Publication Date: October 20, 2026
From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas—a sweeping, richly layered Victorian novel about a trailblazing female economist who’s determined to build Britain’s first women’s bank, but she must fight both financial corruption and a system intent on destroying the newly found family she’s created.
In Victorian England, no woman—not even a brilliant economist like Reina Martin—is allowed to open her own bank account. Men will take care of everything, women are told. But Reina knows better. As the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish immigrant mother, she’s haunted by the memory of living with unpaid grocer’s bills and no coal for the hearth.
So together with her mentor, the powerful banker William Farlow, Reina will build the first all-women’s bank, where women can manage their own financial security.
At home, Reina’s domestic staff of recently paroled prisoners are building new lives and becoming a found family. But soon Reina is shocked to discover that her enigmatic butler, John Pembroke, is an undercover police detective. He’s been assigned to investigate Farlow, who’s suspected of financial crime on a scale so massive, it could destabilize the British economy. Pembroke needs Reina’s expertise for a high-stakes nighttime heist to obtain incriminating evidence.
Now Reina faces the agonizing choice of betraying her mentor or turning her back on thousands of working-class families who stand to lose everything. Either way, her dream of the women’s bank may be over.
But courage and sacrifice aren’t limited to the battlefield—they also occur at the kitchen table, where women who believe in compassion and community are working to remake the future. And when the stakes are highest, Reina knows to trust her heart as well as her intellect.
Based on real-life trailblazers such as Mary Paley Marshall, Britain’s first female economist, and financial titan Hetty Green, Queen of Lombard Street brings to light the hidden history of extraordinary women whose achievements should be celebrated. How can we know who we are, if we don’t know who we were?
From a young age, Reina Martin decides that being labeled a “bastard” will not impact her success.
In Victorian England, that’s a tall order, especially when you happen also to be a brilliant economist. Author Lisa Kleypas draws upon history for inspiration in Queen of Lombard Street.
Reina’s character is quite progressive during a time when women are required to have a male intermediary for banking matters. Today’s readers will get a laugh as Reina describes the process women have to follow at the bank as an alternative to standing in line.
She manages to catch the attention of a male mentor with plans to open the first bank catering to women. Meanwhile, Reina embarks on a rather unique staffing model that earns plenty of giggles.
Discovering that her butler is an undercover officer investigating Reina’s mentor threatens not only to derail the project, but also to endanger a friendship.
Reina’s bold character and determination to do the right thing illustrates the value she places on honesty. Of course, there is that pesky attraction with her butler.
Queen of Lombard Street features an unexpected slice of Victorian history full of heart.
Lisa Kleypas graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in political science. Her books are published in 40 languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in California with her husband Gregory.
