Diana Spaulding

Series · 4 books · 2004-2008

By Kathy Emerson

Books in series

Deadlier than the Pen

2004

In 1888, the murder of two female journalists in the New York City prompts newly widowed journalist Diana Spaulding to investigate the handsome horror author Damon Bathory in this historical mystery. Although her growing affection for Bathory makes her increasingly reluctant to pursue him, Spaulding is spurred on by her cigar-chomping boss Horatio Foxe in an adventure that pits her against a deranged artist, a matriarch with a bloodthirsty sense of humor, and a traveling acting troupe of egotistical men and jealous women. Written against the background of New York City during the height of yellow journalism, the novel brings to life not only the the fast-paced murder mystery that Spaulding investigates, but also the day-to-day realities and hardships of the gilded age.

Fatal as a Fallen Woman

2005

Reporter Diana Spaulding leaves for Denver after hearing that her mother has been accused of murdering her gold-baron father in this wry historical novel. Upon arriving in the Mile-High City, Spaulding must brave opium dens, snooty Denver society, and a crafty murderer to save her mother—all against a backdrop of brothels, immigrant railroad workers, and nouveau-riche gold miners that are almost as engaging as the plot itself. Late-19th-century Denver is explored with precise historical detail as Spaulding uncovers the plot that threatens her mother's life.

No Mortal Reason

2007

In her thirty-third published novel, the third mystery in this critically acclaimed series featuring "girl-reporter" Diana Spaulding, Kathy Lynn Emerson explores her own roots in rural New York with the aid of her grandfather's diaries. 1888 - When Diana and her fiancée Dr Ben Northcote journey to Sullivan Country, New York, they discover Diana's long-lost relative embroiled in a speculator's crazy scheme to turn the family hotel into the next Saratoga Springs. Then an excavation figs up a skeleton, and Diana must exercise her reporter's nose to clear her Uncle Howd of a ten-year old murder, enhanced by a cast of colourful humans and an aggressive nanny goat.

Lethal Legend

2008

Diana's wedding preparations are interrupted when her fiancé Ben receives an urgent plea for help from a reclusive childhood friend in the final volume of this mystery series. Working on a secretive archeological dig on Graham Somener's island off the coast of Maine, a team of men have all been poisoned. When one is murdered in a diving accident and Graham refuses to call the police, Diana and Ben fear he may have fallen under the spell of a confidence woman posing as an archeologist from the Peabody Museum. Their investigations threaten Ben’s friendship and imperil Diana’s life before the conundrum is finally solved.

Author

Kathy Emerson

Author · 25 books

aka Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kate Emerson, Kaitlyn Gorton Kathy Lynn Emerson began writing as a child: a newspaper for her dolls and then a rambling adventure series featuring characters from all her favorite television shows. In addition to contemporary, historical and time-travel romance (some written under the pen-name of Kaitlyn Gorton) and historical novels written as Kate Emerson, Kathy has written children's books, non-fiction, short stories, and historical mysteries. She won the Agatha award for mystery nonfiction for How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries. At present, she writes two contemporary cozy mystery series as Kaitlyn Dunnett and maintains a website for the e-book “A Who’s Who of Tudor Women” at TudorWomen.com. Her stand alone historical mystery, The Finder of Lost Things, was published in October 2020.