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‘A treat for anyone who hankers for a light-hearted, modern-day Trollope’ – S.G. MACLEAN

‘A triumph of wit and intelligence’ – ROBERT J. LLOYD

The hunt for an ancient king could prove deadly…

Leicestershire, 1774. Following a minor royal scandal, Susan Bell’s father has lost his post as Dean of Westminster, and the two find themselves exiled to the family’s country seat, Fortune Hall. Susan fills her days attempting to prevent her fiance Lindley from being married off to a richer bride, while her father takes on the tutorship of Francis North, son of the Prime Minister.

When a visiting surveyor mysteriously disappears near a fast-flowing river, the man is presumed to have drowned. Susan alone is not convinced by this explanation, or by that of eccentric visiting librarian Mr Quintrel, who declares the surveyor likely lost in the tunnels that form the tomb of the mythical King Lear. But when the young Francis North also disappears, Susan knows that her family’s reputation is at stake and she must investigate. What did the surveyor stumble upon that someone would possibly kill to hide? And what darker secrets are waiting to be revealed?

‘Historical fiction at its finest’ – JANICE HALLETT

‘An elegantly written, and genuinely witty, Georgian mystery’ – DOUGLAS SKELTON

Publisher Review

Expertly weaves historical facts with myth, imagination and endless verve. The sagacious Susan Bell is a timeless heroine and this wonderful mystery is as deep, dark and twisting as it is bright and witty. The Bells of Fortune is historical fiction at its finest — Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEAL Colourful characters, dark secrets, ancient mysteries – another glorious Georgian mix from Leonora Nattrass – such a rich talent — S.W. Perry, author of THE ANGEL’S MARK A treat for anyone who hankers for a light-hearted, modern-day Trollope, and an antidote for the times — S.G. MacLean, author of THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS An acute eye for historical detail and a delightfully entertaining read. The perfect historical mystery to get swept away in — Philippa East, author of LITTLE WHITE LIES A clever and intriguing mystery, full of humour, authentic historic detail, and a thoroughly entertaining story that kept me glued to the pages. A wonderful novel that I shall be recommending far and wide — Louise Fein, author of PEOPLE LIKE US Filled with drama, intrigue and that special brand of humour that makes for a brilliant read — J.M. Hewitt, author of THE LIFE SHE WANTS An elegantly written, and genuinely witty, Georgian mystery that is a lot of fun to read — Douglas Skelton, author of AN HONOURABLE THIEF Filled with beautiful period detail, acute human observation and a spirit of mischievous subversion, this is both a murder mystery and a comedy of manners — Kate Griffin, author of FYNESHADE A delightfully entertaining eighteenth-century country house romp that had me laughing out loud — Anna Abney, author of THE MASTER OF MEASHAM HALL Another triumph of wit and intelligence from Leonora Nattrass… Clever and pacy, and has one of those endings you should have seen coming but, of course, had no chance to do so — Robert J. Lloyd, author of THE BLOODLESS BOY