Books like Where the Heart Leads (Cynster) by Stephanie Laurens

Penelope Ashford, the younger sister of the prominent Portia Cynster, has devoted her youth to running an orphanage for London’s forgotten children. When these wards start vanishing, she turns to Barnaby Adair, a well‑known nobleman and private investigator reputed for solving high‑profile crimes. Barnaby, though aloof, is drawn into Penelope’s cause, and the pair enlist Inspector Basil Stokes of the fledgling Scotland Yard. Their investigation leads them through the shadowy streets of London’s East End, where they unravel a conspiracy that threatens the very organisation designed to protect the city’s inhabitants. The narrative interweaves themes of family loyalty, social responsibility, and the underbelly of Regency London, showcasing Penelope’s fierce independence and Barnaby’s deductive prowess as they confront a criminal lurking within the structures of power.

First publish date: 2009