The Riddle of the Purple Emperor

Hanshew’s writing is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and each has their own secrets and motivations, adding depth to the story. The plot is full of twists and turns, and just when you think you have it all figured out, another clue is revealed that changes everything.

The setting of early 20th century New York City adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story, with its bustling streets and shady characters around every corner. Hanshew does a fantastic job of bringing the time period to life, making the reader feel like they are right there in the middle of the action.

Overall, The Riddle of the Purple Emperor is a must-read for fans of mystery novels. It is a well-crafted, exciting story that will keep you guessing until the very end. Hanshew is a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Book Description:

Orphan Lady Margaret Cheyne returns home on her eighteenth birthday to live with her embittered maiden aunt and to take up her inheritance of the family jewels. The Cheyne jewels include a pendant featuring the Purple Emperor, a priceless jewel looted from a temple during the Indian Mutiny.

During her time at school in Paris, Lady Margaret has met and fallen in love with Sir Edgar Brenton, the son of an old flame of her aunt and a neighbour in the village of Hampton, where Cleek’s adored Ailsa Lorne has also taken up residence.

Lady Margaret’s return leads to a mysterious and sinister chain of events, which Cleek and Superintendent Maverick Narkom of Scotland Yard attempt to unravel, with, of course, the help of the irrepressible and ever-hungry Dollops, Cleek’s cockney sidekick.

This full-length mystery is a welcome return for Hamilton Cleek, whom we first met in Cleek: The Man of the Forty Faces.