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Andrea Penrose Books in Order

Explore Andrea Penrose books in order, including her mysteries and earlier romances, with quick summaries, series notes, and easy where-to-start picks.

Last updated: June 9, 2026

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Andrea Penrose books in publication order

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50 books

The Defiant Governess

by Andrea Penrose

1997

Fleeing an arranged marriage, a duke's daughter disguises herself as a governess and takes a post in the Marquess of Saybrook's household. The plan works until she falls for the one man she can never honestly court.

Code of Honor

by Andrea Penrose

1998

Artist Alexandra Chilton wants freedom, not marriage, until a notorious earl makes her the target of a reckless wager. What begins as flirtation turns dangerous when scandal and a hidden enemy threaten them both.

The Hired Hero

by Andrea Penrose

1999

Lady Caroline is carrying secret papers vital to England when violence leaves her stranded on the road. A hard-pressed new earl agrees to help, and their uneasy alliance soon becomes a race through danger, espionage, and attraction.

A Lady of Letters

by Andrea Penrose

2000

Lady Augusta writes bold political essays under a secret name because society would never hear her otherwise. The earl who drives her to fury in person becomes the anonymous correspondent who finally understands her mind.

Second Chances

by Andrea Penrose

2000

Allegra Procter takes a tutoring post in an earl's household while quietly pursuing justice of her own. As she bonds with his son and edges closer to the truth, the cold, widowed father becomes impossible to ignore.

The Major's Mistake

by Andrea Penrose

2000

Years after abandoning his young wife over what he thought was betrayal, a war-scarred marquis finds her again, living in poverty with their son. To win forgiveness, he must first face the terrible cost of his own mistake.

A Diamond in the Rough

by Andrea Penrose

2001

A secretive aristocrat hopes to win back his family's estate through a high-stakes golf match. The fiery Scottish woman enlisted to help him would rather distrust him, but games of pride soon put both their hearts at risk.

The Banished Bride

by Andrea Penrose

2002

Married off as a child to settle a gambling debt, Aurora has built an independent life without her absent husband. Years later they meet again in the middle of espionage and danger, not realizing who the other really is.

The Storybook Hero

by Andrea Penrose

2002

Penniless Octavia accepts a governess post in Russia, only to be abandoned as Napoleon's army advances on Moscow. To survive the brutal escape north, she must join forces with an infuriating Englishman who has troubles of his own.

A Stroke of Luck

by Andrea Penrose

2003

Zara Greeley rescues a half-drowned stranger who claims to be a duke, and that is only the beginning of her trouble. Shipwreck, inheritance battles, and a stubborn attraction turn chance into something far more serious.

The Tiger's Mistress

by Andrea Penrose

2003

When Portia Hadley's father vanishes, she refuses to sit quietly and hope for answers. Her search draws her into a dangerous game with the Earl of Branford, a former spy whose own secrets make him as risky as he is compelling.

A Kiss of Spice

by Andrea Penrose

2004

A search for a missing boy leads a wounded viscount and an unconventional beauty into a darker mystery involving vanished girls. As the investigation tightens, danger and desire become impossible to separate.

The Spy Wore Silk

by Andrea Penrose

2007

Trained by Mrs. Merlin's secret academy, Siena goes undercover as a courtesan to expose a traitor among London's elite book collectors. Her most dangerous suspect may also be the man she cannot stop wanting.

Seduced by a Spy

by Andrea Penrose

2008

Hot-tempered Shannon is one of Mrs. Merlin's most formidable operatives, but even she cannot control every mission. Disguise, danger, and a battle of wills with a formidable hero make this spy assignment especially personal.

The Scarlet Spy

by Andrea Penrose

2008

The most polished of Mrs. Merlin's agents goes undercover as a glamorous contessa, armed with charm and a hidden agenda. But when the mission grows more dangerous, Sofia risks more than exposure, she risks her heart.

To Sin with a Scoundrel

by Andrea Penrose

2010

A serious widow with scientific interests agrees to a sham engagement with London's most notorious charmer. What starts as a practical arrangement soon turns perilous when family schemes and real feeling get in the way.

To Surrender to a Rogue

by Andrea Penrose

2010

An expert in antiquities expects scholarship, not romance, when a dangerous assignment lands her beside a charming rogue. Their search for the truth leads through secrets, temptation, and the kind of trouble neither can ignore.

Sweet Revenge

by Andrea Penrose

2011

Lady Arianna Hadley returns from exile disguised as a French chef, hunting the men behind her father's death. When the Prince Regent is poisoned by one of her chocolate dishes, she must join forces with the Earl of Saybrook.

The Cocoa Conspiracy

by Andrea Penrose

2011

A rare book on chocolate should have been a perfect birthday gift, not a trap. When hidden papers point to treason, Arianna and Saybrook follow the trail from England to Vienna in search of a dangerous conspirator.

To Tempt a Rake

by Andrea Penrose

2011

A fiercely independent heroine with a complicated past finds herself drawn back into danger alongside a man she should not trust. Adventure, old wounds, and undeniable chemistry make this a particularly restless Regency romance.

Too Wicked to Wed

by Andrea Penrose

2011

A clever, plainspoken heroine crosses paths with one of London's most dangerous aristocrats, a man more comfortable with darkness than domestic peace. Their clash of wills turns into romance as intrigue and old wounds close in.

Recipe for Treason

by Andrea Penrose

2012

Sent to Scotland to capture a traitor, Arianna and Saybrook find a dead professor, cryptic papers, and hints of a terrifying new weapon. To stop disaster, they must untangle science, espionage, and a secret recipe worth killing for.

Too Dangerous to Desire

by Andrea Penrose

2012

A hero with a dark reputation and a heroine with reasons to guard her heart are pushed together by a dangerous plot. The deeper they go, the clearer it becomes that desire may be the least of their risks.

Too Tempting to Resist

by Andrea Penrose

2012

Another of the so-called hellhounds of the ton meets a woman who refuses to be dazzled by title or charm. Suspicion, attraction, and real danger make resistance much harder than either expected.

Passionately Yours

by Andrea Penrose

2014

The final Sloane sister gets her turn in a romance shaped by wit, family pressure, and a heart that does not like being told what to do. Carolina's story brings poetry, feeling, and one last spirited battle with convention.

Pistols at Dawn

by Andrea Penrose

2014

An impulsive heroine and a man with secrets collide in a Regency tale where pride, family interests, and real danger all point toward a reckoning. Fast moving and sharp tongued, it gives romance a definite edge.

Scandalously Yours

by Andrea Penrose

2014

Olivia Sloane secretly writes fiery political essays while society expects her to smile and marry well. When a reform-minded earl uncovers her secret, they form a risky alliance that quickly becomes far more personal.

Sinfully Yours

by Andrea Penrose

2014

Anna Sloane would rather write adventure than live it, until a stay at a remote Scottish castle throws her together with the scandalous Marquess of Davenport. Mysterious threats soon turn flirtation into a fight for the truth.

Sweeter Than Sin

by Andrea Penrose

2014

Shamed by a past mistake, Lady Kyra lives quietly with her art and flowers until a wounded war hero arrives next door. Their slow healing connection is tested by danger, secrets, and the fear of trusting again.

Devil May Care

by Andrea Penrose

2015

Saved on the battlefield by a French officer and his wife, Jack returns to England changed and wary of society. When that officer becomes a prisoner, outspoken Harriet Farnum helps him unravel a dangerous plot and his own heart.

Christmas By Candlelight

by Andrea Penrose

2016

This holiday collection gathers two Regency novellas where winter mishaps, forced proximity, and guarded hearts lead to love. Snowstorms, unexpected houseguests, and Christmas kindness do most of the matchmaking.

Murder on Black Swan Lane

by Andrea Penrose

2017

When a sanctimonious clergyman is found murdered, the Earl of Wrexford becomes the most convenient suspect. Clearing his name means teaming with Charlotte Sloane, the brilliant satirical artist hiding behind the name A. J. Quill.

The Stolen Letters

by Andrea Penrose

2017

A missing packet of letters sends Arianna and Saybrook into a shorter but still knotty investigation. What looks like a private matter quickly opens onto secrets that could damage reputations and cost lives.

Murder at Half Moon Gate

by Andrea Penrose

2018

Wrexford discovers the body of a gifted inventor and learns the man's new steam engine plans vanished with him. With Charlotte at his side, he enters a case where industry, money, and murder are tightly entwined.

Smoke & Lies

by Andrea Penrose

2018

Peace in Europe does not last long for Arianna and Saybrook. Drawn to Elba by a missing relative and rumors around Napoleon, they walk into a maze of lies, loyalties, and enemies from Arianna's past.

A Question of Numbers

by Andrea Penrose

2019

As Europe braces for Napoleon's return, Arianna and Saybrook are drawn into a mission involving spies, kidnappings, and whispers of a secret weapon. The trail runs from London to Brussels with war closing in.

Murder at Kensington Palace

by Andrea Penrose

2019

Charlotte's cousin is found stabbed, and his twin brother is accused of the crime. Wrexford and Charlotte uncover rivalries, dangerous experiments, and secrets at court as they try to prove the wrong man is about to hang.

A Tangle of Serpents

by Andrea Penrose

2020

Arianna and Saybrook face another case of layered motives, hidden loyalties, and enemies striking from the shadows. The farther they chase the truth, the more personal and dangerous the web becomes.

Murder at Queen's Landing

by Andrea Penrose

2020

A new killing draws Wrexford and Charlotte into a case shaped by ambition, secrecy, and London's shifting centers of power. As always, the official story proves far too neat to trust.

Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens

by Andrea Penrose

2021

Death at the Royal Botanic Gardens gives Wrexford and Charlotte a case rooted in science, status, and ruthless self-interest. Beneath the beauty of rare plants, they find motives with real poison in them.

A Swirl of Shadows

by Andrea Penrose

2022

Another government entanglement pulls Arianna and Saybrook into a chase through secrets, shifting alliances, and danger that refuses to stay in the past. The mystery grows darker the closer they come to the center.

Murder at the Serpentine Bridge

by Andrea Penrose

2022

A death near one of London's most fashionable haunts sends Wrexford and Charlotte after clues that bridge society's glitter and its rot. The case tests both their intellect and the strength of their growing household.

Murder at the Merton Library

by Andrea Penrose

2023

An urgent plea draws Wrexford and Charlotte into a world of rare books, family secrets, and academic ambition. As the clues deepen, the case becomes as much about buried loyalties as it is about murder.

Murder at King’s Crossing

by Andrea Penrose

2024

A killing at King's Crossing pulls Wrexford and Charlotte into another tangle of class tension, ambition, and deception. The more they dig, the clearer it becomes that someone has been planning well ahead of them.

The Diamond of London

by Andrea Penrose

2024

Lady Hester Stanhope flees a controlling father and reinvents herself in Regency London as the brilliant ally of her uncle, William Pitt. Penrose turns her early life into a story of politics, society, and fierce self-determination.

The Thunder of Stones

by Andrea Penrose

2024

Arianna and Saybrook travel from Switzerland toward Greece when a missing half-brother and a clandestine mission turn deadly. Revolutionary unrest, stolen antiquities, and a vanished cache of explosives raise the stakes at every step.

Murder at Somerset House

by Andrea Penrose

2025

A murder within Regency London's scientific world leads Wrexford and Charlotte into a web of deception centered on Somerset House. Knowledge is power in this case, which means it is also something worth killing for.

To Love A Spy

by Andrea Penrose

2025

When a mission too important to delegate forces Lord Lynsley into the field himself, the mastermind behind Mrs. Merlin's academy must finally risk more than strategy. Old secrets, fresh danger, and unexpected feeling make a fitting return.

New

Murder on Threadneedle Street

by Andrea Penrose

2026

A death linked to London's moneyed world draws Wrexford and Charlotte into a case of glittering surfaces and hidden risk. On Threadneedle Street, numbers, power, and greed prove just as deadly as any blade.

New

The Price of Paradise

by Andrea Penrose

2026

In 1817, Arianna and Saybrook are asked to advise on a volatile political scheme tied to the Caribbean and the New World. A promise of profit and paradise soon reveals itself as a nest of betrayal and deadly ambition.

Where to start with Andrea Penrose

For the Wrexford and Sloane mysteries: Murder on Black Swan LaneMurder at Half Moon GateMurder at Kensington Palace
For Arianna, Saybrook, and the chocolate-laced spy plots: Sweet RevengeThe Cocoa ConspiracyRecipe for Treason
For Regency romance with adventure: The Spy Wore SilkSeduced by a SpyThe Scarlet Spy
For classic traditional Regency romance: The Defiant GovernessSecond ChancesThe Storybook Hero
For smart, slightly darker historical romance: To Sin with a ScoundrelToo Wicked to WedScandalously Yours

Circle Of Sin books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "To Sin with a Scoundrel"

    To Sin with a Scoundrel

    by Andrea Penrose

    2010Circle Of Sin, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "To Surrender to a Rogue"

    To Surrender to a Rogue

    by Andrea Penrose

    2010Circle Of Sin, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "To Tempt a Rake"

    To Tempt a Rake

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Circle Of Sin, Book 3

Circle Of Sin books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "To Sin with a Scoundrel"

    To Sin with a Scoundrel

    by Andrea Penrose

    2010Circle Of Sin, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "To Surrender to a Rogue"

    To Surrender to a Rogue

    by Andrea Penrose

    2010Circle Of Sin, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "To Tempt a Rake"

    To Tempt a Rake

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Circle Of Sin, Book 3

Dangerous Liaisons books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "A Diamond in the Rough"

    A Diamond in the Rough

    by Andrea Penrose

    2001Dangerous Liaisons, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Sweeter Than Sin"

    Sweeter Than Sin

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Dangerous Liaisons, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Devil May Care"

    Devil May Care

    by Andrea Penrose

    2015Dangerous Liaisons, Book 3

Dangerous Liaisons books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "A Diamond in the Rough"

    A Diamond in the Rough

    by Andrea Penrose

    2001Dangerous Liaisons, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Sweeter Than Sin"

    Sweeter Than Sin

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Dangerous Liaisons, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Devil May Care"

    Devil May Care

    by Andrea Penrose

    2015Dangerous Liaisons, Book 3

Hellions Of High Street books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Passionately Yours"

    Passionately Yours

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Hellions Of High Street, Book 3
  2. Book cover for "Scandalously Yours"

    Scandalously Yours

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Hellions Of High Street, Book 1
  3. Book cover for "Sinfully Yours"

    Sinfully Yours

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Hellions Of High Street, Book 2

Hellions Of High Street books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Scandalously Yours"

    Scandalously Yours

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Hellions Of High Street, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Sinfully Yours"

    Sinfully Yours

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Hellions Of High Street, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Passionately Yours"

    Passionately Yours

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Hellions Of High Street, Book 3

Intrepid Heroines books in order

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  1. Book cover for "Code of Honor"

    Code of Honor

    by Andrea Penrose

    1998Intrepid Heroines, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Hired Hero"

    The Hired Hero

    by Andrea Penrose

    1999Intrepid Heroines, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "A Stroke of Luck"

    A Stroke of Luck

    by Andrea Penrose

    2003Intrepid Heroines, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Pistols at Dawn"

    Pistols at Dawn

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Intrepid Heroines, Book 4

Intrepid Heroines books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Code of Honor"

    Code of Honor

    by Andrea Penrose

    1998Intrepid Heroines, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Hired Hero"

    The Hired Hero

    by Andrea Penrose

    1999Intrepid Heroines, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "A Stroke of Luck"

    A Stroke of Luck

    by Andrea Penrose

    2003Intrepid Heroines, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Pistols at Dawn"

    Pistols at Dawn

    by Andrea Penrose

    2014Intrepid Heroines, Book 4

Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery books in order

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  1. Book cover for "Sweet Revenge"

    Sweet Revenge

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Cocoa Conspiracy"

    The Cocoa Conspiracy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Recipe for Treason"

    Recipe for Treason

    by Andrea Penrose

    2012Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Stolen Letters"

    The Stolen Letters

    by Andrea Penrose

    2017Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Smoke & Lies"

    Smoke & Lies

    by Andrea Penrose

    2018Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "A Question of Numbers"

    A Question of Numbers

    by Andrea Penrose

    2019Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "A Tangle of Serpents"

    A Tangle of Serpents

    by Andrea Penrose

    2020Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "A Swirl of Shadows"

    A Swirl of Shadows

    by Andrea Penrose

    2022Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "The Thunder of Stones"

    The Thunder of Stones

    by Andrea Penrose

    2024Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "The Price of Paradise"

    The Price of Paradise

    by Andrea Penrose

    2026Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 10

Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Sweet Revenge"

    Sweet Revenge

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Cocoa Conspiracy"

    The Cocoa Conspiracy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Recipe for Treason"

    Recipe for Treason

    by Andrea Penrose

    2012Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Stolen Letters"

    The Stolen Letters

    by Andrea Penrose

    2017Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Smoke & Lies"

    Smoke & Lies

    by Andrea Penrose

    2018Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "A Question of Numbers"

    A Question of Numbers

    by Andrea Penrose

    2019Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "A Tangle of Serpents"

    A Tangle of Serpents

    by Andrea Penrose

    2020Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "A Swirl of Shadows"

    A Swirl of Shadows

    by Andrea Penrose

    2022Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "The Thunder of Stones"

    The Thunder of Stones

    by Andrea Penrose

    2024Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "The Price of Paradise"

    The Price of Paradise

    by Andrea Penrose

    2026Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 10

Lessons In Love books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Defiant Governess"

    The Defiant Governess

    by Andrea Penrose

    1997Lessons In Love, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Second Chances"

    Second Chances

    by Andrea Penrose

    2000Lessons In Love, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Storybook Hero"

    The Storybook Hero

    by Andrea Penrose

    2002Lessons In Love, Book 3

Lessons In Love books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Defiant Governess"

    The Defiant Governess

    by Andrea Penrose

    1997Lessons In Love, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Second Chances"

    Second Chances

    by Andrea Penrose

    2000Lessons In Love, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Storybook Hero"

    The Storybook Hero

    by Andrea Penrose

    2002Lessons In Love, Book 3

Lords Of Midnight books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Too Wicked to Wed"

    Too Wicked to Wed

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Lords Of Midnight, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Too Dangerous to Desire"

    Too Dangerous to Desire

    by Andrea Penrose

    2012Lords Of Midnight, Book 3
  3. Book cover for "Too Tempting to Resist"

    Too Tempting to Resist

    by Andrea Penrose

    2012Lords Of Midnight, Book 2

Lords Of Midnight books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Too Wicked to Wed"

    Too Wicked to Wed

    by Andrea Penrose

    2011Lords Of Midnight, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Too Tempting to Resist"

    Too Tempting to Resist

    by Andrea Penrose

    2012Lords Of Midnight, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Too Dangerous to Desire"

    Too Dangerous to Desire

    by Andrea Penrose

    2012Lords Of Midnight, Book 3

Merlin's Maidens books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Spy Wore Silk"

    The Spy Wore Silk

    by Andrea Penrose

    2007Merlin's Maidens, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Seduced by a Spy"

    Seduced by a Spy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2008Merlin's Maidens, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Scarlet Spy"

    The Scarlet Spy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2008Merlin's Maidens, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "To Love A Spy"

    To Love A Spy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2025Merlin's Maidens, Book 4

Merlin's Maidens books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Spy Wore Silk"

    The Spy Wore Silk

    by Andrea Penrose

    2007Merlin's Maidens, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Seduced by a Spy"

    Seduced by a Spy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2008Merlin's Maidens, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Scarlet Spy"

    The Scarlet Spy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2008Merlin's Maidens, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "To Love A Spy"

    To Love A Spy

    by Andrea Penrose

    2025Merlin's Maidens, Book 4

Scandalous Secrets books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "A Lady of Letters"

    A Lady of Letters

    by Andrea Penrose

    2000Scandalous Secrets, Book 2
  2. Book cover for "The Major's Mistake"

    The Major's Mistake

    by Andrea Penrose

    2000Scandalous Secrets, Book 1
  3. Book cover for "The Banished Bride"

    The Banished Bride

    by Andrea Penrose

    2002Scandalous Secrets, Book 3

Scandalous Secrets books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Major's Mistake"

    The Major's Mistake

    by Andrea Penrose

    2000Scandalous Secrets, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "A Lady of Letters"

    A Lady of Letters

    by Andrea Penrose

    2000Scandalous Secrets, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Banished Bride"

    The Banished Bride

    by Andrea Penrose

    2002Scandalous Secrets, Book 3

Wrexford & Sloane books in order

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  1. Book cover for "Murder on Black Swan Lane"

    Murder on Black Swan Lane

    by Andrea Penrose

    2017Wrexford & Sloane, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Murder at Half Moon Gate"

    Murder at Half Moon Gate

    by Andrea Penrose

    2018Wrexford & Sloane, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Murder at Kensington Palace"

    Murder at Kensington Palace

    by Andrea Penrose

    2019Wrexford & Sloane, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Murder at Queen's Landing"

    Murder at Queen's Landing

    by Andrea Penrose

    2020Wrexford & Sloane, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens"

    Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens

    by Andrea Penrose

    2021Wrexford & Sloane, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Murder at the Serpentine Bridge"

    Murder at the Serpentine Bridge

    by Andrea Penrose

    2022Wrexford & Sloane, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Murder at the Merton Library"

    Murder at the Merton Library

    by Andrea Penrose

    2023Wrexford & Sloane, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Murder at King’s Crossing"

    Murder at King’s Crossing

    by Andrea Penrose

    2024Wrexford & Sloane, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "Murder at Somerset House"

    Murder at Somerset House

    by Andrea Penrose

    2025Wrexford & Sloane, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "Murder on Threadneedle Street"

    Murder on Threadneedle Street

    by Andrea Penrose

    2026Wrexford & Sloane, Book 10

Wrexford & Sloane books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Murder on Black Swan Lane"

    Murder on Black Swan Lane

    by Andrea Penrose

    2017Wrexford & Sloane, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Murder at Half Moon Gate"

    Murder at Half Moon Gate

    by Andrea Penrose

    2018Wrexford & Sloane, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Murder at Kensington Palace"

    Murder at Kensington Palace

    by Andrea Penrose

    2019Wrexford & Sloane, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Murder at Queen's Landing"

    Murder at Queen's Landing

    by Andrea Penrose

    2020Wrexford & Sloane, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens"

    Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens

    by Andrea Penrose

    2021Wrexford & Sloane, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Murder at the Serpentine Bridge"

    Murder at the Serpentine Bridge

    by Andrea Penrose

    2022Wrexford & Sloane, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Murder at the Merton Library"

    Murder at the Merton Library

    by Andrea Penrose

    2023Wrexford & Sloane, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Murder at King’s Crossing"

    Murder at King’s Crossing

    by Andrea Penrose

    2024Wrexford & Sloane, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "Murder at Somerset House"

    Murder at Somerset House

    by Andrea Penrose

    2025Wrexford & Sloane, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "Murder on Threadneedle Street"

    Murder on Threadneedle Street

    by Andrea Penrose

    2026Wrexford & Sloane, Book 10

Andrea Penrose collections, short stories, and related book types

Short Story Collections

  1. Book cover for "Christmas By Candlelight"

    Christmas By Candlelight

    by Andrea Penrose

    2016

Standalone Andrea Penrose books

  1. Book cover for "The Tiger's Mistress"

    The Tiger's Mistress

    by Andrea Penrose

    2003
  2. Book cover for "A Kiss of Spice"

    A Kiss of Spice

    by Andrea Penrose

    2004
  3. Book cover for "The Diamond of London"

    The Diamond of London

    by Andrea Penrose

    2024

Author bio

Andrea Penrose came to fiction from the design side of the page. She studied art at Yale, took enough history classes to nearly major in that too, and then earned an M.F.A. in graphic design from the Yale School of Art, focusing on publication design.

Books were there even earlier.

In interviews and on her author pages, she has said she started making up Westerns at about five years old, complete with drawings of horses and cowboys. That mix of pictures, story, and history never really left her, and it helps explain why her novels feel so visually textured without losing their pace.

Before mystery readers knew her as Andrea Penrose, she published Regency romances as Andrea Pickens and Cara Elliott. Those books let her play with smart heroines, stubborn heroes, social rules, and the small acts of rebellion that make period fiction fun. She has said that reading Pride and Prejudice was the spark that drew her to Regency England, and once she found that world, she stayed.

You can see the range of her interests across those early books. The Defiant Governess and Second Chances lean into classic Regency emotion and mistaken identities. The Spy Wore Silk turns the period into a female spy adventure. As Cara Elliott, novels like Too Wicked to Wed and Scandalously Yours bring in bluestockings, political reform, and women who refuse to fit neatly into what society expects.

Then she shifted more fully into mystery.

Sweet Revenge introduced Lady Arianna Hadley and the Earl of Saybrook, mixing murder, espionage, and chocolate into a Regency series that feels both playful and dangerous. After that came Murder on Black Swan Lane, the opening Wrexford and Sloane mystery, which pairs a brilliant but prickly aristocratic scientist with a satirical artist who survives by wit, nerve, and secrecy. That partnership became one of Penrose's signatures.

Readers tend to come to her books for the puzzles, but they stay for the texture. Penrose likes the busy side of the Regency, not just ballrooms and titled households, but print shops, laboratories, kitchens, docks, back alleys, political clubs, and all the new ideas reshaping daily life. Science matters in the Wrexford and Sloane books. Chocolate, chemistry, and espionage matter in the Lady Arianna novels. Across all of them, she keeps returning to capable people trying to think their way out of trouble.

Her work has reached a wide audience. She is a three-time RITA Award finalist, a two-time Daphne du Maurier Award winner for historical mystery, and a two-time Gold Leaf Award winner, and her books have been translated into ten languages.

More recently, she stepped outside her ongoing series with The Diamond of London, a historical novel built around Lady Hester Stanhope. It feels like a natural move for a writer who has always been drawn to strong-minded characters who push against the limits of their time.

Penrose now lives in Connecticut and is part of the long-running WordWenches historical fiction community. The thread running through all of her work, from crayon Westerns to Regency sleuths, is simple: curiosity. She likes the meeting point between ideas and emotion, and her books invite readers to enjoy that intersection with her.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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