For an October read steeped in Newport history, high society and intrigue, Alyssa Maxwell's latest Gilded Newport Mystery offers a compelling trip back to the city's glittering Gilded Age. Murder at Rosecliff, published Aug. 25, 2026, is the 14th installment in Maxwell's Gilded Newport Mystery series. The story takes readers to Newport in August 1903, where newspaper editor Emma Cross Andrews and her husband, Derrick, attend Tessie Oelrichs' lavish Bal Blanc, or White Ball, at Rosecliff. The elegant evening takes a darker turn when a party crasher arrives wearing a green-striped necktie and matching vest, violating the evening's all-white dress code. His unconventional attire soon becomes the least of any- one's concerns when he attempts to blackmail Oelrichs with a document he claims she signed years earlier. Before the blackmailer can collect, he is found dead in a fountain. Ethan Merriman, the young society reporter Murder at Rosecliff, by Alyssa Maxwell BOOK OF THE MONTH
covering the event for the Newport Messenger, is discovered beside the body and becomes the focus of suspicion. Emma and Derrick set out to uncover the truth and clear their reporter's name. The Newport setting is one of the novel's biggest draws. Maxwell places the fictional investigation among the city's Gilded Age elite, using Rosecliff, Bellevue Avenue and Newport's lavish social scene as the backdrop. The series follows Emma Cross Andrews, a newspaper editor and amateur sleuth who moves between Newport's privileged society and the world of journalism while investigating crimes. For readers who enjoy historical mysteries, Murder at Rosecliff offers plenty of period atmosphere alongside its fictional whodunit. And for those familiar with Newport's historic mansions, the setting provides an added layer of recognition as the story unfolds.
Why We're Reading It Murder at Rosecliff is a natural October selection for Discover Rhode Island . It combines local history, a richly drawn period setting and a classic murder mystery, making it an atmospheric choice for an autumn afternoon or evening of reading. Whether you're already familiar with Maxwell's Gilded Newport Mysteries or are approaching the series for the first time, the novel offers an entertaining return to Newport's Gilded Age, where lavish parties, social rivalries and carefully guarded secrets provide the perfect ingredients for a murder mystery. The Verdict A stylish historical mystery with an unmistakable Newport setting, Murder at Rosecliff is a fitting October pick for readers who enjoy period intrigue, local history and a good whodunit.
46 DISCOVER RHODE ISLAND
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online