by Anna Markland (Author)
A corpse in the ale. A scandal in society. A love neither expected.
Lancashire, 1862. When a body is discovered floating in a vat of ale, Inspector Halliwell wastes no time in probing the town's most prosperous brewery. Every worker is a suspect-including Jacob Longworth, the enigmatic owner whose livelihood now hangs by a thread. Worse, whispers reveal the dead man was blackmailing Jacob, leaving him squarely in the constable's sights.
Enter Lady Jane Yate: a darling of Victorian society, beloved patroness of the Women's Temperance League-and the last woman anyone expects to defend a brewer accused of murder. Yet Jane cannot ignore Jacob's plight, nor the forbidden spark that ignites between them.
As passion simmers and scandal brews, Jane and Jacob are drawn into a dangerous game of secrets and lies. To clear his name, they must unmask a cunning killer before he strikes again-and before the desire that threatens to consume them both becomes a scandal all its own.
Number of Pages: 264
Dimensions: 0.6 x 8 x 5.25 IN
Publication Date: February 10, 2026
