The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn

Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane's private enquiry business. Among the more unlikely clients: Julia's very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved—if eccentric—family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation. It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust. Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. For Bellmont's sake—and more—they'll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep….

This novel and the entire series is a guilty pleasure. It's a wonderful, light, and entertaining combination of historical fiction and mystery.

I started this book as soon as it arrived, but had to put it down to meet some deadlines, but as soon as I could I jumped back in and devoured it. Every book gets better than the last. I cannot wait for our adventure to Rome, Italy next! These are the type of stories where it is painful to have to wait a year or so before the next. Alas.I find it ridiculous, but almost everything that I said in my review of book #4 [b:Dark Road to Darjeeling 9396765 Dark Road to Darjeeling (Lady Julia Grey Series #4) Deanna Raybourn http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1288361711s/9396765.jpg 11044197] applies here to book #5. I just plain love it! I love the characters. I love the wit. I love making assumptions and then either finding myself entirely correct or proven wrong. I love the humor and the entertainment. I absolutely adore these novels! Oh and a last minute thought... what an appropriate and accurate portrayal of marriage! Another thing that I love about these novels is that with each one, the reader is able to learn a bit more of the background of our beloved Brisbane as well as of one of Julia's siblings. Every page keeps me yearning for more. Thanks to Deanna Raybourn for providing a copy for review.