'Quick's ambitious novel, set during the golden age of Hollywood, sparkles with wit and clever plotting' Publishers Weekly

Escape into a glittering bygone world, where beauty and glamour meet deception and revenge . . .

Investigative apprentice Lyra Brazier, the newest resident of Burning Cove, is unsettled when her boss suddenly goes on a health retreat at an exclusive spa and disappears without another word. Lyra knows something has happened to Raina Kirk, and she is the only one who can track her down. The health spa is known for its luxurious offerings and prestigious clientele, and the wealthy, socialite background Lyra desperately wanted to leave behind is perfect for this undercover job. The agency brings in a partner and bodyguard for her, but she doesn't get the suave, pistol-packing private eye she expected.

Simon Cage is a mild-mannered antiquarian book dealer with a quiet, academic air, and Lyra can't figure out why he was chosen as her partner. But it soon becomes clear when they arrive at the spa and pose as a couple: Simon has a unique gift that allows him to detect secrets, a skill that is crucial in finding Raina.

The unlikely duo falls down a rabbit hole of twisted rumours and missing socialites, discovering that the health spa is a facade for something far darker. With a murderer in their midst, Raina isn't the only one in grave danger - Lyra is next . . .

Praise for Amanda Quick

'A master storyteller' The Huffington Post

'Sparkles with wit and clever plotting' Publishers Weekly

'Sexy . . . clever, fun' Kirkus Reviews

The Lady Has a Past - pokkari, Englanti, 2021