In 1890s Paris, a librarian and a detective must track down a killer – before the city goes up in flames.The Mortal Word is the enthralling fifth instalment in the Invisible Library series from Genevieve Cogman. A corrupt countess. A spy in danger. And an assassin. Peace talks are always tricky – especially when a key diplomat gets stabbed.This murder rudely interrupts a top-secret summit between the warring dragons and Fae, so Librarian-spy Irene is summoned to investigate.With her detective friend Vale, she must track down the killer – as peace hangs by a thread. Accusations fly thick and fast. Irene soon finds herself in the seedy depths of the Parisian underworld on the trail of a notoriously warlike Fae, the Blood Countess.However, the evidence against the Countess is only circumstantial.Could the assassin – or assassins – be closer than anyone suspects?Continue the witty and wonderful series with The Secret Chapter. Praise for the series:'I absolutely loved this' – N.K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season'Irene is a great heroine: fiery, resourceful and no one's fool' – The Guardian'Cogman keeps upping the ante on this delightful series!' – Charles Stross, author of the Merchant Princes series