It is London in the 19th century and Rosalind Thorne has managed to make a living for herself on the edge of the ton. Previously a young lady of society with the hopes of marriage, Rosalind's world fell apart when her father and sister ran away, leaving herself and her mother picking up the pieces of their broken lives, full of debt and loss. Now Rosalind uses her intelligence and resourcefulness to garner the secrets of the wealthy, and as such makes herself useful to the society that has shunned her. But when Jasper Aimesworth, a wastrel of the highest order, is found dead in the exclusive ballroom of Almack's, Rosalind is called upon to discover what has happened. With many powerful suspects Rosalind must be very careful, for this is a dangerous game. Throw in an old flame and a sizzling attraction to a Bow Street Runner, and things are going to get very complicated for Miss Thorne!

A USEFUL WOMAN by Darcie Wilde is a wonderfully entertaining Regency mystery romance, and I really enjoyed it. With a cleverly cunning plot and characters that are engaging and witty, I was easily enfolded in the dangers and subterfuge of the ton. Rosalind is a strong, determined character who knows what it is like to carry the world on her shoulders - very intelligent and savvy, she is easily my favourite character. With plenty of twists and turns, and romance thrown in to boot, A USEFUL WOMAN by Darcie Wilde is a delight to read, and I look forward to the next in the series.