What is your full name?
I’m Lord Reginald Arthur Bankes-Fernsby, second son of the Earl of Rockingham

How old are you?
According to the calendar, I’m twenty-eight years old. But after spending several years on the front lines of the Great War, I confess to feeling much older.

What is your profession?
If you read the broadsheets, I’m nothing more than your average Bright Young Thing. But that’s only because I keep my real career a secret – I’m an undercover spy for the British government.

Do you have a significant other?
On this, the society page editors and I agree. I do have a special someone.

What is their name and profession?
Her name is Theodora Laurent… or so everyone thinks. She is also a spy.

Do you have any children?
Goodness me, no. And I’m in no hurry to reach that stage of adulthood!

Do you have any siblings?
I have an older brother and a younger sister.

Are your parents nearby?
Thankfully, no. I prefer they stay on our family estate, where they can’t interfere with my wild ways. However, my grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Rockingham does reside near me.

Who is your best friend?
Lord Clark Kenworthy, heir to Earl Rivers.

Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
I have a capricious cat by the name of Mews, whom I adopted while serving in the Great War.

What town do you live in?
London, England – although I’ve recently been on a tour of Europe.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
My grandmother retained usage of the family’s Grosvenor Square abode. After the war, I resided with her. Now that things with Dora have grown serious, I spend most nights at her townhouse in Belgravia.

What is your favourite spot in your home?
Don’t let this secret slip, but Dora has a hideaway in her home. It can only be accessed through a hidden door in her library. I love to take advantage of the quiet, peaceful space to relax and read a book.

What is your favourite meal and dessert?
Grandmama’s cook makes the most delicious beef Wellington, served with potatoes roasted in goose fat and piping hot Yorkshire puddings. Pair that with a sticky toffee pudding and I’m a very happy man.

Do you have any hobbies?
Ferrying Dora from one jazz club to another, scaling rooftops in the dead of night, and matching wits with some of the smartest women in London.

What music do you listen to?
Jazz!

What is your favourite colour?
Hunter green because it reminds me of the rolling hills of my grandmother’s Cotswolds estate.

What is your favourite vacation spot?
Wherever Dora is – that’s all I need to be a happy man.

Are you a morning or night person?
I’m a night owl.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Speeding around London in my Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, with Dora at my side.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Murder, I Spy – the true tale of my transition from aimless playboy to first-class sleuth.

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
For the past year, I’ve undergone extensive training to become a professional spy. But as for sleuthing, I’m strictly an amateur. I sleuth with Dora and our cohort of friends.

What is a typical day in your life like?
Dora makes us rise early, insisting that we keep ourselves in shape. Given the number of times we’ve had to dodge bullets and make a hasty escape, I’m in no position to argue. After a hearty meal, we work our way through the major papers, keeping up to date on the latest news and trends. In the afternoon, we often find ourselves out on the town, either visiting friends or questioning suspects. When night sets in, we dress in our glad rags and head out to London’s hottest nightspots.

The Roman Riddle, A Dora & Rex 1920s Mystery Book #5
Genre: Historical Mystery
Release: January 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

In the Eternal City, Dora and Rex are in a race against time to uncover a murderer, with the future of a political alliance at stake.

Rome, 1923. Rex and Dora’s holiday comes to an abrupt end when they receive an urgent message from Rome. The Carabinieri have accused the British ambassador of murder.

A witness puts the ambassador at the scene and the evidence points to his guilt. But he assures the couple he is innocent. If the Carabinieri are allowed to proceed with their accusations, this simple case will become an international incident.

Rex and Dora face their most difficult puzzle yet. First, they have to uncover the real identity of the victim. Only then can they determine who had the motive to kill.

But in the Eternal City, the past and present are intertwined. Old flames return, past grudges re-emerge, and regrets bring consequences. Before the case ends, they’ll have to answer a riddle. What is more important — solving the case or saving the life of a friend?

About the author
Lynn Morrison lives in Oxford, England along with her husband, two daughters and two cats. Born and raised in Mississippi, her wanderlust attitude has led her to also live in California, Italy, France and the Netherlands. It’s no surprise then that she loves to travel, with a never-ending wish list of destinations to visit. She is as passionate about reading as she is writing, and can almost always be found with a book in hand. You can find out more about her on her website LynnMorrisonWriter.com.