C.J. Archer continues the Cleopatra Fox series with book five, where England’s 20th-century viper tongues spread gossip like wildfire, and some will go to great lengths to quash it before the damage is irreparable. The book is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats.

Archer picks up the storyline at the end of book four, April 1900. It’s the opening of the social season, at the first and most prestigious ball of the year, when a dreadful scream interrupts the festivities. Cleo is the first one to reach the source and discover the dead body of one of the guests. To uncover the murderer, Cleo must face off against two of the oldest pastimes: gossip and blackmail.

Not only must she sift through the rumor mill, but she must also find relevant clues to connect the theft of pieces of art to the murder. This line of inquiry leads her into the shady world of art forgery, and more secrets come to light before she solves the puzzle.

The relationship between Cleo and Harry is cooler in this book, with only a hint of heat. The side plots with her cousin Floyd’s problem with the gambling debt, and his friend Jonathan’s attempt to court Cleo, provide emotional insight and a dose of humor.

Murder at the Debutante Ball is a quick whodunit escape, ideal for fans of cozy mysteries with a good dose of gossip, lots of theories, and even more suspects. The elimination process might lead Cleo and Harry down wrong paths and alleys, but the journey is not dull, which makes this a 3-star read.