The Hoax

Welcome to the dazzling world of 1899, New York City. The Gilded Age is at its close, and for upper-class Elizabeth Parker, life remained unchanged until Elizabeth's good friend Lorena Howard is found floating in the Hudson river: dead.
Lorena's death brings about a whirlwind of changes. First, Frederich Griffin, New York's favored heartthrob, is back. After spending four years studying in Pennsylvania (and causing quite a few scandals), he has come home to prepare for his takeover of Griffin Coal Company, the East Coast's largest manufacturer of coal. But his father gives him an ultimatum after he attacks a man at a bar in a fit of rage. Marry a suitable partner and then inherit the company, or be disowned.
Next comes Charlotte Stone, the beautiful debutante who inexplicably decided to move to France when she was thirteen. She is back, and more enigmatic than ever. Her sole purpose of returning? Keep Frederich and Elizabeth apart because she knows something about them that they don't....
And then what about the mysterious Grace Hawlings from South Carolina that seems to have captured Frederich's attention? With jet black hair, icy blue eyes and a fondness of the color red, she bears a great resemblance to Lorena. She claims her family is a large producer of cotton yet nobody's even heard of a Hawlings family.
Lorena's death is ruled as an accident, but Elizabeth knows it was foul play. Someone murdered Lorena, and Elizabeth's determined to find out who. Thrust in a world of lies, deception and secrets that are determined to stay hidden, it's up to Elizabeth to find the truth.....before Lorena's murderer gets to her too.