Bestselling Author Lisa Kleypas Returns With Her First Novel in Five Years

Lisa Kleypas is one of the most popular romance and historical fiction writers in America. Her books have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. After five years without a new novel, she is back with 'Queen of Lombard Street.' The book came out in 2025 and is already getting great reviews from critics.

Kleypas told journalist Mary Calvi that the pandemic gave her time to think about what she really wanted to write next. While sitting with her family one night, she felt a lump in her throat and went to the doctor. The diagnosis was cancer. She had surgery to remove her thyroid, which is a small gland in the neck, and all of the cancer was taken out successfully. That scary experience pushed her to take a creative risk and try something new.

The main character of the book is Reina, a brilliant woman who understands economics — the study of money, trade, and budgets. The story takes place in London in 1877, when women were not allowed to open their own bank accounts. Reina's dream is to build a bank where women can manage their own money. Kleypas said she wanted to challenge the unfair idea that women are not good with finances, pointing out that women have always handled household budgets and made wise money decisions.

The book also has an exciting mystery at its center. Reina hires a staff of recently released prisoners from a real London prison called Milbank. These workers are given a second chance at life, and they grow into a tight-knit, found family. But Reina is shocked when she finds out that her butler, John Pembroke, is secretly an undercover detective. He is investigating her trusted mentor for a massive financial crime that could harm thousands of people.

Kleypas admitted she was nervous about writing a story so different from her earlier books. Her previous novels focused mainly on romance, but this one is much bigger — it blends romance, mystery, and social history all together. She worried readers might not accept the mix. However, she was delighted to find that the book is being received very well by fans and critics alike.