The Hummingbird Dagger, by Cindy Anstey

Lord Ellerby and his family are drawn into a tale of mystery and intrigue when young Walter Ellerby causes an accident of two carriages near their estate. Soon after the accident Walter's brother, Lord Ellerby, comes upon the accident to help the victims. The only person who appears injured is a young woman who is lying unconscious in the creek. She is attended to by other passengers of her coach, but Lord Ellberby takes her to his home and fetches a doctor.

The unusual thing is that the people of the London Coach don't know who she is nor do they want to accompany her to Lord Ellerby's home. When the young woman awakens she has no memory. The only thing she has is a recurring nightmare that she doesn't understand. It involves a dagger shaped as a Hummingbird.

Who is she and where did she come from. Is she a commoner or is she from the Aristocracy? How will they find out more about her if she doesn't remember anything?

Then terrible things start to happen, why? What is the secret of this woman and why does someone want to harm her. In the mean time Lord Ellerby is falling in love. His only question is, Why?

The writing is superb. The story is compelling. The mystery is well conceived and wrapped in a way that it take times to unravel. The historical setting is well researched and thus the writing properly reflects 1830's England.

If you love Regency Romance and mystery you will love this novel.