The Art of Love and Danger

 

Written in Secret

 

Book One

In the heart of nineteenth-century Cincinnati one woman holds the power to rewrite history.

What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.

With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall’s only lead is Lydia’s fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the “Killer Queen of Romance.” Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.

As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati’s citizens, but for their own hearts too.

 

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If requesting from your library, this information may be helpful:

Title: Written In Secret
Author: Crystal Caudill
Publisher: Kregel Publishing
ISBN: 9780825449079
Release Date: March 11, 2025

What a cracking start to a new series! I always enjoy sneaking a peek behind the curtain of a writer’s life, and this tale of authorly misadventure between the Killer Queen of Romance and an upright police detective has something for everyone. Definitely worth diving into!

Carolyn Miller

best-selling author of the Regency Brides and Regency Wallflowers series

Crystal Caudill has done it again! This enemies-to-lovers historical has it all–an endearing heroine, a protective officer, humor, second-chance romance, intrigue, mystery, and redemption! Readers will be kept guessing, and will be eager for the next book after devouring this fantastic debut to Caudill’s aptly named series, The Art of Love and Danger. 

Grace Hitchcock

speaker and award-winning author of To Catch a Coronet

Danger, mystery, hidden identities, villains, heroes, and gallantry! Everything you would expect in a dime novel, but better! Written in Secret is a rollicking, fast-paced mystery with characters that pop off the page. The wit and intelligence of both the hero and heroine had me rooting for them from the first chapter!

Erica Vetsch

author of Cloaks & Daggers series

A rambunctious heroine and a stalwart, determined hero–my favorite combination! Toss in danger and loads of humor–not to mention a breath-stealing romance–and what do you have? Written in Secret, a fantastic new story by Crystal Caudill. This tale will leave you with a serious book hangover, making it hard to decide which character you miss most. For me, it’s definitely the swoon-worthy police officer, Abraham Hall. Truly an entertaining read!

Michelle Griep

Christy Award-winning author of the Blackfriars Lane series

A pure delight! With a masterful artistic flair, Caudill seamlessly weaves faith and romance into a heart-pounding mystery. The witty and often humorous banter between the characters in Written in Secret lends a perfect balance to the riveting suspense. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a beautifully crafted romance with a deep faith and thrilling plot.

Stephenia H. McGee

Faith, Hope, and Love Reader's Choice Award-winning author

Crystal Caudill’s Written in Secret is a twisty mystery that manages to be both a delightful caper and a serious exploration of justice and our responsibility to those around us.

Janyre Tromp

best-selling author of Darkness Calls the Tiger

Crystal Caudill continues to put a fresh spin on the Gilded Age with this brilliant first book in her new historical romantic suspense series. Written in Secret delights from beginning to end with a dashing policeman hero, a plucky dime-novel-author heroine, and a mysterious vigilante villain. The layered and amiable characters come alive under Caudill’s skilled pen, and her engaging writing voice and clever plotting kept me solidly immersed in the story. This is another entertaining winner from Caudill, with meaningful, practical faith applications too. A must-read in every way!

Carrie Schmidt

ReadingIsMySuperPower.org

An adventure novel with romance, depth, and intrigue! Fans of Michelle Griep and Erica Vetsch will delight in Crystal Caudill’s newest release, which features a detective and a novelist. What reader doesn’t dream of books coming to life? They do in this story–only it leads to disaster! Caudill moves the plot along quickly with great tension and suspense, while also weaving in a dramatic spiritual shift for the heroine. 

Joanna Davidson Politano

award-winning author of The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple

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