My name is Leonardo Yang, the author of Death of a Baron. I wrote this book in order to further my own passion for writing and literature, while also sharing my love for books with others, through a story of my own.

This is a story about Alma Lee, an impoverished aristocratic woman living in the late Victorian era. Unlike her noble friends, she lives in a dilapidated, but large home in London, along with her sister, who inherited everything from their parents. Given that the two are unable to find hired help in her poverty, Alma is the one who does all the work, while her sister, Emma, tries to catch a wealthy husband, leaving Alma feeling bitter.

As Alma finds herself slowly giving over to despair over her financial situation, she goes to a lunch prepared by Baron Edmund Inglethorpe, one of her sister’s suitors. To her delight, the Baron seems genuinely excited to have her at the party, and not just because her presence would also indicate the arrival of her far more popular sister. After having greeted her, the Baron then secludes himself in his study for most of the morning as the other guests arrive. Later the Baron is found murdered, leaving a hefty bit of his fortune behind for nearly all of the guests in attendance. Who could have done it? Why did Edmund, usually a generous and sociable host, lock himself in his study? And will the murder strike again?

This book is a murder mystery with an engaging story that is puzzling but also fun to follow along. I hope you’ll enjoy being immersed in Victorian times, with customs and etiquette far removed from our own, in a strange time barely touched by modern conveniences like buses, toilets or street lamps. Ultimately, I hope you have fun and enjoy the story.

In this book, you'll find a cast of colorful characters, each with their own motivations and flaws. Alma, you’ll find is an enigma, someone who enjoys breaking the rules, only following certain conventions to her advantage. Emma is her loving but oblivious sister, desperate to fill her social duty to get married. Hyde has a dark streak as a doctor. Smith is your bread-and-butter Englishman, utterly boring. Carstairs is the jovial gentleman, who perhaps makes one too many impulsive decisions. And last but not least, Nellie, the maid, is your classic stubborn British matron, with an iron will and ramrod determination.

You’ll love this book if you want a casual read, without having to exert yourself following a complicated plot.