The American Boy Taylor, Andrew

London, 1819. A young American boy arrives at a decaying boarding school on the edge of Regency society, carrying secrets that will pull tutor Thomas Shield into a web of murder, ambition, and betrayal. Andrew Taylor weaves a gothic mystery through the literary circles of the era — Edgar Allan Poe haunts these pages as a child, while the adults around him scheme, lie, and kill to protect their reputations. This is historical crime fiction that doesn't just dress up in period costume; it inhabits the moral murk of a changing world where old money meets new ruthlessness. The prose is measured, the atmosphere thick with dread, and the puzzle intricate enough to keep you second-guessing until the final pages. Winner of multiple awards including the CWA Historical Dagger. Perfect for fans of Sarah Waters or C.J. Sansom who want their mysteries steeped in atmosphere and meticulous period detail.