What do you think?
Rate this book
Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries #6
A Crimson Warning
Secrets prove deadly in this new novel from Tasha Alexander featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves. Some very prominent people in London are waking up to find their doorsteps smeared with red paint, the precursor to the revelation of a dark secret – and worse – by someone who enjoys destroying lives.
Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities—reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.
But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite. This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death.
Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost.
Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities—reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.
But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite. This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death.
Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2011
236 people are currently reading
2548 people want to read
About the author
Tasha Alexander
32 books2,591 followersThe daughter of two philosophy professors, I grew up surrounded by books. I was convinced from an early age that I was born in the wrong century and spent much of my childhood under the dining room table pretending it was a covered wagon. Even there, I was never without a book in hand and loved reading and history more than anything. I studied English Literature and Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame. Writing is a natural offshoot of reading, and my first novel, And Only to Deceive, was published in 2005. I'm the author of the long-running Lady Emily Series as well as the novel Elizabeth: The Golden Age. One of the best parts of being an author is seeing your books translated, and I'm currently in love with the Japanese editions of the Emily books.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
December 1, 2011
2.5 stars
Somewhat ho and hum. I enjoy the setting for these books, the Victorian age; England and Europe, and I enjoy the voice of Emily; she sounds very like a Victorian lady. I just wish it all added up to more and something not quite so dull. I wish that I liked it more and wanted to continue on with Emily's story. I don't believe that I will unless the next book turns around.
I had to keep pushing myself to finish this one and I'm not sure why. I think the mystery simply didn't involve me. I never really cared about the people being targeted or even murdered (although I, of course, always care when anyone gets murdered.) Perhaps that's because the first murder is of a person we've never been shown and didn't know, the second person only in glimpses. It's hard to feel pulled in when the characters aren't ones that you're actually interested in.
All the side notes from Ivy were a distraction which didn't add up to much. I think they were there to try to shove in some additional tension. For me, personally, this didn't work very well.
The mystery was all but impossible to follow. I never did understand the clues. It seemed odd to me that they found coded messages in books that led them to objects in the museum which led them to books in the library that led them to objects. It seemed very convoluted and, well, too much. It seemed to say "look how smart I am to write this with Shakespearean quotations and knowledge of historical objects and nertz to you if you aren't lucky enough to be as smart as me!"
The whole book seemed like we're off to the museum and then off to the library and then off to Mrs. Whoever and then to Miss So-and-so and then back to the library where the clue will lead us to the museum(quick stop at home for some bedroom action), pause for tea with Ivy and Jeremy, riding or walking in the park, back to the library, Scotland Yard, repeat ad infinitum.
And finally, the mystery of Emily and Colin's red painted house is glossed over with Emily thinking that she simply doesn't care what Colin might have done. Really?
Reputations have been ruined and lives destroyed by the exposing of secrets and lies, but I guess since they've put a stop to that, then his secrets no longer matter. I find my suspension of disbelief stretched pretty much to the breaking point. Emily is very moral, very much opinionated on personal integrity and she doesn't care? Balderdash. Of course she would care!
What I originally found so appealing about this series was the push and pull between what Emily wants and how family life would constrain her wants. What I wanted to see is how she was going to balance her desire to help with the investigations and her life as a woman of her time. I feel short-changed in that I guess Emily was conveniently injured in a way that precludes children. Don't get me wrong, I don't think every woman needs to be a mother or should be, but that question of how she was going to have it all is what intrigued me about her life. Now, she seems to be nothing but Colin's detective partner who occasionally also partners in enthusiastic romps between the sheets. Their life together feels stagnant, that it isn't moving forward in any way. Not sure if I'll read any more in this series.
Somewhat ho and hum. I enjoy the setting for these books, the Victorian age; England and Europe, and I enjoy the voice of Emily; she sounds very like a Victorian lady. I just wish it all added up to more and something not quite so dull. I wish that I liked it more and wanted to continue on with Emily's story. I don't believe that I will unless the next book turns around.
I had to keep pushing myself to finish this one and I'm not sure why. I think the mystery simply didn't involve me. I never really cared about the people being targeted or even murdered (although I, of course, always care when anyone gets murdered.) Perhaps that's because the first murder is of a person we've never been shown and didn't know, the second person only in glimpses. It's hard to feel pulled in when the characters aren't ones that you're actually interested in.
All the side notes from Ivy were a distraction which didn't add up to much. I think they were there to try to shove in some additional tension. For me, personally, this didn't work very well.
The mystery was all but impossible to follow. I never did understand the clues. It seemed odd to me that they found coded messages in books that led them to objects in the museum which led them to books in the library that led them to objects. It seemed very convoluted and, well, too much. It seemed to say "look how smart I am to write this with Shakespearean quotations and knowledge of historical objects and nertz to you if you aren't lucky enough to be as smart as me!"
The whole book seemed like we're off to the museum and then off to the library and then off to Mrs. Whoever and then to Miss So-and-so and then back to the library where the clue will lead us to the museum(quick stop at home for some bedroom action), pause for tea with Ivy and Jeremy, riding or walking in the park, back to the library, Scotland Yard, repeat ad infinitum.
And finally, the mystery of Emily and Colin's red painted house is glossed over with Emily thinking that she simply doesn't care what Colin might have done. Really?
Reputations have been ruined and lives destroyed by the exposing of secrets and lies, but I guess since they've put a stop to that, then his secrets no longer matter. I find my suspension of disbelief stretched pretty much to the breaking point. Emily is very moral, very much opinionated on personal integrity and she doesn't care? Balderdash. Of course she would care!
What I originally found so appealing about this series was the push and pull between what Emily wants and how family life would constrain her wants. What I wanted to see is how she was going to balance her desire to help with the investigations and her life as a woman of her time. I feel short-changed in that I guess Emily was conveniently injured in a way that precludes children. Don't get me wrong, I don't think every woman needs to be a mother or should be, but that question of how she was going to have it all is what intrigued me about her life. Now, she seems to be nothing but Colin's detective partner who occasionally also partners in enthusiastic romps between the sheets. Their life together feels stagnant, that it isn't moving forward in any way. Not sure if I'll read any more in this series.
April 28, 2019
RATING: 4 STARS
Another great mystery with Emily and Colin. House are being painted with swipes of red paint as a way of indicating that someone in the family has a scandalous secret. It does not stop there of course...murder, kidnappings and Shakespearean letters. I am loving Jeremy who feels slighted that his house has not painted red. Ivy is concerned that her own secret will be revealed. Sigh, Lady Bromley is still on a mission to increase Colin's title.
Another great mystery with Emily and Colin. House are being painted with swipes of red paint as a way of indicating that someone in the family has a scandalous secret. It does not stop there of course...murder, kidnappings and Shakespearean letters. I am loving Jeremy who feels slighted that his house has not painted red. Ivy is concerned that her own secret will be revealed. Sigh, Lady Bromley is still on a mission to increase Colin's title.
November 15, 2011
I usually enjoy the Lady Emily series. I finished this one, but I considered abandoning it at least three times. The story seemed to go in too many different directions, and I was annoyed with the slow moving plot. I wish it had ended 100 pages earlier.
Emily seemed above it all in this one - and if it has to be pointed out to me that she can read Greek one more time, I think I'll scream. I definitely got a "I'm such a rule breaker, I read Greek, I love antiques, I'm better than you" kind of vibe. Yes, I like that she is a woman who can think and sometimes (depending on the situation) speaks her mind, but geez - enough already.
Emily seemed above it all in this one - and if it has to be pointed out to me that she can read Greek one more time, I think I'll scream. I definitely got a "I'm such a rule breaker, I read Greek, I love antiques, I'm better than you" kind of vibe. Yes, I like that she is a woman who can think and sometimes (depending on the situation) speaks her mind, but geez - enough already.
October 1, 2021
Well, the mystery started out very interesting but the more we figured out the less interested I got. Though I did like the added mystery, the one with Ivy.
November 6, 2011
3.5
I really enjoyed this - but not quite to the extent of 4 stars.
One thing that bothered me was that Mrs. Hargreaves' journal entries, in the last title, served the story well. I enjoyed watching her adjust her opinion of Emily. In this title, however, Ivy's entries are just in the way. Yes, they result in something that is indirectly tied to the main plot, but they interupt the flow of the story and add nothing of substance.
Another annoyance was a matter of continuity: in several places, Emily mentions "all the years" that have passed since the death of her first husband, etc. - but in fact, if one reads along in the stories, it cannot have been much more than 3. That's "all" the years??? Maybe to a 7 year old 3 is a lot, but to an adult woman? I realize that this is a subjective definition, but really, 3 or even 4, cannot be said to be "all" or "many" to the extent that Emily goes on about the passage of time. Especially since Colin is in fact still referring to "if" they are going to work together, etc.
Consistency across a series is not a huge deal - certainly not enough to spoil a book for me. But I read enough series that it is something I notice, and it bugs me when it's off. Still, this was good, and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next one.
I really enjoyed this - but not quite to the extent of 4 stars.
One thing that bothered me was that Mrs. Hargreaves' journal entries, in the last title, served the story well. I enjoyed watching her adjust her opinion of Emily. In this title, however, Ivy's entries are just in the way. Yes, they result in something that is indirectly tied to the main plot, but they interupt the flow of the story and add nothing of substance.
Another annoyance was a matter of continuity: in several places, Emily mentions "all the years" that have passed since the death of her first husband, etc. - but in fact, if one reads along in the stories, it cannot have been much more than 3. That's "all" the years??? Maybe to a 7 year old 3 is a lot, but to an adult woman? I realize that this is a subjective definition, but really, 3 or even 4, cannot be said to be "all" or "many" to the extent that Emily goes on about the passage of time. Especially since Colin is in fact still referring to "if" they are going to work together, etc.
Consistency across a series is not a huge deal - certainly not enough to spoil a book for me. But I read enough series that it is something I notice, and it bugs me when it's off. Still, this was good, and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next one.
January 5, 2021
She’s back
The Lady Emily series is filled with wonderful characters and is a lovely cozy mystery series. The last book seemed a bit off but the banter returns in this one.
The Lady Emily series is filled with wonderful characters and is a lovely cozy mystery series. The last book seemed a bit off but the banter returns in this one.
August 4, 2017
"It was ok"
October 14, 2018
Not bad but not the best historical mystery I have read.
November 7, 2011
The latest Lady Emily mystery by Tasha Alexander is certainly diverting but the heroine/narrator still falls completely flat for me. I am tired of the tireless references to her "intellectual awakening" and "voracious appetite for antiquities." They just sound like boasting rather than speaking to any kind of real affinity. I think the problem is partially that Emily has never cast a self-critical eye on her life before this "awakening," has never said "well gosh I was dull and conceited" or a milder "I'd never done anything with my life beyond the normal feminine accomplishments and wow how amazing it was to learn an ancient language." Every time she mentions an interior space it's "on the wall was an exquisite mosaic I had bought near Pompeii" or "our dining room was modeled on an ancient Roman villa" or "my Impressionist filled drawing room." It sounds like a catalog. She does seem to have grown a bit cleverer, but in terms of her character she's quite two-dimensional. Deanna Raybourn's characters Exist, but Alexander's feel Constructed and like she's Trying Too Hard.
To that point, I'm a bit perplexed by Alexander's choice to always punctuate her books with first person missives from a secondary character because they always sound so stilted. While I'm glad that, this time, they weren't dedicated to rhapsodizing about how wonderful and witty Emily is, the lack of authenticity of voice is really distracting.
I also wonder where her editor was when he let her repeat certain points of exposition (from past adventures) multiple times using nearly identical phrasing.
But I fear that this is starting to sound like a flame fest so let me emphasize that I did enjoy this book and look forward to the next. The mystery was entertaining as always and furnished a pleasant escape from my mountains of work. While Lady Emily's is not a world that pulls me and makes me want to stay there forever (like Lady Julia Grey's) I am always pleased to tarry there for a day or two.
To that point, I'm a bit perplexed by Alexander's choice to always punctuate her books with first person missives from a secondary character because they always sound so stilted. While I'm glad that, this time, they weren't dedicated to rhapsodizing about how wonderful and witty Emily is, the lack of authenticity of voice is really distracting.
I also wonder where her editor was when he let her repeat certain points of exposition (from past adventures) multiple times using nearly identical phrasing.
But I fear that this is starting to sound like a flame fest so let me emphasize that I did enjoy this book and look forward to the next. The mystery was entertaining as always and furnished a pleasant escape from my mountains of work. While Lady Emily's is not a world that pulls me and makes me want to stay there forever (like Lady Julia Grey's) I am always pleased to tarry there for a day or two.
September 25, 2011
Disclaimer first: I received this book as a free giveaway on this site. It isn't my typical reading material. Lately I've been reading more in the romance genre. But this book has reminded me how good the historical/romance/mystery genre can be.
This author seems to have really done her research regarding the time period the book is set in. It takes place in 1893 London. A mystery set among the "ton" of high society. In a time when image was everything, and even the rumor of improper behavior could ruin a girl and/or her family and their prospects for the future.
The main characters are a husband and wife, Colin and Emily. He is some type of "agent for the crown"; the specifics are never made quite clear. The thing that I found interesting is that Emily is given equality in solving the mystery, rather than just being a decorative appendage belonging to the husband. I believe this book is one of a series in which Colin and Emily solve mysteries in various places and circumstances. Emily has gotten quite a reputation as a problem-solver, while still being accepted by her peers and society of the time. So in a sense, Emily is a modern woman placed in a historical period.
Emily is strong and intelligent. She reads in Greek and Latin, she has political beliefs she stands for, she is concerned about social issues of the time. And her husband supports all her opinions and actions, which is not the norm for the time. This is a period in which women were not allowed an opinion, and were ridiculed for having an education or interest in anything other than the latest fashions or gossip.
This author seems to have really done her research regarding the time period the book is set in. It takes place in 1893 London. A mystery set among the "ton" of high society. In a time when image was everything, and even the rumor of improper behavior could ruin a girl and/or her family and their prospects for the future.
The main characters are a husband and wife, Colin and Emily. He is some type of "agent for the crown"; the specifics are never made quite clear. The thing that I found interesting is that Emily is given equality in solving the mystery, rather than just being a decorative appendage belonging to the husband. I believe this book is one of a series in which Colin and Emily solve mysteries in various places and circumstances. Emily has gotten quite a reputation as a problem-solver, while still being accepted by her peers and society of the time. So in a sense, Emily is a modern woman placed in a historical period.
Emily is strong and intelligent. She reads in Greek and Latin, she has political beliefs she stands for, she is concerned about social issues of the time. And her husband supports all her opinions and actions, which is not the norm for the time. This is a period in which women were not allowed an opinion, and were ridiculed for having an education or interest in anything other than the latest fashions or gossip.
July 26, 2016
Tasha Alexander seems to be a solid 3 stars for me. That is something I can trust. She writes historical fiction mysteries mixed with a little romance set back in a charming time of London's past. And the MC is a strong woman who stands for truth and justice. Historical fiction, mystery, and strong role for a woman....really, what's not to like?!
I like her writing. She keeps the plot in constant motion and adds a few surprises along the way. I also listened to the audio and I loved the narration since it is one of my favorite narrators, Bianca Amato.
I like her writing. She keeps the plot in constant motion and adds a few surprises along the way. I also listened to the audio and I loved the narration since it is one of my favorite narrators, Bianca Amato.
June 17, 2011
I'm a big fan of Tasha Alexander from way back, but I have to say that I found A Crimson Warning to be the best Lady Emily book yet. This book, like all of the others in the series, has an engaging storyline, vivid characters, and intelligent attention to historical detail, but in this book most of the action takes place in London. Alexander clearly knows her history and is intimately familiar with the setting. She makes brilliant use of it in this book. Highly recommended.
August 26, 2019
My friend turned me on to drinking red wine with salty kettle chips. If you put a cheap and cheerful Spanish red in your nice wine glasses, and empty the chips into a fancy bowl, you feel like you're treating yourself to classy snack, and it's very satisfying. (Plus, the chips and the wine really go great together! Try it!)
This book is kinda like that. It's pretty well researched and some of the characters are based on real people, although our heroine does things like drink port and smoke cigars because she think it's silly that ladies aren't allowed. (Me too, Lady Emily, me too.) She also has a pretty egalitarian relationship with her husband, who is excited that she's out campaigning for the woman vote and learning Latin so she can read the Aeneid in the original. Plus, they're both super hot, and they (offscreen) get it on all the time. So it's not a completely anachronistic mess, but Lady Emily and her husband have been upgraded to make them extremely palatable to the modern reader.
Speaking of Emily's husband, he's a special gentleman investigator/spy for Queen Victoria, and that's how Emily is able to get a toe hold into solving all these mysteries. The mystery itself is pretty pedestrian. Well written enough to keep me interested and carry things along, but nothing that shocked me or blew my mind. I had an inkling of who the perpetrator was, but I didn't outright figure things out before the end of the book.
Anyway, this book goes down super easy, and if you like historical mysteries, I think you won't be disappointed here. Lady Emily is not as dashing as Miss Phryne Fisher, but she's a lot more fun than Charlotte and Thomas Pitt.
This book is kinda like that. It's pretty well researched and some of the characters are based on real people, although our heroine does things like drink port and smoke cigars because she think it's silly that ladies aren't allowed. (Me too, Lady Emily, me too.) She also has a pretty egalitarian relationship with her husband, who is excited that she's out campaigning for the woman vote and learning Latin so she can read the Aeneid in the original. Plus, they're both super hot, and they (offscreen) get it on all the time. So it's not a completely anachronistic mess, but Lady Emily and her husband have been upgraded to make them extremely palatable to the modern reader.
Speaking of Emily's husband, he's a special gentleman investigator/spy for Queen Victoria, and that's how Emily is able to get a toe hold into solving all these mysteries. The mystery itself is pretty pedestrian. Well written enough to keep me interested and carry things along, but nothing that shocked me or blew my mind. I had an inkling of who the perpetrator was, but I didn't outright figure things out before the end of the book.
Anyway, this book goes down super easy, and if you like historical mysteries, I think you won't be disappointed here. Lady Emily is not as dashing as Miss Phryne Fisher, but she's a lot more fun than Charlotte and Thomas Pitt.
September 27, 2011
This is the first book of the Emily Heargreaves' series, I have read. I can tell you, I'm missing alot for not reading the first five books of the series. A Crimson Warning draws the readers into the story. The story started out with the notion that something terrible has happened to someone. This is enough to keep the readers captivated. The story not only, have murder as the main crime, it also has another subplot to it with the red paint being splashed at the London's elite class and the scandalous secrets that the elite class are hiding that could ruined them. This story has me wondered how are these two crimes related to each other. Like most suspense/mystery, there is always a link between the two crimes. It is just the question of finding the motives, how was the crimes committed and then who is behind them.
For suspense/mystery/romance readers who want more suspense and mystery, this book is a must-read. For parents who worry what their kids are reading these days, the Emily Hargreaves' series is as clean as the Alfred Hitchcock's and Agatha Christie's series.
For suspense/mystery/romance readers who want more suspense and mystery, this book is a must-read. For parents who worry what their kids are reading these days, the Emily Hargreaves' series is as clean as the Alfred Hitchcock's and Agatha Christie's series.
September 28, 2016
This was another great Lady Emily book! Back in England, Emily and Colin are confronted with a grizzly murder, a kidnapping, and a mysterious person trying to unveil the deepest and most shameful secrets of members of the ton. The question is, are they all connected? The investigation leads Emily and Colin into some unexpected territory, at times testing their individual beliefs about which direction to pursue.
It was a treat to have the Duke of Bainbridge and Emily's childhood friend, Ivy, once again as part of the character ensemble. There was just enough suspense and danger to keep the reader engaged and guessing. I also liked the return to the British Museum and mention of antiques and artifacts. This really is an enjoyable series.
It was a treat to have the Duke of Bainbridge and Emily's childhood friend, Ivy, once again as part of the character ensemble. There was just enough suspense and danger to keep the reader engaged and guessing. I also liked the return to the British Museum and mention of antiques and artifacts. This really is an enjoyable series.
January 20, 2016
Even though there are several more books in this series, I'm stopping now. I'm just tired of Lady Emily. With each book she becomes more smug, and more know-it-all, and I weary of the all-pervasive descriptions of her own dresses and hair, other's dresses and hair and houses and furnishings and scenery and and and........ I also dislike that every time a reference was made to an earlier book, she just had to re-cap what happened and how she was just so VERY smart to have solved all those cases. Nope, I'm done.
July 21, 2016
A Victorian Nancy Drew, which is fine if you like Nancy Drew. I do not. I loved the Lady Emily of the first few books, but this Lady Emily is a smug, self-important, perfect ninny with a perfect husband, perfect life and no character development. The mystery is so convoluted that even the solution didn't make sense and, although two characters died, the whole book has the flavor of "who burned down the clubhouse." I'll give the next one a try, but if she's still Nancified, Lady Emily and I will part ways.
April 18, 2025
Lady Emily historical fiction series 06 A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander
adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
One of the things that I love the most about the Lady Emily series, is that her writing is based in factual events that actually have happened (but slightly differently revealed within the narrative). Funny enough, when reading these books, it's fun to guess which events in the books...are the actual facts, and what are made up out of whole cloth.
I actually picked up this series BECAUSE she's married to the man who is currently writing one of my favourite series, Reacher. That series was started by Andrew's brother, Lee...and now he's taken up the mantle. Since they are both writers, I wanted to see her style and in doing so...see her influences on him...and maybe his influences on her.
They are both great writers, and now I can see a little of Colin in him, and her in Emily. I'll get back to you...if I find anything that transfers from Jack Reacher to how she's influenced that adventure.
I was NOT a fan of Colin...at the start. I'm still not a fan of him (at all times), but that is mostly because he's in a historically handicapped way, since I live in our current century, and feel that the time that these characters are living, have antiquited views on rights and privileges.
That being said, in our current time period, the Orange Turd (IYKYK) is trying to limit the ability for women to vote (yes, this is happening in 2025), and it feels like we are going BACKWARDS. Ugh. Yes, if women's names are different on IDs, they can ONLY vote if they have valid Passport (which is identical, name-wise...as their other forms of ID). With the cultural norm of women taking on the surname of their husband, this is limiting their ability to vote. There is a LARGE swath of our nation that do not have passports, nor the ability to readily afford the cost to get one, which then disenfranchises them from voting. This cannot happen.
We need to fight this injustice, like Colin and Lady Emily are doing within these stories, we need to find the evil, and do the good.
Love this series. Next up is...#7 Death in the Foating City. Ooh, sounds awesome.
adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
One of the things that I love the most about the Lady Emily series, is that her writing is based in factual events that actually have happened (but slightly differently revealed within the narrative). Funny enough, when reading these books, it's fun to guess which events in the books...are the actual facts, and what are made up out of whole cloth.
I actually picked up this series BECAUSE she's married to the man who is currently writing one of my favourite series, Reacher. That series was started by Andrew's brother, Lee...and now he's taken up the mantle. Since they are both writers, I wanted to see her style and in doing so...see her influences on him...and maybe his influences on her.
They are both great writers, and now I can see a little of Colin in him, and her in Emily. I'll get back to you...if I find anything that transfers from Jack Reacher to how she's influenced that adventure.
I was NOT a fan of Colin...at the start. I'm still not a fan of him (at all times), but that is mostly because he's in a historically handicapped way, since I live in our current century, and feel that the time that these characters are living, have antiquited views on rights and privileges.
That being said, in our current time period, the Orange Turd (IYKYK) is trying to limit the ability for women to vote (yes, this is happening in 2025), and it feels like we are going BACKWARDS. Ugh. Yes, if women's names are different on IDs, they can ONLY vote if they have valid Passport (which is identical, name-wise...as their other forms of ID). With the cultural norm of women taking on the surname of their husband, this is limiting their ability to vote. There is a LARGE swath of our nation that do not have passports, nor the ability to readily afford the cost to get one, which then disenfranchises them from voting. This cannot happen.
We need to fight this injustice, like Colin and Lady Emily are doing within these stories, we need to find the evil, and do the good.
Love this series. Next up is...#7 Death in the Foating City. Ooh, sounds awesome.
August 30, 2017
I usually read the Lady Emily books when I want a quick, fun read; they are sort of like book junk food, and are usually pretty enjoyable. I have noticed that the quality in the books has decreased since the first three, however, and A Crimson Warning was not really my favorite. It seems like the character development of Emily and Colin has sort of stilted, and, although the mystery was good, the story overall was a little flat.
There were some elements I enjoyed; I always like when Tasha Alexander explains her historical inspiration at the end of the book, and liked that she attempted to draw from real-life scandals in London society as well as her inspiration for the character of Lady Glover. I found Lady Glover pretty dull and desperate, however, and not sure she lived up to her historical counterpart. Besides Lady Glover, I did like that we got to know more about Ivy, Lady Emily's best friend, and I thought that the exposure of secrets amongst London's elite was a good premise for the start of the mystery.
Overall, though, this volume didn't have the same comfort food-feel as some of the other books in the series, and I may take a break to try out a different historical mystery series that has a bit more substance to it. Or I may skip a few of the Lady Emily books and start reading the newest ones in hopes that they live up a bit better to the earlier ones in the series.
There were some elements I enjoyed; I always like when Tasha Alexander explains her historical inspiration at the end of the book, and liked that she attempted to draw from real-life scandals in London society as well as her inspiration for the character of Lady Glover. I found Lady Glover pretty dull and desperate, however, and not sure she lived up to her historical counterpart. Besides Lady Glover, I did like that we got to know more about Ivy, Lady Emily's best friend, and I thought that the exposure of secrets amongst London's elite was a good premise for the start of the mystery.
Overall, though, this volume didn't have the same comfort food-feel as some of the other books in the series, and I may take a break to try out a different historical mystery series that has a bit more substance to it. Or I may skip a few of the Lady Emily books and start reading the newest ones in hopes that they live up a bit better to the earlier ones in the series.
December 17, 2017
Excellent Book!!!!! I was so surprised! Leave it to Tasha Alexander! I am a forever Emily fan! On to book seven!!!!
December 7, 2020
I love this series!
May 30, 2024
The writing was a little all over the place with too many characters muddling the plot. Hoping for more cohesion in later books!
January 19, 2012
Jane Austen spoiled us. She wrote novels about amazing women who oftentimes bucked society’s norms. Nowadays, it’s difficult to find heroines like Elizabeth Bennet that have us rooting for them page after page. Luckily, author Tasha Alexander decided to gift the world with a tenacious woman Austen herself would be proud of: Lady Emily Hargreaves. In A Crimson Warning, the sixth novel in the Lady Emily mystery series, we are again thrown into a mystery that seems to have no clear ending. It is up to Lady Emily’s wit and cunning to save the day and keep the forces of evil at bay for yet another day.
Lady Emily has been busy. From barely escaping with her life in Constantinople and Normandy, she hopes to finally wind things down and come home to Mayfair and enjoy the normal comforts of being happily married and finally settled. For a while, she actually accomplishes this. Lady Emily even gets to join the Women’s Liberal Federation and work towards obtaining the right to vote for women. Unfortunately, this ideal world is shattered in A Crimson Warning, when Lady Emily learns that an unknown person has been splashing red paint onto the fronts of many of the wealthier homes in London. These are no ordinary homes, however, as their owners possess secrets that are potentially damaging and are hidden for one reason or another. Soon enough, all of the upper class in London fear that they too could be the target of this criminal, and that he or she may be involved in more sinister acts than simply painting the front of a home with a red slash. Can Lady Emily and Colin find this evil individual before it is too late and people start disappearing? What are the secrets that these wealthy Londoners go to such lengths to protect?
Less than a month ago I had never heard of the Lady Emily series. Shame on me! I’ve now read all six novels in the series and am eagerly awaiting Death in the Floating City, the seventh in the series, which is scheduled for release this October. When I reviewed the first Lady Emily novel, And Only To Deceive, my thoughts on Alexander’s writing was that it was a hybrid between Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Six novels later, those feelings remain unchanged. Alexander is an amazing mystery writer. I still had no idea whodunit 40 pages from the end. Sure, I had my guesses regarding the culprit, but her writing is so precise and clean that it is not until the antagonist is finally revealed that you realize all the clues that were left for you to follow.
As I said above, Lady Emily is a woman that Austen herself would be proud of. She completely disregards what society expects of women. She refuses to be an idle wife, staying home with nothing to do but plan balls and dinners and make social calls. Instead, she uses her mind to explore literature, art, and languages, much to the delight of her husband, Colin. Colin works as an agent for the crown and is fully supportive of her “crimes against society”. In A Crimson Warning we get to see a more political side of Emily, as she gets involved with the Women’s Liberal Federation. It’s through all of her side interests (i.e art, literature) that we learn about that time period. Alexander uses Emily’s “hobbies” to inform us about what was going on back then. It’s obviously meticulously researched and has oftentimes led me to want to read and research certain time periods further.
I have to say of all six novels I think that A Crimson Warning is my favorite to date. We really get a sense of Alexander’s witty and playful side here. Her scavenger hunt through the British Museum and whiskey drinking scene between Emily and her good friend Jeremy were the best parts of the novel in my opinion. Although we don’t normally see this side of Alexander, I’m really glad that we got to in this novel. It added an extra touch to an already wonderful novel that I heartily recommend to everyone. Fast paced and full of wit and terrifying danger, A Crimson Warning (and the entire Lady Emily series) is not one you want to miss. Add it to your to-read pile as soon as possible, you won’t be disappointed.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Ll
Lady Emily has been busy. From barely escaping with her life in Constantinople and Normandy, she hopes to finally wind things down and come home to Mayfair and enjoy the normal comforts of being happily married and finally settled. For a while, she actually accomplishes this. Lady Emily even gets to join the Women’s Liberal Federation and work towards obtaining the right to vote for women. Unfortunately, this ideal world is shattered in A Crimson Warning, when Lady Emily learns that an unknown person has been splashing red paint onto the fronts of many of the wealthier homes in London. These are no ordinary homes, however, as their owners possess secrets that are potentially damaging and are hidden for one reason or another. Soon enough, all of the upper class in London fear that they too could be the target of this criminal, and that he or she may be involved in more sinister acts than simply painting the front of a home with a red slash. Can Lady Emily and Colin find this evil individual before it is too late and people start disappearing? What are the secrets that these wealthy Londoners go to such lengths to protect?
Less than a month ago I had never heard of the Lady Emily series. Shame on me! I’ve now read all six novels in the series and am eagerly awaiting Death in the Floating City, the seventh in the series, which is scheduled for release this October. When I reviewed the first Lady Emily novel, And Only To Deceive, my thoughts on Alexander’s writing was that it was a hybrid between Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Six novels later, those feelings remain unchanged. Alexander is an amazing mystery writer. I still had no idea whodunit 40 pages from the end. Sure, I had my guesses regarding the culprit, but her writing is so precise and clean that it is not until the antagonist is finally revealed that you realize all the clues that were left for you to follow.
As I said above, Lady Emily is a woman that Austen herself would be proud of. She completely disregards what society expects of women. She refuses to be an idle wife, staying home with nothing to do but plan balls and dinners and make social calls. Instead, she uses her mind to explore literature, art, and languages, much to the delight of her husband, Colin. Colin works as an agent for the crown and is fully supportive of her “crimes against society”. In A Crimson Warning we get to see a more political side of Emily, as she gets involved with the Women’s Liberal Federation. It’s through all of her side interests (i.e art, literature) that we learn about that time period. Alexander uses Emily’s “hobbies” to inform us about what was going on back then. It’s obviously meticulously researched and has oftentimes led me to want to read and research certain time periods further.
I have to say of all six novels I think that A Crimson Warning is my favorite to date. We really get a sense of Alexander’s witty and playful side here. Her scavenger hunt through the British Museum and whiskey drinking scene between Emily and her good friend Jeremy were the best parts of the novel in my opinion. Although we don’t normally see this side of Alexander, I’m really glad that we got to in this novel. It added an extra touch to an already wonderful novel that I heartily recommend to everyone. Fast paced and full of wit and terrifying danger, A Crimson Warning (and the entire Lady Emily series) is not one you want to miss. Add it to your to-read pile as soon as possible, you won’t be disappointed.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Ll
October 24, 2018
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Alexander Autumn (October-November 2018)
As Emily dances a man burns. How could she have thought the ballroom she was in was stuffy once she learns of the fate of Mr. Dillman? The heat as he was burned alive chained to his office window is horrible to contemplate, yet Emily and Colin must, as Colin has been sent in by the crown to investigate. But it's information they glean from Mr. Dillman's fiance, Cordelia Dalton, that shines a light on the investigation and shows a disturbing pattern. The day of Mr. Dillman's death the Sanders household was defiled with red paint and it was revealed at the ball that their daughter, Polly, was the illegitimate offspring of Mr. Sanders and a maid. Polly's betrothal to Thomas Lacey was ended and any chance she had of a good marriage went up in smoke. Cordelia informs Emily and Colin that Mr. Dillman's house was similarly vandalized the week before. What could Mr. Dillman's secret have been? If the revelation of Polly's parentage is anything to go by whomever is leaving these threatening and very public warnings seeks to out the deepest and darkest of secrets of the ton and Mr. Dillman's secret might just have followed him to the grave.
Soon more homes are vandalized and what seemed at first mildly titillating and a field day for gossips has the ton gripped in terror. How each family approaches their secret shame depends on how bad their crime. Some wait with baited breath, some flee England, some openly expose their own secrets, and some choose to take their secrets to the grave. Emily and Colin can see no connection between the victims aside from the fact that they had something to hide, which could apply to anyone they know, from the highest ranking individuals to their dearest friends. Soon their investigation narrows on a few individuals; Mr. Foster, a politician being groomed for Prime Minister, his best friend and policy shaper Mr. Barnes, who could never rise to power on his own being half West Indian, Mrs. Winifred Harris, an inveterate busybody, and the outlandish Lady Glover, whom the vandal appears to be in contact with when she's not taking her zebras for a stroll in the park. But if this individual wants to cause as much damage to as many individuals as possible why are they targeting Cordelia Dalton, someone peripheral to the first victim? When she goes missing it becomes clear Mr. Dillman is more important than the other victims. He might just be the key to catching this odious criminal and stopping their stranglehold on the city.
A Crimson Warning takes place about a year after Emily and Colin's last adventure in France and we get to see them settled into their new life in London. While I initially thought I was being mildly cheated by not getting to see Emily and Colin merge their households and their staff with all the ensuing chaos, I realized that I should never question Tasha because she knows what's right for her characters. The relative calm of the Hargreaves household is needed to serve as a counterpoint to the mania that is gripping the town. If they had a household in disarray while the town was balancing on a knife's edge the book would have ended up too frenetic. You need moments of calm, especially in a murder mystery, where you can gather your thoughts and let your heart stop racing with a nice cup of tea or glass of port. I think this is why I don't like action films, they don't understand the need for proper pacing. But then again, in an action film they rarely have a plot and if you were given a moments respite you might notice this. Whereas Tasha's writing is perfectly plotted, with just the right hints, red herrings, and reveals that you are enthralled until the very last page.
But what made me breathe the biggest sigh of relief? Because a year has passed since Colin was a total controlling dick in France, justifiable in his mind not mine, Emily and him have worked out their respective rolls in their marriage and in their investigations, smoothing over the bumps from his being reactionary and overprotective. Colin isn't shutting Emily out and Emily in turn isn't sneaking around behind his back trying to help while still trying to be a dutiful wife. They know where their strengths lie and know that they will ask for the others help when it is needed. When Colin flits away into the night to follow a new lead he has faith that Emily knows he doesn't need him at the moment, but the second he does he will call her into action. While Emily knows he won't interfere with her own line of inquiry and will even be there to help should she need it. They are in balance and oh how this made me happy. But not nearly as happy as when Emily stopped by Mr. Dillman's and the butler let her in to search the victim's possessions. Emily thought he let her in because she was so convincing in her justifications to him, but really it's because the butler had heard of the successful partnership of her and her husband. They have a reputation! A good one! This made Emily understandably flattered and made my heart sing that her reputation now proceeds her!
While Emily is shocked to discover that she is now known for something more than being a little eccentric, A Crimson Warning is fascinating in that it's all about discovery. What do the people you know everyday have to conceal. Because it's made quite clear that when the scarlet mark appears on their door they know exactly to what secret it pertains. And most of the secrets are quite scandalous. Therefore it is quite surprising that of all Emily's friends the one most worried about finding their doorstep covered in paint is Ivy! Ivy has a secret! This really proves that you never really know someone. Because from the outset Ivy has always been depicted as the perfect Victorian bride. A perfect wife supporting her husband and a perfect mother now that she was blessed with a daughter. Of course Emily is always trying to corrupt her with sensational literature and port, but to all outward appearances Ivy is just perfectly normal. Though in a London filled with secrets normal apparently means she must have a secret as well. The way Tasha draws out the reveal with Ivy's journal entries is deliciously suspenseful. Will we learn Ivy's secrets from her own lips or from a red slash on her door? I'm obviously not going to spoil it, other than to say it's perfect.
Now though I need to address a serious question I have to raise. Is it possible to marry a fictional character who isn't just fictional but also dead? I'm talking about my complete adoration of Mr. Dillman. That fiance of his, Cordelia Dalton, sure lucked out in locking that one down, that is until he was murdered of course. Why my love of Mr. Dillman? Well, beyond the fact he is a good, kind man who takes care of his workers and has a social conscience, he is also bookish and encourages Cordelia to read literature that even Emily thinks is a little scandalous and therefore wants to read immediately! But more than that, he creates these amazing scavenger hunts for Cordelia that has her searching all over museums to find the right object that then ties into another stage of the hunt that ends in going through Mr. Dalton's library where Mr. Dillman has secreted a surprise for his fiance. I mean, my heart literally melted. I love scavenger hunts and literature, if someone cared about me this much to stage this amazing game, not once but often? That is the man for me ladies and gentlemen! The fact that this game ties into the overall plot just shows how much I love and adore Tasha's series. She creates memorable characters we love and care for but who also serve a purpose dramatically.
One aspect of Tasha's writing that is mentioned again and again in the pull quotes used for the back of her books is that Lady Emily has a sparkling wit and that humor imbues all her adventures. I'm not going to disagree with this statement. In fact I think all books need humor in order to work. Not just because I love me a little snark, but because you get a better sense of someone's personality by laughing with them. A Crimson Warning seems to me to notch up the humor a bit than previous installments. Again I think this is a balancing act that Tasha has carefully staged. Emily's life is calm while Rome burns, and the jokes become more prevalent the bleaker the situation Emily finds herself in. This installment we see even more of the horror of the lower classes in London and the humor is a nice way to combat the stark reality of the situations that Emily finds herself in. The humor never diminishes the suffering she sees, but it's a nice counterpoint to the suffering and helps to further form her social conscience with her wanting to do more and fight for women's suffrage with the Women's Liberal Federation. But all that analysis aside, nothing has made me laugh heartier recently than Emily's observations on Lady Glover and her zebras to Ivy: "Zebras, Ivy. Zebras," I said. "Why are we not better acquainted with this woman?"
As Emily dances a man burns. How could she have thought the ballroom she was in was stuffy once she learns of the fate of Mr. Dillman? The heat as he was burned alive chained to his office window is horrible to contemplate, yet Emily and Colin must, as Colin has been sent in by the crown to investigate. But it's information they glean from Mr. Dillman's fiance, Cordelia Dalton, that shines a light on the investigation and shows a disturbing pattern. The day of Mr. Dillman's death the Sanders household was defiled with red paint and it was revealed at the ball that their daughter, Polly, was the illegitimate offspring of Mr. Sanders and a maid. Polly's betrothal to Thomas Lacey was ended and any chance she had of a good marriage went up in smoke. Cordelia informs Emily and Colin that Mr. Dillman's house was similarly vandalized the week before. What could Mr. Dillman's secret have been? If the revelation of Polly's parentage is anything to go by whomever is leaving these threatening and very public warnings seeks to out the deepest and darkest of secrets of the ton and Mr. Dillman's secret might just have followed him to the grave.
Soon more homes are vandalized and what seemed at first mildly titillating and a field day for gossips has the ton gripped in terror. How each family approaches their secret shame depends on how bad their crime. Some wait with baited breath, some flee England, some openly expose their own secrets, and some choose to take their secrets to the grave. Emily and Colin can see no connection between the victims aside from the fact that they had something to hide, which could apply to anyone they know, from the highest ranking individuals to their dearest friends. Soon their investigation narrows on a few individuals; Mr. Foster, a politician being groomed for Prime Minister, his best friend and policy shaper Mr. Barnes, who could never rise to power on his own being half West Indian, Mrs. Winifred Harris, an inveterate busybody, and the outlandish Lady Glover, whom the vandal appears to be in contact with when she's not taking her zebras for a stroll in the park. But if this individual wants to cause as much damage to as many individuals as possible why are they targeting Cordelia Dalton, someone peripheral to the first victim? When she goes missing it becomes clear Mr. Dillman is more important than the other victims. He might just be the key to catching this odious criminal and stopping their stranglehold on the city.
A Crimson Warning takes place about a year after Emily and Colin's last adventure in France and we get to see them settled into their new life in London. While I initially thought I was being mildly cheated by not getting to see Emily and Colin merge their households and their staff with all the ensuing chaos, I realized that I should never question Tasha because she knows what's right for her characters. The relative calm of the Hargreaves household is needed to serve as a counterpoint to the mania that is gripping the town. If they had a household in disarray while the town was balancing on a knife's edge the book would have ended up too frenetic. You need moments of calm, especially in a murder mystery, where you can gather your thoughts and let your heart stop racing with a nice cup of tea or glass of port. I think this is why I don't like action films, they don't understand the need for proper pacing. But then again, in an action film they rarely have a plot and if you were given a moments respite you might notice this. Whereas Tasha's writing is perfectly plotted, with just the right hints, red herrings, and reveals that you are enthralled until the very last page.
But what made me breathe the biggest sigh of relief? Because a year has passed since Colin was a total controlling dick in France, justifiable in his mind not mine, Emily and him have worked out their respective rolls in their marriage and in their investigations, smoothing over the bumps from his being reactionary and overprotective. Colin isn't shutting Emily out and Emily in turn isn't sneaking around behind his back trying to help while still trying to be a dutiful wife. They know where their strengths lie and know that they will ask for the others help when it is needed. When Colin flits away into the night to follow a new lead he has faith that Emily knows he doesn't need him at the moment, but the second he does he will call her into action. While Emily knows he won't interfere with her own line of inquiry and will even be there to help should she need it. They are in balance and oh how this made me happy. But not nearly as happy as when Emily stopped by Mr. Dillman's and the butler let her in to search the victim's possessions. Emily thought he let her in because she was so convincing in her justifications to him, but really it's because the butler had heard of the successful partnership of her and her husband. They have a reputation! A good one! This made Emily understandably flattered and made my heart sing that her reputation now proceeds her!
While Emily is shocked to discover that she is now known for something more than being a little eccentric, A Crimson Warning is fascinating in that it's all about discovery. What do the people you know everyday have to conceal. Because it's made quite clear that when the scarlet mark appears on their door they know exactly to what secret it pertains. And most of the secrets are quite scandalous. Therefore it is quite surprising that of all Emily's friends the one most worried about finding their doorstep covered in paint is Ivy! Ivy has a secret! This really proves that you never really know someone. Because from the outset Ivy has always been depicted as the perfect Victorian bride. A perfect wife supporting her husband and a perfect mother now that she was blessed with a daughter. Of course Emily is always trying to corrupt her with sensational literature and port, but to all outward appearances Ivy is just perfectly normal. Though in a London filled with secrets normal apparently means she must have a secret as well. The way Tasha draws out the reveal with Ivy's journal entries is deliciously suspenseful. Will we learn Ivy's secrets from her own lips or from a red slash on her door? I'm obviously not going to spoil it, other than to say it's perfect.
Now though I need to address a serious question I have to raise. Is it possible to marry a fictional character who isn't just fictional but also dead? I'm talking about my complete adoration of Mr. Dillman. That fiance of his, Cordelia Dalton, sure lucked out in locking that one down, that is until he was murdered of course. Why my love of Mr. Dillman? Well, beyond the fact he is a good, kind man who takes care of his workers and has a social conscience, he is also bookish and encourages Cordelia to read literature that even Emily thinks is a little scandalous and therefore wants to read immediately! But more than that, he creates these amazing scavenger hunts for Cordelia that has her searching all over museums to find the right object that then ties into another stage of the hunt that ends in going through Mr. Dalton's library where Mr. Dillman has secreted a surprise for his fiance. I mean, my heart literally melted. I love scavenger hunts and literature, if someone cared about me this much to stage this amazing game, not once but often? That is the man for me ladies and gentlemen! The fact that this game ties into the overall plot just shows how much I love and adore Tasha's series. She creates memorable characters we love and care for but who also serve a purpose dramatically.
One aspect of Tasha's writing that is mentioned again and again in the pull quotes used for the back of her books is that Lady Emily has a sparkling wit and that humor imbues all her adventures. I'm not going to disagree with this statement. In fact I think all books need humor in order to work. Not just because I love me a little snark, but because you get a better sense of someone's personality by laughing with them. A Crimson Warning seems to me to notch up the humor a bit than previous installments. Again I think this is a balancing act that Tasha has carefully staged. Emily's life is calm while Rome burns, and the jokes become more prevalent the bleaker the situation Emily finds herself in. This installment we see even more of the horror of the lower classes in London and the humor is a nice way to combat the stark reality of the situations that Emily finds herself in. The humor never diminishes the suffering she sees, but it's a nice counterpoint to the suffering and helps to further form her social conscience with her wanting to do more and fight for women's suffrage with the Women's Liberal Federation. But all that analysis aside, nothing has made me laugh heartier recently than Emily's observations on Lady Glover and her zebras to Ivy: "Zebras, Ivy. Zebras," I said. "Why are we not better acquainted with this woman?"
November 10, 2011
Scandal, murder, and mass hysteria among Victorian London's upper crust! Who better to sort it all out than Lady Emily?
Lady Emily returns to her native London after spending the last two books in Turkey (Tears of Pearl) and France (Dangerous to Know). The scene is a blazingly hot summer Season, and the feathers of the elite are being ruffled by a series of scandals being brought to light by a splash of red paint across the doorsteps of the perpetrators. Was it just a coincidence that a factory owner who was murdered had red paint splashed on his step right before he met his untimely end? While Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves work to uncover the identity of who's behind it all, even more wealthy families are waking up to discover they've been marked with red paint. It seems that no one's secret is safe, and everyone is on edge wondering if or when theirs will be the next reputation ruined.
Back on the scene are Lady Emily's best friend Ivy Brandon and lovable rogue Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. I really think these two characters are what made this story more enjoyable to me in comparison to Ms. Alexander's last two novels, both of which took place abroad and among mostly new characters. Jeremy in particular provided a wealth of comic relief, and even a little hint at romantic angst (exemplified by an extremely memorable whiskey tasting, thank you for including that little gem, Ms. Alexander!). It was also a relief to find that Lady Emily and Colin were on better terms than they had been the past two books, when they were both coming to grips with how the balance of power would work in their marriage. While Colin still doesn't approve of Lady Emily putting herself in danger, he has come to respect her as a detective with skills to rival his own.
This is the best Lady Emily mystery since A Fatal Waltz. The mystery was well thought-out and the conclusion was both surprising and satisfying. The writing was very natural, the settings lush and exciting. Even though we've already seen Lady Emily's London before, Ms. Alexander always finds some new aspect to bring to life, and she always knows just which characters to add to the mix, what element of historical fact to incorporate with the fiction. This book was layered with historical detail, realistic emotion, and good storytelling. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Lady Emily returns to her native London after spending the last two books in Turkey (Tears of Pearl) and France (Dangerous to Know). The scene is a blazingly hot summer Season, and the feathers of the elite are being ruffled by a series of scandals being brought to light by a splash of red paint across the doorsteps of the perpetrators. Was it just a coincidence that a factory owner who was murdered had red paint splashed on his step right before he met his untimely end? While Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves work to uncover the identity of who's behind it all, even more wealthy families are waking up to discover they've been marked with red paint. It seems that no one's secret is safe, and everyone is on edge wondering if or when theirs will be the next reputation ruined.
Back on the scene are Lady Emily's best friend Ivy Brandon and lovable rogue Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. I really think these two characters are what made this story more enjoyable to me in comparison to Ms. Alexander's last two novels, both of which took place abroad and among mostly new characters. Jeremy in particular provided a wealth of comic relief, and even a little hint at romantic angst (exemplified by an extremely memorable whiskey tasting, thank you for including that little gem, Ms. Alexander!). It was also a relief to find that Lady Emily and Colin were on better terms than they had been the past two books, when they were both coming to grips with how the balance of power would work in their marriage. While Colin still doesn't approve of Lady Emily putting herself in danger, he has come to respect her as a detective with skills to rival his own.
This is the best Lady Emily mystery since A Fatal Waltz. The mystery was well thought-out and the conclusion was both surprising and satisfying. The writing was very natural, the settings lush and exciting. Even though we've already seen Lady Emily's London before, Ms. Alexander always finds some new aspect to bring to life, and she always knows just which characters to add to the mix, what element of historical fact to incorporate with the fiction. This book was layered with historical detail, realistic emotion, and good storytelling. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
September 27, 2011
***I received this ARC through a giveaway here on Goodreads.***
A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander (6th in series)
- The Synopsis -
Secrets prove deadly in this new novel from Tasha Alexander featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves. Some very prominent people in London are waking up to find their doorsteps smeared with red paint, the precursor to the revelation of a dark secret – and worse – by someone who enjoys destroying lives.
Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities—reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.
But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite. This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death.
Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost.
- My Review -
As indicated, I won this book through a giveaway here on the site. It is not my typical read, as I don't have a lot of patience for straight mysteries. However, I enjoy history a great deal, and thought this time period, England in the late 1800s, would make for an interesting read.
The time period does prove interesting, and is my main draw here. The story, as a whole, is very well-written. The characters are fully developed, and for those who enjoy a good mystery, so is the suspense.
For fans of this genre, this series is really a no-brainer. If you enjoy a lovely historical setting with your mystery, or haven't tried the like before, give this series a try. I very much doubt you'll find yourself disappointed.
A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander (6th in series)
- The Synopsis -
Secrets prove deadly in this new novel from Tasha Alexander featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves. Some very prominent people in London are waking up to find their doorsteps smeared with red paint, the precursor to the revelation of a dark secret – and worse – by someone who enjoys destroying lives.
Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities—reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.
But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite. This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death.
Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost.
- My Review -
As indicated, I won this book through a giveaway here on the site. It is not my typical read, as I don't have a lot of patience for straight mysteries. However, I enjoy history a great deal, and thought this time period, England in the late 1800s, would make for an interesting read.
The time period does prove interesting, and is my main draw here. The story, as a whole, is very well-written. The characters are fully developed, and for those who enjoy a good mystery, so is the suspense.
For fans of this genre, this series is really a no-brainer. If you enjoy a lovely historical setting with your mystery, or haven't tried the like before, give this series a try. I very much doubt you'll find yourself disappointed.
September 30, 2011
I won A Crimson Warning in a goodreads ARC giveaway.
*Secrets prove deadly in this new novel from Tasha Alexander featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves. Some very prominent people in London are waking up to find their doorsteps smeared with red paint, the precursor to the revelation of a dark secret – and worse – by someone who enjoys destroying lives.
Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities—reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.
But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite. This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death.
Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost.*
I enjoyed the book. I wasn't too sure how much I would like it when I first started it, being that it is a Lady Emily #6, I didn't know if it would make a difference that I hadn't read the previous 5. Luckily for me, it didn't matter. The writing style was good, and I like a good mystery, esp one that kept me guessing and wondering who the culprit was. I didn't find it to be predictable, like a lot of other mysteries are, and this one held my attention through out the whole book. The one thing I found a bit weird was how the friend, Ivy Brandon, kept having journal entries. It came out later on in the book what her situation was, but they weren't really needed so much. All in all though, I gave this book 3 stars because I enjoyed it, but didn't love it.
*Secrets prove deadly in this new novel from Tasha Alexander featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves. Some very prominent people in London are waking up to find their doorsteps smeared with red paint, the precursor to the revelation of a dark secret – and worse – by someone who enjoys destroying lives.
Newly returned to her home in Mayfair, Lady Emily Hargreaves is looking forward to enjoying the delights of the season. The delights, that is, as defined by her own eccentricities—reading The Aeneid, waltzing with her dashing husband, and joining the Women’s Liberal Federation in the early stages of its campaign to win the vote for women.
But an audacious vandal disturbs the peace in the capital city, splashing red paint on the neat edifices of the homes of London’s elite. This mark, impossible to hide, presages the revelation of scandalous secrets, driving the hapless victims into disgrace, despair and even death.
Soon, all of London high society is living in fear of learning who will be the next target, and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin, favorite agent of the crown, must uncover the identity and reveal the motives of the twisted mind behind it all before another innocent life is lost.*
I enjoyed the book. I wasn't too sure how much I would like it when I first started it, being that it is a Lady Emily #6, I didn't know if it would make a difference that I hadn't read the previous 5. Luckily for me, it didn't matter. The writing style was good, and I like a good mystery, esp one that kept me guessing and wondering who the culprit was. I didn't find it to be predictable, like a lot of other mysteries are, and this one held my attention through out the whole book. The one thing I found a bit weird was how the friend, Ivy Brandon, kept having journal entries. It came out later on in the book what her situation was, but they weren't really needed so much. All in all though, I gave this book 3 stars because I enjoyed it, but didn't love it.
November 23, 2011
Lady Emily is back in London with her dashing husband Colin, her friend Ivy, and her irascible mother. Her friend Jeremy Bainbridge also plays a larger role than usual in solving the mystery.
There are really two things going on: a merchant is murdered in his warehouse, and someone is spreading red paint on the doorsteps of anyone in London's high society who has a scandal to hide.
Emily and her husband have learned to work together, although he still keeps more secrets than she (or I) like. One thing that Tasha Alexander has worked hard on in this series is to find a way for a woman to be able to contribute to investigations when all of society would condemn her for it. There's a balance now; but trust is fragile and I see some stormy skies ahead.
Emily branches out into the Women's Liberation Organization and becomes interested in the female vote. She returns to her beloved British Museum to hunt for clues- this didn't grip me as much as it might have- the whole scavenger hunt thing felt more like an interesting plot device than a rational clue. Colin notes that she helps by gaining the confidence of various females and by exploiting her different access to London society.
Emily sometimes seems a bit snotty. She looks down on other people's prejudices, but it doesn't seem to occur to her that people won't just spill their secrets to her simply because she asks them. But she is indeed brave and compassionate.
I really liked Ivy in this book. Her flair for the dramatic and her fears over her own secrets fleshed her out- she became more than the merely "sweet" character that she's been.
I think there are some plot threads here that will come to fruition later in the series. I was a bit disappointed in who the murderer was- I feel that it played into some stereotypes.
But all in all, a Lady Emily book is always a pleasant diversion for me. I read it in less than 24 hours and enjoyed my stay with the novel.
There are really two things going on: a merchant is murdered in his warehouse, and someone is spreading red paint on the doorsteps of anyone in London's high society who has a scandal to hide.
Emily and her husband have learned to work together, although he still keeps more secrets than she (or I) like. One thing that Tasha Alexander has worked hard on in this series is to find a way for a woman to be able to contribute to investigations when all of society would condemn her for it. There's a balance now; but trust is fragile and I see some stormy skies ahead.
Emily branches out into the Women's Liberation Organization and becomes interested in the female vote. She returns to her beloved British Museum to hunt for clues- this didn't grip me as much as it might have- the whole scavenger hunt thing felt more like an interesting plot device than a rational clue. Colin notes that she helps by gaining the confidence of various females and by exploiting her different access to London society.
Emily sometimes seems a bit snotty. She looks down on other people's prejudices, but it doesn't seem to occur to her that people won't just spill their secrets to her simply because she asks them. But she is indeed brave and compassionate.
I really liked Ivy in this book. Her flair for the dramatic and her fears over her own secrets fleshed her out- she became more than the merely "sweet" character that she's been.
I think there are some plot threads here that will come to fruition later in the series. I was a bit disappointed in who the murderer was- I feel that it played into some stereotypes.
But all in all, a Lady Emily book is always a pleasant diversion for me. I read it in less than 24 hours and enjoyed my stay with the novel.
December 10, 2011
London's social scene is shaken when someone begins to reveal the secrets of its wealthy, privileged members. Splashes of red paint warn each target that their reputation is about to be ruined, and when this trouble is linked to murder, Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are on the case.
The setup is fantastic. I loved the idea of a household waking up to paint-covered steps and waiting helplessly for the following scandal. The mystery behind all that drama is less thrilling, though.
It felt very flat, possibly because I didn't care about any of the characters involved. One person's riddle method of hiding evidence also left me cold. I guess I didn't get why he'd go to all that trouble rather than just giving the incriminating documents to the authorities in the first place, but maybe I missed something.
Overall, the intrigue didn't fit with that fantastic gossip theme, and neither did an awkwardly fitted social justice issue. All of those elements may have been interesting enough if they were handled differently, they just didn't mesh together all that well. Another off note was Ivy's journal entries. They worked increase the tension, but after all that build up they were a massive letdown.
I did think it was fantastic to see Emily and Colin settle in and solve a case without bickering over her involvement. I'm sick to death of historical fiction couple fights about the safety of a woman investigator, and I think their partnership was handled nicely. Now that they've got a solid working relationship, I hope that next time they use it on a mystery plot that I connect with more.
The setup is fantastic. I loved the idea of a household waking up to paint-covered steps and waiting helplessly for the following scandal. The mystery behind all that drama is less thrilling, though.
It felt very flat, possibly because I didn't care about any of the characters involved. One person's riddle method of hiding evidence also left me cold. I guess I didn't get why he'd go to all that trouble rather than just giving the incriminating documents to the authorities in the first place, but maybe I missed something.
Overall, the intrigue didn't fit with that fantastic gossip theme, and neither did an awkwardly fitted social justice issue. All of those elements may have been interesting enough if they were handled differently, they just didn't mesh together all that well. Another off note was Ivy's journal entries. They worked increase the tension, but after all that build up they were a massive letdown.
I did think it was fantastic to see Emily and Colin settle in and solve a case without bickering over her involvement. I'm sick to death of historical fiction couple fights about the safety of a woman investigator, and I think their partnership was handled nicely. Now that they've got a solid working relationship, I hope that next time they use it on a mystery plot that I connect with more.
November 6, 2011
I had almost given up on this series after the last two, but I am really glad I decided to give it one last try with A Crimson Warning. Lady Emily is back on her own turf in London society, and back to being her clever, feisty, reckless self. The books set in Constantinople and in France just didn't work for me.
Crimson paint is being splashed on the houses of some of London's wealthiest and most influential citizens, followed quickly by exposure of a scandal in their lives. Even though a man who was victimized by the paint has also died horribly, the "ton" is much more afraid of scandal than death. The Queen asks Colin Hargreaves, Emily's husband,to investigate and put an end to the pervasive atmosphere of fear abroad in the city. Emily of course becomes fully involved, and proves again that she is an equal partner with Colin. They are convinced that the crimes and exposures are the product of rage and revenge at being slighted, but who is the perpetrator? It appears that even Ivy, Emily's most conventional and gentle friend, has a secret that must be kept.
The path that they follow has many twists and turns, with code-breaking and many a trip to the British Museum and Library. I had settled on my candidate for the crimes early on instinct alone, but was misdirected by Alexander very neatly. It takes one more innocent death to solve the crime, and to see the Hargreaves doorstep defaced as well. We get to see old characters that we are familiar with, and a host of new ones, all either eccentric, shallow or dangerous. A Crimson Warning is very entertaining-Welcome Back, Lady Emily!
Crimson paint is being splashed on the houses of some of London's wealthiest and most influential citizens, followed quickly by exposure of a scandal in their lives. Even though a man who was victimized by the paint has also died horribly, the "ton" is much more afraid of scandal than death. The Queen asks Colin Hargreaves, Emily's husband,to investigate and put an end to the pervasive atmosphere of fear abroad in the city. Emily of course becomes fully involved, and proves again that she is an equal partner with Colin. They are convinced that the crimes and exposures are the product of rage and revenge at being slighted, but who is the perpetrator? It appears that even Ivy, Emily's most conventional and gentle friend, has a secret that must be kept.
The path that they follow has many twists and turns, with code-breaking and many a trip to the British Museum and Library. I had settled on my candidate for the crimes early on instinct alone, but was misdirected by Alexander very neatly. It takes one more innocent death to solve the crime, and to see the Hargreaves doorstep defaced as well. We get to see old characters that we are familiar with, and a host of new ones, all either eccentric, shallow or dangerous. A Crimson Warning is very entertaining-Welcome Back, Lady Emily!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews