Where to Start with Diana Quincy
For readers new to Diana Quincy's historical romances, the best starting point depends on what style you prefer. If you want her most polished and culturally rich work, start with the Clandestine Affairs series, beginning with Her Night with the Duke. This series highlights her signature blend of Regency romance, high-stakes secrets, and Arab-American representation. Alternatively, if you want her latest releases, dive into the Sirens in Silk series starting with The Duke Gets Desperate, which follows the entrepreneurial Darwish sisters navigating the complexities of English high society. For mystery lovers, she writes under the pen name D.M. Quincy; you should start the Atlas Catesby Mysteries from the very beginning with Murder in Mayfair to fully appreciate the overarching character development.
The Regency Romances (Written as Diana Quincy)
Clandestine Affairs Series
The Clandestine Affairs series is widely celebrated for introducing Middle Eastern heritage into traditional Regency romance settings, drawing from the author's own Arab-American roots. The stories can technically be read as standalones, but reading them in order enhances the experience because key characters are closely related. For example, Lady Delilah "Leela" Chambers from the first book and the skilled bonesetter Hanna Zaydan from the second book are cousins, sharing family ties that influence their social standing in London.
- Her Night with the Duke (2020) – Lady Delilah Chambers shares a passionate, anonymous night at a country inn with a stranger who turns out to be the Duke of Huntington, the man betrothed to her stepdaughter.
- The Viscount Made Me Do It (2021) – Thomas Ellis, Viscount Griffin, finds himself drawn to Hanna Zaydan, a talented Arab bonesetter who treats his injuries but holds deep secrets.
- The Marquess Makes His Move (2022) – Alexander Worthington, the half-Arab Marquess of Brandon, goes undercover as a footman to seek vengeance against a secretive mapmaker, Rose Fleming, only to fall for her.
Sirens in Silk Series
Quincy's Sirens in Silk series moves into the Victorian era and follows the Darwish sisters, two headstrong Arab-American women who challenge conventional British expectations. The series is particularly noted for its focus on female entrepreneurship, estate management, and second-chance romance tropes.
- The Duke Gets Desperate (2023) – Raya Darwish unexpectedly inherits a castle from her late cousin, forcing her into a battle of wits—and hearts—with Anthony Carey, the financially strapped Duke of Strickland, who believes the estate is rightfully his.
- The Earl That Got Away (2025) – A reimagining of Jane Austen's Persuasion, this novel follows Naila Darwish as she runs into Basil Trevelyn, the man she rejected years ago under family pressure, who has now inherited an earldom.
Accidental Peers Series
This is Quincy's debut romance series. The books follow a group of high-society reformers and nobles finding love amidst social upheaval. While they are usually read in publication order, there is a chronological exception: the third book, Compromising Willa, is actually a prequel set in 1805, which is several years before the events of the other three novels. Readers can choose to read this prequel first or stick to the publication order, as the main plots remain self-contained.
- Seducing Charlotte (2013) – Social reformer Charlotte Livingston clashes with a wealthy marquess during labor rebellions.
- Tempting Bella (2013) – A story of confrontation and healing between a scorned bride and her estranged husband.
- Compromising Willa (2013) – Set in 1805, this prequel features a young woman forced into compromising circumstances to protect her family.
- Engaging the Earl (2014) – The final book in the series, following a high-society romance fraught with family secrets.
Rebellious Brides Series
Blending romance with espionage, this series features strong-willed women who refuse to conform to the expectations of their class, alongside dashing spies and secret agents.
- Spy Fall (2013) – A parachute-dropping spy and a determined heroine cross paths in an action-packed romance.
- A License to Wed (2016) – Follows a path of forbidden attraction and societal expectations.
- From London with Love (2017) – A tale of secrets, intelligence gathering, and romance in Regency England.
- The Duke Who Ravished Me (2018) – The final installment in the series, focusing on a passionate confrontation between a duke and an independent woman.
The Historical Mysteries (Written as D.M. Quincy)
Atlas Catesby Mysteries
Under the pen name D.M. Quincy, the author writes historical mysteries set in the late Georgian and Regency eras. The series features Atlas Catesby, a wealthy traveler and aristocrat who uses his keen powers of observation to solve murders. Unlike her romance series, the Atlas Catesby mysteries should be read in strict publication order due to the evolving relationship between Atlas and Lady Lilliana Warwick, as well as the ongoing developments in Clandestine Investigations.
- Murder in Mayfair (2017) – Atlas Catesby investigates when a baronet attempts to sell his wife, Lady Lilliana Warwick, at a public market, only for the baronet to turn up dead shortly after.
- Murder in Bloomsbury (2018) – Catesby is pulled into a dark investigation involving a young boy's death and a web of secrets among London's elite.
- Murder at the Opera (2019) – Atlas must clear his own sister's name when she is accused of murdering a celebrated opera singer.
Anthologies and Short Stories
In addition to her full-length novels, Quincy contributed a notable story to the 2025 anthology Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters. Her contribution, titled Lydia Bennet's Second Chance, offers a new perspective on one of Austen's most controversial characters, giving a widowed Lydia Bennet a path to redemption, agency, and a happy ending with a local clergyman.