Holly Newman

Holly Newman writes historical romance and mystery, often arranging her novels in connected sequences. Heart of a Tiger is the third A Chance Inquiry mystery, following Rarer Than Gold and A Grand Gesture. The story brings Lady Cecilia Branstoke and Sir James Branstoke into an investigation after a child disappears near an East India Company dock. Their inquiry draws on the assistance of a Bow Street Runner and moves through Regency-era institutions as well as the couple’s domestic responsibilities. Newman uses the recurring investigators to join a historical puzzle with the continuing development of their marriage and household. Heart of a Tiger appeared in 2022, separate from her earlier romance series, which include The Chapman Files and The Langley Sisters. Its place within A Chance Inquiry matters because Cecilia and James arrive with shared history rather than being introduced solely for one case. The title’s emotional meaning emerges through parental devotion, while the mystery structure keeps attention on evidence, movement through London, and the limits imposed by rank.