Amanda Duncan, a widow, living in Washington DC has visions of crimes being committed which the police discredit as lonely woman. Devlin Burke is at the police station because his nephew is the prime suspect in the murder of a US Senator at a bordello. The police push him off as a lark onto Mrs. Duncan and he chases her outside to speak with her. Eventually they team up to investigate the murder, clear the nephew, protect the only witness, the prostitute and her younger sister, while growing closer. ( )

Scandals, Secrets and Murder is the first book in The Widow and Rogue Mysteries series.

I've been reading and enjoying Ms. Sefton's books since the first of her Knitting Mystery series, Knit One, Kill Two.

This series takes place in 1890's Washington D.C. and centers around Amanda Duncan, a widow, and Devlin Burke. a financier and sleuth.

I particularly like reading historical mysteries and don't try and tell me that the 1940's are historical, I lived those years. It's refreshing to read stories where the characters don't have to worry if their cell phones are charged and aren't waiting for DNA results to come. Ms. Sefton did a wonderful job of setting the time and place of this story.

Amanda Duncan goes to police to tell them about a "vision" she had just had of a brutal murder. The police don't put much credence in her psychic abilities, but soon a call does come in about a murder. Senator Chester has been fatally stabbed and the young "lady of the evening" has been brutally attacked. Amanda works closely with one of the local Catholic churches and has arranged for the severely injured to taken to the convent to recuperate and to protect her safety in case the killer finds out she is alive.

Meanwhile, Devlin in in town to get his nephew, Freddie, out of another financial jam. But before he can accomplish this, Freddie gets into a shouting match in the Capitol Building. After Chester's death and with no alibi, Freddie becomes a the prime suspect.

On an early visit to the police station, he learns about Amanda's vision from the detective on the case, as she is leaving the station. He quickly leaves and introduces himself and suggests that combine their efforts to determine who might have committed this heinous crime.

The book has a wonderful cast of believable characters. Amanda and Devlin's are well developed and people you like to help in their investigation. Amanda's housekeeper, Bridget, is also very entertaining. She rules the house and her mistress, with a strong hand and one can't help to smile and chuckle at her. Hopefully Theodore Roosevelt and his boisterous laugh will be back in future books.

Definitely looking forward to future books in this interesting series. ( )