Delve into mystery, intrigue, and mayhem in this 2023 Readers' Favorite Book Award Urban Fiction Finalist!

When the sister of an Asian tycoon is found dead, can an unlikely consultant from China discover whether she was suicidal or died at the hands of another?

Forced from her flat by a nearby fire in Central London, Joyce Peng seeks refuge with her ex-girlfriend Tilly Wurman, a now-married pharmacist. And, when Joyce begins acting strangely, seemingly obsessed with methods of suicide, Tilly grows concerned. However, when Joyce winds up dead a few days later, her brother isn't convinced that his sister's state of mind led to her end.

Elsewhere, in a different London borough, Catherine Roxborough is settling in after returning from a year abroad in India. But her relief at returning is short-lived when a mysterious scarred figure attempts to break in, leaving Catherine in terror.

This isn't an ordinary day's work for M&A consultant Chance Yang, especially when his boss, Felipe Kazama, seems to know more about Joyce Peng's death than he's letting on, and personal feelings begin to cloud Chance's judgement. And, as the reluctant fixer finds, the deeper he delves into the cases, the harder it becomes to uncover the truth.

What critics and readers have to say

"Chance and Felipe make an engaging duo that readers will surely welcome in sequels." – Kirkus Reviews

"Ruckus creates the illusion that we are part of the case and we are figuring it out along with the characters." – Readers' Favorite

"A thoroughly entertaining yarn packed with intrigue and a slightly off-kilter narrative style that adds an element of dream logic to an otherwise recognizably contemporary London landscape." – IndieReader

"Fast paced and fun. It reminded me of a Quentin Tarantino movie." – Amazon

Deborah Balm

Stem