Rebecca Connolly releases 1920s London mystery pairing Maud West and Agatha Christie

Rebecca Connolly and Shadow Mountain Publishing have released Webs of Ink, a historical mystery set in 1920s London that teams real-life private investigator Maud West with a young Agatha Christie. The novel has already earned starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, giving the launch early critical momentum.

Why it matters: - Webs of Ink taps two real women who helped shape detective fiction and investigative work in Britain. - The novel may widen attention on Maud West, a lesser-known historical figure Connolly wants readers to remember. - Strong early reviews from Booklist and Library Journal can help the book reach library buyers and mystery readers.

What happened: - Rebecca Connolly and Shadow Mountain Publishing released Webs of Ink today. - The novel is set in 1920s London and pairs private investigator Maud West with a young Agatha Christie. - Shadow Mountain says the book is now available in all formats wherever books are sold.

The details: - Maud West is presented as London’s “Lady Detective,” a reputation she built in part by publishing her own newspaper accounts. - West’s cases in the novel include divorces, missing persons and blackmail before a new threat escalates into a wider criminal conspiracy. - A frightened woman tells Maud West that a strange man is following her, and the case leads into a gang operating inside the city. - Maud West becomes the one being hunted. - Agatha Christie is written as a new mother with her first detective novel already in print. - Christie agrees to help after receiving a message from Maud West proposing a partnership. - The setup works because Maud West is too recognizable to move unnoticed, while Christie can blend in as an unassuming companion. - The novel has already earned a starred review from Booklist. - Booklist praised the way Connolly folds the women’s family lives and working methods into the mystery and highlighted the warmth they bring to the people around them. - Library Journal also gave the book a starred review and called Maud West and Agatha Christie a dynamic duo. - Connolly said she first learned about Maud West through a podcast on the Edwardian era. - Connolly said she wanted to pair West with a contemporary and landed on Agatha Christie because Christie would have been active around the same time. - Connolly described the book as crossing historical fiction, mystery and possibly women’s fiction. - Connolly said she was proud to write about women balancing careers and homemaking in a period when those roles were often treated as opposites.

Between the lines: - The premise turns a history lesson into a commercial hook by combining a famous literary name with a detective who deserves a bigger audience. - The starred reviews suggest the concept is landing not just as a novelty, but as a well-executed mystery with emotional depth. - Connolly’s comments point to a larger theme: women doing public work while managing private responsibilities.

What's next: - Connolly said she hopes to write more stories with Maud West and Agatha Christie. - Connolly also wants more readers to become interested in Maud West as a historical figure. - The book is now on sale across retail channels.

The bottom line: - Webs of Ink uses two real women to build a fresh historical mystery with early critical support and clear series potential.