Marceline, the trapeze artist knows, but Nell believes her secret is safe with her. Now Stephen, the new fiddle player at The Octavian, has guessed. Will her secret be safe with him? Is he to be trusted?
With the death of their parents, it is now just Nell Hallam, a very talented pianist and her brother Matthew, an Inspector with Scotland Yard, living a frugal life in their home in Mayfair. After years of constant practice, Nell's longtime dream is finally coming close to reality. If she passes the audition, she will finally be able to study at the Royal Academy. At age 19, Nell is getting close to being too old to be a student there, and she only has half of the tuition money in hand. Will she be able to make her dream come true?
With very few options in 1875 for a gentlewoman to earn money, Nell has taken to passing for a male pianist at night at The Octavian, a Soho entertainment and music hall. Normally, Matthew would be more observant of Nell\\\'s actions, but lately he is preoccupied with the rise in crime in London and concern that some police force members may be on the take. Fortunately, for Nell she is able to keep slipping out at night and playing, but what chances is she taking by impersonating a male and being on her own?
A DANGEROUS DUET IS beautifully penned by <i>USA Today</i> bestselling author Karen Odden who magically brings Victorian London with its glitter and gritty crimes to vivid and immediate life. Odden has a marvelous talent for giving enough period detail that the reader feels drawn into the story in a very authentic way; yet, it is not so overdone that it overwhelms the seemingly disconnected events and people in this intriguing historical novel.
Nell is a very likeable protagonist, both as a male and female. She is a highly intelligent and knowledgeable musician. As the pianist Ed Nell, she is also able to move between the various social strata in ways she would never be able to do as a lady in a locked house as her brother believes. I particularly like how Odden writes Nell\\\'s thoughts in with the dialogue, especially as she tries to find out more about Jack Drummond, the hardworking and sometimes baffling son of The Octavian's owner.
Fans of historical novels are sure to appreciate Odden's skills in describing the attitudes, actions and vocabulary of those both with and without money in Victorian England, so the various actions of the characters ring true. While the WHODONEIT part may be somewhat easy to guess by some, I found A DANGEROUS DUET to be a fully engaging and intriguing read from the first to the last page, including the backgrounder info and Further Reading suggestions. Book club members will appreciate the reading club questions listed as well.
If you love historical fiction or an intriguing mystery with a bit of romance, I am sure you will take great pleasure in slipping back to the music hall life in 1875 and following Nell's adventures as a musician and friend. So, get your copy and find out more about what makes this A DANGEROUS DUET!
Nineteen-year-old Nell Hallam lives in a modest corner of
Mayfair with her brother Matthew, an inspector at Scotland
Yard. An exceptionally talented pianist, she aspires to
attend the Royal Academy; but with tuition beyond their
means, Nell sets out to earn the money herself—by playing
piano in a popular Soho music hall. And the fact that she
will have to disguise herself as a man and slip out at
night to do it doesn’t deter her.
Spending evenings at the Octavian is like entering an
alternate world, one of lively energy, fascinating
performers, raucous patrons—and dark secrets. And when Nell
stumbles upon the operations of an infamous crime ring
working in the shadows of the music hall, she is drawn into
a conspiracy that stretches the length of London. To
further complicate matters, she has begun to fall for the
hall owner's charismatic son, Jack, who has secrets of his
own.
The more Nell becomes a part of the Octavian’s world, the
more she risks the relationships with the people she loves.
And when another performer is left for dead in an alley as
a warning, she realizes her future could be in jeopardy in
more ways than one.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy