"Historical mystery at it's best. Ms. Alexander has delivered an amazing sequel to her debut novel."
Reviewed by Leanne Davis
Posted June 21, 2007
Mystery Historical | Historical
With a return to the Victorian era, Tasha Alexander has us
enter the world of Lady Emily Ashton. A young widow just
emerging from mourning, Emily has decided not to let
society dictate her behavior any more. She married to get
away from a managing mother. Her marriage ended abruptly
with the unexpected death of her husband while on a safari
in Africa. Emily is determined to spend the rest of her
life as a widow. Still in half mourning, Emily has spent her time learning
Greek and earning a greater appreciation for the
antiquities her husband collected. She spends time
tracking down Greek and Roman artifacts and urging owners
to donate them to the British Museun. At the same time, she is attending what events are fitting
to her state of mourning. When she meets the latest
pretender to the French throne, Charles Berry, Emily will
be drawn into the mystery surrounding his claims to be the
last living descendant of Louis the XVI and Marie
Antionette. The ton is rife with rumors about the boorish
young man from America and the scandal of the burglar who
is stealing artifacts that once belonged to Marie
Antionette. Mr. Colin Hargreaves, her husband's best friend, is working
hard to undermine Emily's intention not to marry again. Despite Emily's best intentions, she finds herself drawn
into the investigation of these events upon the death of a
quiet gentlemen who lived an unassuming life. Emily will
find herself at the mercy of viperous tongues of society as
she fends off the unwelcome attentions of Mr. Berry. With the help of her friends and her suitor, Colin, Emily
will identify the killer and discover a secret which has
been kept for many years. Be prepared to find yourself in a world of horse-drawn
carriages and railroads as you pick up the sequel to Ms.
Alexander's acclaimed debut novel, And Only to Deceive.
You will struggle with Emily as she fights to overcome the
strictures of society and maintain her interests and
independence. The cast of characters is full of well-drawn
personalities starting with Emily and Colin. I delved into this book with great anticipation and my
hopes were fulfilled as I followed the adventures of Emily
and Colin. Ms. Alexander has brought the Victorian era to
life without burdening us with too much history. Her
language and characters increase the feeling that we are
living in the 19th century. I can't wait for the next book
in the series!
SUMMARY
London's social season is in full swing, and the Victorian aristocracy can't stop whispering about a certain gentleman who claims to be the direct descendant of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. But he's not the only topic of wagging tongues. Drawing rooms, boudoirs, and ballrooms are abuzz with the latest news of an audacious cat burglar who has been making off with precious items that once belonged to the ill-fated queen.
Light gossip turns serious when the owner of one of the pilfered treasures is found murdered, and the mysterious thief develops a twisted obsession with Emily. But the strong-minded and fiercely independent Emily will not be shaken. It will take all of her considerable wit and perseverance to unmask her stalker and ferret out the murderer, even as a brewing scandal threatens both her reputation and her romance with her late husband's best friend, the dashing Colin Hargreaves.
A Poisoned Season is a delicious blend of sparkling romance, heart-pounding suspense, and rich historical detail that only Tasha Alexander could create.
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