Arabella Beaumont, courtesan, adventuress, and sleuth, romps her way through Regency London into a dangerous affair of blackmail... Arabella Beaumont is the fortunate possessor of one of England's most celebrated bodies-with a formidable business brain to match. Her latest venture: transforming a London hotel into a social club for courtesans. To afford the lavish renovations, Arabella needs her featherbrained friend Constance Worthington to repay the fortune she owes her. And now that Constance has a wealthy protector, Pigeon Pollard, she's finally good for the cash. Alas, the imprudent Constance has also been dallying with Lady Ribbonhat's footman, and a mysterious blackmailer is threatening to tell all. If Constance pays up, there will be no money left for Arabella's renovations; if she doesn't, the cuckolded Pigeon is bound to leave her penniless. But as the case escalates rapidly from extortion to murder, Arabella's life, as well as her fortune, hangs precariously in the balance... PRAISE FOR DEATH AND THE COURTESAN "Saucy...the effervescent and free-thinking Arabella is a delightful heroine." -The Bellingham Herald "Historical mystery readers fond of arch and ribald takes on the genre will best appreciate Christie's debut." -Publishers Weekly