When Lady of Ashes ended, I thought we’d be solving murder mysteries in the Wild West, so I was surprised to find we are back in London once again performing funeral services at the request of the Queen. Wrought with both heartfelt bravery and breathtaking suspense, Stolen Remains is a captivating tale of death and deception set against the indelible backdrop of Victorian London. But the closer Violet gets to the truth, the closer she gets to becoming the next missing body. Forced to exhume her latent talents as a sleuth to preserve her good name, Violet's own investigation takes her from servants' quarters, to the halls of Windsor Castle, to the tombs of ancient Egypt-and the Fairmont family's secrets quickly begin to unravel like a mummy's wrappings. As the viscount's undertaker, all eyes are on Violet as the Fairmonts and Scotland Yard begin the search for his earthly remains. She's honored to undertake the funeral of Anthony Fairmont, the Viscount Raybourn, a close friend of Queen Victoria's who died in suspicious circumstances-but it's difficult to perform her services when his body disappears.

But when her mother falls ill, Violet and her husband Samuel are summoned back to England, where her skills are as sought-after as ever. 'Winningly original.After establishing her reputation as one of London's most highly regarded undertakers, Violet Harper decided to take her practice to the wilds of the American West. 'Exuberant, sparkling, beguiling.brims with Dickensian gusto!' -Barbara Kyle, author of The Queen's Lady on The Queen's Dollmaker 'Genuinely engrossing.with a rare Regency heroine who loves her work and does it well.' Publishers Weekly on By the King's Design But she's certain there's a killer lurking in the London fog, and the next funeral may be her own.Įqual parts courage, compassion, and intrigue, Christine Trent tells an unrestrained tale of love and loss in the rigidly decorous world of Victorian society. When Graham's plotting leads to his disappearance, Violet takes full control of the business and is commissioned for an undertaking of royal proportions. And the solace she's always found in her work evaporates like a departing soul when she suspects that some of the deceased she's dressed have been murdered.

Violet's peculiar but happy life soon begins to unravel as Graham becomes obsessed with his own demons and all but abandons her as he plans a vengeful scheme. She is empathetic, well-versed in funeral fashions, and comfortable with death's role in life-until its chilling rattle comes knocking on her own front door. While her husband, Graham, is preoccupied with elevating their station in society, Violet is cultivating a sterling reputation for Morgan Undertaking. Only a woman with an iron backbone could succeed as an undertaker in Victorian London, but Violet Morgan takes great pride in her trade.

Christine trent lady of ashes series