Newly married Gilded Age diva Ella Shane and her Duke return to New York for Ella's Metropolitan Opera debut, and his investigation of a decades-old mystery that could threaten the succession to the British Throne-only to be drawn into a blackmail plot closer to home. Now, Ella and Gil will have to figure out what happened when the Prince of Wales visited the City in 1860...and protect a friend who is trying to maintain a family connection with his brother, a man who is living as a woman. And protect themselves, too, because people connected to the Prince's story keep ending up dead. With real history as a jumping-off point, it's an unexpected adventure that keeps the entire cast guessing, and in danger, until the final twist. "I am in awe of Kathleen Marple Kalb's masterpiece, A Fatal Waltz! 'What sacrifice would you be willing to make to discover the truth...or suppress it?' Ella Shane, the duelling Duchess of Leith, and her husband are newlyweds who find themselves in the midst of two desperate situations. One is close to home, affecting the sister of a dear friend because of a quandary of identity that could result in a career-ending and damaging scandal. The other is an investigation given to the Duke regarding a decades-old youthful indiscretion between the British Royalty and the New York high society. Both require finesse but show the underbelly of deep-seated prejudices bolstered by diverging views of Christianity and Justice. Once again, the Duke and Ella are caught in the deadly crosshairs of those who would do anything to suppress the truth... even murder. A fantastic read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Who are the devils, and who are the angels?"-Wendy Bayne, author of the Crimes Against the Crown Series For A Fatal Reception: A 2024 top-10 pick from Aunt Agatha's Reviewer Vicky Kondelik: "A Fatal Reception by Kathleen Marple Kalb is the fourth book in a wrongly-neglected series, which I am very glad has found a home with a new publisher."  "A delight! Opera diva Ella Shane is about to wed her very own wicked duke. But the nuptial plans go awry when a society matron brains a fellow patron of the arts. Written with great charm and wit, this lively, entertaining romp through Gilded Age New York will have you eagerly awaiting Ella Shane's next adventure."-Mariah Fredericks, author of The Wharton Plot "Marple Kalb has a knack for combining humour, mystery, angst and romance in just the right proportions to keep you on the edge of your seat." - Wendy Bayne, author of the Crimes Against the Crown series Praise for the series: "Kalb writes with vivid assurance. Her stories are well paced and well layered. Ella's matrix - the characters who surround her-are as interesting and flawed yet human as she is herself., as is the theatrical setting...This book is by a woman who knows how to tell a story."-Aunt Agatha's Mysteries on A Fatal First Night "This series is truly one of my favorite cozy-mystery series! I love the mix of opera, history, romance, and mystery...and I find each book impossible to put down!"-Goodreads reviewer Ashley Kathleen Marple Kalb describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom...not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York's 1010 WINS Radio, she writes short stories and novels including the Ella Shane and Old Stuff series, both from Level Best Books. Her stories, under her own name, and as Nikki Knight, have been in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, Mystery Magazine, and others, and short-listed for Derringer and Black Orchid Novella Awards. Active in writer's groups, she's served as Vice President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and Co-VP of the New York/Tri-State Sisters in Crime Chapter. She, her husband, and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.