No Refuge from the Grave

Nancy Herriman

Apr 2022 · A Mystery of Old San Francisco Book 5 · Beyond The Page

About this ebook

When a string of suspicious fires is followed by a grisly murder, Celia and Nick must find the link that connects the crimes and bring a killer to justice . . .

 

When yet another fire destroys a struggling business in the heart of San Francisco, Detective Nick Greaves is fairly certain they’ve got an arsonist on their hands and that lucrative insurance claims are the motive. But before he can act on his suspicions, Celia Davies alerts him that a notorious loan shark has been found murdered—and left on the doorstep of the very insurance agent Nick suspected of fraud.

 

Reluctant to involve Celia in another of his investigations but certain she has information crucial to both cases, Nick agrees to team up with her once again. As they pursue their few murky leads, they discover a shadowy network that counts some of San Francisco’s most prominent businessmen as members—as well as a connection leading to Celia’s estranged and always menacing husband. And when a local policeman at the center of it all is found dead, Celia and Nick must sort through the ashes of a conspiracy to bring down a ruthless killer . . .

 

Praise for the Mysteries of Old San Francisco:

 

“Nancy Herriman has penned a clever, atmospheric mystery with interesting, diverse, and compelling characters that transported me right back to late-19th-century San Francisco! I can’t wait for the next book!” 

—Colleen Cambridge, Agatha Award-nominated author of Murder at Mallowan Hall

 

“In this latest Mystery of Old San Francisco, justice is served in ways that will leave readers thoroughly satisfied and have them cheering at the end.”

—Alyssa Maxwell, author of the Gilded Newport Mysteries

 

“Clever and ever-capable nurse Celia Davies once again finds use for her considerable skills in this compelling series addition. No Refuge from the Grave is a tightly plotted, engrossing mystery that is rich in historical detail and vividly brings to life 1860s San Francisco. I highly recommend this excellent series!”

—Ashley Weaver, Edgar Award-nominated author of the Amory Ames Mysteries

 

“Herriman crafts a finely detailed series debut with a sympathetic protagonist and impeccable, colorful depictions of 1860s San Francisco . . . This atmospheric mystery is just the ticket for anyone who misses Dianne Day’s Fremont Jones series as well as readers of Rhys Bowen’s Molly Murphy historicals.”

—Library Journal Starred Review of No Comfort for the Lost

Ratings and reviews

From the first page I was intrigued and could not wait to read more! I have been reading and listening to historical mysteries and this story comes in right at the top! Although this is the first book I have read by this author, it only makes me want to read more and start at the beginning of this series. Mystery, murder, secrets and filled with intriguing characters, as the author creates the atmosphere of the time with her skilled pen!! Once you start the first page, you will not be able to stop!!

About the author

Nancy Herriman left an engineering career to take up the pen and has never looked back. She is the author of the Mysteries of Old San Francisco, the Bess Ellyott Mysteries, and several stand-alone novels. A winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award, when she’s not writing, she enjoys singing, gabbing about writing, and eating dark chocolate. After two decades in Arizona, she now lives in her home state of Ohio with her family.