• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12

A twisty tale reminiscent of Jane Austen—with a dash of murder—Cindy Anstey's Deadly Curious is perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Agatha Christie.
Some secrets are better left buried...
1834. Sophia Thompson wants nothing more than to be one of the famed Bow Street Runners, London's most elite corps of detectives. Never mind that a woman has never before joined their ranks—and certainly never mind that her reclusive family has forbidden her from pursuing such an unladylike goal.
She gets the chance to prove her capabilities when an urgent letter arrives from her frantic cousin Daphne, begging Sophia to come look into the suspicious death of Daphne's brother.
As Sophia begins to unravel the tangled threads of the case—with the help of a charming young policeman—she soon realizes that the murderer may be even closer to her family than she ever suspected.

Cindy Anstey's profile page

Cindy Anstey spends her days painting with words, flowers, threads, and acrylics. After many years living as an expat in Singapore, Memphis, and Belgium, Cindy now resides with her husband and energetic chocolate Labrador, Chester, in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the author of Love, Lies and Spies; Duels & Deception; Suitors and Sabotage; Carols and Chaos; The Hummingbird Dagger; and Deadly Curious.

Praise for The Hummingbird Dagger:
"A blend of Jane Austen, Jack the Ripper, and your favorite cozy mystery. ... The romance was lovely, sweet and a perfect subplot to the darker tones of murder, mystery and mayhem." —Isabel Ibañez, author of Woven in Moonlight
"A slow-burning romance and leisurely paced mystery leave plenty of time for character development, and the smallest clues, bits of actions, and moments of chemistry between James and Beth hold more weight than they would otherwise. This novel will appeal to teens who have read and enjoyed actual classics from the era." —Booklist
"Quite fun. ... There is a softness when it comes to Cindy Antsey’s historical novels ... it calms me somewhat while still letting me enjoy the twists and turns." —Whatever You Can Still Betray
Praise for Carols and Chaos:
“Anstey offers up another lively historical tale that's one part intriguing mystery, one part cozy romance. Jane Austen fans will enjoy the propriety and the Regency setting, while that dose of Christmas adds an extra bit of cheer.” —Booklist
"This Christmas tale set in the 1817 English countryside is a nod and a wink to the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. ... This book could serve as a stepping stone to classic read-alikes, such as Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre. Fans of romantic historical fiction will welcome this quick and fun holiday read." —School Library Journal
"Fans of Regency romance and Downton Abbey alike will be charmed by this tale of a budding relationship between lady’s maid Kate Darby and gentleman’s gentleman Matt Harlow. ... Full of richly imagined period detail and gasp-inducing setbacks before resolving into a credible and satisfactory arrangement for the lovers, this makes for a cozy, engaging tuck-in on a winter’s night." —The Bulletin
"Anstey provides [a] diverting mystery/romance with period details and Christmassy flourishes." —Horn Book
Praise for Suitors and Sabotage:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"Anstey’s tale embraces a self-reliant main character, a loyal friend, innocent romance, witty conversation, and English country settings, each more splendid than the last. This is a delightful salute to Jane Austen and will be a treat for her fans." —VOYA
"Mystery and romance are delightfully intertwined . . . Taking inspiration from Jane Austen novels, Anstey’s latest is a lighthearted and romantic read." —Booklist
"All in all, this novel was a delight to read. ... I am continuously impressed by Anstey! ... These books are simply lovely to read, and I can't get enough!" —The Eater of Books
Praise for Duels & Deception:
“[Duels & Deception] is Jane Austen spiced with action, suspense, and humor. The question is never about their love but how they will overcome society’s demands in order to realize it. Young girls who enjoyed Anstey’s Love, Lies and Spies will snap up this adventure.” —VOYA, starred review
"Jane Austen fans in need of a good new book, look no further. Cindy Anstey’s new YA novel, Duels & Deception, is your next regency romance treat." —Entertainment Weekly
"A great introduction to historical romance novels for younger YA readers. . . . Anstey’s novel is a wonderful coming-of-age journey filled with entertaining characters and wild adventures." —School Library Journal
Praise for Love, Lies and Spies:
"It’s Jane Austen meets Jane Foster in Anstey’s debut novel, which serves up a delightful combination of Regency romance, scientific curiosity, and spy intrigue for a tale that will have readers rooting for love and science." —Entertainment Weekly
"Love, Lies and Spies is an adorable little romp in Regency-era London, perfectly-paced and delightfully entertaining. It had me grinning from ear to ear, cover to cover. And the best part of all is that it seems to be a stand-alone with none of those ridiculous miscommunications. It really was just a pleasure to read!" —The Starry-Eyed Revue