A Gilded Grave

Set in 1895, this richly atmospheric series opener from Freydont (Independence Slay) introduces 18-year-old Deanna Randolph, who has mixed feelings about attending a ball at one of the Newport, R.I., "cottages" built by the rich. Though she's not looking forward to running into inventor Joe Ballard, the man who recently jilted her, she finds that there are many others at the ball worth meeting, including Lord David Manchester, a visiting Barbados plantation owner, and his exotic sister, Madeline. At one point Deanna joins other guests for a walk along the cliffs, but the discovery of a body on the rocks below%E2%80%94that of maid Daisy Payne%E2%80%94puts a damper on the party. In what turns into a murder case, Joe falls under popular suspicion, while the police settle on Daisy's boyfriend and Joe's apprentice, Orrin O'Laren, as the likely culprit. Orrin happens to be the brother of Deanna's maid, Elspeth, and together the two young women, inspired by dime novel detectives like Kate Goelet, investigate. Fans of romantic period mysteries will find a lot to like. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Agency. (Aug.)