Readers say...
Following art restorer Jade Beckham as she’s pulled back to 18th-century Spain, the novel immerses readers in the lavish yet dangerous world of the Palace of Aranjuez, where royal politics, hidden corridors, and rising murders create constant tension. The author, Jennifer King, does a wonderful job weaving real historical figures like Francisco de Goya into a suspenseful plot that feels both educational and thrilling. —Renee
The mix of art history, time travel, and palace drama kept me turning pages long after bedtime. If you love mysteries with rich historical detail and a dash of adventure, this one’s a treat. —Laurie B.
Book 2: Goya in the Palace of Greed
A killer stalks the gilded halls of a Spanish royal palace, and the only woman
who can expose the murderer is an outsider with a dangerous secret.
Secrets, Lies, and Murderous Ambition in the Palace of a King
After surviving a series of murders in nineteenth-century Paris, Jade Beckham swears she'll never step through the mysterious mirrored time portal again. But the mirror has other plans. This time, it deposits her in 1787 at Spain's magnificent Palace of Aranjuez.
Her mission is to find Francisco de Goya. But the ailing, overworked court painter wants nothing to do with her. Determined to stay close, Jade disguises herself as a palace maid and slips into a world of hidden passages, whispered intrigues, and dangerous royal rivalries.
Then the murders begin. The king believes he's the intended target, suspicion spreads through the court, and Jade finds herself investigating a tangled web of greed, jealousy, and betrayal.
But someone else is watching her—a dangerously beautiful stranger who knows far more than she should. And as Jade closes in on the killer, she realizes that exposing the truth could make her the next victim.
To survive the treachery of the Spanish court and find her way home, Jade must unmask a murderer before the palace claims another life, possibly her own.
Goya in the Palace of Greed is the second Jade Beckham Mystery, a richly atmospheric historical whodunit blending murder, royal intrigue, famous artists, fascinating history, and a whisper of time travel.
Free on Kindle Unlimited, $3.99 for the ebook, and $13.99 for paperback.
Keep scrolling for fascinating details about Francisco Goya.
Paintings In the Book
Top to bottom: Charles IV and His Family, Portrait of Dona Isobel de Porcel, Capricho No. 43: The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, The Parasol, and The Third of May 1808
The Artist Who Inspired the Book
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746–1828) is widely regarded as one of Spain’s most influential painters and printmakers, a visionary whose work bridges the worlds of classical tradition and modern art. His technical brilliance and keen social observation quickly attracted royal attention. He became the First Court Painter to King Charles III, producing elegant portraits that revealed both the grandeur and the underlying humanity of his subjects.
Goya’s career, however, extended far beyond court portraiture. His Caprichos—a series of satirical etchings—fearlessly critiqued superstition, corruption, and the darker sides of Spanish society. For me, his true life story was ideal for my fictional imaginings about a royal palace!
After surviving a severe illness that left him permanently deaf, his art grew increasingly personal and psychologically intense. Works such as The Third of May 1808 and The Disasters of War confronted violence, injustice, and human suffering with unprecedented emotional force.
In his final years, Goya created the haunting Black Paintings, a private series filled with raw, nightmarish imagery that anticipated 20th-century Expressionism. Through his unflinching honesty and innovative vision, Goya reshaped the possibilities of art and remains a pivotal figure in the history of Western painting.