COMING SOON
Death at Brookhaven
The new historical mystery from Nancy Polk Hall. Some estates hold secrets far longer than they should.
It is 1960s Oxfordshire. The rolling English countryside hides a sprawling estate and a decades-old murder that was never meant to be solved. Now, the past is speaking — and it refuses to stay buried.
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The cover of Death at Brookhaven will be unveiled in...
You won’t want to miss the moment Brookhaven is unveiled for the first time. Brookhaven Insiders get first look — before anyone else.
May 1, 2026 is the date! Get notified the second it drops…
Step Inside Brookhaven - Before You Read a Single Word.
Death at Brookhaven lives at the intersection of two worlds: the weathered elegance of an English country estate and the gilded, dangerous glamour of Hollywood’s golden age. Close your eyes. This is what it feels like.
The Estate
Limestone walls gone grey with age. Iron gates half-swallowed by ivy. A drawing room where the curtains haven't changed since the war, and portraits of ancestors who seem to watch you from every angle. Brookhaven is the kind of house that breathes.
Hollywood, Remembered
She arrived at Brookhaven with a steamer trunk, a secret, and the kind of beauty that only the camera — and grief — could create. The 1930s and 40s studio system left its mark on everyone it touched. Some marks never fade.
Oxfordshire, 1960
The hedgerows are ancient. The village pub keeps its own time. A woman cycling past the churchyard would be unremarkable — if she weren't carrying a letter that should have been burned thirty years ago.
The Dog Who Stayed
In the tradition of the best cozy mysteries, Brookhaven has a dog. Her name isn't Tess — but she was. [For readers who know Nancy's story, this one is for you.]
Meet the Real Tess
Every character in a novel carries a piece of truth. The dog in Brookhaven carries all of it.
Nancy found Tess in the middle of a road — motionless, and feared to be dead. She stopped anyway. With help, she got the dog into her car and called her sister Susan, who had lost her own beloved dog just six months before. Susan came immediately, wrapping Tess in warmth and care, placing her in the bathtub and giving her food and water for the first time in what may have been a very long time. When they finally reached the veterinarian, the diagnosis was devastating: Tess’s front paws were bloody and torn, the injuries consistent with being pushed from a moving vehicle. She had tried to stop herself — skidding across the pavement, braking with her own body. The cruelty of what had been done to her was unmistakable. But Tess had refused to give up. She recovered. She healed. She became, in Nancy’s words, the best dog ever. Now approximately fifteen years old, Tess is happy, healthy, and deeply loved — living proof that survival is its own kind of grace. It was impossible not to bring her into the pages of Death at Brookhaven. Some stories demand to be told. This was one of them.
From the First Word to the Final Clue: The Making of Death at Brookhaven
Every mystery has two stories — the one on the page and the one behind it. Follow Nancy’s journey as she builds Brookhaven from research, instinct, and the relentless need to get the truth right.
When a Book Ends but the Characters Don’t — On Missing the People You Lived With While Writing a Book
What happens when a book is finished and the characters you’ve lived with for years go quiet? Nancy Polk Hall reflects on the friends she finds in her fiction.
Why Signing Up for My Newsletter is a Must for History Lovers
Discover the exclusive benefits, behind‑the‑scenes content, and early access you’ll receive by joining the Nancy Polk Hall newsletter.
Reading the Past Historical Fiction Recommendations for Summer
A curated list of captivating historical novels—including my own titles—that transport readers to vivid past eras, perfect for summer reading.
How to Use Primary Sources in Fiction Writing
Learn practical techniques for incorporating diaries, letters, and newspaper clippings into your historical narratives without losing narrative flow.
Behind the Scenes of My Latest Novel
Get an insider look at the research, drafting, and editing journey that shaped my newest historical‑fiction release.
Blending Fact and Fiction in Historical Novels
Discover the art of weaving real events into fictional narratives, creating compelling stories that respect history while captivating readers.
Brookhaven Insider Sign-Up Section
Join the Brookhaven Insider List — and be among the first to know everything.
Nancy Polk Hall writes history the way it actually happened — with secrets, with stakes, and with people who feel achingly real. The Brookhaven Insiders are the readers who want to be there from the beginning. Before the cover. Before the launch. Before the world discovers what happened at that estate.
As a Brookhaven Insider, you’ll receive:
- First Look at the cover reveal – before it goes public
- Behind-the-scenes letters from Nancy on the writing of Death at Brookhaven
- Exclusive early excerpts – straight from the manuscript
- Priority access to launch events, signed copies, and reader Q&As
By joining, you’ll receive the Brookhaven Insider newsletter from Nancy Polk Hall. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Your secrets are safe here.
Your Questions About Death at Brookhaven, Answered.
What is Death at Brookhaven about?
Death at Brookhaven is a historical cozy mystery set in 1960s Oxfordshire, England. It centers on an unsolved murder at a sprawling English country estate and weaves together the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age with the elegance — and darkness — of English aristocratic life.
Who is the author of Death at Brookhaven?
Death at Brookhaven is written by Nancy Polk Hall, historical fiction and mystery author and author of the debut novel Call of the Blackbird. Nancy is known for immersive first-person narratives inspired by authors like Mary Stewart and Daphne du Maurier.
When does Death at Brookhaven come out?
The launch date will be announced to Brookhaven Insiders first. Join the list above to be among the first to know.
Where is Death at Brookhaven set?
The novel is set on a fictional English country estate in Oxfordshire during the 1960s, a period when old-world tradition was beginning to collide with modern sensibility — and long-buried secrets were threatening to surface.
Is Death at Brookhaven a cozy mystery?
Yes — with depth. Nancy Polk Hall writes cozy mysteries that don’t sacrifice tension for comfort. Death at Brookhaven delivers the warmth, character richness, and charm of the genre alongside a genuinely compelling historical mystery.
Brookhaven is waiting. So is the truth.