Compass of Secrets: An Edwardian Cozy Mystery by Raynie Taylor
A Primrose Eversley Mystery — Book One
Some compasses point north. This one points to secrets—and someone willing to kill to keep them hidden.
Enter the shadowy bookshops and cobbled streets of Edwardian Haworth in an atmospheric historical cozy mystery filled with literary puzzles, buried family secrets, a watchful owl, and an extraordinary jeweled compass.
About the Book
A murdered collector. A mysterious inheritance. A compass that reveals what others want to keep buried.
After years in America, librarian and archivist Primrose Eversley never expected to return to Haworth. But when her estranged father dies and leaves her Eversley Books & Curiosities, Primrose finds herself surrounded by unanswered questions, antique treasures, and secrets from the past.
Hidden among her father’s belongings is an ornate jeweled compass. It does not point north. Instead, it guides Primrose toward hidden clues connected to her father’s death.
When a notorious book collector is found murdered, the only clue left behind is a cryptic note referencing a lost manuscript—and a secret Primrose’s father took to his grave. Whispers about his past begin to surface, along with rumors that his interest in rare artifacts extended into forbidden knowledge.
With the help of Rowan Ashcroft, a journalist harboring secrets of his own, and Athena, Primrose’s ever-watchful owl companion, she follows the compass through Haworth’s cobbled streets and shadowy corners.
But someone is determined to keep the past buried.
Can Primrose decipher the compass’s message before history repeats itself—or will she become Haworth’s next unsolved mystery?
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
A mystery with atmosphere, history, and a touch of magic
Set in Edwardian Haworth, Compass of Secrets combines the comforting appeal of a bookshop cozy mystery with a darker family mystery and a subtle element of the unexplained.
At its center is Primrose Eversley, a 33-year-old American librarian and archivist whose professional curiosity makes her uniquely suited to investigate old documents, rare books, forgotten histories, and the secrets concealed within them.
Step into a world of gaslit streets and cobblestone lanes, where an inherited antiquarian bookshop holds lost manuscripts, coded messages, and a jeweled compass with an unusual power. As Primrose investigates her father’s suspicious death, she is joined by an enigmatic journalist and a remarkably perceptive owl—all while uncovering family secrets that refuse to remain buried.
Critical recognition
Praised by the BookLife Prize Critic:
Plot/Idea: Set in 1901, this deeply satisfying work has all the charm, depth, and authenticity of a classic Victorian mystery. When librarian Primrose Eversley's estranged father Alaric dies, she is swept back into his cozy Edwardian village to put his estate in order. What she finds there is a mystery that crosses generations: a cryptic jeweled compass, missing books, and the whisperings of an ancient Brotherhood. Readers will relish the rich detail and delightfully intricate story line—one that probes family secrets, sacrifice, and heritage.
Prose: Taylor draws on period language and cultural nuances that give the book authenticity. The prose is inviting and detailed, though the use of fragmented prose throughout ("Not a memory. A warning, heartbreak" and "not grief, exactly. More like the ache of a puzzle left unsolved" are examples) detracts from the narrative's impact.
Originality: This work showcases an atmospheric and distinctive storyline, offering mystery and intrigue in a historically detailed setting.
Character/Execution: Taylor constructs believable characters who are a satisfying match for the book's setting, particularly Primrose, who embodies a traditional Victorian heroine: courageous, willing to go against the grain, and profoundly aware of the constraints society has placed on her abilities.
Compass of Secrets spent two weeks on Amazon’s bestseller list in the top 100 Cozy Books, Bookstores & Libraries Mysteries category and five star reviews.
Book Details
About Raynie Taylor
Raynie Taylor writes historical cozy mysteries that combine curiosity, history, literary intrigue, and a touch of the unexpected.
She is the author of the Primrose Eversley Mysteries, an Edwardian mystery series filled with antique bookshops, whispered secrets, unusual artifacts, and heroines who discover their strength by unraveling the past.
Raynie is also the founder of RLA Publishing, where she helps independent authors develop, publish, and market their books while retaining control of their work.
Continue the mystery
The Temple Key: A Primrose Eversley Mystery — Book Two
Primrose Eversley returns in The Temple Key, another atmospheric mystery involving an unusual jade key, buried family secrets, and a murder that draws her deeper into the mystery surrounding her father. Back the Kickstarter!
The Temple Key, the second book in the Primrose Eversley Mystery series, is nearing the end of its Kickstarter campaign. Because Kickstarter is all-or-nothing, I must reach the full funding goal before time runs out—or the project will not be funded.
Return to Edwardian Haworth for another atmospheric mystery filled with an antiquarian bookshop, buried family secrets, an unusual jade key, a watchful owl, and a murder that draws Primrose even deeper into the mystery surrounding her father.
If you love cozy mysteries, bookish settings, historical atmosphere, and secrets hidden inside unusual objects, I would be incredibly grateful for your support. Every pledge—no matter the size—brings Primrose’s next mystery closer to becoming a reality.