Overview

For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. Emily's intellectual pursuits and her desire to learn more about Philip take her to the quiet corridors of the British Museum, one of her husband's favorite places. There, she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret involving stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries. And to complicate matters, she's juggling two very prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond the marrying kind. As she sets out to solve the crime, her search leads to more surprises about Philip and causes her to question the role in Victorian society to which she, as a woman, is relegated.

Full Product Details

9798200022519

Table of Contents

Reviews

"This engaging, witty mix of Victorian cozy and suspense thriller draws its dramatic spark from the endearingly headstrong heroine's growth in life and love. A memorable debut.-- ""Booklist"" ""In this charming late Victorian romantic suspense novel...Alexander makes Emily light but sympathetic and conveys period flavor without being ponderous. Her knowledge of the ethical dilemmas posed by Victorian etiquette is considerable; sexual chemistry in particular is handled with exquisite delicacy. The archeological background will lure readers who like to dig for their clues. -- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""Engagingly suspenseful and rich with period detail."" -- ""BookPage"" ""Fans of Anne Perry and Elizabeth Peters will welcome this debut novel."" -- ""Denver Post"" ""Had Jane Austen written The Da Vinci Code, she may well have come up with this elegant novel."" -- ""Martha O'Connor, author of The Bitch Posse"" ""Historically correct and beautifully done."" -- ""South Bend Tribune"" ""Kate Reading uses her highbrow English tones to excellent effect in this romantic-suspense frolic, set in Victorian London...The host of characters, including forthright Emily, a spirited American friend, and several suitors, offers Reading ample room to display her gift for characterization. Her graceful pace also feels just right for this first in a justifiably popular series."" -- ""AudioFile"" ""Tightly plotted, with a large cast of well-defined characters. The narrative is strong and unrelentingly draws the reader into Emily's world, which, despite its constrictions and perils, seems a fine place to spend time."" -- ""RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"""

Author Information

Tasha Alexander is the author of the Lady Emily novels, a historical suspense series, as well as a novella and a stand-alone novel. She studied English literature and medieval history at the University of Notre Dame. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Kate Reading is the recipient of three AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has narrated everything from Patricia Cornwell to George Eliot. Her favorite BOT recordings include Like Water for Chocolate, Middlemarch, and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Times series, which she narrated with her husband, Michael Kramer.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available