Books published by Kensington Publishing

On the cusp of the twentieth century, Manhattan is a lively metropolis buzzing with talent. But after a young soprano meets an untimely end on stage, can one go-getting leading lady hit the right notes in a case of murder? New York City, 1899. When it comes to show business, Gilded Age opera singer Ella Shane wears the pants. The unconventional diva breaks the mold by assuming "trouser roles"-male characters played by women-and captivating audiences far and wide with her travelling theatre company. But Ella's flair for the dramatic takes a terrifying turn when an overacting Juliet to her Romeo drinks real poison during the final act of Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Weeks after the woman's death is ruled a tragic accident, a mysterious English duke arrives in Greenwich Village on a mission. He's certain someone is getting away with murder, and the refined aristocrat won't travel back across the Atlantic until Ella helps him expose the truth. As Ella finds herself caught between her craft and a growing infatuation with her dashing new acquaintance, she's determined to decode the dark secrets surrounding her co-star's fatale finale-before the lights go dark and the culprit appears for an encore . . .

With The Neighbor and Pray for the Girl, Joseph Souza proved himself a master of twisty and unpredictable psychological suspense. In this riveting new novel, a mother is unwittingly drawn into the dark underbelly of her picture-perfect Maine town . . . Shepherd's Bay has been home to generations of lobstermen and their families. Lately, affluent newcomers have been buying up waterfront property and mingling uneasily with the locals. Tensions are high, especially since Dakota James, a teenage boy from the wealthier side of town, disappeared weeks ago. But another disturbing incident soon follows. When high school junior Katie Eaves and her friend, Willow Briggs, fail to come home after a night out, Katie's mother, Isla, is frantic. Two agonizing days go by before Katie is found, bruised and bloodied, yet alive. Isla is grateful. But Willow, a wealthy newcomer from Los Angeles, is still missing. And Katie can't remember anything about the night of their disappearance. Isla tries to help her daughter sort through her hazy recollections, and to recall the truth of her tangled friendship with privileged, beautiful Willow. At the hair salon she owns, Isla hears dark whispers about wild parties, drug deals, and love triangles gone wrong. How much truth is in the gossip? Is Dakota's disappearance linked to the others? And what other shocking secrets lie at the heart of Shepherd's Bay-and of the family Isla is struggling to hold together?

Set in contemporary Spain, Susana Aikin's latest novel is a colorful, beautifully written examination of memory, romance, and the intricacies of family duty. On a sweltering August day in Madrid, Anna, Julia, and Marion return to their childhood home. The once grand mansion, furnished with exotic objects and art that reflected the cultures of their English father and Spanish mother, once bustled with visitors. But since their father's death, all three sisters have been reluctant to go back, still feeling the weight of his domineering influence. Julia believes that before the house can sell, it needs to be cleared of negative energy, and she has planned a limpieza, or cleaning ritual. Marion, the oldest, fears what the ceremony might unleash. Anna, the youngest and most capable and ambitious of the trio, is skeptical of the Cuban santera hired by Julia. Still, she is wary of antagonizing her siblings, or of stirring up old resentment. But as the ceremony progresses, guilt and recrimination become impossible to ignore. And if there's a chance of bringing their house and their lives out of the shadows, it rests in the sisterhood, strength, and indomitable love that remains when the ghosts of the past surrender at last. Praise for Susana Aikin's We Shall See the Sky Sparkling "Satisfying. . . . Expertly plotted and rife with historical details . . . a rich story of the prejudices women faced at the turn of the 20th century." -Publishers Weekly

In the first installment of bestselling author Carlene O'Connor's new Home to Ireland Mystery series, New York Tara Meehan's first trip to Galway, Ireland may be her last.Jump right into the beauty and splendor--and murder--of Tara's Irish adventure! With a gorgeous setting, suspicious characters, and a deadly mystery--Murder in Galway will have you packing your bags... Tara never imagined her introduction to Ireland like this--carrying her mam's ashes to honor her final request: "Tell Johnny I'm sorry...Take me home." She's never met her mam's estranged brother, Johnny Meehan, who owns an architectural salvage business in Galway. Although Tara is immediately charmed by the medieval city, the locals seem wary of strangers and a gypsy warns her that death is all around.When Tara arrives at her uncle's stone cottage, the prophesy seems true. A dead man lies sprawled over the threshold in a pool of blood. The victim turns out to be Johnny's wealthiest client, and her missing uncle is the garda's number-one suspect. In trying to find Johnny and solve the crime, Tara uncovers her mam and uncle's troubled past. But with a desperate killer about, she had better mind herself, or they'll be tossing her ashes in Galway Bay...

On Georgia's picturesque Peach Cove Island, a killer is serving up a two-for-one special . . . After their mama's passing, Marygene Brown returned to Peach Cove Island to help her sister Jena Lynn run the family diner, renowned for its homemade peach desserts. But Mama is never too far away-her sassy spirit haunts the island, and more specifically Marygene. Lately Mama has been warning her that the dead will seek her out to solve their murders, an idea Marygene is far from peachy keen on. But that prophecy appears to be coming true when she goes skinny-dipping off the island and swims right into a woman's charred corpse floating in the waves. And when Marygene and her brother Sam come upon a second burned body in a wine cellar at an event they're catering, it appears they have a double homicide on their hands. It soon turns out the victims have more in common than their charred remains, and Marygene will need to double down to find a killer who has no aversion to playing with fire. Good thing Mama has her back . . . Includes Seven Recipes from Marygene's Kitchen!

Storyton Hall, Virginia, is a top travel destination for book lovers and the perfect spot for literary events. But as a children's book publisher hosts a gathering there, some folks aren't going to live-happily ever after or otherwise . . . Jane Steward's resort is hopping-not only is Peppermint Press's conference in full swing, there are also lots of families staying on the premises, bringing their kids to events like a scavenger hunt through the Fairy Tale Forest. Then a woman dressed like Little Red Riding Hood is found dead from a plot device straight out of a fairy tale-with a rare and valuable copy of Grimms' Fairy Tales in her basket. Not long after, a second victim is killed, with yet another treasure nearby-a volume by Hans Christian Andersen worth thousands of dollars. It looks like a big bad wolf may be lurking among the guests, and Jane can't just wait for a handsome prince to come to the rescue . . . "Readers will find themselves wanting to live in Storyton, no matter how many people end up dead there." -Suspense Magazine on Murder in the Locked Library

Former cop Cass Raines knows the streets of Chicago all too well. Now she's a private investigator and getting an exclusive glimpse into how the other half lives-and how they die . . . Wealth. Power. Celebrity. Vonda Allen's glossy vanity magazine has taken the Windy City by storm, and she's well on her way to building a one-woman media empire. Everybody adores her. Except the people who work for her. And the person who's sending her flowers with death threats . . . As Vonda's bodyguard, off-duty cop Ben Mickerson knows he could use some back-up-and no one fits the bill better than his ex-partner on the police force, Cass Raines. Now a full-time private eye, Cass is reluctant to take the job. She isn't keen on playing babysitter to a celebrity who's rumored to be a heartless diva. But as a favor to Ben, she signs on. But when Vonda refuses to say why someone might be after her, and two of her staff turn up dead, Ben and Cass must battle an unknown assailant bent on getting to the great lady herself, before someone else dies. Cass finds out the hard way just how persistent a threat they face during the first stop on Vonda's book tour. As fans clamour for her autograph, things take an ugly turn when a mysterious fan shows up with flowers and slashes Ben with a knife. While her ex-partner's life hangs in the balance, Cass is left to find out what secrets Vonda is keeping, who might want her dead, and how she can bring Ben's attacker to justice before enemies in the Chicago Police Department try to stop her in her tracks . . .

"I finished Island Affair with a big smile on my face. I can't decide what I adored more: Luis and Sara's love story; their relationships with their complicated and difficult and loving families, or the setting of Key West, which sounded so beautiful I wanted to jump on a plane. I can't wait to read more by Priscilla Oliveras!" -New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory USA Today bestselling author Priscilla Oliveras launches a new romantic comedy series set in Key West, Florida and filled with humor, Latinx culture, and fun family dynamics perfect for summer beach reading… Sought-after social media influencer Sara Vance, in recovery from an eating disorder, is coming into her own, with a potential career expansion on the horizon. Despite the good news, her successful siblings (and their perfect spouses) have a way of making her feel like the odd one out. So, when her unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for a Florida family vacation, Sara recruits Luis Navarro-a firefighter paramedic and dive captain willing to play the part of her smitten fiancé . . . Luis's big Cuban familia has been in Key West for generations, and his quiet strength feeds off the island's laidback style. Though guarded after a deep betrayal, he'll always help someone in need-especially a spunky beauty with a surprising knowledge of Spanish curse words. Soon, he and Sara have memorized their "how we met" story and are immersed in family dinners, bike tours, private snorkeling trips . . . sharing secrets, and slow, melting kisses. But when it's time for Sara to return home, will their fake relationship fade like the stunning sunset . . . or blossom into something beautiful? "A captivating love story." -Farrah Rochon, USA Today bestselling author "Priscilla Oliveras writes about families and love with warmth and charm. If you love nuanced characters and big emotions, read her books." -HelenKay Dimon, author of The Secret She Keeps "Don't miss this lovely beginning to Priscilla Oliveras's new series. Can't wait to take my next trip!" -Jamie Beck, USA Today bestselling author

Fall in Southern Maryland's Amish country is a time of fiery falling leaves, a bountiful harvest, and bracing, frost-touched days. It's the perfect season for one irrepressible maidel to try an unexpected match . . . Good-hearted and impulsive, twenty-year-old Lizzie Fisher has many chores-and secrets. She's caring for kittens abandoned by their mother and practicing her drawing talent away from disapproving eyes. So the last thing she needs is someone like handsome Stephen Zimmerman constantly "helping" her out of trouble. But when she discovers they both have lovelorn siblings, she has an idea: why can't she and Stephen bring his older brother and her older sister together? After all, how hard could matchmaking be? Even though he's the youngest son of an Old Order Mennonite family, Stephen is used to looking out for everyone else. Yet somehow the romantic schemes he and Lizzie cook up keep going awry-in ways that hint they may suit each other. But their deepening bond is both delightful and complicated. For bridging their differences will take bravery, compromise-and faith in their hopes and dreams . . .

In the New Order Amish community of Pleasant Valley, a helping hand is never far away, and a baby's smile can be reason enough to start over-and risk love again . . . Since losing his family in a tragic accident, building contractor Max Lambright can't seem to find purpose in anything but hard work . . . until he meets feisty newcomer, Willa Reynolds. As she struggles to make a new life for herself and her baby girl, she challenges him in just about every possible way. Dare he hope that, alongside this spirited woman, he might rekindle his lost faith, and find the path to love and the family he craves? Poor choices and a difficult past have inspired Willa to make better decisions for her precious Frannie, even if it means leaving the familiar behind and starting over . . . among strangers. As she adapts to the Amish ways, she learns about Max's generous and steadfast nature. The loneliness he tries so hard to mask can't be hidden . . . not from a woman with something to prove: Together, they can build their friendship into something that will forever stand as the cornerstone of a happy family . . .

Lisa Jones Baker's beloved Hope Chest of Dreams series follows a new generation blessed by treasured hand-carved chests that hold-and inspire-precious dreams . . . Amish country girl Hannah Lapp lives for adventure-the kind found in favorite novels and the stories she secretly writes. And at her family's popular tourist store, she's fascinated by the different Englischers she meets. Especially when Marcus Jackson comes to town. She's sure there's more to the ex-city boy than his quiet, helpful ways, and she's curious to find out just what it is . . . Marcus fled Chicago before his brothers' life of crime ruined his future. He's not sure exactly why God's plan brought him to this quaint little town. Or why his growing friendship with the bubbly, inquisitive Hannah has him trusting her with his past. But when local stores are robbed and suspicion falls on Marcus, can he and Hannah come together to prove his innocence-and make their own happy-ever-after ending? "The heart of this romance goes far beyond stereotypes . . . providing an unusual and welcome level of insight into the characters' inner lives." -Publishers Weekly on Rebecca's Bouquet, STARRED REVIEW

In this dazzling new novel from bestselling author Vanessa Kelly, the wildest member of Clan Kendrick has found his purpose as a government agent. Now he must also meet his match . . . Lady Sabrina Bell has never been so embarrassed in her life. Not only did her new suitor fail to appear for their morning rendezvous in Hyde Park, but a thief pushed her into the Serpentine. Being rescued by a burly Highlander just adds to her humiliation. Nor is he content with rescuing her just once. Even when Sabrina travels to Edinburgh as part of King George's entourage, Graeme Kendrick is there, interfering, exasperating, and so very tempting . . . Once notorious for being the most unruly Kendrick brother, Graeme now runs dangerous missions for the King's spymaster. Yet nothing has prepared him for Sabrina. The only child of a wealthy earl, and the pampered goddaughter of the king himself, she is stubborn, impetuous, and far too good for him. He doesn't deserve her, but he can protect her and then send her safely back home. But the bonny Sassenach has her own ideas-and a plan for seduction that no red-blooded Highlander could resist . . . Praise for The Highlander's Princess Bride "A thoroughly satisfying Regency romance." -Publishers Weekly

New York Times bestselling Sisters of Suspense join forces for a gripping standalone novel about a clique of popular girls whose high school friendship is marked by a tragedy that continues to haunt them decades later. Jackson and Bush take the reader's hand and twist them through this shocking tale of suspense. First they were five. Then they were four. Whose turn will it be next? At Bristol High they were an elite clique known as the Five Firsts: Amanda, Bailey, Carmen, Delta and Zora . . . ABCD & Z. They could have accepted their classmate, Emmy, as "E", but with her bookish disposition and her embarrassing status of scholarship student to boot, they rejected her and chose wealthy Zora instead. At a pre-graduation party just before the end of senior year, Lance Ventura, the hottest guy in school, falls down an embankment toward the river and is barely rescued in time to save his life. One of the Five Firsts, Carman, rushes to save him, but isn't so lucky. Her sudden death causes a community to mourn and rumors of foul play to swirl, but the tragedy is ruled an accident. Fast forward ten years and the classmates all meet again at the high school reunion. Some of them have had good fortune in their lives. Others, not so much. PRAISE FOR LISA JACKSON AND NANCY BUSH "Superb . . . a masterpiece of romantic suspense." -Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Something Wicked "A chilling thriller with enough false leads to keep readers enthralled to the finish."-Library Journal on One Last Breath