A Name Unknown

White (the Ladies of the Manor series) opens her Shadows Over England series with a rollicking tale of thieves on the eve of World War I. Rosemary Gresham, a London thief, is hired to find evidence that Peter Holstein, who is close to the king, has German sympathies. She poses as a librarian to organize his messy library at Kensey Manor, planning to find the evidence and collect a hefty payment that will feed her “family” of thieves and homeless children back in London. Holstein has secrets, but Rosemary finds his stuttering speech hides a deeply spiritual and caring heart. Love slowly blossoms, but will enemies from all sides ruin it as each reveals secrets about who they really are? The book has many moments of charm, but the plot is overburdened with frivolous asides. Regardless, White’s fans will no doubt enjoy this beginning of a new historical adventure. Agent: Karen Ball, the Steve Laube Agency (July)