Calista Langley has had no choice but to go into trade to
keep a roof over her head and that of her younger brother.
But in the Victorian days there were few options for well
born woman to do especially with a sibling. To make ends
meet she begins an "introduction" service. It is her job to
carefully vet out ladies and gentlemen who desire to meet
someone of like mind and interest and possibly get the
privilege of saying TIL DEATH DO US PART. No fortune
hunters allowed so the members are carefully investigated.
Unfortunately someone has become obsessed with Calista
sending her gifts that would be more suitable to someone
who is mourning or dying. As she becomes more frightened
she finds an unlikely allies in reclusive mystery writer
Trent Hastings. Initially Hastings had come to Calista
about her introduction service fearing for his sister, but
he soon finds not only the woman in charge intriguing but
is determined to help with the mystery that she faces.
I have always enjoyed the Amanda Quick books because they
are historical with a twist and TIL DEATH DO US PART is
another that gives you a number of twists and turns. The
main twist in her writing style is that the heroine of the
story is usually quite capable of fending for herself. A
nice touch for time periods when that was the oddity not
the norm. The romance side of this story line is good if
just a little on the sparse side, but what is there is well
written and it is fun to see a couple come to the
realization that they have fallen in love.
The four main characters Calista, Trent, her brother
Andrew and his sister Eudora immediately clicked into a
solid working unit and it was interesting to see that all
but Andrew had different touches of guilt leading
them to act and react the way they were. I can't go into
much about the guilt or how working together saves the day
without giving away the plot. I can say you will find
yourself spellbound by this book. I found it
intriguing how Ms. Quick added a number of interesting
supporting characters to take you into the different
lifestyles that made up Victorian England. Step by step the
reader will follow this team as they work their way toward
the answers to the mystery behind who is frightening
Calista and a couple of other things that pop up. Believe
me when I say you won't want to stop reading. Of course
just when you think they have the answers ... think again.
Ms. Quick is very good at leading her readers astray only
to jolt them back with an "I didn't see that one coming."
TIL DEATH DO US PART is another great historical read that
will go on my TRA shelf and I look forward to the next
offering by Ms. Quick (or of course from her alter egos
Jayne Ann Krentz or Jayne Castle).
Calista Langley operates an exclusive “introduction” agency
in Victorian London, catering to respectable ladies and
gentlemen who find themselves alone in the world. But now, a
dangerously obsessed individual has begun sending her
trinkets and gifts suitable only for those in deepest
mourning—a black mirror, a funeral wreath, a ring set with
black jet stone. Each is engraved with her initials.
Desperate for help and fearing that the police will be of no
assistance, Calista turns to Trent Hastings, a reclusive
author of popular crime novels. Believing that Calista may
be taking advantage of his lonely sister, who has become one
of her clients, Trent doesn’t trust her. Scarred by his
past, he’s learned to keep his emotions at bay, even as an
instant attraction threatens his resolve.
But as Trent and Calista comb through files of rejected
clients in hopes of identifying her tormentor, it becomes
clear that the danger may be coming from Calista’s own
secret past—and that only her death will satisfy the stalker...
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