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The First Ladies' Guide to Murder
  • Published: 15 December 2026
  • ISBN: 9781496759528
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $65.00

The First Ladies' Guide to Murder

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Amid the lavish environs of Gilded Age-era Washington, the Capitol’s most influential women – none other than First Lady Frances Cleveland and her predecessor, Julia Dent Grant – band together to solve the suspicious murder of a young maid in this dazzling new series from USA Today bestselling and multi-Agatha and Edgar Award-winning author Amanda Flower.

1894, Washington: This is not the kind of homecoming Nellie Grant hoped for. The only daughter of former President Ulysses S. Grant, Nellie has left England after being granted a divorce from her abusive husband. She plans to hide away with her three children at the home of her mother, Julia Dent Grant. However, Julia, the unofficial queen mother of Washington’s elite, has other ideas—and convinces Nellie to attend a White House dinner in honor of the current president, Grover Cleveland.

The lavish event turns somber when First Lady Frances Cleveland discovers that her prized Tiffany brooch is missing. Young maid Kitty Thorn is accused of theft and dismissed on the spot. The next morning, Kitty is found drowned, her death ruled a suicide.

Frances calls upon Nellie and Julia to implore them for help. She doesn’t believe Kitty stole the brooch—or committed suicide. She believes Kitty was framed and murdered. For while the authorities deem the victim a woman of no consequence, despite her lowly status, Kitty saw and knew a great deal. She was a keeper of secrets—and in the capital, every secret has a price.

Nellie especially feels a tie to Kitty, who years ago did her a kindness that she hopes to repay by finding her killer. But the risks will be great, for this crime has ramifications for all the First Ladies . . .
  • Published: 15 December 2026
  • ISBN: 9781496759528
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $65.00

Also by Amanda Flower

Truffle Trouble
Newlyweds Can Be Knocked Off
Natural Barn Killer
Not They Who Soar
I Died for Beauty
Gingerbread Danger
To Slip the Bonds of Earth
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Praise for The First Ladies' Guide to Murder

Praise for Amanda Flower’s historical Katharine Wright Mysteries

“Flower transforms Katharine Wright, sister of flight pioneers Orville and Wilbur, into an intrepid gumshoe in this splendid series launch…As always, Flower's thorough historical research enables her to bring contemporary readers into a bygone era, and she has the mechanics of a satisfying mystery down pat. After this stirring maiden voyage, readers will be eager to see where the series goes next.” —Publishers Weekly on To Slip the Bonds of Earth

“Fascinating period detail and little-known historical facts add up to an enjoyable read.” —Kirkus Reviews on To Slip the Bonds of Earth

“Flower imagines a new role for the sister of the famous Wright brothers, equally brilliant but limited by societal norms…Flower's new historical mystery will please her many fans.” —Booklist on To Slip the Bonds of Earth

"Fans of Flower’s Agatha Award–winning mystery featuring Emily Dickinson, Because I Could Not Stop for Death, will appreciate the details in her new slow-paced novel featuring a strong, often-overlooked historical figure.” —Library Journal on To Slip the Bonds of Earth

"[An] informative, fun, and absorbing mystery." —First Clue Review on To Slip the Bonds of Earth

“Flower’s signature attention to period detail and extensive research are on full display here, as she paints a vivid picture of gender and class differences in turn-of-the-century Dayton.” —Historical Novel Society on To Slip the Bonds of Earth

"Flower plays scrupulously fair with readers, and she continues to mold Katharine into a top-shelf gumshoe without stretching credibility or straying too far from the historical record. This series deserves a long run." —Publishers Weekly on Not They Who Soar

"The World's Fair emerges as the central figure, complemented by a profusion of characters, many drawn from real life." —Kirkus Reviews on Not They Who Soar


“This is a wonderful mystery series, and Katharine, with her intellect, determination, and curiosity, makes her a great detective… I look forward to reading more about Katharine Wright, amateur sleuth." —Historical Novel Society on Not They Who Soar

“When a murder threatens the famed family, Katharine’s wit and insight, along with her Ohio roots, are crucial in navigating secrets, society and early aviation’s social impact amid a well-drawn Midwest setting.” —Cleveland.com on Not They Who Soar