A Gentleman of Fortune — Anna Dean

THE YEAR 1806 FINDS DIDO KENT IN SURREY, STAYING at her cousin's for a holiday. Though she is away from home, Dido can't help but feel something is amiss when a neighbor passes away quite suddenly. Soon, a local doctor pronounces an overdose as the cause of death and publicly accuses the nephew of killing his aunt, giving Dido a justification for her inquisitive inclinations. After all, what harm can a little investigating do?

Dido believes she is ideally placed to observe her neighbors, but her suitor, Mr. William Lomax, feels otherwise. Dido won't be stopped, however, and as she learns about the dirty dealings and death among the upper classes of Surrey, she brings more to light than even she could have imagined.

Set among the country gentry brought to life by Jane Austen, this intelligent mystery brings a charming cast of characters to life -- and none more than the inimitable Miss Dido Kent.