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.