A compelling new voice in historical fiction has emerged with the release of Lady Dixon’s Niece, the debut novel by Irish author Chele Crawley. Inspired by the timeless works of Jane Austen, this richly imagined Regency romance delivers a gripping tale of ambition, deception, and desire set in the summer of 1812.

The novel follows Annaliese Schmidt, who happily trades her modest agrarian life in North Devon for the sophistication of high society on the assumption that it will be her ticket to social mobility. However, Annaliese soon learns that the path to society comes at the cost of her moral compass.

Masquerading under a cloak of deception at the behest of her aunt, Annaliese must navigate challenging social conventions, fend off the unwanted advances of a saccharine-tongued neighbourhood creep, and quell the whims of a cunning blackmailer who threatens to expose her secret. In a game of cat and mouse, can Annaliese keep up the pretence? Particularly when the greatest challenge comes from within – her conscience. When Annaliese finds herself falling for the kind and unassuming son of a baron, she is forced to confront the emotional toll of her deception.

Chele Crawley’s masterful depiction of determination, deception and desire will keep readers on the edge of their seats, wondering and waiting when and how the façade will come tumbling down.