A castle filled with intrigue, a plotting duchess and a mysterious death in Catherine Bailey's The Secret Rooms. At 6 am on 21 April 1940 John the 9th Duke of Rutland, and one of Britain's wealthiest men, ended his days, virtually alone, lying on a makeshift bed in a dank cramped suite of rooms in the servants' quarters of his own home, Belvoir Castle, in Leicestershire. For weeks, as his health deteriorated, his family, his servants - even the King's doctor - pleaded with him to come out, but he refused. After his death, his son and heir, Charles, the 10th Duke of Rutland, ordered that the rooms be locked up and they remained untouched for sixty years. What lay behind this extraordinary set of circumstances? For the first time, in The Secret Rooms, Catherine Bailey unravels a complex and compelling tale of love, honour and betrayal, played out in the grand salons of Britain's stately homes at the turn of the twentieth century, and on the battlefields of the Western Front. At its core is a secret so dark that it consumed the life of the man who fought to his death to keep it hidden. This extraordinary mystery from the author of Black Diamonds, perfect for lovers of Downton Abbey, Brideshead Revisited and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. Praise for The Secret Rooms: 'Reads like the best kind of mystery story. It is a tale of mistresses and heirlooms, cowardice and connivance, and a deeply dysfunctional family...gripping' Sunday Times 'Astonishing...jaw-dropping...It would spoil the book if I revealed the whole works, suffice it to say...what a family' Sunday Telegraph 'An extraordinary detective operation' John Julius Norwich

This was the author's maiden novel and it introduced the amateur detective, Graydon McKelvie, to the reading public. This mystery novel involves a hidden room, a gunshot, and a wrongful arrest. The McKelvie detective stories went on to become a much sought-after collection of stories.

For fans of Downton Abbey, this New York Times bestseller is the enthralling true story of family secrets and aristocratic intrigue in the days before WWI After the Ninth Duke of Rutland, one of the wealthiest men in Britain, died alone in a cramped room in the servants’ quarters of Belvoir Castle on April 21, 1940, his son and heir ordered the room, which contained the Rutland family archives, sealed. Sixty years later, Catherine Bailey became the first historian given access. What she discovered was a mystery: The Duke had painstakingly erased three periods of his life from all family records—but why? As Bailey uncovers the answers, she also provides an intimate portrait of the very top of British society in the turbulent days leading up to World War I.

"Be sure to add Sandra Block to your must-read list!" -- Buzzfeed.com Her patients are dying. Some are apparent suicides and others possible accidents, but rumors are flying that Dr. Zoe Goldman is an angel of death- intentionally helping hopeless cases go to a "better place"- or, worse yet, a dangerously incompetent doctor. As a new psychiatry fellow at the local correctional facility, Zoe is still learning the ropes while watching her back to avoid some dangerous prisoners. As the deaths mount up, Zoe is wracked with horror and guilt, feverishly trying to figure out what is going wrong and even questioning her own sanity. What Zoe doesn't realize is that someone is targeting her patients to get to her. Someone who has access to her deepest secrets and fears. Someone who will stop at nothing to take everything Zoe has, even her life.

Dive into the enigmatic world of Ravenwood Manor, where the echoes of the past reverberate within its ancient walls. In "The Secret of the Hidden Room: A Mystery of Intrigue," follow Evelyn, a determined detective, as she unravels the veil of secrecy cloaking this mysterious estate. Amidst the moonlit corridors and whispered legends, Ravenwood Manor holds untold secrets, each locked away behind hidden passages and obscured truths. When Evelyn receives a cryptic invitation to delve into the mysteries of this foreboding estate, she embarks on a journey that will test her wits, courage, and determination. As she navigates the labyrinthine halls, Evelyn encounters a tangled web of alliances, elusive clues, and a haunting history that refuses to stay buried. Shadows dance across the walls, and whispers echo through forgotten chambers, guiding her closer to the heart of the estate's enigmatic past. With each revelation, Evelyn inches closer to unraveling the estate's ultimate truth-a truth that has remained concealed for centuries, guarded by a legacy veiled in deception and hidden motives. From deciphering cryptic codes to confronting dark revelations, she faces a daunting quest to bring light to the obscured narrative of Ravenwood Manor. As she uncovers the secrets hidden within the estate's spectral echoes, Evelyn grapples with the weight of its history-a legacy fraught with intrigue, suspense, and the enduring allure of the unknown. The mystery deepens, the stakes heighten, and the truth lies just beyond the hidden room-a room that holds the key to unlocking the mansion's ultimate secret. "The Secret of the Hidden Room: A Mystery of Intrigue" is an enthralling tale of deception, suspense, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Join Evelyn on an unforgettable journey through the shadows and uncover the hidden truths that dwell within the heart of Ravenwood Manor.

Grade level: 4, 5, 6, 7, e, i.