The Blood Countess (1)

Younger meets The Addams Family . . . In the first installment of the Pandora English series, bestselling author Tara Moss brings her trademark macabre and lifelong love of the paranormal to the fashion world with a twist. Pandora English is no ordinary small town orphan. When she's invited to live with her mysterious Great-Aunt Celia in New York City, she seizes the opportunity to escape her stifling hometown, break from her tragic past and make it as a writer. Things, however, are not what she is expecting. For starters, her great aunt's Gothic mansion is in a mist-wreathed Manhattan suburb that doesn't appear on maps. And then there's Celia hersel—a former designer to the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age—who is elegant, unnaturally young and always wearing a veil. Pandora lands a job at a fashion magazine and her first assignment is covering the A-list launch of the latest miracle cream, BloodofYouth. But something is not right about the product, nor Athanasia, the drop-dead beautiful face of the brand. It seems there may be a secret ingredient in BloodofYouth, a secret worth killing for . . .

Christian Science Monitor

“With a crackling plot and vibrant prose, Tara Moss concocts a first-rate noir detective mystery.”

much like Moss herself

"The War Widow is poised to be Tara Moss’s breakout novel in the United States, especially given the book’s saucy leading lady, Billie Walker. She’s a war reporter-turned-private investigator in post-WWII Australia who

Ian Rankin, New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series

"Just what I needed today--a blast of the escapist past. Sydney in 1946, damaged veterans, bad guys, car chases, mysteries, and a female PI up for the fight."

including but not limited to Nazi war profiteers, shady mobsters, cops on the take, and more

"Tara Moss's The War Widow is an excellent novel and an even better springboard for its crackerjack heroine: the indomitable Billie Walker. Like a harder-boiled Phryne Fisher meets Martha Gellhorn, Billie is the best kind of heroine: fun, flawed, smart, feminist, and feisty. Even down the darkest of paths

Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

"In Billie Walker, Moss has conjured up one kick-ass 1940s heroine: a tough-talking, glamorous feminist who’s as adept with a pistol as she is on the dance floor, haunted by a tragic past, and unafraid to take on the darkest of foes. An artful, original take on noir suspense that resonates in today’s times."

Joanne Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Chocolat and Five Quarters of the Orange

“A cracking thriller, with a marvelous, strong, flamboyant heroine.”

Ellen Keith, nationally bestselling author of The Dutch Wife

"Billie Walker is the type of heroine I'd love to befriend: resourceful, clever, adventurous, and a true fashionista. With a gripping plot and the perfect dose of history and intrigue, The War Widow has all the elements of a great page-turner."

Lynda La Plante, internationally bestselling author

"A terrific read!"

Hugh Jackman

"Her novels are completely gripping and entertaining from beginning to end."

Angela Meyer, award-winning author of Joan Smokes and A Superior Spectre

“I so enjoyed getting to know Tara Moss's wonderful new character, Billie Walker, in her 1940s Sydney-set mystery[, The War Widow]. Immersive, well-paced, entertaining, thoughtful--so enjoyable!”

Emily Maguire, author of Taming the Beast

"Moss's ultra-cool prose and whip-smart plotting pull you along at cracking pace until suddenly you look up and realize with a gulp how deep you've gone and how very dark it is down there."

this stylishly fierce adventure into post-war darkness will hold you captive on every page. The amazing Tara Moss has created a cinematic and important feminist noir

“Brilliantly atmospheric and completely immersive

Booklist

"Spirited...thoroughly researched and anchored by the spunky, sympathetic heroine at its heart...Readers will finish the book clamoring for Billie's next case."

About the Author

Tara Moss is a Canadian-Australian author, novelist, documentary maker and presenter, speaker, and human rights advocate. Her books, which include the Makedde Vanderwall series (Fetish, Split) and the Billie Walker series (Dead Man Split), have been published in 19 countries and 13 languages. She is a PhD Candidate at the University of Sydney, and has earned her private investigator credentials (Cert III) from the Australian Security Academy.

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