Thus with a Kiss I Die

Christina Dodd

$44.95

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Kensington Publishing
26 May 2026

Crime & Mystery

The delightfully irreverent eldest daughter of the not-so-ill-fated Romeo and Juliet returns to sleuth another day in fair Verona, in this frothy, irreverent, witty historical mystery series with a refreshingly bold premise.

“Woe, for I am the bug that meets the windshield's might, No longer the speeding glass, smooth, clean and bright . . .”

You’re right. I, Rosie Montague of Verona, am lousy at iambic pentameter and Shakespeare speak, but you get the point: Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug. I, who for my whole life, have cruised along, unruffled, am suddenly smashed flat and speeding recklessly up the WhattheHellHappened Highway. Why? you ask . . .

I’m 20 years old and by my own design, never been wed, free as no married woman ever is. I’m beautiful, but without conceit, for Juliet, my legendary Mamma is the most gorgeous creature to ever walk the earth. Just ask Romeo, my legendary Papà. (Rumors of their deaths were premature.) I was heartwhole until I fell (literally) in love with Lysander of the House of Beautiful. But our love was not to be, for I was thwarted by Escalus, the Prince of Verona . . . who had designs on me. I’m trapped.

Then! I’m presented with a solution. Escalus’s father, Prince Escalus the Elder, appears to me. He tasks that I find his killer. Did I mention Elder is a ghost? . . . Given that I only recently dispatched Verona’s first serial killer, I’m less than pleased. Yet Elder promises to unite me with my One True Love. Meanwhile, revolution threatens, for beneath Verona society’s glittering surface lurks an enemy eager to make me a tragic heroine in my own right . . .

By: Christina Dodd
Imprint: Kensington Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Volume: 2
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 140mm,
Weight: 369g
ISBN: 9781496750204
ISBN 10: 1496750209
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 26 May 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Christina Dodd is a New York Times bestselling author whose suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge. Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at ChristinaDodd.com.

Reviews for Thus with a Kiss I Die

Praise for Thus with a Kiss I Die “A prolific writer with a flair for characterization and strategic wit, which is on display in spades. The banter is crisp and catchy.” —Historical Novel Review on Thus with a Kiss I Die