Alex Hay

A confidence scheme, when properly executed, will follow five movements in close and inviolable order.I. The Mark II. The Intrusion. III. The Ballyhoo. IV. The Knot. V. All In.There may be many counterstrikes along the way, for such is the nature of the game; it contains so many turns, so many endless possibilities… 1898. Quinn le Blanc, London’s most talented con woman, has five days to pull off her most ambitious plot  trap a highly eligible duke into marriage and lift a fortune from the richest family in England. Masquerading as the season’s most enviable debutante, Quinn puts on a brilliant act that earns her entrance into the grand drawing rooms and lavish balls of high society—and propels her straight into the inner circle of her the charismatic Kendals. Among those she must convince are the handsome bachelor heir, the rebellious younger sister, and the esteemed duchess eager to see her son married. But the deeper she forges into their world, the more Quinn finds herself tangled in a complicated web of love, lies, and loyalty. The Kendals all have secrets of their own, and she may not be the only one playing a game of high deception…

The night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women downstairs launch a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society in this dazzling historical novel about power, gender, and class “Rollicking fun and entirely original... Anyone who relishes a good party gone wrong will devour this.” —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary Mrs. King is no ordinary housekeeper. Born into a world of con artists and thieves, she’s made herself respectable, running the grandest home in Mayfair. The place is packed with treasures, a glittering symbol of wealth and power, but dark secrets lurk in the shadows. When Mrs. King is suddenly dismissed from her position, she recruits an eclectic group of women to join her in revenge: A black market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs. King’s predecessor, with her own desire for vengeance. Their plan? On the night of the house’s highly anticipated costume ball—set to be the most illustrious of the year—they will rob it of its every possession, right under the noses of the distinguished guests and their elusive heiress host. But there’s one thing Mrs. King wants even more than money: the truth. And she’ll run any risk to get it… After all, one should never underestimate the women downstairs. “A deliciously clever novel... You’ll never have so much fun cheering on grand larceny.” —Nina de Gramont, New York Times bestselling author of The Christie Affair, a Reese’s Book Club Pick