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Regency London #2
Banquet of Lies
A Secret Treaty and a Secret Life
LONDON, 1812: Giselle Barrington is living a double life, juggling the duties of chef with those of spy catcher. She must identify her father’s savage killer before the shadowy man finds her and uncovers the explosive political document her father entrusted to her safekeeping.
Posing as a French cook in the home of Lord Aldridge, Giselle is surrounded by unlikely allies and vicious enemies. In the streets where she once walked freely among polite society, she now hides in plain sight, learning the hard lessons of class distinction and negotiating the delicate balance between servant and master.
Lord Aldridge’s insatiable curiosity about his mysterious new chef blurs the line between civic duty and outright desire. Carefully watching Giselle’s every move, he undertakes a mission to figure out who she really is—and, in the process, plunges her straight into the heart of danger when her only hope for survival is to remain invisible.
LONDON, 1812: Giselle Barrington is living a double life, juggling the duties of chef with those of spy catcher. She must identify her father’s savage killer before the shadowy man finds her and uncovers the explosive political document her father entrusted to her safekeeping.
Posing as a French cook in the home of Lord Aldridge, Giselle is surrounded by unlikely allies and vicious enemies. In the streets where she once walked freely among polite society, she now hides in plain sight, learning the hard lessons of class distinction and negotiating the delicate balance between servant and master.
Lord Aldridge’s insatiable curiosity about his mysterious new chef blurs the line between civic duty and outright desire. Carefully watching Giselle’s every move, he undertakes a mission to figure out who she really is—and, in the process, plunges her straight into the heart of danger when her only hope for survival is to remain invisible.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2013
40 people are currently reading
1473 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Diener
60 books1,921 followersMichelle Diener is a bestselling, award-winning author of historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy. Having worked in publishing and IT, she's now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters.
Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she's not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her online at Twitter and Facebook.
Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.
When she's not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her online at Twitter and Facebook.
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November 11, 2013DNF
Alright. I probably just screwed up my chances of getting approved from NetGalley but whatever, here goes.
So. I didn't finish this. Stopped at 34%. Why? Here's a couple of reasons.
1. The heroine aka Giselle aka Gigi aka Madame Leveel aka The Cook <-- what a mouthful.
I got why she needed her vengeance, what drove her to move forward, but honestly? Her character was so spiteful I just couldn't find myself to like her. She has that whole I'm-better-than-you-and-I-know-it attitude going on.
2. Jonathan
He wasn't very manly. What I mean is, when the heroine is kicking more ass than the hero, that signifies...something. Maybe go back to alpha training school?
3. Edgars (Jonathan's butler/steward)
OMG. This man. I don't know whether to laugh at him or strangle him. Check this out:
"Iris's bosom was jiggling and bouncing as she beat the cream."
"With a cry of suprise, Edgars fell down the last three stairs and stumbled into the kitchen, arms flailing about."
Really. A toss of her boobs makes you tumble down the stairs? Okaaaay. =_=
4. Plot was really, really good in the beginning of the book: pulse-pounding and addictive. Around the 20% mark it got repetitive. Seriously, the plot was moving so slowly and the characters were running around in circles.
^^ That's me sitting next to the podium watching all of it happen.
Okay so I really tried to be fair. After all, historical romance is my favorite genre. So for curiosity's sake, I skimmed near the end to see what happens. I wasn't impressed by what I found. It was page 320 out of 362 pages on my iPad and Jonathan still thinks Giselle is The Cook. He has no clue of her real identity. Really now?!?! It's almost the end and they still don't know who's who and what's going on. How will the author be able to wrap up all the loose ends without making the ending too rushed?
I don't know guys, this one just wasn't for me. I sincerely wish the author well in her future works though!
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Alright. I probably just screwed up my chances of getting approved from NetGalley but whatever, here goes.
So. I didn't finish this. Stopped at 34%. Why? Here's a couple of reasons.
1. The heroine aka Giselle aka Gigi aka Madame Leveel aka The Cook <-- what a mouthful.
I got why she needed her vengeance, what drove her to move forward, but honestly? Her character was so spiteful I just couldn't find myself to like her. She has that whole I'm-better-than-you-and-I-know-it attitude going on.
2. Jonathan
He wasn't very manly. What I mean is, when the heroine is kicking more ass than the hero, that signifies...something. Maybe go back to alpha training school?
3. Edgars (Jonathan's butler/steward)
OMG. This man. I don't know whether to laugh at him or strangle him. Check this out:
"Iris's bosom was jiggling and bouncing as she beat the cream."
"With a cry of suprise, Edgars fell down the last three stairs and stumbled into the kitchen, arms flailing about."
Really. A toss of her boobs makes you tumble down the stairs? Okaaaay. =_=
4. Plot was really, really good in the beginning of the book: pulse-pounding and addictive. Around the 20% mark it got repetitive. Seriously, the plot was moving so slowly and the characters were running around in circles.
^^ That's me sitting next to the podium watching all of it happen.
Okay so I really tried to be fair. After all, historical romance is my favorite genre. So for curiosity's sake, I skimmed near the end to see what happens. I wasn't impressed by what I found. It was page 320 out of 362 pages on my iPad and Jonathan still thinks Giselle is The Cook. He has no clue of her real identity. Really now?!?! It's almost the end and they still don't know who's who and what's going on. How will the author be able to wrap up all the loose ends without making the ending too rushed?
I don't know guys, this one just wasn't for me. I sincerely wish the author well in her future works though!
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 14, 2015
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After Giselle witnesses the death of her father, she’s forced to go into hiding in order to find out more about the document for which he was killed for. The document that her father entrusted to her right before he died. She takes a position as a French cook in the house of Lord Aldridge yet she struggles in this position, not used to being a lesser servant. Once she discovers that it’s a political document that could very well change the fate of England she seeks to get it into the right hands but that’s easier said than done.
I loved the concept of the plot yet the characters were damn near unbearable, most especially Miss Giselle "Gigi" Barrington. Yeah, that’s a mouthful. Instead of being a charming and funny lady that struggled with her temporary change in social class she was snooty, pretentious and completely unlikable. At one point she wakes up to go down into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee only to discover the coffee that was in the house had gone bad so she practically demands that coffee be purchased even though Lord Aldridge was not a coffee drinker.
"...trying to deny her coffee, was a declaration of war."
Oh, shut up, Gigi and come off your high horse. Now I’m all about my caffeine too so I get it but I’ve never reached the point where I was about to go all Napoleon on everyone just because I didn’t get a cup. Plus, it’s like she was constantly forgetting WHY she was in the situation she was in. I mean hello, you watched your father get stabbed to death just a few short weeks ago and that same man is searching for you yet you’re waging war over coffee. Priorities, my dear. So this story could have been vastly more interesting if Giselle wasn’t such a stuck up snob.
The romance between Gigi and Lord Aldridge was something that was completely unnecessary and only added to the overly dramatic flair this book had going on. The two knew each other when they were children but it was mentioned that Gigi was always ignored in favor of her gorgeous mother and that Lord Aldridge was always flirting with her even though she was almost twice his age. Yeah, that doesn’t set up some major awkwardness. You never noticed me when I was younger because you were too busy flirting with my mother? Oh gross, no thanks. So because of his complete lack of awareness of Giselle in her earlier years, he doesn’t even recognize her now so she’s able to slip into the position as Cook in his household. Oh, but naturally there’s something intriguing about her that interests him. Maybe because she’s grown up and looks more like her mother?
Bottom line, I loved the political aspects and the espionage and the fact that Giselle was introduced as a headstrong and confident woman but anything interesting about this book slowly dissolved the more snooty Giselle got and the more ridiculous Lord Aldridge got over the crush on his cook. Simply didn’t work for me unfortunately.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After Giselle witnesses the death of her father, she’s forced to go into hiding in order to find out more about the document for which he was killed for. The document that her father entrusted to her right before he died. She takes a position as a French cook in the house of Lord Aldridge yet she struggles in this position, not used to being a lesser servant. Once she discovers that it’s a political document that could very well change the fate of England she seeks to get it into the right hands but that’s easier said than done.
I loved the concept of the plot yet the characters were damn near unbearable, most especially Miss Giselle "Gigi" Barrington. Yeah, that’s a mouthful. Instead of being a charming and funny lady that struggled with her temporary change in social class she was snooty, pretentious and completely unlikable. At one point she wakes up to go down into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee only to discover the coffee that was in the house had gone bad so she practically demands that coffee be purchased even though Lord Aldridge was not a coffee drinker.
"...trying to deny her coffee, was a declaration of war."
Oh, shut up, Gigi and come off your high horse. Now I’m all about my caffeine too so I get it but I’ve never reached the point where I was about to go all Napoleon on everyone just because I didn’t get a cup. Plus, it’s like she was constantly forgetting WHY she was in the situation she was in. I mean hello, you watched your father get stabbed to death just a few short weeks ago and that same man is searching for you yet you’re waging war over coffee. Priorities, my dear. So this story could have been vastly more interesting if Giselle wasn’t such a stuck up snob.
The romance between Gigi and Lord Aldridge was something that was completely unnecessary and only added to the overly dramatic flair this book had going on. The two knew each other when they were children but it was mentioned that Gigi was always ignored in favor of her gorgeous mother and that Lord Aldridge was always flirting with her even though she was almost twice his age. Yeah, that doesn’t set up some major awkwardness. You never noticed me when I was younger because you were too busy flirting with my mother? Oh gross, no thanks. So because of his complete lack of awareness of Giselle in her earlier years, he doesn’t even recognize her now so she’s able to slip into the position as Cook in his household. Oh, but naturally there’s something intriguing about her that interests him. Maybe because she’s grown up and looks more like her mother?
Bottom line, I loved the political aspects and the espionage and the fact that Giselle was introduced as a headstrong and confident woman but anything interesting about this book slowly dissolved the more snooty Giselle got and the more ridiculous Lord Aldridge got over the crush on his cook. Simply didn’t work for me unfortunately.
September 15, 2025
Middle book of Michelle Diener’s Regency London trilogy explores Upstairs/Downstairs dynamics
I sort of love the “hiding in plain sight,” plotline in this book. Our main heroine is really a member of the prestigious high society of the regency era, but in this story, Giselle’s status among the London elite just might get her killed. So, undercover she must go to figure out who and why someone killed her father.
Using her talents as a cook, Giselle poses as the head chef to the dashing Lord Aldridge. The problem is, Aldridge really sees through Giselle’s deception from the start, or at least he has big time suspicion that she isn’t all that she claims to be. Partly, because she’s way more attractive than your average (fake) French Chef, but also because Giselle doesn’t do a particularly good job acting the part of servant to her new employer.
As I mentioned in my review of Book 1 of Diener’s Regency London trilogy, The Emperor's Conspiracy, the author wraps her fiction around real historical events which is fun and superbly well done. You’ll have to check the Author’s Notes at the end of the book to learn what was history and what was embellishment. However, please be aware that the non-romantic elements of the plot are really straight-up political intrigue, in case that’s not your bag of wax.
I really liked the romance between our two MCs. It was interesting to see it explored via the dynamics of servant-master relations of the Regency era. Like I said, Giselle wasn’t really fooling Aldridge that she was just a lowly servant; but, suspicions aside, he still struggled with the appearance of propriety at the time. As an employee, Giselle was strictly off limits to Aldridge. It didn’t help Giselle that her aristocratic upbringing almost outed her a couple of times as she starts to recognize her attraction to the supposedly off-limits master of the house.
My only complaint is, like Book 1 of the series, there was way too much skulking in dark alleys and spying on each other. Fortunately, I didn’t find it as distracting in this second book of the trilogy.
Keep in mind that as with other Diener novels, they can be read as a standalone in the series but there are some subtle but fun crossover of characters from the other books.
Note: I was given an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I sort of love the “hiding in plain sight,” plotline in this book. Our main heroine is really a member of the prestigious high society of the regency era, but in this story, Giselle’s status among the London elite just might get her killed. So, undercover she must go to figure out who and why someone killed her father.
Using her talents as a cook, Giselle poses as the head chef to the dashing Lord Aldridge. The problem is, Aldridge really sees through Giselle’s deception from the start, or at least he has big time suspicion that she isn’t all that she claims to be. Partly, because she’s way more attractive than your average (fake) French Chef, but also because Giselle doesn’t do a particularly good job acting the part of servant to her new employer.
As I mentioned in my review of Book 1 of Diener’s Regency London trilogy, The Emperor's Conspiracy, the author wraps her fiction around real historical events which is fun and superbly well done. You’ll have to check the Author’s Notes at the end of the book to learn what was history and what was embellishment. However, please be aware that the non-romantic elements of the plot are really straight-up political intrigue, in case that’s not your bag of wax.
I really liked the romance between our two MCs. It was interesting to see it explored via the dynamics of servant-master relations of the Regency era. Like I said, Giselle wasn’t really fooling Aldridge that she was just a lowly servant; but, suspicions aside, he still struggled with the appearance of propriety at the time. As an employee, Giselle was strictly off limits to Aldridge. It didn’t help Giselle that her aristocratic upbringing almost outed her a couple of times as she starts to recognize her attraction to the supposedly off-limits master of the house.
My only complaint is, like Book 1 of the series, there was way too much skulking in dark alleys and spying on each other. Fortunately, I didn’t find it as distracting in this second book of the trilogy.
Keep in mind that as with other Diener novels, they can be read as a standalone in the series but there are some subtle but fun crossover of characters from the other books.
Note: I was given an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2013
This has to be my favorite Diener book and it's the third one I've read. I still have more to go...and I sincerely hope there is a sequel to this, perhaps a series. I sense Duke Wittaker may have a story. What an intriguing man.
But...let's talk about this one. I love the heroine. She doesn't crumble to pieces after witnessing her father's murder. No... Instead, she takes top-secret correspondence and attempts to find the man she needs to deliver it to, all the while posing as a chef, fighting with a pompous butler, falling for the lord of the house, and trying to keep an eye on her former home to find "the shadow" who killed him.
OH--and did I mention she demanded wages equal to a man's? LOVE it!
The story reads very much as a cat-and-mouse thing, as she is constantly running from the bad guys and scampering here and there to find answers, always with someone on her tail...but it's suspenseful with the most intriguing cast of characters from the nearly starving Mavis to the maid that looks like a viking to the whores she meets up with in prison. There's never a dull moment.
I'd like to add that a woman saves the day. *smirks*
The writing is fabulous, not overwordy or hard to follow. Though there's a large cast of characters, the reader doesn't feel overwhelmed with them. That's hard to do. I am left with some questions. How did she collect her stuff before heading to her cooking position? What became of the butler? But I must say, I loved getting lost in this story.
The romance is slow--which is should be. I get tired of these insta-love stories. This was a refreshing change, and I adored the hero, something else that was well done. No alpha male/jackass.
Full review and favorite passage: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
But...let's talk about this one. I love the heroine. She doesn't crumble to pieces after witnessing her father's murder. No... Instead, she takes top-secret correspondence and attempts to find the man she needs to deliver it to, all the while posing as a chef, fighting with a pompous butler, falling for the lord of the house, and trying to keep an eye on her former home to find "the shadow" who killed him.
OH--and did I mention she demanded wages equal to a man's? LOVE it!
The story reads very much as a cat-and-mouse thing, as she is constantly running from the bad guys and scampering here and there to find answers, always with someone on her tail...but it's suspenseful with the most intriguing cast of characters from the nearly starving Mavis to the maid that looks like a viking to the whores she meets up with in prison. There's never a dull moment.
I'd like to add that a woman saves the day. *smirks*
The writing is fabulous, not overwordy or hard to follow. Though there's a large cast of characters, the reader doesn't feel overwhelmed with them. That's hard to do. I am left with some questions. How did she collect her stuff before heading to her cooking position? What became of the butler? But I must say, I loved getting lost in this story.
The romance is slow--which is should be. I get tired of these insta-love stories. This was a refreshing change, and I adored the hero, something else that was well done. No alpha male/jackass.
Full review and favorite passage: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
May 6, 2025
I've been thinking of creating a new book shelf for
My Elite Authors
, just for the TOP FIVE, which will include Michelle Diener⭐️ Loved every single one of her book I've read. In this book? Loved Lord Aldridge and Gigi together, the plot line, time period, her writing style, but best of all, loved how good I felt at the end of every story. The feelings that the world was beautiful, that there was acceptable solution to evil, that we didn't have to be flawless as long as we never let down the people who sacrificed for our survival, for our lives.
I did wish for more romance between the HEA couple. But that didn't take away my love of the story. Gigi was like a pampered, well-protected princess, who was kept away from trusted allies. Her father wrongly believed that her lack of information/knowledge could keep her from harm, that her safety and her life would be guaranteed. Sadly, that belief turned out to be just the opposite. The way she tried to untangle all the secrets and lies was just blown me away. Fortunately, her one true friend & protector, Lord Wittaker's French Chef, didn't let her down.
Sharing with you a beautiful final scene:
I did wish for more romance between the HEA couple. But that didn't take away my love of the story. Gigi was like a pampered, well-protected princess, who was kept away from trusted allies. Her father wrongly believed that her lack of information/knowledge could keep her from harm, that her safety and her life would be guaranteed. Sadly, that belief turned out to be just the opposite. The way she tried to untangle all the secrets and lies was just blown me away. Fortunately, her one true friend & protector, Lord Wittaker's French Chef, didn't let her down.
Sharing with you a beautiful final scene:
"You told me you wouldn't hold me accountable
for my behavior toward you in my house ." . . .
"Yes, I did." . . .
"I want to ask you if you would. Please. Hold me accountable." . . .
She smiled as he held out his arm to escort her in to dinner.
"You never know, Lord Aldridge. Maybe I will."
August 15, 2022
3.5
It was lovely to read. I appreciated that the heroine maskerading as a cook wasn’t the perfect actress and gave herself away (in a sense) with her attitude. I also like how the change of station allowed her to see the difference in people’s life. It wasn’t glossed over.
Like book 1 The Emperor's Conspiracy, I can’t really vouch for its historical attitude/content/setting.
It was lovely to read. I appreciated that the heroine maskerading as a cook wasn’t the perfect actress and gave herself away (in a sense) with her attitude. I also like how the change of station allowed her to see the difference in people’s life. It wasn’t glossed over.
Like book 1 The Emperor's Conspiracy, I can’t really vouch for its historical attitude/content/setting.
September 18, 2013
Oh gods, I can't tell you how much I love this author! Every book is like pure gooey chocolaty indulgence!
Banquet of Lies is all about delicious food and strong women. In fact, you can always bet that Michelle Diener will write about a score of strong, admirable, brave women in her historical fiction. This is just how she rolls, ladies and gents.
Add to it Napoleonic era and a big spying intrigue, and you'll be as hooked as I am. Banquet of Lies is a continuation of The Emperor's Conspiracy in some aspects (there are interconnected characters), but mostly it's its own story.
Giselle Barrington is a folklorist and a superb cook, and she is trudging all over Europe with her dad, who under guise of his folklore studies works with The British against Napoleon.
When he is killed, she flees with an important document and tries to lie low back in England until she can figure out who is the traitor.
She manages to hire herself as a French chef in the house of Lord Aldridge, and while she is unable to stay away from sorting out the whole household, it's Aldridge who is completely enamored with the magical meals he is getting and the captivating woman who cook them for him. Giselle is full of secrets and she does not know who to trust, but her time is running out while her enemies are getting closer to finding her.
This is historical fiction, so the rules of historical romance do not apply. Both Aldridge and Giselle are lovely characters, but their feeling for each other are secondary to the mystery of Banquet of Lies and to how skillfully Michelle Diener is playing it out.
Wholly recommended, gorgeous and clever spy fiction with layered characters, do read it!
Banquet of Lies is all about delicious food and strong women. In fact, you can always bet that Michelle Diener will write about a score of strong, admirable, brave women in her historical fiction. This is just how she rolls, ladies and gents.
Add to it Napoleonic era and a big spying intrigue, and you'll be as hooked as I am. Banquet of Lies is a continuation of The Emperor's Conspiracy in some aspects (there are interconnected characters), but mostly it's its own story.
Giselle Barrington is a folklorist and a superb cook, and she is trudging all over Europe with her dad, who under guise of his folklore studies works with The British against Napoleon.
When he is killed, she flees with an important document and tries to lie low back in England until she can figure out who is the traitor.
She manages to hire herself as a French chef in the house of Lord Aldridge, and while she is unable to stay away from sorting out the whole household, it's Aldridge who is completely enamored with the magical meals he is getting and the captivating woman who cook them for him. Giselle is full of secrets and she does not know who to trust, but her time is running out while her enemies are getting closer to finding her.
This is historical fiction, so the rules of historical romance do not apply. Both Aldridge and Giselle are lovely characters, but their feeling for each other are secondary to the mystery of Banquet of Lies and to how skillfully Michelle Diener is playing it out.
Wholly recommended, gorgeous and clever spy fiction with layered characters, do read it!
July 1, 2022
As per Michelle Diener's usual format, I was drawn in right away by her storytelling. The MCs were likable, the intrigue interesting (especially given that the secret alliance premise is historically accurate), and the resolution satisfying. I appreciated the platonic relationships between the female characters as well of those of the male characters. However, I really can't stand it when a MC is scared for her own safety but still can't stop having romantic daydreams about her counterpart. I mean, if someone was trying to kill me, I wouldn't be caring about how handsome and virile someone else is. LOL.
February 13, 2020
I love the double life story, where someone has to pretend to be someone else and figure out who is on their side so they can achieve some greater purpose. Sadly, this one didn't pan out for me. I think I'm partially salty because I paid 11.99 for this and found it disappointing.
I think the biggest issue for me was that the characters' actions didn't make sense, so they didn't feel believable. In addition, every character is exactly as you see them at first, with no nuance or surprise.
Giselle is not good at living in hiding and pretending to have lower status. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there are no consequences for her actions!
I think the biggest issue for me was that the characters' actions didn't make sense, so they didn't feel believable. In addition, every character is exactly as you see them at first, with no nuance or surprise.
Giselle is not good at living in hiding and pretending to have lower status. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there are no consequences for her actions!
July 28, 2013
WHY DID THIS BOOK HAVE TO END? I vote this becomes a series if that isn't already part of the plan. Like now. Can I have the second book please?
Part spy drama, part victorian mystery, part historical romance - Gigi aka Miss Barrington aka Madame Lavéel sees her father murdered during a ball in Stockholm by a traitor searching for the confidential document - that she holds in secret. She's catapulted into hiding, pretending to be a cook in London and trying to find a person she can trust to pass the document on to and to help her find the killer. I read it in one day - and may reread it to enjoy it again.
Part spy drama, part victorian mystery, part historical romance - Gigi aka Miss Barrington aka Madame Lavéel sees her father murdered during a ball in Stockholm by a traitor searching for the confidential document - that she holds in secret. She's catapulted into hiding, pretending to be a cook in London and trying to find a person she can trust to pass the document on to and to help her find the killer. I read it in one day - and may reread it to enjoy it again.
April 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. The heroine was capable and interesting and drove the plot very well. Her intended largely set out to be a good human. The treaty letter was the perfect way to tell this story and it was fast paced and well laid out. As with all of them in this series, I felt the ending to be very abrupt. I could have used an epilogue or another few chapters. I also wish there would have been more time spent on her journey as a proper unchaperoned miss to London. That would have made for some great adventuring.
November 6, 2013
I have no idea how Michelle Diener does it! She writes one book after another with an awesome plot, great characters and where the women are genuinely strong and not closet doormats. I am a huge fan. In terms of sheer quality Banquet of Lies was no different from her other works.
Banquet of Lies is about Giselle Barrington, who escapes Sweden after she sees her father murdered for an important diplomatic document. What the murderer did not know was that her father had entrusted the letter to Gigi earlier that day. So she comes back to London but knows she can’t go back to her own house. She approaches an old family friend who helps set her up with a job as a chef at a young lord’s house (Lord Aldridge) so she can lie low as well as keep an eye on her house since their houses are close. She is also trying to figure who she can hand over the letter to. This is compounded because the man who killed her father was an Englishman and therefore a traitor. So she decides to lie low and carry on her own investigation. Unbeknownst to her, Lord Aldridge actually works for the Crown and he and his colleagues are looking for her after they find out that her father, Lord Barrington was killed. There are couple of hits and misses and wires that get crossed. But never to the point where it becomes cumbersome and annoying. It feels very organic and the intrigue angle is very well handled. This is something that Diener does very well. She weaves in her characters and fictitious events with actual historical events and personalities. The tension escalates as the plot progresses and reaches a crescendo to the extent that I was sorely tempted to skip ahead to find out how things ended. But I managed to keep myself from doing that (phew!)
The one thing that’s a given with any of her Diener’s books is that the characters will be amazing and Banquet of Lies did not disappoint. Her characters are so well conceived and translated so well on paper that it’s almost if these people are real and not a figment of someone’s imagination. There are characters that are merely mentioned once or twice but she gives you such a strong impression of them and their personalities that they seem very real, like Gigi’s mother, Adele for instance.
I loved Giselle Barrington. She was strong and independent in the true sense where she did not wait for a man to come to her rescue. She depended on her wits for her safety. Even her interactions with Lord Aldridge were devoid of any silly simpering. She was matter-of-fact and no-nonsense.
Then there is Lord Aldridge who was a good love-interest. He was interesting and multi-dimensional. He was not a spoilt brat and treated the people under his roof with kindness, fairness and respect. He was level-headed and not quick to jump to conclusions. The scenes between him and Gigi were fun because of the banter though it lacked the bite of The Emperor’s Conspiracy but that’s to be expected because Gigi was pretending to be his chef and therefore couldn’t be very free or informal in her speech. Although, compared to Durnham, Aldridge was more on the bland side.
I even loved the secondary characters. Iris is among my favourites. She was so awesome, a true Valkyrie. And also Georges. He really cared about Gigi and it was nice to see how protective he was of her.
Since this book is loosely connected to The Emperor’s Conspiracy, there are some characters from that book who appear here as well. Charlotte was present and it was fun to see her again as well as Lord Durnham as well Dervish.
Edgars, Aldridge’s butler was absolutely detestable. I hated him more than I hated the actual bad guy and that’s saying something. He was like a cockroach that I wanted to smash under my foot repeatedly till he was little better than some indistinguishable mush on the floor. That’s my only complaint with the book, there was so scene where he was fired with much fan-fair.
Considering that Diener writes historical fiction, she also makes some general statement about the condition of women and where they stood socially and this is also something that Banquet of Lies highlights.
One word of advice, it might be a good idea to eat before you pick up this book. There are so many mentions of absolutely delicious food that before long your stomach will start rumbling. It might also help to keep snacks within reach.
I really enjoyed Banquet of Lies and finished it in one sitting. It was fast-paced with a tight and very engaging plot and beautifully realised characters. What’s not to love!
Banquet of Lies is about Giselle Barrington, who escapes Sweden after she sees her father murdered for an important diplomatic document. What the murderer did not know was that her father had entrusted the letter to Gigi earlier that day. So she comes back to London but knows she can’t go back to her own house. She approaches an old family friend who helps set her up with a job as a chef at a young lord’s house (Lord Aldridge) so she can lie low as well as keep an eye on her house since their houses are close. She is also trying to figure who she can hand over the letter to. This is compounded because the man who killed her father was an Englishman and therefore a traitor. So she decides to lie low and carry on her own investigation. Unbeknownst to her, Lord Aldridge actually works for the Crown and he and his colleagues are looking for her after they find out that her father, Lord Barrington was killed. There are couple of hits and misses and wires that get crossed. But never to the point where it becomes cumbersome and annoying. It feels very organic and the intrigue angle is very well handled. This is something that Diener does very well. She weaves in her characters and fictitious events with actual historical events and personalities. The tension escalates as the plot progresses and reaches a crescendo to the extent that I was sorely tempted to skip ahead to find out how things ended. But I managed to keep myself from doing that (phew!)
The one thing that’s a given with any of her Diener’s books is that the characters will be amazing and Banquet of Lies did not disappoint. Her characters are so well conceived and translated so well on paper that it’s almost if these people are real and not a figment of someone’s imagination. There are characters that are merely mentioned once or twice but she gives you such a strong impression of them and their personalities that they seem very real, like Gigi’s mother, Adele for instance.
I loved Giselle Barrington. She was strong and independent in the true sense where she did not wait for a man to come to her rescue. She depended on her wits for her safety. Even her interactions with Lord Aldridge were devoid of any silly simpering. She was matter-of-fact and no-nonsense.
Then there is Lord Aldridge who was a good love-interest. He was interesting and multi-dimensional. He was not a spoilt brat and treated the people under his roof with kindness, fairness and respect. He was level-headed and not quick to jump to conclusions. The scenes between him and Gigi were fun because of the banter though it lacked the bite of The Emperor’s Conspiracy but that’s to be expected because Gigi was pretending to be his chef and therefore couldn’t be very free or informal in her speech. Although, compared to Durnham, Aldridge was more on the bland side.
I even loved the secondary characters. Iris is among my favourites. She was so awesome, a true Valkyrie. And also Georges. He really cared about Gigi and it was nice to see how protective he was of her.
Since this book is loosely connected to The Emperor’s Conspiracy, there are some characters from that book who appear here as well. Charlotte was present and it was fun to see her again as well as Lord Durnham as well Dervish.
Edgars, Aldridge’s butler was absolutely detestable. I hated him more than I hated the actual bad guy and that’s saying something. He was like a cockroach that I wanted to smash under my foot repeatedly till he was little better than some indistinguishable mush on the floor. That’s my only complaint with the book, there was so scene where he was fired with much fan-fair.
Considering that Diener writes historical fiction, she also makes some general statement about the condition of women and where they stood socially and this is also something that Banquet of Lies highlights.
One word of advice, it might be a good idea to eat before you pick up this book. There are so many mentions of absolutely delicious food that before long your stomach will start rumbling. It might also help to keep snacks within reach.
I really enjoyed Banquet of Lies and finished it in one sitting. It was fast-paced with a tight and very engaging plot and beautifully realised characters. What’s not to love!
August 11, 2016
Favorite quote: "Her gaze followed his to the library. "Never trust a woman-hater, Lord Aldridge. There is something wrong with a person who hates half the human race.""
This book is number two in what appears to be turning into a series (yay!!!). Unfortunately, I read this one first, realized it was a series, and was lucky enough to have already checked out the previous novel during a library visit. Get on that, Goodreads. You failed me this time.
Things I am learning about Michelle Diener:
--Don't expect explicitly stated HEA's. The HEA from Diener's previous book, The Emperor's Conspiracy, is revealed in Banquet of Lies. I expect we'll get more about Giselle and Jonathan's story in an as-yet-to-be-announced installment in this series. I certainly hope we get something on spymaster Lord Dervish or the intriguing and mysterious Duke of Wittaker. Wittaker certainly seems to be a fan favorite!
--Expect for Really Big Stuff to happen completely off the page. For example, after Giselle Barrington's diplomat father is murdered at the beginning of the story, Giselle travels from Sweden to England with LOTS of luggage completely unattended and NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW. I find it strange that none of the spymasters in this book has ever heard of ship manifests. Really?!? And while a woman travelling with a man wouldn't have drawn much notice, a woman of Giselle's class travelling alone with a large amount of luggage would have been remarked on and remembered, and that this is completely glossed over is a little troubling to me.
--Expect the hero/heroine to keep their own counsel. A LOT. I've complained in the past about characters in books talking each other to death, and these characters have the opposite problem: The whole story would have ended in the first thirty pages if Giselle had trusted Jonathan even a little. She's written as capable and astute, and yet she keeps Jonathan in the dark even though he's given her no cause to do this. Not so astute after all, it would seem.
--Don't expect sex scenes. I, for one, am relieved. There's enough to establish that the bedroom activity, once it happens, will be good, but it's left to the imagination. (But refer back to my first point.)
--Michelle Diener's writing style will suck you in (unless you get so caught up in the stuff I mentioned above that you get angry, throw the book at the wall, and march straight to your computer to add the novel to the dreaded "DNF" category in your Goodreads account).
I actually feel a little bad about a 3-star rating, because I really wish I could give it a 3.5. I really enjoyed this story, and found many of the supporting details to be interesting. I wish that there was more resolution (i.e., a come-to-Jesus moment for a character that never seems to happen), but I am eagerly waiting to see what happens next in the community Michelle Diener is creating!
This book is number two in what appears to be turning into a series (yay!!!). Unfortunately, I read this one first, realized it was a series, and was lucky enough to have already checked out the previous novel during a library visit. Get on that, Goodreads. You failed me this time.
Things I am learning about Michelle Diener:
--Don't expect explicitly stated HEA's. The HEA from Diener's previous book, The Emperor's Conspiracy, is revealed in Banquet of Lies. I expect we'll get more about Giselle and Jonathan's story in an as-yet-to-be-announced installment in this series. I certainly hope we get something on spymaster Lord Dervish or the intriguing and mysterious Duke of Wittaker. Wittaker certainly seems to be a fan favorite!
--Expect for Really Big Stuff to happen completely off the page. For example, after Giselle Barrington's diplomat father is murdered at the beginning of the story, Giselle travels from Sweden to England with LOTS of luggage completely unattended and NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW. I find it strange that none of the spymasters in this book has ever heard of ship manifests. Really?!? And while a woman travelling with a man wouldn't have drawn much notice, a woman of Giselle's class travelling alone with a large amount of luggage would have been remarked on and remembered, and that this is completely glossed over is a little troubling to me.
--Expect the hero/heroine to keep their own counsel. A LOT. I've complained in the past about characters in books talking each other to death, and these characters have the opposite problem: The whole story would have ended in the first thirty pages if Giselle had trusted Jonathan even a little. She's written as capable and astute, and yet she keeps Jonathan in the dark even though he's given her no cause to do this. Not so astute after all, it would seem.
--Don't expect sex scenes. I, for one, am relieved. There's enough to establish that the bedroom activity, once it happens, will be good, but it's left to the imagination. (But refer back to my first point.)
--Michelle Diener's writing style will suck you in (unless you get so caught up in the stuff I mentioned above that you get angry, throw the book at the wall, and march straight to your computer to add the novel to the dreaded "DNF" category in your Goodreads account).
I actually feel a little bad about a 3-star rating, because I really wish I could give it a 3.5. I really enjoyed this story, and found many of the supporting details to be interesting. I wish that there was more resolution (i.e., a come-to-Jesus moment for a character that never seems to happen), but I am eagerly waiting to see what happens next in the community Michelle Diener is creating!
December 17, 2013
I loved this novel – the characters, the tightly woven plot, the tension thrumming in the air, and the fast pacing. A historical thriller, set in 1812, the book also includes a romantic element.
In the beginning of the story, twenty-one-year-old Gigi, the only daughter of a famous British folklorist, is at a society ball in Stockholm. She witnesses her father’s murder by a traitor and knows the killer would be after her next, hunting for an important political document. Fleeing for her life, she arrives in London – to hide and decide what to do. The rest of the story consists of the deadly cat-and-mouse game Gigi and the murderer play with each other. He wants to find her and the document to avoid exposure. She wants to protect the document and survive in the process.
I like Gigi. A smart and proud girl, she is brave one moment, scared the next. Balancing between grief for her father, fear and loneliness, she has no kin to turn to. Unable to go home, where surely the villain would be waiting, she has to fend for herself in the unforgiving streets of London, and she still finds strength and determination in her heart to help others, less fortunate. Her compassion feels boundless, and her intellect and poise are formidable. An all-together admirable heroine, plucky and emotional, she is nonetheless vulnerable, and some of her decisions are surprisingly silly, leading to more complications in her already entangled predicament. In short – she is alive, the best compliment I could pay to a writer.
The other characters are less so, but the male protagonist, Lord Aldridge, is portrayed skillfully enough to satisfy even the harshest critics. Personally, I’m indifferent to him. I think male characters are not the author’s forte, while her female protagonists are always first class.
Of course there are problems in this novel too; that’s why 4 stars instead of 5 stars. One of the problems concerns the writing. It is terse, almost devoid of adjectives, which some readers might enjoy but I find a tad dry. It’s adequate to convey the non-stop action, but the descriptions suffer, minimized to rare and puny one-liners. For me, that’s a flaw; I like an occasional verbal arabesque or a lovely metaphor enlivening the narration, but that’s my personal opinion.
Another problem – the romance line seems alien to the plot, tucked in to satisfy the marketing department. The story doesn’t need it and wouldn’t suffer if it was removed.
Other than these two minor hitches, the rest is almost perfect. Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. This is the third novel by this writer I’ve read, and they’re getting progressively better. Everything she writes in the future would definitely be on my automatic to-read list.
Well done!
In the beginning of the story, twenty-one-year-old Gigi, the only daughter of a famous British folklorist, is at a society ball in Stockholm. She witnesses her father’s murder by a traitor and knows the killer would be after her next, hunting for an important political document. Fleeing for her life, she arrives in London – to hide and decide what to do. The rest of the story consists of the deadly cat-and-mouse game Gigi and the murderer play with each other. He wants to find her and the document to avoid exposure. She wants to protect the document and survive in the process.
I like Gigi. A smart and proud girl, she is brave one moment, scared the next. Balancing between grief for her father, fear and loneliness, she has no kin to turn to. Unable to go home, where surely the villain would be waiting, she has to fend for herself in the unforgiving streets of London, and she still finds strength and determination in her heart to help others, less fortunate. Her compassion feels boundless, and her intellect and poise are formidable. An all-together admirable heroine, plucky and emotional, she is nonetheless vulnerable, and some of her decisions are surprisingly silly, leading to more complications in her already entangled predicament. In short – she is alive, the best compliment I could pay to a writer.
The other characters are less so, but the male protagonist, Lord Aldridge, is portrayed skillfully enough to satisfy even the harshest critics. Personally, I’m indifferent to him. I think male characters are not the author’s forte, while her female protagonists are always first class.
Of course there are problems in this novel too; that’s why 4 stars instead of 5 stars. One of the problems concerns the writing. It is terse, almost devoid of adjectives, which some readers might enjoy but I find a tad dry. It’s adequate to convey the non-stop action, but the descriptions suffer, minimized to rare and puny one-liners. For me, that’s a flaw; I like an occasional verbal arabesque or a lovely metaphor enlivening the narration, but that’s my personal opinion.
Another problem – the romance line seems alien to the plot, tucked in to satisfy the marketing department. The story doesn’t need it and wouldn’t suffer if it was removed.
Other than these two minor hitches, the rest is almost perfect. Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. This is the third novel by this writer I’ve read, and they’re getting progressively better. Everything she writes in the future would definitely be on my automatic to-read list.
Well done!
November 12, 2013
Banquet of Lies is a delightful read, but not for all the obvious reasons. The things that make this such an enjoyable foray into fiction, are not the obvious intrigue and cloak and dagger spy play. While those aspects are important as plot drivers and an overall "raison d'etre", it is the interpersonal relationships between characters that makes this story delectable.
Madame Leveel
Though this character begins life as a ruse for Giselle, her crisp demeanor, eye for detail, and love of cooking soon give her a life if her own. Giselle spends so much time in character as Madame Leveel, that one tends to think of her as such until something in the story proves otherwise.
Giselle
She is a loveable and quite resourceful young woman who, as it turns out, proves herself to be better at subterfuge than any of her male counterparts. She would have been such an asset to her father if he had only let her in on a few things.
She is a character that one can't help rooting for, but at the same time one can't help fearing for her safety and her heart.
Jonathan
Herein lies the fun and romantic side of this book. He is so taken by the new cook that class and status be damned. He must find out who she is and protect her at all costs! Need I say more?
The Help
The staff of Lord Aldrige's kitchens made for great reading. The butler and all of his scheming, lying and plotting is someone truly vile.
The Final Say
This is a wonderful story for those who want a character driven tale. The cat and mouse surrounding The Crown, letters, and the death of Giselle's father tends to muddy the waters a bit, but the romance banter food and fun more than makes up for that.
Just a side note...
It is advisable that anyone considering this book should eat before or while reading. The descriptions of food courses prepared will otherwise lead to chewing on furniture. - See more at: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2013/...
Madame Leveel
Though this character begins life as a ruse for Giselle, her crisp demeanor, eye for detail, and love of cooking soon give her a life if her own. Giselle spends so much time in character as Madame Leveel, that one tends to think of her as such until something in the story proves otherwise.
Giselle
She is a loveable and quite resourceful young woman who, as it turns out, proves herself to be better at subterfuge than any of her male counterparts. She would have been such an asset to her father if he had only let her in on a few things.
She is a character that one can't help rooting for, but at the same time one can't help fearing for her safety and her heart.
Jonathan
Herein lies the fun and romantic side of this book. He is so taken by the new cook that class and status be damned. He must find out who she is and protect her at all costs! Need I say more?
The Help
The staff of Lord Aldrige's kitchens made for great reading. The butler and all of his scheming, lying and plotting is someone truly vile.
The Final Say
This is a wonderful story for those who want a character driven tale. The cat and mouse surrounding The Crown, letters, and the death of Giselle's father tends to muddy the waters a bit, but the romance banter food and fun more than makes up for that.
Just a side note...
It is advisable that anyone considering this book should eat before or while reading. The descriptions of food courses prepared will otherwise lead to chewing on furniture. - See more at: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2013/...
October 25, 2013
THE BOOKISH DAME REVIEWS :
Michele Diener's new novel "Banquet of Lies" takes us away to the proverbial Upstairs-Downstairs scenario, but this time it's fraught with a mystery and suspense that is adult and unexpected. I found nothing at all juvenile about this story, which was a pleasant relief from some of the historical fiction I'd read in the past. Ms Diener has a quick wit that leaves us wanting more.
Her main protagonists are real and accessible with problems that are strong enough to keep you guessing about the different characters they encounter. Giselle is a bright and independent girl for her time who doesn't let horrific circumstances stop her from finishing an important task set before her...even the attraction she has for her employer. And, the villains she comes across are truly worthy!
The women in this novel are many, and reflect the strong attachment women can have in this world, both domestic and "top of the stairs," as represented by Giselle. I was most impressed by the author's willingness to show this. I loved the group of strong companions who held together in their efforts to support each other against an often male dominated society.
Ms Diener is an accomplished author who knows how to keep your interest and writes a twisting novel of suspense. It never failed to keep my interest...to keep me guessing to the end with surprises. She's at the top of her game, and I look forward to what she has brewing for us in her next novel.
Recommended for all lovers of historical fiction with suspense and a thriller component!
4 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
Michele Diener's new novel "Banquet of Lies" takes us away to the proverbial Upstairs-Downstairs scenario, but this time it's fraught with a mystery and suspense that is adult and unexpected. I found nothing at all juvenile about this story, which was a pleasant relief from some of the historical fiction I'd read in the past. Ms Diener has a quick wit that leaves us wanting more.
Her main protagonists are real and accessible with problems that are strong enough to keep you guessing about the different characters they encounter. Giselle is a bright and independent girl for her time who doesn't let horrific circumstances stop her from finishing an important task set before her...even the attraction she has for her employer. And, the villains she comes across are truly worthy!
The women in this novel are many, and reflect the strong attachment women can have in this world, both domestic and "top of the stairs," as represented by Giselle. I was most impressed by the author's willingness to show this. I loved the group of strong companions who held together in their efforts to support each other against an often male dominated society.
Ms Diener is an accomplished author who knows how to keep your interest and writes a twisting novel of suspense. It never failed to keep my interest...to keep me guessing to the end with surprises. She's at the top of her game, and I look forward to what she has brewing for us in her next novel.
Recommended for all lovers of historical fiction with suspense and a thriller component!
4 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
October 24, 2013
This novel was a very very fast read! It jumped right into the story which was refreshing. I loved that I didn’t have to read a few chapters before things got going, it immediately grabbed my attention and I wanted to know what happened next. The chapters were very direct and to the point….there wasn’t a lot of fluff going on which I also liked. It made things happen fast and the story clip along at a steady pace. I couldn’t believe I read almost the first half in one sitting!
Gigi was also fun and spunky. I never felt like she was overly stubborn or too innocent. She seemed like a woman well in charge of herself and her faculties and didn’t really need anyone but at the same time was vulnerable and sweet.
The only issues I had with the book was some of the prose. For me the linguists seemed a little too modern and out of place. There were times that I found myself a little put off by some of the choice of phrases in the novel….they seemed out of place not only for the period but for the social class as well. I expect the upper class or ‘nobs’ to speak a little more eloquently, polished, and poised than some of what I read in sections of the novel.
Overall the novel was a fun, cheeky read. I liked the characters and the storyline was original enough to keep me interested in what happened next. I was still guessing at the shadowy man’s identity all the way through till the end. I look forward to reading more from her!
See my full review here
Gigi was also fun and spunky. I never felt like she was overly stubborn or too innocent. She seemed like a woman well in charge of herself and her faculties and didn’t really need anyone but at the same time was vulnerable and sweet.
The only issues I had with the book was some of the prose. For me the linguists seemed a little too modern and out of place. There were times that I found myself a little put off by some of the choice of phrases in the novel….they seemed out of place not only for the period but for the social class as well. I expect the upper class or ‘nobs’ to speak a little more eloquently, polished, and poised than some of what I read in sections of the novel.
Overall the novel was a fun, cheeky read. I liked the characters and the storyline was original enough to keep me interested in what happened next. I was still guessing at the shadowy man’s identity all the way through till the end. I look forward to reading more from her!
See my full review here
April 27, 2014
This was my first encounter with Michelle Diener- and I wish I had known about her sooner! I read this book over the course of a lazy Sunday afternoon; it was the perfect way to spend the day. I am always a fan of historical fiction mysteries and Diener did not disappoint with this book.
Young Giselle Barrington is witness to her father's brutal murder over a political document he gave her for safekeeping. She is forced into hiding with the dual purpose of discovering who her father's killer is as well as who can be trusted with this sought after document. She poses as a French cook, her love and study of cuisine lends itself to this perfect hiding place. Diener's descriptions of the culinary dishes Giselle makes are amazing. I was left searching for a nearby French restaurant after reading this book. While in hiding, Giselle makes some helpful friends as well as dangerous enemies. She finds herself fighting an attraction for her employer, Lord Aldridge. Aldridge also is intrigued with Giselle and suspects she is more than she seems. Aldridge and Giselle find themselves allies in the mystery to discover who the murderer is and protecting the political document at all costs. Giselle finds herself the target of a deadly man who will stop at nothing to obtain this document.
An extremely pleasant read and I look forward to the next installment in the series!
October 29, 2013
"Banquet of Lies" is Michelle Diener's latest release. This historical fiction book follows Giselle, a brave young woman, who is trying to hide from the person who killed her father all while protecting an incredibly important document.
I've read a couple of Ms. Diener's books by now and one thing that I really have enjoyed about her book (and I've liked a lot of things about her books) is the great characters. I really, really liked Gigi. She is one brave lady. She also has a quick wit, which I appreciated! It would have been so easy for her to just hide but she realizes the mission that her father was on and duty comes before safety, which made for a thoroughly engaging and exciting read!
The setting of the book was fascinating for me. I haven't read a lot of books set in the early 1800s and I love just about anything set in London. I love visiting some place new through books. This book definitely did that for me, which was very exciting!
Umm, and also Gigi is acting as a cook for Lord Aldridge, which means that this book is chock full of delicious food. I don't know about you but as a foodie, any book with delicious food is also very exciting for me.
Overall, this was a fun adventure!
I've read a couple of Ms. Diener's books by now and one thing that I really have enjoyed about her book (and I've liked a lot of things about her books) is the great characters. I really, really liked Gigi. She is one brave lady. She also has a quick wit, which I appreciated! It would have been so easy for her to just hide but she realizes the mission that her father was on and duty comes before safety, which made for a thoroughly engaging and exciting read!
The setting of the book was fascinating for me. I haven't read a lot of books set in the early 1800s and I love just about anything set in London. I love visiting some place new through books. This book definitely did that for me, which was very exciting!
Umm, and also Gigi is acting as a cook for Lord Aldridge, which means that this book is chock full of delicious food. I don't know about you but as a foodie, any book with delicious food is also very exciting for me.
Overall, this was a fun adventure!
November 2, 2013
The plot is interesting, spanning over countries. A man has been killed in Sweden over a politically sensitive document concerning the fates of England, France and Russia. But the murder has been witnessed by the man's daughter, Giselle, who has the document and now the murderer is looking for her. She escapes her pursuer, returns to England and takes shelter at the house of an apparently insignificant Lord Alridge as a French cook. And thus begins the wild goose chase. Well, this book could have been way better. In spite of the seemingly riveting plot, there is something essentially missing. Even the romance between Giselle and Alridge falls flat. There are some interesting characters, like an overbearing but fiercely loyal French chef Georges, an uptight butler Edgars, and a highly suspicious but handsome Duke who is a special appearance but nevertheless piques one's curiosity. The book is somewhat open-ended. But all these are still not enough to lift the book or garner the necessary interest.
May 9, 2022
A romance that was hard to put down
The story starts off with danger, excitement and a resourceful heroine. The excitement doesn’t stop as Gigi hides from a murderer at the same time she is looking to give an important document to someone safe in the government. Lord Aldridge is in desperate need of a good meal and hires an excellent French cook who doesn’t quite fit. The dropped hints, the chemistry, workings of the servants and very interesting, distinct personalities of the secondary characters added so much more to the story. This goes on my keeper shelf.
The story starts off with danger, excitement and a resourceful heroine. The excitement doesn’t stop as Gigi hides from a murderer at the same time she is looking to give an important document to someone safe in the government. Lord Aldridge is in desperate need of a good meal and hires an excellent French cook who doesn’t quite fit. The dropped hints, the chemistry, workings of the servants and very interesting, distinct personalities of the secondary characters added so much more to the story. This goes on my keeper shelf.
November 24, 2013
I loved writing Banquet of Lies. I love cooking and baking myself, and I've made all the recipes in this book. Readers can find the recipes on my website, if you'd like to try any of them yourselves. (http://www.michellediener.com/books/b...)
July 23, 2014
Meh. It comes across as stale next to the first in the series.
And there is a truly spectacular typo at the bottom of page 306 that someone at Simon and Schuster should be fired over.
And there is a truly spectacular typo at the bottom of page 306 that someone at Simon and Schuster should be fired over.
April 13, 2025
TLDR: I love everything about this story, from the food, to the secondary characters, to the mystery. Love it.
https://klishis.com/reading/archives/...
https://klishis.com/reading/archives/...
April 26, 2014
Meet Miss Giselle Barrington. She is stunningly beautiful, fluent in multiple languages, has published papers in prestigious research journals across Europe and is writing a book.
She is also capable of managing a professional kitchen by herself and turning out delectable French cuisine three meals a day without breaking a sweat.
Oh. And did I mention she’s only twenty-one?
When her father is murdered by an English traitor in Sweden, his daughter becomes the next target. Giselle flees back to England, bearing a document that will decide the fate of the entire Anglo-Russian Alliance. Which her perfectly sane father somehow thought would be a good idea to entrust to her without telling her what it contains, who his contacts are, or what on earth she is supposed to do with it if something happens to him.
Let’s get something straight. When I settled down to read this book, I was prepared to enjoy myself very much. Cookery, historical fiction and a good adventure-mystery all rolled in to one, with a splash of romance on the side; how could I not? The concept of Cinderella with a culinary twist hooked me in. I’ll willingly ignore any number of inconsistencies for the sake of a plot and can be pretty determined not to let a premise, however unlikely, deter me from the pleasures of a good yarn.
I read on.
Disguised as Madame Laveel, Giselle takes on the position of French cook near her father’s estate in London. Her plan? To keep watch in the hope of ensnaring her father’s murderer when he comes to find her.
By this time I was rubbing my hands with glee. Thus far our heroine had shown a more than a bit of pluck and ingenuity. I was busting to see how the villain would be brought down by the wily, spunky little avenger in the French apron.
Alas, this is where Lord Aldridge enters the story. Jonathan is handsome; a decorated officer, he has returned from the army to fill his deceased brother’s title.
Did I mention he's handsome?
And that’s about all we really learn about his past and his motivations.
From literally the first second he sets eyes on Madame Laveel, he is infatuated with her. Even when she accuses him to his face of extorting sexual favors from one of the other servants, he barely seems to notice. When the poor butler dares to make a similar insinuation, Aldridge is so insulted by the idea he threatens to fire him if he ever does so again. Despite that only a few chapters on, when such an affair is under full swing, Aldridge seems to have no qualms about it whatsoever.
This is what disappointed me the most about Banquet of Lies.
I wasn't expecting much, but if a book is touted as ‘heroine goes from nobility to servitude and “learns the hard lessons of class distinction and negotiates the delicate balance between servant and master”’, shouldn't it at least attempt to address some aspect of these issues? The double standard that the author sets her own characters left me dumbfounded.
If Aldridge’s relationship with Giselle had developed beyond the initial stage of physical attraction, I would have been content to call it a romance, rather than the lust affair that it really is. He learns nothing about the character, history or even personality of his cook until the last few pages of the story.
In spite of this, Aldridge fantasizes about her, stalks her, even sexually assaults her in a back alley several times (no, really!) and somehow convinces himself that his behavior is justifiable. Several of the chapters and scenes are written from his perspective, and not once do I recall a single reason for his ‘love’ for her, other than that her eyes are pretty, her neck is long, her lips, her body, rah, rah, rah.
And perhaps even more shockingly, Giselle allows it! Despite not trusting him, despite being afraid of him. She also gives no reason for her supposed regard for him, citing only the physical sensations she feels when he is around.
The double standard subplot? Halfway through the story, we discover that the son of one of his aristocratic neighbors has been mistreating and messing about with his female staff. Toward the end, Lord Aldridge takes it upon himself to accost, blackmail, insult and physically threaten said youngster, before leaving, smug in the knowledge that he is doing his part to prevent such injustice. I could not believe it.
The author condemns said young man’s behavior. At the same time she condones a relationship between master and servant that is, for all intents and purposes, the same. Except that Madame Laveel is secretly Miss Barington, a member of the upper class, and therefore it is perfectly acceptable. What? Lord Aldridge doesn't know she's a member of the upper class. As far as he is concerned, she is simply a cook who might be incapable of rejecting his advances for fear of losing her position. They never once discuss it.
Let's get something straight here. Sexual assault is sexual assault. Period. It doesn't matter if the bloke is the handsomest on the planet or as ugly as sin. If he's forcing his attention on someone without consulting their wishes first, it's assault. Why do authors think it is okay to write this into their 'romances' and pass it off as love???
On at least three occasions, Lord Aldridge kisses and/or handles Giselle without her permission, even detaining her forcibly to do so. How, by any stretch of the imagination, is this okay?
But let’s put the issue of assault aside for a moment to find out what happens to our smart ’n’ spunky heroine.
Well, a few flashes of brilliance not included, Giselle grows progressively stupider and stupider. She puts herself in every possible form of danger and is about as un-covert as someone in her position could be. Seriously. Every time she does anything that could look the least bit suspect, such as rifling through Lord Aldridge’s letters or sneaking around at all hours of the day or night, she gets caught red-handed. 90% of the time by Aldridge himself. Who doesn't seem to care. Providing he can kiss her, that is. But I digress.
All Giselle’s blundering around leads to
Overall, I did get a lot of enjoyment out of this story. The cooking aspects, although few and far between, were interesting and full of flavor, even serving to advance the plot on several occasions. Many aspects of this story held a lot of promise, but fell disappointingly by the wayside of a faux romance.
If the relationships in Banquet of Lies had been explored to more depth, treated for what they really were, the story may have developed into an interesting exploration of master-servant affairs and abuse. Instead, we have a shallow, unmoving and typical teenage fiction romance. Which I would be reluctant to recommend to anyone, let alone a teenager.
She is also capable of managing a professional kitchen by herself and turning out delectable French cuisine three meals a day without breaking a sweat.
Oh. And did I mention she’s only twenty-one?
When her father is murdered by an English traitor in Sweden, his daughter becomes the next target. Giselle flees back to England, bearing a document that will decide the fate of the entire Anglo-Russian Alliance. Which her perfectly sane father somehow thought would be a good idea to entrust to her without telling her what it contains, who his contacts are, or what on earth she is supposed to do with it if something happens to him.
Let’s get something straight. When I settled down to read this book, I was prepared to enjoy myself very much. Cookery, historical fiction and a good adventure-mystery all rolled in to one, with a splash of romance on the side; how could I not? The concept of Cinderella with a culinary twist hooked me in. I’ll willingly ignore any number of inconsistencies for the sake of a plot and can be pretty determined not to let a premise, however unlikely, deter me from the pleasures of a good yarn.
I read on.
Disguised as Madame Laveel, Giselle takes on the position of French cook near her father’s estate in London. Her plan? To keep watch in the hope of ensnaring her father’s murderer when he comes to find her.
By this time I was rubbing my hands with glee. Thus far our heroine had shown a more than a bit of pluck and ingenuity. I was busting to see how the villain would be brought down by the wily, spunky little avenger in the French apron.
Alas, this is where Lord Aldridge enters the story. Jonathan is handsome; a decorated officer, he has returned from the army to fill his deceased brother’s title.
Did I mention he's handsome?
And that’s about all we really learn about his past and his motivations.
From literally the first second he sets eyes on Madame Laveel, he is infatuated with her. Even when she accuses him to his face of extorting sexual favors from one of the other servants, he barely seems to notice. When the poor butler dares to make a similar insinuation, Aldridge is so insulted by the idea he threatens to fire him if he ever does so again. Despite that only a few chapters on, when such an affair is under full swing, Aldridge seems to have no qualms about it whatsoever.
This is what disappointed me the most about Banquet of Lies.
I wasn't expecting much, but if a book is touted as ‘heroine goes from nobility to servitude and “learns the hard lessons of class distinction and negotiates the delicate balance between servant and master”’, shouldn't it at least attempt to address some aspect of these issues? The double standard that the author sets her own characters left me dumbfounded.
If Aldridge’s relationship with Giselle had developed beyond the initial stage of physical attraction, I would have been content to call it a romance, rather than the lust affair that it really is. He learns nothing about the character, history or even personality of his cook until the last few pages of the story.
In spite of this, Aldridge fantasizes about her, stalks her, even sexually assaults her in a back alley several times (no, really!) and somehow convinces himself that his behavior is justifiable. Several of the chapters and scenes are written from his perspective, and not once do I recall a single reason for his ‘love’ for her, other than that her eyes are pretty, her neck is long, her lips, her body, rah, rah, rah.
And perhaps even more shockingly, Giselle allows it! Despite not trusting him, despite being afraid of him. She also gives no reason for her supposed regard for him, citing only the physical sensations she feels when he is around.
The double standard subplot? Halfway through the story, we discover that the son of one of his aristocratic neighbors has been mistreating and messing about with his female staff. Toward the end, Lord Aldridge takes it upon himself to accost, blackmail, insult and physically threaten said youngster, before leaving, smug in the knowledge that he is doing his part to prevent such injustice. I could not believe it.
The author condemns said young man’s behavior. At the same time she condones a relationship between master and servant that is, for all intents and purposes, the same. Except that Madame Laveel is secretly Miss Barington, a member of the upper class, and therefore it is perfectly acceptable. What? Lord Aldridge doesn't know she's a member of the upper class. As far as he is concerned, she is simply a cook who might be incapable of rejecting his advances for fear of losing her position. They never once discuss it.
Let's get something straight here. Sexual assault is sexual assault. Period. It doesn't matter if the bloke is the handsomest on the planet or as ugly as sin. If he's forcing his attention on someone without consulting their wishes first, it's assault. Why do authors think it is okay to write this into their 'romances' and pass it off as love???
On at least three occasions, Lord Aldridge kisses and/or handles Giselle without her permission, even detaining her forcibly to do so. How, by any stretch of the imagination, is this okay?
But let’s put the issue of assault aside for a moment to find out what happens to our smart ’n’ spunky heroine.
Well, a few flashes of brilliance not included, Giselle grows progressively stupider and stupider. She puts herself in every possible form of danger and is about as un-covert as someone in her position could be. Seriously. Every time she does anything that could look the least bit suspect, such as rifling through Lord Aldridge’s letters or sneaking around at all hours of the day or night, she gets caught red-handed. 90% of the time by Aldridge himself. Who doesn't seem to care. Providing he can kiss her, that is. But I digress.
All Giselle’s blundering around leads to
Overall, I did get a lot of enjoyment out of this story. The cooking aspects, although few and far between, were interesting and full of flavor, even serving to advance the plot on several occasions. Many aspects of this story held a lot of promise, but fell disappointingly by the wayside of a faux romance.
If the relationships in Banquet of Lies had been explored to more depth, treated for what they really were, the story may have developed into an interesting exploration of master-servant affairs and abuse. Instead, we have a shallow, unmoving and typical teenage fiction romance. Which I would be reluctant to recommend to anyone, let alone a teenager.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2024
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is the second book in the Regency London trilogy. I thought the first book was great and immediately wanted to continue the series. The male main character in this book was briefly introduced in the previous book. It was nice to see Edward and Charlotte from the first in this book and to get an update on his relationship with Charlotte. The male main character from the third book, James, is introduced.
The story is set in Regency London as you might expect from the title of trilogy and tells the story of Jonathan and Giselle or Gigi. Gigi had traveled all over Europe with her father who was a folklorist. While he learned about folklore and acted as a spy, she learned to cook the different cuisines in the areas where they traveled.
The story opens with Gigi seeing her father killed in front of her. She quickly flees back to England with a secret letter that her father had entrusted to her. The letter really existed. Unfortunately, Gigi is unsure who to trust once she gets to London and is resourceful about finding a job as a cook in a house nearby her father’s house. She does so with the hope that she will be able to figure out what to do next.
Gigi was smart, determined, and strong. I liked what she decides to focus on at the end of the book. She was resourceful in trying to figure out what to do. The story alternated between Gigi and Jonathan’s point of view.
Jonathan works for the crown as an agent. He has inherited his title as viscount when his older brother dies. He had been in the military and finds the work for the crown to be satisfying. He was honorable and well intentioned. I liked when, at the end, he stepped in to help the maid in a nearby house. It spoke well of his character.
I would have liked more of a final scene between Gigi and Jonathan although there is one. The book was more about the letter and the situation that Gigi becomes embroiled in.
The secondary characters are interesting. I liked the staff at Jonathan’s house with the exception of Edgars, the butler. I would have liked a determination of what happens to Edgars next.
The story happens over a few days.
This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading it after the first book. There is an overarching theme of the spywork needed during the Napoleonic war. I really like this author and plan to read the final book of the trilogy. I recommend her books.
This book is the second book in the Regency London trilogy. I thought the first book was great and immediately wanted to continue the series. The male main character in this book was briefly introduced in the previous book. It was nice to see Edward and Charlotte from the first in this book and to get an update on his relationship with Charlotte. The male main character from the third book, James, is introduced.
The story is set in Regency London as you might expect from the title of trilogy and tells the story of Jonathan and Giselle or Gigi. Gigi had traveled all over Europe with her father who was a folklorist. While he learned about folklore and acted as a spy, she learned to cook the different cuisines in the areas where they traveled.
The story opens with Gigi seeing her father killed in front of her. She quickly flees back to England with a secret letter that her father had entrusted to her. The letter really existed. Unfortunately, Gigi is unsure who to trust once she gets to London and is resourceful about finding a job as a cook in a house nearby her father’s house. She does so with the hope that she will be able to figure out what to do next.
Gigi was smart, determined, and strong. I liked what she decides to focus on at the end of the book. She was resourceful in trying to figure out what to do. The story alternated between Gigi and Jonathan’s point of view.
Jonathan works for the crown as an agent. He has inherited his title as viscount when his older brother dies. He had been in the military and finds the work for the crown to be satisfying. He was honorable and well intentioned. I liked when, at the end, he stepped in to help the maid in a nearby house. It spoke well of his character.
I would have liked more of a final scene between Gigi and Jonathan although there is one. The book was more about the letter and the situation that Gigi becomes embroiled in.
The secondary characters are interesting. I liked the staff at Jonathan’s house with the exception of Edgars, the butler. I would have liked a determination of what happens to Edgars next.
The story happens over a few days.
This book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading it after the first book. There is an overarching theme of the spywork needed during the Napoleonic war. I really like this author and plan to read the final book of the trilogy. I recommend her books.
March 8, 2022
Giselle Barrington witnesses her father’s murder in Stockholm and then must run for her life back to England. She poses as French cook Madame Laveel, working for Lord Aldridge as she tries to identify someone she can trust to turn over a document vital to the Crown. Lord Aldridge is fascinated with his new cook, but also suspicious, since she cooks like a dream but exhibits some strange behavior. Gigi ends up in some unusual predicaments, and realizes how hard it is to be a servant and at the mercy of others, even as she knows she can resume her privileged life when everything is resolved. She definitely has courage, although I think she took some unnecessary risks, and was fortunate to have her friend and fellow chef, Georges Bisset looking out for her. There was danger and suspense, a touch of humor and a dash of romance, which made me want to keep reading until I found out how it all ended up. I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from the first book in the series again, and look forward to reading the last book which features the Duke of Wittaker.
July 25, 2022
After watching her father murdered Giselle Barrington knew she had to go in hiding. She was holding what the murderer wanted-although she had no idea what it was about or what was in it! She managed to get back to London with no one the wiser. A friend of hers, a renowned chef, helped her find employment as a French Cook in a house a couple of doors from the one she actually owned. Although high born this lady could cook!!
All was well for a while but she kept sneaking out of her place of employment to see if she could catch her father's killer. She also wanted to find someone to give the secret letter to!! The Butler gave her all kinds of trouble--but Lord Aldridge, whose house she was employed loved her cooking and also her.
Thanks to said butler she ends up in jail where her friend the chef--his boss, a Duke and ultimately her boss come to save her. She finally had to come clean about who she really is--nothing like a lie to get you in lots of trouble!! But all's well that ends well!!
All was well for a while but she kept sneaking out of her place of employment to see if she could catch her father's killer. She also wanted to find someone to give the secret letter to!! The Butler gave her all kinds of trouble--but Lord Aldridge, whose house she was employed loved her cooking and also her.
Thanks to said butler she ends up in jail where her friend the chef--his boss, a Duke and ultimately her boss come to save her. She finally had to come clean about who she really is--nothing like a lie to get you in lots of trouble!! But all's well that ends well!!
September 4, 2021
I read this book several years ago and thought highly of it. I re-read it and was sadly a little let down. It still has a fun story line but it’s this constant struggle for Gigi to decide what to do. Who to trust, who to give this document to. I don’t really understand that. She’s with a man (her employer) she says she trusts yet she doesn’t turn to him. Instead she turns to a man she met once (at her employers house so they are obviously friends) and things is the infamous “D” bc that’s what his last name starts with 🤔. I know this drags out the story and actually give you one but it just made the storyline a little muddy for me. Then after all that. All the kisses and tension (which lets be honest wasn’t that strong or impassioned). It ends with 1 line. No real deceleration or love or passionate embrace. It left me wishing the story had a little more to the ending.
March 6, 2022
This is the 2nd of the Regency London series and while it can stand alone it is best to read the The Emperor’s Conspiracy first as you will meet characters introduced in that book and it gives background to Durnham and Dervish. That being said this book was better in my opinion. I liked the twists and turns and deceptions and it was interesting seeing the below stairs drama that the ton would never see or speak about. Giselle’s wit and strength are to be admired and Lord Aldridge was interesting as a man in his own right as well as the romantic interest. I loved Giselle’s French Cook/Chef impression – it was pretty much spot on for that period – a more pompous, self-righteous set of men could not be found and she captured them perfectly! This was entertaining and amusing and kept me up well past my bedtime so that I could reach the end!
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