The Framed Women of Ardemore House

An autistic book editor stumbles into a murder mystery while attempting to claim her inheritance in this wonderful series launch from historian Schillace (Mr. Humble & Dr. Butcher). After her mother dies, Josephine “Jo” Jones heads from New York City to England to take possession of her family’s long-abandoned country estate. Following a divorce and a devastating job loss, Jo plans to restore the property and start a new life. When she arrives, however, she finds caretaker Sid Randles dead in his cottage on the property. A short time later, she discovers a strange portrait of a woman who resembles one of her ancestors hidden in the main house’s attic that subsequently goes missing. She reports both incidents to the local authorities, but they’re skeptical of Jo’s outsider status and insensitive to her autism. Teaming up with new friends, including an antiques dealer and an innkeeper’s wife whom she meets in town, Jo sets out to clear her name, and find the killer and the thief before they strike again. Schillace, who’s autistic herself, draws a marvelously believable heroine in Jo, and sets her up with an expertly constructed mystery. Readers will be hungry for a sequel. Agent: Jessica Papin, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.)