A Promise Given

(Henrietta and Inspector Howard, Book Three)

Mixing Mystery and Romance in a Fizzy 1930s Cocktail!

A dazzling wedding. A grand estate. A murder no one saw coming.

Henrietta and Clive Howard are finally tying the knot—but family tensions and clashing expectations threaten to upend their plans. As the long-awaited day arrives, love is in the air—but so are complications. Elsie’s budding romance with Stanley is tested by the arrival of the dashing Lieutenant Harrison Barnes-Smith and Henrietta’s vivacious friend Rose—a situation that grows increasingly dark and confused as time goes on.

Clive and Henrietta begin their honeymoon at Castle Linley, Clive’s ancestral home in England, where Henrietta must adjust to a host of new relations—including the brooding Wallace Howard, heir to the estate. When a local man is found murdered in the nearby village, Wallace falls under suspicion, and Clive is reluctantly drawn into the investigation.

Together, Clive and Henrietta must navigate crumbling traditions, family secrets, and disturbing news from home—all while trying to prove Wallace’s innocence. But as they dig deeper into the case, they uncover truths that could shake the Linley legacy to its core.

Can Clive and Henrietta find the real killer and clear Wallace’s name—without destroying the estate’s future?

★ “Henrietta and Clive are a sexy, endearing, and downright fun pair of sleuths.”—Library Journal (starred review)

★ “The mix of sleuthing and aristocratic life pairs well with Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series.”―Booklist

★ “A story full of family secrets, twisted plots, and a striking English setting, A Promise Given is the perfect novel for fans of Sherlock Holmes.”―Brit + Co.

★ “Series fans will cheer the beginning of Clive and Henrietta’s private investigation business in an entry with welcome echoes of Pride and Prejudice.” ―Publishers Weekly

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Praise for A Promise Given

"A well-paced romantic mystery that sizzles with love and suspense. This third novel in the Inspector & Henrietta series will have readers begging for more! Highly recommended."

Chanticleer Reviews
"The mix of sleuthing and aristocratic life pairs well with Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series.”

Booklist
"Cox’s eye for historical detail remains sharp…A pleasant, escapist diversion.”

Kirkus
“Series fans will cheer the beginning of Clive and Henrietta’s private investigation business in an entry with welcome echoes of Pride and Prejudice.”

Publishers Weekly
"A Promise Given is a well-told story which had me immersed and wanting more. Well done!"

Windy City Reviews
“Many of the book’s scenes could easily read like a Jane Austin novel as Cox possesses that distinct ability to plant a reader directly into a specific room or landscape. The two partners, Henrietta and Clive, make a perfect sleuthing team that left me wanting more.”

Reader Views
"Romantic and atmospheric, A Promise Given offers an intriguing glimpse into 1930s Chicago by weaving in authentic period details and exploring the social tensions of the day."

Susanna Calkins, author of the Lucy Campion Historical Mysteries
"Michelle Cox is a talented wordsmith who knows how to flawlessly write crime and mystery. She knows to capture her reader’s attention and entertain them from beginning to end."

Red Headed Book Lover
"A story full of family secrets, twisted plots, and a striking English setting, A Promise Given is the perfect novel for fans of Sherlock Holmes."

Brit + Co.
"The writing is gorgeous and reflects the cultural and historical setting. Michelle Cox’s novel is filled with deeply moving passages and emotionally charged scenes. The characters are as sophisticated as they are relatable and the plot is designed to make for the perfect page-turner."

Readers Favorite
"What Cox captures so perfectly in Henrietta’s character is what a marriage would have been like at this time for an independent woman. We ride this rollercoaster of nerve and doubt up to the anticipated wedding night and fall even more deeply in love with Clive right along with Henrietta. The passion that is plastered all over the pages of A Promise Given is truly remarkable and a testament to the world that Cox has been able to create."

Paperback Paris

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