A Wallflower’s Guide to Viscounts and Vice

A fiercely independent spinster joins forces with a viscount in the diverting first Wallflower’s Guide Victorian romance from Collins (the Ladies Most Scandalous series). Fabulously wealthy Lucy Penhallow and her best friend’s brother, Will, Viscount Gilford, witness the abduction of Lucy’s American friend Vera Blackwood from a ball. Determined to rescue her, Lucy and Will team up to investigate. But Will also has a secondary motive for spending time with Lucy: he needs to marry a wealthy woman to save his family from financial ruin. As the two follow a string of clues into grave danger, Will falls for Lucy, impressed by her resilience—especially after they witness a murder. To reach their happy ending, however, Will must protect Lucy from becoming the killer’s next victim. The suspense simmers nicely alongside the gradually developing romance. This immersive, twisty caper gets the series off to a strong start. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary (Apr.)