Ruby Dove is the main character of Rose Donovan’s Ruby Dove Mysteries and the 1930s Partners in Spying Mystery series. An Oxford-educated chemist who works as a dress designer in 1930s England, Ruby uses her sharp mind and scientific training to solve murders at country estates, aboard ships, and across the British Empire.
Ruby’s partner in crime-solving is Fina Aubrey-Havelock, who provides social connections and wit to complement Ruby’s analytical approach. Their adventures begin at a snowbound Christmas party in 1934 and continue through casinos, ski trains, and espionage-tinged mysteries. Ruby also carries a deeper personal story tied to her mixed-race heritage and her family’s history with the colonial sugar plantation system in St. Kitts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ruby Dove?
Ruby Dove is the protagonist of Rose Donovan’s mystery series. She is a mixed-race Oxford-educated chemist who works as a dress designer while solving murders alongside her friend Fina Aubrey-Havelock in 1930s England.
How many books feature Ruby Dove?
Ruby Dove appears in ten books across two series: eight books in the Ruby Dove Mysteries (2017-2019) and two books in the 1930s Partners in Spying Mystery (2021-2023).
What is Ruby Dove's background?
Ruby Dove is a mixed-race woman with ancestral connections to St. Kitts. She studied chemistry at Oxford and works as a dress designer alongside her friend Fina Aubrey-Havelock. Beneath her fashionable exterior, she carries a personal mission tied to her family’s colonial history.