The Courtesan's Portrait — James White

When a mysterious and alluring portrait is delivered to Parisian showgirl Pigalle, it signals the beginning of a deadly quest for the portrait’s secrets that will not only change her life, but possibly the balance of power in the world itself.In 19th Century Montmartre, Parisian showgirl Pigalle De Vere is delivered a portrait with links to her own past and the parents she never knew. The trouble is, it also contains the key to discovering not just a fabled treasure, but the last work of a recently murdered inventor. Once rumours of the inventor’s hidden wealth surface, together with snippets of intrigue about the implausible weapon he was working on, Pigalle, joined by the dashing but untrustworthy adventurer Chester Albany, soon finds herself thrust into a deadly game of intrigue that takes her from Paris, to London and beyond.Dogging her every step is the mysterious and terrifying Emma Van Stark. Head of a powerful cabal intent on harnessing science and innovation for material gain and power, Emma Van Stark proves to be not only a ruthless opponent, but holds some of the keys to unlocking Pigalle’s past.Emerging triumphant Pigalle is irrevocably changed by her experiences and is ready for her next adventure in a world with far wider horizons and greater intrigues than the ones she’d ever dreamed of in Paris.This the first in a series of books featuring Pigalle.