Courtney Drake prefers her little town that is quiet and unchanged, the only excitement an occasional dragon sighting. When she lands a position as a nanny for the five-year-old twins of the captivating Lord Robert Ranfurly, the last thing she expects is to fall for him. But when a member of Lord Robert's staff is murdered and the entire household is in question. Courtney finds herself caught in a web of whispers and covert affairs.
Little does she know that Lord Robert has a secret he keeps from everyone.
Falling in love can be dangerous in Danger Lies Within, Book One of The Ranfurly Mysteries by K.M. Krenik.
The world that Krenik creates mixes several beloved by readers: a romanticized version of pre-Victorian England with vast manors, kissable lords, and stern household managers; a drone-patrolled post-apocalyptic dystopia with a deep and intrusive State inserting tracker chips into its citizens and allowing profitable human trafficking to flourish; and an idyllic, fantasy-touched woodland paradise, complete with adorable pets that include a flying dragon. The action mainly takes place in the manorial microcosm and the futuristic deep State ruled by the evil PAX, a group of market-minded billionaires blinded by their wealth and power, with scant regard for anything else. It’s a lot to keep track of but offers much to explore in future entries.
Though there’s much worldbuilding to cover, Krenik smoothly ramps up and maintains the suspense till the end, nicely setting up the next book, weaving in some promising romance, and touching on contemporary worries of plutocratic authoritarianism. Climactic revelations satisfyingly pay off the clues that Krenik plants with deft sleight-of-hand, and the mysterious backstory of Lord Ranfurly is neatly woven into the action without any damage to the pacing and anticipation. This is a good start to the series and the strong, sensuous Lord Ranfurly, him of the golden heart, is sure to earn some diehard fans.
Takeaway: Intriguing mystery and romance set in a fantastic alternate world.
Comparable Titles: Danielle L. Jensen’s A Fate Inked In Blood; Anne Perry.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
"K.M. Krenik delivers a thrilling and timely warning with Danger Lies Within, a wildly imaginative first piece of the Ranfurly Mysteries series.
Krenik’s storytelling feels both prophetic and allegorical, sitting at the crossroads of satire and dire warning, addressing issues of corporate influence, corrupt law enforcement, technological ethics, and moral responsibility in the face of an immoral state... Krenik creates a refreshing spin on the reclusive rich hero trope with her genre-defying storyline...a disarmingly good read from an exciting voice in dystopian sci-fi, unveiling a uniquely original world that will appeal equally to readers of science fiction, fantasy, and thriller fiction."
