Con artist Elizabeth Miles has determined that Society is the biggest con of all. So far, Elizabeth’s only real social success has been with Priscilla Knight. Priscilla is a dedicated suffragist who was recently widowed for the second time in her young life. Her beloved first husband, DeForrest Jenks, died in a tragic accident and left her with two young daughters and a comfortable fortune. Soon after his death, her pastor convinced her she needed a man to look after her. Before she knew it, he had engineered a whirlwind courtship and hasty marriage to fellow parishioner Endicott Knight. Less than nine months later, Endicott is also dead in a somewhat less tragic and even more suspicious accident.

Priscilla confides to Elizabeth that she had understood Endicott was wealthy in his own right, and she had brought a sizeable fortune to the marriage as well. Now her banker is telling her she has hardly any money left and that her house has been mortgaged. The banker has hinted at a scandal that could damage the family’s reputation and her daughters’ future prospects. Fearing destructive gossip, Priscilla doesn’t know whom to trust.

Elizabeth discovers some unsavory evidence that seems to point to the possibility that Endicott’s death may have been connected to blackmail. To save her new friend’s future, Elizabeth must use her special set of skills to find the truth.

Review of City of Secrets

Review (4 Stars):  This is the second book in the Counterfeit Lady series and I loved this book more than City of Lies.  Elizabeth and Gideon are planning their wedding and Elizabeth finds herself in the middle of another mystery.  Her friend, Priscilla, has been left as a penniless widow after second husband died leaving her and her children on their own.  Elizabeth has discovered that Priscilla’s death may be related to blackmail and she has a few tricks up her sleeve to find justice for this young widow.  The only thing is that Elizabeth and Gideon have very different ideas about achieving justice and she must be very careful to make sure that her own past doesn’t come to light in her new social circles.

Ms. Thompson has always been one of my favorite mystery writers and every time I read one of her books, I get lost in her magical literary worlds.  She always creates these delightful characters and Elizabeth is one of my favorite heroines to date.  City of Secrets was a mystery filled with secrets and deception and I couldn’t finish this book fast enough.  I can’t wait to see what happens for Elizabeth in the third book of this great series.