Elizabeth Bailey Books In Order

Publication Order of Brides by Chance Books

Publication Order of Governesses Trilogy Books

Publication Order of A Lady Fan Mystery Books

Publication Order of Steepwood Scandal Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Elizabeth Bailey is a wonderful English writer of historical fiction, romance, mystery, thriller, and historical romance stories. She has penned several mind-blowing novel series in her career, including the Governess Trilogy, Brides by Chance series, and Lady Fan Mystery series. Additionally, she has written many single novels, novellas, omnibus, and short story collections. Over the course of her writing career, Bailey has collaborated with different authors such as Anne Herries, Mary Nichols, Dorothy Elbury, Mary Brendan, Anne Ashley, Paula Marshall, Francine Howarth, Jessica Schira, David Wilkin, Susan Ruth, Giselle Marks, etc. She has contributed to the series Steepwood Scandal, working on its book numbers two and ten. Author Bailey was born in The United Kingdom and raised in Africa.

From an early age, she had developed an avid interest in reading. Her parents gave her an unconventional upbringing in colonial Africa and she was exposed to theater at a very young age. After returning to England, Bailey tried her hand at different things before realizing in her thirties that she was destined to become a writer. She believes it was her addiction to the books of Georgette Heyer that led her to write historical romance. It was not before writing eight books and spending eight years in the writing field that Bailey was able to join the stable of Harlequin Mills & Boon. In the later years, she started directing and teaching drama and writing plays as a means to fuel her writing.

When Bailey published her 18th historical novel, she decided to try her luck in the mainstream. Subsequently, she released her novel, Fly the Wild Echoes, in the US and the UK in 2005. It had come out under the banner of Unlimited Publishing in both the countries. This novel became so popular and successful that it went on to be listed as a Booker prize contender in the same year. The book is a whodunit kind of mystery and explores the interconnected lives of 3 women and goes on to investigate their past lives. As of now, Bailey has given up teaching completely. She keeps herself busy with directing for a local theater group near her residence in West Sussex.

In recent times, Bailey’s interest in drama has taken a back seat as she has turned her focus toward writing crime fiction stories. However, she has not given up historical fiction completely and keeps turning in one or two novels set in her favorite period in between. Bailey likes to place her female sleuths in the late Gregorian period and surround them with aristocrats, rogues, intrigue, and elegance. Quite often, she depicted a society where privilege and harsh realities of life rub shoulders. Working on such angles in her stories allows Bailey to cross boundaries with impunity. Even her immensely successful writing career could not keep her content with just authorship. So, she founded an independent publisher in collaboration with Timeless Books and launched it on the Lulu site.

Besides this, Bailey also manages an assessment & critique service for authors. It can be rightly said about her that she has her hands full all the time. Bailey feels her life fall somewhere between horribly enthusiastic and dry & dull. She is of the opinion that life always throws people around and they keep struggling to stay on top while trying to cherish their dreams. Bailey considers herself lucky to have come across a few paths that have given her immense satisfaction. Throughout her life, her paths of teaching, writing, directing, and acting have crossed each other, thereby honing her skills and deepening her interest as time went by.

Author Bailey thinks she was privileged to have worked with a few wonderfully artistic people. She also thinks she was fortunate to come to find publishers that trusted her abilities and put faith in her writing skills. They motivated her to keep going. Bailey doesn’t believe that a person achieves everything alone. So, it gives her immense pleasure to see her fellow writers bloom and succeed. Just like all other novelists, she too always aims to invent a new world and persuade her readers to put their belief in it and live it for some time.

A wonderful novel series written by author Elizabeth Bailey is called A lady Fan Mystery series. It began in 1992 and features multiple successful titles. Every title of this series features the chief protagonist in the role of Ottilia Draycott. She is depicted as a young companion to Lady Polbrook and assists in carrying out murder investigations. Author Bailey has set the plots in Regency England, especially in the late 18th century. Some essential characters other than Ottilia Draycott mentioned in the series include Emily Fanshawe, Randal Fanshawe, Lord Francis, Sir Joslin Cadel, Tamasine Roy, Lady Wem, Daniel Wem, and several others. The debut book of this intriguing mystery series is entitled ‘The Gilded Shroud’. It was released in 1992 by the Sapere Books publication. It takes place in London in 1789. Initially, it is mentioned that Emily Fanshawe, the Polbrook Marchioness, is found dead in her bed and all those present in the grand Hanover Square house become possible suspects.

Randal Fanshawe, Emily’s husband, ran away at night and is considered to be the prime suspect. The younger son of the Fanshawe family, Lord Francis, begins investigating the case of his mother’s murder on his own. When Ottilia Draycott comes to stay in his house as a lady’s companion, he forms an unlikely bond with her. Together, they continue the murder investigation and go on to unravel the untouched corners of their heart. The second volume of his mystery series is called ‘The Deathly Portent’. It was also published by Sapere Books in 2012. This book opens by showing that Lady Ottilia Fanshawe and Lord Francis are passing by the Witherly village when their coach faces a problem and breaks down, leaving them stranded.

Ottilia decides to utilize the time in doing something productive and becomes excited to know that a murder has taken place in the village. She sets out to investigate the murder while her coach is being repaired. Lord Francis is also intrigued to know that a young woman had predicted the Blacksmith’s gruesome death and he was murdered in exactly the same manner. Now, the villagers have labeled her as a witch, but she prefers to call herself the one who can see the future. Lady Ottilia thinks there is something sinister at play and doesn’t rest before she has unraveled the mystery and caught the murder culprit.