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  • The Thief and the Labyrinth by Alys Clare book cover
  • The Thief and the Labyrinth by Alys Clare book cover
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The Thief and the Labyrinth

by Alys Clare

A missing pair, a London investigation, and a shifting trail

$25.96 USD
$43.27 USD $25.96 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

A missing pair, a London investigation, and a shifting trail

Set in London in 1882, this historical mystery brings private investigators Lily and Felix of the World’s End Bureau into a search for Bruno Schmidt and Ava, a young American woman who has eloped with him. Ava’s father wants her returned, and the American agents who hire the detectives need help navigating the city. An early clue seems to offer a straightforward route to the pair, but the case grows more complicated as the investigators question whether their clients have been entirely honest. The book’s central tension rests on the gap between the apparent purpose of the search and the secrets that may lie behind it.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers of historical detective fiction set in Victorian London
  • Readers interested in private-investigator partnerships and cases involving missing people
  • Readers who enjoy mysteries where the clients’ accounts become part of the investigation

Themes

Trust and deceptionMissing personsInvestigationVictorian London

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Private investigators Lily and Felix hunt a rogue thief in this gripping and atmospheric World's End Bureau historical mystery from critically acclaimed author Alys Clare.

A clear crime hides an untold secret . . .

London, 1882. American agents Henry and Johanna McClellan need the help of the World's End Bureau to find Bruno Schmidt, a cunning lecturer who cajoled a young American woman called Ava into eloping to Europe.

Now Ava's father wants her back. Though the McClellans have followed the missing pair's trail to London, they can't find their way around the busy city without help. PI duo Lily and Felix accept the case and soon discover a promising clue regarding Bruno and Ava's whereabouts.

But the more Lily and Felix investigate, the more complicated and implausible this seemingly straightforward case becomes. Their suspicion quickly falls on their clients, who might not be as honest as they first seemed to be . . .

'Perfect for fans of gothic thrillers and historical mysteries' (Booklist Starred Review), the World's End Bureau series is a fantastic read for fans of Anne Perry, Will Thomas and Deanna Raybourn.

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