London, 1909. Victoria, the old queen, is dead and her son Edward rules: twinkly, genial, outgoing - it's time of great confidence and optimism. The period is familiar to us through TV's Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge and repeats of Upstairs, Downstairs: summer garden parties, vast hats, country house weekends, the London Season with its dazzling balls - and in particular new freedoms for women, especially the Suffragettes.
Since the death of her parents, twelve-year old Connie Carew has lived with her aunts - downtrodden Dorothea, bullied by her domineering second husband, Harold Thurston; and spinster Sylvie, who 'sees things' but is much sharper than she appears - in a large house in Kensington. Connie, fascinated by the exhibits in the British Museum, determines to become an anthropologist when she grows up and travel the world. Her first mystery is upon her: is the girl who turns up at the front door really her long-lost cousin Ida? If she isn't, who is she? And who is behind the pretence?
Funny, exciting, moving and unguessable - here's a brilliant and addictive new mystery.
