The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon
Publication Date: July 14th 2026 by Berkley
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★½
My
Thoughts:
The Cloak and Dagger Club follows Lucy Hubbard, a
new mystery writer who is shocked to receive an invitation to an exclusive
gathering of successful crime authors hosted by the legendary Horace Hazelmoor.
She's not thrilled to discover that her ex-fiancé, fellow mystery writer Frank
Murray, will also be attending.
The meeting quickly descends into chaos as a drunken,
belligerent Horace insults everyone in attendance. When he's later found
murdered with a knife in his back, the members of the club become obvious
suspects. Frank soon emerges as the prime suspect, and despite their painful
history, Lucy is convinced he's innocent. Determined to clear his name, she
begins investigating on her own.
Set in the 1930s, this was an enjoyable blend of classic
mystery and second-chance romance. The historical setting was well done, and I
liked following Lucy as she methodically uncovered clues and pieced together
the truth. With its cast of secretive suspects and plenty of motives, the story
gave me Agatha Christie vibes.
I was also invested in Lucy and Frank's relationship and
enjoyed learning about their shared past. However, my biggest frustration was
that Frank remained involved with another woman for most of the book, which
dampened my enjoyment of the romance and lowered my overall rating.
The mystery builds to a suspenseful and satisfying
conclusion, with Lucy finding herself in serious danger as she uncovers the
truth. While the romance wasn't a perfect fit for me, I enjoyed the mystery and
am looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.
3.5 Stars
Book Description:
Inspired by Agatha Christie's real-life Detection Club, a murder among a group of golden age mystery writers meets a second chance romance in this debut novel from author Jackie McMahon.
London, 1930. Lucy Hubbard is on the cusp of achieving her dreams. With her first mystery novel debuting with strong sales and glowing reviews, she's been invited by Horace Hazelmoor, the king of crime fiction, to join his elite group of writers—the Cloak and Dagger Club.
Thrilled at the opportunity, Lucy finds herself swept up into Horace's glamorous world at the Ritz hotel. She's even willing to put up with the inconvenient presence of her former fiancé, Frank Murray, the club's rising star who is on track to eclipse Horace as Britain's most popular crime writer.
But when Horace is found with a knife in his back, Frank is the police's prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Lucy knows he's not capable of murder. With suspects galore and the danger rising, these two mystery writers must race to solve the crime—and fight their lingering feelings for each other—before the murderer strikes again.
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