"The search for a missing heiress takes an unusual turn."
Reviewed by Leanne Davis
Posted January 3, 2015
Suspense
Lady Emily and Colin are attending a large masquerade
with their friend, Cécile, when they meet the traveling
heiress Estella Lamar. Since Cécile was friends with
Estella, she immediately recognizes that the lady is an
impostor. The woman runs away. When she is later discovered dead,
the mystery of Estella Lamar proves too big of a draw for
Emily. They discover that the dead woman was an actress
hired by a stranger to play the part.
Since Miss Lamar is French, their search takes them to
Paris. Every where they go, no one has seen the heiress
in years. The staff maintains her homes as if she would
appear at any moment. All her instructions are sent by
mail. Even her financial adviser finds nothing strange
in her behavior.
Each chapter alternates between Emily and Colin's search
with the story of Estella and her unique childhood. As
they search, there will more bodies discovered . The
final discovery will surprise the reader.
Ms. Alexander has always written novels which intrigue
and entice the reader with the lives of her characters.
This book is a departure from the norm in that the deaths
aren't the main focus of the story. Instead the reader
is introduced to a character who is both sympathetic and
a little repellent. The heiress was a strange child with
few friends and her only real interest was reading about
other lands.
Despite the odd twist to the story, I really enjoyed this
one. Ms. Alexander's Lady Emily mysteries are
always
something to look forward to. Her descriptions of the
masquerade and other historical events make the reader
feel like they are present. It's a glimpse into a world
that few will ever enter.
The next Lady Emily mystery can't come soon enough
for
this reader and I'm sure others feel the same way.
SUMMARY
After an odd encounter at a grand masquerade ball, Lady
Emily becomes embroiled in the murder investigation of
one
of the guests, a sometime actress trying to pass herself
off as the mysterious heiress and world traveler Estella
Lamar. Each small discovery, however, leads to more
questions. Was the intended victim Miss Lamar or the
imposter? And who would want either of them dead? As Emily and Colin try to make sense of all this, a
larger
puzzle begins to emerge: No one has actually seen
Estella
Lamar in years, since her only contact has been through
letters and the occasional blurry news photograph. Is
she
even alive? Emily and Colin’s investigation of this
double mystery takes them from London to Paris, where,
along with their friend Cécile, they must scour the
darkest corners of the city in search of the truth.
What do you think about this review?
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