Published in June 2022, C.J. Archer’s fifth Cleopatra Fox Mystery takes readers into the world of 20th-century London’s elite fashion. The book is ideal for fans of amateur sleuths and historical fiction and is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats.

March 1900 means the social season is just around the corner. Aunt Lilian and Flossy are excited to introduce Cleo to Madame Poitier, the most sought-after designer in the city, so she can outfit them for the season. Cleo is reluctant, dreading the parties and balls where she’ll be displayed to mothers with sons looking for a wife.

The self-absorbed designer with her wild stories and fake French accent piques Cleo’s curiosity. When she returns the next day to look for her aunt’s missing bottle of tonic and finds Madame’s dead body in the salon, Cleo is in the perfect position to look for clues and speak to witnesses. She does not expect to find Harry Armitage’s business card among Madame’s possessions. Cleo’s investigation leads her into the elite world of design and high society secrets, and into less respectable parts of London.

With help from her friends at the Mayfair, Harry Armitage, her cousin Flossy, her aunt Lilian, and even her cousin Floyd, Cleo navigates the fashion and high-society world to find the clues needed to uncover the murderer. Archer wanted Cleo’s investigations to remain a secret from the family, but that changed in this book. Now, everyone knows except her uncle, and the rule is that he must not find out. The hot-cold friendship between Cleo and Harry adds humor as they stumble, make wrong turns, arrive at odd conclusions, and get on each other’s nerves. Harmony’s no-nonsense, direct attitude and Victor’s nonchalant, near-galant attitude and acceptance of her harsh quips also add a hint of something more.