The Vampire of Kings Street

Debut author Greyling’s cozy historical urban fantasy series launch introduces lawyer and investigator Radhika Dhingra, whose very first client is the vampire employed by a well-to-do family. Evelyn More comes to the offices of Dhingra & Associates in 19th-century Winterside, N.Y., as a last resort. He believes that he will soon be accused of something terrible and put to death and wishes Radhika to write his will for him. Radhika learns the next day that Evelyn’s beneficiary, opera singer Agnes Tomson, has been murdered and that her client is the only suspect. As the daughter of Indian immigrants, Radhika knows what it is like to be treated unfairly. Therefore, though she’s uncertain of her client’s innocence, she’s committed “to ensure that the police were correct in their assumptions, that the law was followed to the letter, and her client was not taken advantage of and given a fair hearing, whether guilty or not.” Mystery sticklers may be dissatisfied by the final reveal, but Radhika’s fierce quest for justice, enhanced by the author’s brilliant character sketching and nuanced worldbuilding, enliven this tale. Readers will look forward to Greyling’s next outing. (Sept.)