Cloak and Dagger Club Mystery: Book 1
Publication Date: July 14, 2026
Inspired by Agatha Christie’s real-life Detection Club, a murder among a group of golden age mystery writers meets a second chance romance in this debut novel from author Jackie McMahon.
London, 1930. Lucy Hubbard is on the cusp of achieving her dreams. With her first mystery novel debuting with strong sales and glowing reviews, she’s been invited by Horace Hazelmoor, the king of crime fiction, to join his elite group of writers—the Cloak and Dagger Club.
Thrilled at the opportunity, Lucy finds herself swept up into Horace’s glamorous world at the Ritz hotel. She’s even willing to put up with the inconvenient presence of her former fiancé, Frank Murray, the club’s rising star who is on track to eclipse Horace as Britain’s most popular crime writer.
But when Horace is found with a knife in his back, Frank is the police’s prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Lucy knows he’s not capable of murder. With suspects galore and the danger rising, these two mystery writers must race to solve the crime—and fight their lingering feelings for each other—before the murderer strikes again.
Set in 1930s London, The Cloak and Dagger Club is a debut novel by Jackie McMahon. There’s a mystery to be solved when the club president is found dead. But whodunnit?
This historical mystery thriller immediately sets the stage with an invitation for Lucy to attend the club meeting at the Ritz Hotel. But why was she invited, and why weren’t the other members notified in advance? The club is currently made up of six crime novelists whose books are woven throughout. There are excerpts, character references, and plot details from each of their books, which add another layer to the story.
As we delve deeper into each suspect, Scotland Yard does not seem to be doing the same. There are red herrings along with the clues, but they didn’t help me figure out whodunit. There is some romance and a happily-ever-after, especially when the murderer is revealed. A satisfying conclusion, but I’d love to see them all in action again to solve another real-life crime.
The Cloak and Dagger Club is filled with secrets, a crime to solve, and lots of crime novelists all trying to save themselves from being labeled as a murderer.
Jackie McMahon writes murder mysteries with history, twists, and perhaps a romance (or two). She currently resides in Florida with her two cats, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and sharing obscure historical facts she has recently learned.
