Shadowed by a detective : or, The woman in wax

Set against the glittering yet shadowy world of post‑Civil War New York, the story opens at a lavish winter ball hosted by the enigmatic Miss Ada Ricard. Escaping a brutal marriage, Ada has turned her beauty and fortune into a carefully guarded armor, drawing the attention of powerful suitors and dangerous rivals alike. When a sudden kidnapping shatters the festivities, the city’s elite are thrust into a frantic search that reveals hidden fears and long‑buried grievances.

A determined detective steps into the fray, navigating opulent parlors, smoky taverns, and the grim corridors of Bellevue’s morgue to piece together the puzzle. As clues surface—secretive servants, a jealous merchant, and whispers of a mysterious woman in wax—the investigation uncovers more than a simple crime, exposing the tangled web of ambition, love, and vengeance that haunts the capital’s upper echelons. Listeners will be drawn into a atmospheric tale where every polished surface hints at a darker truth.