title: The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies
author: Kate Westbury
publisher: Minotaur
publication date: September 1, 2026
pages: 352
peppers: 1 (on this scale)
warnings:
- spying
- gunshots
- war
- stampede in which someone gets stepped on
- alcohol
summary: Ginevra father has made it clear that she should have to marry an odious man to inherit her family's estate. To fight this legal battle, she'll need her own source of money, so she accepts an assignment with the Secret Service working to uncover the murder of her favorite librarian. Unfortunately, she'll have to work the case with prickly Sidney.
tropes:
- grumpy-sunshine
- rich-and-poor
- battle-worn
- not what you'd think
- have to work together
what I liked:
- both main characters
- Oxford portrayal
- the puzzle of it all -- watching them figure it out
- complementary strengths
what I didn’t like:
- lots of named characters in first chapters -- confusing
overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars) --> I will definitely read its sequel, which I hope is forthcoming!
As always, you can click on the photo above if you want to buy the book.