Gilded Lies: A Veridia Mystery

Synopsis

In the sprawling metropolis of Veridia, where wealth masks a labyrinth of deceit, Arthur 'Artie' Penhaligon, a seemingly ordinary librarian with a passion for detective novels, finds himself embroiled in the high-profile murder of patriarch, Sterling. The glittering facade of the Sterling family, with its opulent penthouse in Sterling Tower, hides a viper's nest of secrets, betrayals, and desperate ambitions. As Artie, our amateur sleuth, ventures into the city's underbelly, he navigates a treacherous landscape of red herrings, corrupt officials, and shadowy figures, each with their own motive for wanting the patriarch dead. Artie's investigation plunges him deeper into Veridia's dark heart, forcing him to confront not only the Sterling family's hidden agendas but also his own personal demons. A complicated romance with Lila, a mysterious informant from the city's criminal underworld, adds another layer of intrigue as he races against time to unmask the killer before they silence him permanently. With each shocking revelation, Artie discovers that the truth is far more twisted than he ever imagined, and that in a world of gilded lies, no one can be trusted, not even those closest to the victim.