Oxford, 1890.

Beneath the wavering glow of gaslight, whispers coil through ancient colleges and fog-choked lanes. Whispers of a murder no one can explain.

Lady Pippa Hastings stands accused of killing a young man in a locked room — the evidence as damning as it is impossible. The gallows await.

But years in the future, a single discovery will cast doubt on everything.

Katie Lennox makes the only choice that matters: travel back through the London Stone, a Druidic portal binding past and present, and save Lady Pippa before history seals her fate. In a city steeped in secrets, she joins forces with brilliant Oxford scholar Henry Merrivale and sharp-witted Cockney lad Toby Becket. Together, they must untangle vanishing killers, sealed chambers, and crimes that defy reason — as the shadow of the notorious Demon Duchess of Devon looms ever closer.

Every revelation leads deeper into a labyrinth where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted.

The clock is ticking. The noose is waiting.

Can Katie outwit a perfect killer — before history claims another innocent life? Find out in the thrilling follow-up to the award-winning Ripped!

Shelly Dickson Carr, an award-winning author, has a rich tapestry of experiences that inform her storytelling. Residing in Boston with her beloved family and dogs. Shelly draws inspiration from her vibrant surroundings and her life as a mother to three grown daughters. Her literary journey began in a home filled with books, where her love for mysteries was ignited at the tender age of ten, thanks to her grandfather, the renowned mystery writer John Dickson Carr. Julia McNiven was also a mystery writer, making Shelly a 3rd generation Mystery Writer. This familial legacy of storytelling continues to influence her work, particularly in her debut novel, RIPPED, a captivating time-travel murder mystery that won the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best First Book, along with multiple silver medals for Best New Voice and Best Mystery/Suspense.

Shelly's passion for storytelling is matched only by her commitment to the arts. As a trustee for the Huntington Theatre in Boston, she has traveled extensively to London, collaborating with the Artistic Director to discover new plays. Her dedication to the arts extends beyond theater; she was overseer at GBH and a founding member of the MASTERPIECE TRUST, which brought beloved series like Downton Abbey and Sherlock to PBS. With a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing from Vermont College, Shelly's literary pursuits are complemented by her active involvement in various cultural organizations, including The Beacon Hill Circle for Charity and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.