For readers who’ve always suspected librarians have the most dangerous jobs—and want to watch one level up from researcher to magical operative.

What if your research project accidentally gave you access to a magical dimension—and launched you into a global conspiracy that would require more than just brains to survive?

Jayne Thorne is living her best quiet life: tea, books, and the Vanderbilt archives. Then she touches the wrong manuscript and everything changes. What starts as an academic problem—decoding an ancient spell book—quickly becomes a matter of survival when a magic-wielding terror organization marks her for death.

Her only option: join a secret branch of the CIA and go undercover at Trinity College Library in Dublin to investigate whether the Book of Leinster is actually a necromantic grimoire. This is the mission that will transform her from cataloger to operative—and reveal she’s capable of far more than she ever imagined.

This book delivers:

• The thrill of discovering you’re more powerful than you knew

• A fish-out-of-water heroine who weaponizes her research skills (at first)

• Irish libraries, necromantic grimoires, and a kickboxing love interest

• An origin story that promises escalation—Jayne starts clever and ends formidable

• The setup for a five-grimoire quest where the stakes get progressively more epic

Perfect for readers who want Discovery of Witches-style magical academia with Mercy Thompson’s action pace—and a protagonist who evolves from treating ancient spell books like the research problem they are to leading missions against supernatural threats.

What makes this series different: Jayne doesn’t start as a warrior. She starts as a scholar. But by Book 6, she’ll be facing down gods. This is the beginning of that journey—where intelligence is your greatest weapon, but you’re about to discover you have other powers too.

If you’ve been waiting for urban fantasy that respects your intelligence while delivering genuine high-stakes adventure, start here. Jayne’s learning curve is your learning curve, and the magical world-building only gets richer (and more dangerous) from here.

Book 1 stands alone but sets up an escalating six-book arc where a quiet librarian becomes the magical world’s last hope.

Book one in the series was co-written with USA Today bestselling fantasy author Alisha Klapheke.

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Praise

"Writer Joss Walker brings the magic back! It will take a witch with heart, humor, and book smarts–plus some killer kick-boxing skills–to save the world, and Jayne Thorne is the witch we need now. Hold on tight, you urban fantasy fans, because once you open Tomb of the Queen, the action doesn't stop until the last thrilling page."

— Laura Benedict, bestselling author of the Bliss House trilogy

"A librarian gets recruited by the CIA to help track down rare and magical books... Jayne Thorne has just discovered that magic is real, and the CIA needs her help. After a crash course in Magic 101 she's sent to Ireland to investigate a rare manuscript. The start of this series is everything I love about urban fantasy: a wise-cracking heroine who diffuses tense situations with a joke, plenty of adventure, and an interesting magical world that exists alongside our own. I can't wait for more adventures with Jayne!"

— John McDougall, Murder by the Book 

"Joss Walker’s debut had me completely under her spell. Part cleverly plotted fantasy and part thriller, I was drawn in by her charming bookworm of a librarian with magical powers, dashing Irish rogue, and the complicated battle between ‘good’ and evil. Addictive and utterly delightful, this is a book to treasure."

— Paige Crutcher, author of The Orphan Witch

“Tomb of the Queen is a relatable, fun romp of a thrill ride! The characters are lifelike and well fleshed out, and the magic is done in a unique way that I have never seen before. I loved this book, and I'm sure that I will read it over and over again!”

— Julie L. Kramer, USA Today bestselling author of Of Curses and Scandals

"This book was just my cup of tea! Or perhaps, my slice of pie? 😉 Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian is a relatable, lovable, and smart heroine dead set on vanquishing evil. A genius mythology twist, swoony budding romance, and gorgeous library imagery, paired with non-stop action, makes Tomb of the Queen a winner for fans of urban fantasy. Stop everything and read this book!"

— Ashley McLeo, author of the bestselling Starseed Trilogy

“Light-hearted books can get a bad rap, as though making readers smile is somehow a weakness on the author’s part… Walker has a light touch with [her] prose, and the likable characters breeze through many of their interactions. Which isn’t to say that Tomb of the Queen lacks gravitas. No, there’s a good story here with real edge-of-the-seat moments... It’s fun from start to finish, and I’m going to keep my eye out for more from this “new” author.”

— Charles de Lint, The Magazine of Mystery & Science Fiction