A missing barrister. A stolen satchel. A trial corrupted before it begins.When Arabella Grey boards a train to London for a routine visit, she hardly expects to witness the beginnings of a murder case that will shake Wethersby to its core. A prominent barrister vanishes during a legal convention... his carriage left untouched, his briefcase mysteriously gone, and his destination: a high-stakes land dispute that has powerful families on edge.But when his body is discovered near a disused signal tower, Arabella finds herself drawn into a deadly game of influence, ambition, and blackmail, one that reaches far beyond the courtroom and deep into the shadowy corridors of the Violet Cross Society.As tensions rise and a suspicious trial moves forward, Arabella must work with a junior solicitor who both idolized the victim and may be hiding a dangerous truth of his own. Hidden messages in old law books, a forged will, and a quietly buried ledger all point to a single conclusion: the justice system is being manipulated from within.With the trial's verdict looming, Arabella races to expose a conspiracy decades in the making... before the scales of justice are permanently tipped.Perfect for readers who love: ✔ Atmospheric Victorian settings✔ Clever female sleuths✔ Courtroom intrigue and historical puzzles✔ Secret societies and family scandals✔ Strong, emotionally layered storytelling