Winter's Season: A Regency Mystery

In 1817 London, before the police existed, Captain Winter is the city’s only hope against murder and deceit. This gripping historical crime thriller blends war-born cunning, high-society intrigue, and shadowy investigations in a world where every secret could be deadly.

In 1817 London, Before the Police, There Was Captain Winter.

London, 1817. A city teeming with life, yet lacking a professional police force. When a wealthy young woman is brutally murdered in an alley frequented by prostitutes, a shadowy government bureau in Whitehall dispatches its "special emissary"—Captain Winter. A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and a gentleman forged by chance and conflict, Winter is uniquely equipped to navigate the treacherous currents of London society, from aristocratic drawing rooms to the city's grimmest taverns.

Without an army of officers or the aid of forensic science, Winter must rely on his wits and a network of unconventional allies. His childhood friend, a nobleman, opens doors in high society, while a wise Jewish physician uncovers secrets the dead cannot hide.

But Winter's most intriguing, and potentially dangerous, asset is Barbara Lightwood. Shrewd, beautiful, and operating as a discreet intermediary among the elite, Barbara shares a past with Winter from the war years. Their rekindled affair is fraught with wariness; she offers intimate information crucial to his investigation, but guards her own secrets fiercely. Like Winter, she is both cunning and capable of danger.

From grand houses to dimly lit streets, death stalks Captain Winter. He must tread carefully to unmask a killer, navigate a web of secrets and lies, and perhaps, in the process, save his own soul.

<B>R.J. Koreto</B> has been a magazine writer, website manager, textbook editor, novelist, and merchant seaman. Born and raised in New York City, he graduated from Vassar College and has wanted to be a writer ever since reading <I>The Naked and the Dead</I>.<BR><BR>In addition to his eight mystery novels, he has published short stories in <I>Ellery Queen&rsquo;s Mystery Magazine</I>, <I>Alfred Hitchcock&rsquo;s Mystery Magazine</I>, the <I>2020 Bouchercon Anthology</I>, and <I>Paranoia Blues: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Paul Simon</I>.<BR><BR>His ninth novel, <I>Winter's Season</I>, will be available in 2026.<BR><BR>He and his wife have two grown daughters and divide their time between Rockland County, N.Y., and Martha&rsquo;s Vineyard, Mass.
What drew you to writing a mystery set in London in 1817?
I'm fascinated by periods that appear stable at first glance but are filled with tension just below the surface. In 1817, London had no police force, only individuals trying to impose justice where they could. That tension—between elegance and uncertainty—gave me the perfect setting for a character like Captain Winter, who relies on instinct rather than institutions.
What appealed to you about writing Barbara Lightwood?
I like characters who charm you immediately but carry their own secret histories. Barbara is resourceful, elegant, and far more complex than she appears. Her shared past with Winter makes every conversation a mix of trust, strategy, and unresolved emotion, which is always fun to write.
How do you approach creating atmosphere in your historical mysteries?
Old places speak to us. I try to let the setting reveal the characters—how they move through it, what they notice, what they fear. London in 1817 was glittering and grim at the same time; capturing both sides makes the mystery feel grounded and alive.