Death in the Palace (Main)

Barbara Hambly

Book cover for Death in the Palace (Main)
Image for variant 9781448314881
Book cover for Death in the Palace (Main)
Image for variant 9781448314881

Death in the Palace (Main)

Death in the Palace (Main)

Barbara Hambly

View full details

Description

A proposal to die for . . . British widow Emma Blackstone gets mixed up in murder once again in this stunning 1920s historical mystery featuring New York high society, mobsters, and silent-movie stars!

November, 1924. Beautiful silent-movie star Camille de la Rose--Kitty, to her adoring fans--is amused to receive an unusual proposal from an extremely rich stranger. Clark Dexter offers her $50,000 if she will marry and then divorce him.

Young British widow Emma Blackstone, Kitty's dog walker, companion, and dearest friend, is determined to talk her employer out of it. Emma might have been living in the topsy-turvy world of Hollywood for a year now, but she knows a bad idea when she hears one.

There are disturbing rumors about Mr. Dexter. And when the source of the rumors is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Emma soon finds herself plunged into a disturbing investigation that sees her mixing with New York's high society, mobsters, and movie stars . . . and a ruthless killer, who'll stop at nothing to see their evil plan through.

New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly brings the glamor, intrigue, and dark side of Hollywood to life in the Silver Screen Mysteries--a perfect choice for fans of female-fronted historical mysteries set in the roaring twenties.

Critical Reviews

An entertaining look at the lives of movie stars real and imagined-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Excellent . . . Everything feels just right: the characters are abundantly human, the mystery is beautifully constructed, and the Hollywood milieu is vividly realized-- "Booklist Starred Review of One Extra Corpse"

A wild lineup of possible killers mingles with historically accurate info in a fast-paced mystery-- "Kirkus Reviews on One Extra Corpse"

This splendid romp is sure to win Hambly new fans-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Scandal in Babylon"

Exhilarating, exasperating, and dangerous . . . A sparkling series launch featuring Hollywood hijinks and a clever sleuth-- "Kirkus Reviews on Scandal in Babylon"

Emma feels fresh: not merely another flapper-era amateur sleuth, but rather a vibrant, intelligent woman with whom readers will enjoy spending time-- "Booklist on Scandal in Babylon"

Outstanding . . . Hambly's masterful historical detail, scrupulous character portrayal, and psychological analysis of human frailties contribute handsomely to her storytelling-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of House of the Patriarch"

[Death in the Palace] sparkles with a zesty blend of Hollywood glitz and Big Apple corruption-- "Booklist"

Vividly evoking the myriad intricacies of the silent-film industry and the shifting fortunes of its players, Hambly crafts a fast-paced mystery infused with Hollywood flapper flair-- "Booklist on Murder in the Trembling Lands"

Exciting adventures and thorny mysteries gain gravitas from pointed social commentary-- "Kirkus Reviews on Murder in the Trembling Lands"

Hambly's outstanding sequel to 2021's Scandal in Babylon showcases the author's wit and her compassion for the underdog-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of One Extra Corpse"

Publishing Information

Publisher: Severn House
Pub date: 2026-03-03
Length: 256 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.