C.J. Archer takes readers to early 20th-century London to solve mysteries. Published in 2021, the book is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook.

Cleopatra Fox finds life at the Mayfair Hotel dull; shopping, teas, dinners, and parties do not keep her engaged. She notices suspicious activity involving a supposed guest, who may not be what he seems, and his connection to the new assistant manager is troubling. When leading actress Miss Pearl Westwood dies, her lover Lord Rumford insists Pearl would not commit suicide and wants a thorough investigation. Cleo offers her help, hoping Harry Armitage will join her. When he refuses, she investigates on her own.

During her investigations, Cleo stumbles often, making absurd assumptions. She seems naïve, given how Archer presents her as intelligent and independent. These traits clash, but they highlight Cleo’s sheltered life before London and her entry into high society. Readers can empathize with her desire for independence and her frustration with her family’s outdated attitudes. The hotel staff helps Cleo with her investigations, giving readers a glimpse into friendships deemed inappropriate because of societal norms against mixing social classes.

Archer’s continued analytical mind shines through in the thoroughness of Cleo’s investigations and elimination of her suspects. The lack of suspense in this mystery is bothersome, but not enough to disinterest readers, given that the characters are so open, approachable, and endearing. Her book is a breezy whodunit escape, a fast, easy 3-star read.