blackmailed for her relationship with Lady Ribbonhat's footman. To get her money back, Arabella resolves to expose the blackmailer. The process uncovers more secrets and even leads to murder. The book's tone of ironic detachment urges the reader not to take these mostly self-absorbed and venal characters too seriously. Thus, when Arabella becomes temporarily responsible for her extremely bright 11-year-old niece, Edwardina, the child expresses hope that when she grows up she can follow her aunt into prostitution.
