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Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries #9
The Counterfeit Heiress
In this thrilling new addition to the New York Times bestselling series, Lady Emily travels to Paris where she struggles to unmask a murderer amid a case of assumed identities and shadowy figures
After an odd encounter at a grand masquerade ball, Lady Emily becomes embroiled in the murder investigation of one of the guests, a sometime actress trying to pass herself off as the mysterious heiress and world traveler Estella Lamar. Each small discovery, however, leads to more questions. Was the intended victim Miss Lamar or the imposter? And who would want either of them dead?
As Emily and Colin try to make sense of all this, a larger puzzle begins to emerge: No one has actually seen Estella Lamar in years, since her only contact has been through letters and the occasional blurry news photograph. Is she even alive? Emily and Colin’s investigation of this double mystery takes them from London to Paris, where, along with their friend Cécile, they must scour the darkest corners of the city in search of the truth.
After an odd encounter at a grand masquerade ball, Lady Emily becomes embroiled in the murder investigation of one of the guests, a sometime actress trying to pass herself off as the mysterious heiress and world traveler Estella Lamar. Each small discovery, however, leads to more questions. Was the intended victim Miss Lamar or the imposter? And who would want either of them dead?
As Emily and Colin try to make sense of all this, a larger puzzle begins to emerge: No one has actually seen Estella Lamar in years, since her only contact has been through letters and the occasional blurry news photograph. Is she even alive? Emily and Colin’s investigation of this double mystery takes them from London to Paris, where, along with their friend Cécile, they must scour the darkest corners of the city in search of the truth.
304 pages, ebook
First published October 14, 2014
272 people are currently reading
3471 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
February 14, 2015
This is the 9th book in a mystery series set in Victorian England. But, it works as a stand alone book.
The atmosphere and depth of detail is wonderful The reader feels as though they are traveling in London and Paris along with Emily (our heroine) and Colin (our hero). Colin does work for the Queen – he solves problems, and he is aided in this by his lovely wife, Emily.
Emily and Cecile are very good friends. While they are attending an elaborate costume ball, circumstances present Cecile with the realization that a woman is there pretending to be a long lost friend, Estella Lamar.
When the fake Estella is found dead, Emily and Colin automatically want to find out not only who she is and why in the world would she be murdered? That leads them to begin a search for the real Estella.
Emily and Colin are wonderful characters. Their personalities are well developed and the quality of their relationship is wonderful. It is evident they are happily married and that both of them share a great desire to find the truth in things.
The secondary characters present us with atmosphere and texture which adds to the story. Jeremy and Cecile are close friends who share in trying to solve the mystery. There are also people who appear along the journey toward a solution and each of them help the reader feel immersed in the story.
The plot at times seems involved, but that is because there are layers to the mystery. It is like the reader is untangling a ball of yarn, it takes some time, but is well worth the effort.
Ms Alexander is a wonderful author. Her research is extensive and it shows in the story. Also, at the end of this book, she salutes Elizabeth Peters, one of my favorite authors which shows her very good taste.
I received this book as an Advance Readers’ Edition from the publisher in the hopes that I would provide a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The atmosphere and depth of detail is wonderful The reader feels as though they are traveling in London and Paris along with Emily (our heroine) and Colin (our hero). Colin does work for the Queen – he solves problems, and he is aided in this by his lovely wife, Emily.
Emily and Cecile are very good friends. While they are attending an elaborate costume ball, circumstances present Cecile with the realization that a woman is there pretending to be a long lost friend, Estella Lamar.
When the fake Estella is found dead, Emily and Colin automatically want to find out not only who she is and why in the world would she be murdered? That leads them to begin a search for the real Estella.
Emily and Colin are wonderful characters. Their personalities are well developed and the quality of their relationship is wonderful. It is evident they are happily married and that both of them share a great desire to find the truth in things.
The secondary characters present us with atmosphere and texture which adds to the story. Jeremy and Cecile are close friends who share in trying to solve the mystery. There are also people who appear along the journey toward a solution and each of them help the reader feel immersed in the story.
The plot at times seems involved, but that is because there are layers to the mystery. It is like the reader is untangling a ball of yarn, it takes some time, but is well worth the effort.
Ms Alexander is a wonderful author. Her research is extensive and it shows in the story. Also, at the end of this book, she salutes Elizabeth Peters, one of my favorite authors which shows her very good taste.
I received this book as an Advance Readers’ Edition from the publisher in the hopes that I would provide a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2015
A masquerade ball, an impostor, a murder, a hunt, and a story from the past gives Emily and her associates a new case to solve. It was an interesting situation in which the murder was the less important of mysteries to solve.
This is the ninth installment in the series. I suppose it could be read out of order in a pinch, but the regular characters and their situations make better sense read in series order.
The story opens with Emily and Colin attending a masquerade ball for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. An impostor is unmasked as not the eccentric lady explorer, Estella Lamar. Later the impostor is killed. Colin is given the authority to investigate the murder and Emily helps, but all the while Emily and her friend Cecilie worry about the real Estella Lamar. Nobody has seen her in years as she travels the world. The murder has to tie-in somehow so the Hargreaves, Cecilie and Emily's friend Jeremy all work together to follow the trail of hearsay, old clues, and a mysterious red-haired man to get to the bottom of things.
The book engaged me and I enjoyed it, but I will admit that the tension and suspense were toned down. It was like a previous book in that there were two stories going on every other chapter. There was the murder mystery in Emily's day and a past story thread with Estella Lamar. Both were equally engaging and left me wondering how the past shaped the present.
As I said, the murder was actually not the dominant focus. That's actually not too tough to solve. It's the situation with the real Estella that is the true conundrum. Is she alive? Is she dead? Is she alive, but living in captivity? It was hard to say and I enjoyed the twisty path that led to the truth.
In the end, it was a pleasure as always to immerse myself in a Lady Emily mystery. I didn't feel the tighter suspense of the earlier stories, but it was still a good mystery nonetheless. Historical mystery fans who enjoy authenticity in their backgrounds and settings and well drawn characters should give these a try.
This is the ninth installment in the series. I suppose it could be read out of order in a pinch, but the regular characters and their situations make better sense read in series order.
The story opens with Emily and Colin attending a masquerade ball for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. An impostor is unmasked as not the eccentric lady explorer, Estella Lamar. Later the impostor is killed. Colin is given the authority to investigate the murder and Emily helps, but all the while Emily and her friend Cecilie worry about the real Estella Lamar. Nobody has seen her in years as she travels the world. The murder has to tie-in somehow so the Hargreaves, Cecilie and Emily's friend Jeremy all work together to follow the trail of hearsay, old clues, and a mysterious red-haired man to get to the bottom of things.
The book engaged me and I enjoyed it, but I will admit that the tension and suspense were toned down. It was like a previous book in that there were two stories going on every other chapter. There was the murder mystery in Emily's day and a past story thread with Estella Lamar. Both were equally engaging and left me wondering how the past shaped the present.
As I said, the murder was actually not the dominant focus. That's actually not too tough to solve. It's the situation with the real Estella that is the true conundrum. Is she alive? Is she dead? Is she alive, but living in captivity? It was hard to say and I enjoyed the twisty path that led to the truth.
In the end, it was a pleasure as always to immerse myself in a Lady Emily mystery. I didn't feel the tighter suspense of the earlier stories, but it was still a good mystery nonetheless. Historical mystery fans who enjoy authenticity in their backgrounds and settings and well drawn characters should give these a try.
September 29, 2014
After loving the previous 8 installments in the Lady Emily series, I confess to being underwhelmed by this offering. I feel like the mystery at the heart of the story didn't truly develop or become interesting until over halfway through the book; the usually sparkling characters felt flat and listless; and while there was some satisfaction to be had in the ending, I think the book wasn't over-all intriguing enough to leave a good taste in my mouth.
I desperately wanted this book to be more engaging, after the months I spent waiting for it, but... Here's hoping the next installment is an improvement/return to previous form.
I desperately wanted this book to be more engaging, after the months I spent waiting for it, but... Here's hoping the next installment is an improvement/return to previous form.
October 23, 2014
I love these books. I just do. It's like Christmas every October because a new Lady Emily is ready to be unwrapped and this one has a vibe all its own. Graveyards and catacombs and lots of references to Charles Dickens make it a perfect fall read. Finished it yesterday, but opened it again last night to reread my favorite parts. Alexander's dialogue is quick and her characters like old friends. And she does drop a lovely surprise there at the end. Can't wait for the next one!
December 17, 2014
I keep saying I'm giving up on this series, but here I am, again. This one managed to keep me in suspense for a little while, but ultimately it was relatively boring and nothing was half as clever as I could feel it trying so hard to be. Frankly, the writing is just not good, and the characters, the reason I keep coming back, get only flatter. This series started out promising and always has great covers, but individually these books get weaker and weaker, while it could have been much more.
February 25, 2015
I loved this book. I literally finished it in like a day. While I have only read one of the Lady Emily mysteries (the first one), and this being the ninth book in the series…..I didn’t feel lost or like I had missed too much. This could have been read easily as a stand alone book.
The setting added a lot to the book for me. I loved exploring the catacombs and especially the Père Lachaise Cemetery since I have been to these locations and fell in love with Père Lachaise Cemetery when I visited.
So immediately this book took me back and made me long for Paris. I truly enjoyed this book for the setting alone. I learned so much about the Cemetery too while I was reading and I just can’t say enough good things about the setting!
The mystery was fascinating and I loved the dueling narratives, Estella’s POV and then Emily’s. I don’t think the author did that in the first book so I really liked that aspect of the novel.
It wasn’t clear if Estella’s POV was happening currently or happening in the past which kept me on my toes. I wasn’t sure if I could trust her narrative or not. It was a very compelling tool and kept me reading.
This was a fun Victorian era read. It’s full of mistaken identities, intrigue, murder, exotic travels, madness, and a stunning setting. I loved it! It makes me want to pick up even more of the Lady Emily books and devour them one right after the other!
See my full review here
The setting added a lot to the book for me. I loved exploring the catacombs and especially the Père Lachaise Cemetery since I have been to these locations and fell in love with Père Lachaise Cemetery when I visited.
So immediately this book took me back and made me long for Paris. I truly enjoyed this book for the setting alone. I learned so much about the Cemetery too while I was reading and I just can’t say enough good things about the setting!
The mystery was fascinating and I loved the dueling narratives, Estella’s POV and then Emily’s. I don’t think the author did that in the first book so I really liked that aspect of the novel.
It wasn’t clear if Estella’s POV was happening currently or happening in the past which kept me on my toes. I wasn’t sure if I could trust her narrative or not. It was a very compelling tool and kept me reading.
This was a fun Victorian era read. It’s full of mistaken identities, intrigue, murder, exotic travels, madness, and a stunning setting. I loved it! It makes me want to pick up even more of the Lady Emily books and devour them one right after the other!
See my full review here
November 23, 2014
I originally fell in love with the characters in this series in the first couple of books, and have been disappointed over the more recent novels for a variety of reasons outlined in other reviews. This latest installment was more palatable for me than its predecessor, but there is still a lot left to be desired. There was more intrigue and mystery in this one, which was appreciated; in addition, while the dual point of view has bothered me in her novels in the past, I found this one shared between Emily's world and Estella's to be more poignant in that there were separated by time and Estella's voice added to the overall mystery.
However, in the end I think I have put a finger on another major piece of what bothers me about Alexander's prose and character development--there is a startling lack of conflict. Any potential challenges or difficulties between characters is immediately rectified, which is both unrealistic and uninteresting. As a reader, I have walked away from her last couple of books frustrated, yet I'll probably keep reading them....it really is only my own fault at this point.
However, in the end I think I have put a finger on another major piece of what bothers me about Alexander's prose and character development--there is a startling lack of conflict. Any potential challenges or difficulties between characters is immediately rectified, which is both unrealistic and uninteresting. As a reader, I have walked away from her last couple of books frustrated, yet I'll probably keep reading them....it really is only my own fault at this point.
February 13, 2017
This is my introduction to the Lady Emily series so maybe it was not a good place to start. I don't like mysteries where they have two different timelines with one giving away everything at the beginning. Also, the point of view kept switching back and forth. And then, for a book that takes place in Paris, with a lot of French in it, the pronunciation was painfully bad: how does one repeatedly mispronounce "Molière"? Even the kids in the Breakfast Club could pronounce Molière (https://youtu.be/4cbhl6iwFvU). It would be like setting a story in England and they keep talking about Shakespeare but pronounce it Shakepee or something. Why?
April 7, 2017
This is a very original plot with a unique format. Set in the late Victorian era, it is a historical mystery and the ninth in the Lady Emily series. I found it to be an enjoyable read. The reason I didn't give it a 5 star rating is this is the first book I've read in the series and I found myself at the end of it without a clear picture of the characters and knowing only a little of their back story. The author did slip some details in during the course of the book but I would have liked more early on. Despite this, I do recommend it.
April 15, 2021
Sorpresa me he llevado con este libro que me ha tenido enganchada desde la primera página 🙀
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Es el noveno de la serie Lady Emily Mysteries --ambientada en la época victoriana-- pero se puede leer solo sin problemas.
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No voy a decir que sea la bomba, pero el misterio del asesinato en Londres de una mujer que se hace pasar por una heredera de París que se supone pasa sus días viajando me enganchó sin darme cuenta. Puede que sea por la estructura, que intercala los capítulos de la investigación de Emily con la historia de la heredera, o puede que sea porque los personajes me parecieron adorables: tanto Emily como su marido y sus amigos Cécile y el incorregible Jeremy. O puede que sea también porque empieza con un baile de máscaras desde el que se desencadena el misterio.
.
No es nada en concreto y es todo a la vez. Sólo sé que me gustó y lo leí sin darme cuenta, una lectura ligera y amena que mantiene el interés y la intriga hasta el final 😋
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Interesantísima la Nota de la Autora final, con los detalles reales que inspiraron la historia 😻
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Es el noveno de la serie Lady Emily Mysteries --ambientada en la época victoriana-- pero se puede leer solo sin problemas.
.
No voy a decir que sea la bomba, pero el misterio del asesinato en Londres de una mujer que se hace pasar por una heredera de París que se supone pasa sus días viajando me enganchó sin darme cuenta. Puede que sea por la estructura, que intercala los capítulos de la investigación de Emily con la historia de la heredera, o puede que sea porque los personajes me parecieron adorables: tanto Emily como su marido y sus amigos Cécile y el incorregible Jeremy. O puede que sea también porque empieza con un baile de máscaras desde el que se desencadena el misterio.
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No es nada en concreto y es todo a la vez. Sólo sé que me gustó y lo leí sin darme cuenta, una lectura ligera y amena que mantiene el interés y la intriga hasta el final 😋
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Interesantísima la Nota de la Autora final, con los detalles reales que inspiraron la historia 😻
May 7, 2023
This is not one of the best of the Tasha Alexander books. I had trouble staying engaged with both the storyline and the main character Lady Emily.
November 17, 2014
This is the 9th entry in the Lady Emily historical mystery series. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised! It's a solid, entertaining read.
Lady Emily, Colin, Cecile & Jeremy team up to investigate the strange disappearance of an old friend of Cecile's. I was interested and wanted to keep reading to find out the truth! As I read, it reminded me of an excellent, recent non-fiction book I've read. In the author's notes, the main person of that book is indeed referenced! Read this book to see if you can figure out who it is!!
I will admit that I was able to predict the closure of the mystery, but that did not impede my enjoyment. Also, I did find a few typos. That isn't a huge thing to me, but as much as hardcover books cost, they should be edited perfectly. This particular one I got from the library. I have noticed this same problem in other new release historical fiction this year (different authors). I think the Publication houses need to hire new editors!
If you are a Lady Emily fan, you won't be disappointed:)
Lady Emily, Colin, Cecile & Jeremy team up to investigate the strange disappearance of an old friend of Cecile's. I was interested and wanted to keep reading to find out the truth! As I read, it reminded me of an excellent, recent non-fiction book I've read. In the author's notes, the main person of that book is indeed referenced! Read this book to see if you can figure out who it is!!
I will admit that I was able to predict the closure of the mystery, but that did not impede my enjoyment. Also, I did find a few typos. That isn't a huge thing to me, but as much as hardcover books cost, they should be edited perfectly. This particular one I got from the library. I have noticed this same problem in other new release historical fiction this year (different authors). I think the Publication houses need to hire new editors!
If you are a Lady Emily fan, you won't be disappointed:)
November 13, 2014
Emily quoting Homer: "Of all creatures that breathe and move upon the earth, nothing is bred that is weaker than man."
Emily and Colin investigate the murder of a woman impersonating a famous heiress during an exclusive glamorous society ball honoring the Queen's Jubilee -- which is based on a real event. As the mystery deepens, they realize that no one actually knows her in London and the only contacts are the letters received by her staff at her mansion and the occasional correspondence Cecile receives. Cecile suddenly realizes that something must be seriously wrong with her friend.
The murder sets up the parallel story of the reclusive heiress Estella Lamar, who, paradoxically is a renowned world-traveller. Ultimately, this is an incredibly sad story of abduction, identity theft and manipulation.
Filled with Dickensian references throughout and a nod to Elizabeth Peters, it's an interesting glimpse of Victorian life in the upper strata and the acceptance of eccentricities of all sorts.
Emily and Colin investigate the murder of a woman impersonating a famous heiress during an exclusive glamorous society ball honoring the Queen's Jubilee -- which is based on a real event. As the mystery deepens, they realize that no one actually knows her in London and the only contacts are the letters received by her staff at her mansion and the occasional correspondence Cecile receives. Cecile suddenly realizes that something must be seriously wrong with her friend.
The murder sets up the parallel story of the reclusive heiress Estella Lamar, who, paradoxically is a renowned world-traveller. Ultimately, this is an incredibly sad story of abduction, identity theft and manipulation.
Filled with Dickensian references throughout and a nod to Elizabeth Peters, it's an interesting glimpse of Victorian life in the upper strata and the acceptance of eccentricities of all sorts.
November 21, 2016
At the Duchess of Devonshire's masquerade ball, Emily's friend, Cecile du Lac, unmasks a fraud posing as heiress Estella Lamar. Fleeing from the ball, the woman is found murdered the next day. Thus begins an investigation by Emily and husband Colin that takes them to Paris, trying to locate the real Estella, who has become an eccentric adventuress. Many things do not add up, including the fact that Estella has not been seen by any of the servants maintaining her three residences in almost two decades. Emily and Colin expect foul play by a kidnapper trying to gain access to Estella's huge fortune.
This story takes the reader on a journey through underground catacombs and a Paris cemetery. It was enjoyable to have Emily's friends Cecile and the Duke of Bainbridge back in the investigative mix. This book has a real twist for the kidnapper and victim.
This story takes the reader on a journey through underground catacombs and a Paris cemetery. It was enjoyable to have Emily's friends Cecile and the Duke of Bainbridge back in the investigative mix. This book has a real twist for the kidnapper and victim.
October 27, 2014
I think the 3 stars may be on the strength of the series, as opposed to this particular title. I found this one more shallow than the others, and rather boring and predictable. It seemed more like a research catch-all than a real story with a plot. Ms. Alexander does excellent research - but I definitely didn't find this one up to the par of the early titles in the series.
I do appreciate not being bludgeoned with the children, and I'm certainly not ready to give up on the series, but this one just didn't engage me.
I do appreciate not being bludgeoned with the children, and I'm certainly not ready to give up on the series, but this one just didn't engage me.
December 26, 2021
I would probably have given this one four stars, except that I found it rather disturbing. What would make it four stars: I like Jeremy's character development, especially his greater contribution to the group's goals and his apparent abandonment of his erstwhile goal of "being recognized as the most useless man in England"; the delightfully twisty plot that deftly weaves the two parts of the story together; the many references to Dickens; and as always the deepening relationship between Lady Emily and her husband, Colin.
My only hesitation is how disturbing the story is. I read these things for escape, and for me complex psychological factors get in the way of the escape. That's more of a personal factor than an actual criticism of the book. It won't prove as much of a problem for some as it does for me.
Still and all, I'm not sorry I read the book, but I will likely avoid re-reading it in the near future (as I have with the other books in the series).
My only hesitation is how disturbing the story is. I read these things for escape, and for me complex psychological factors get in the way of the escape. That's more of a personal factor than an actual criticism of the book. It won't prove as much of a problem for some as it does for me.
Still and all, I'm not sorry I read the book, but I will likely avoid re-reading it in the near future (as I have with the other books in the series).
December 16, 2018
This story becomes intriguing as presented from the viewpoints of different characters. Lady Emily & her husband Colin persist in unraveling false identities & deceptions to discover that the final mysterious element is truly bizarre. As always, Lady Emily shines.
March 29, 2024
ohhh this was the artist stolen poor alleyway rose maybe magic at some point or am i mixing up books??? this book. i remmeber. i wasn’t particularly blown away by this book but it wasn’t bad not particularly good but good at the time because i was into mystery n all
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2019
Woman locks herself up in a tomb for 15 years: perfectly realistic
Jeremy getting engaged: fakest news in England
Jeremy getting engaged: fakest news in England
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2020
Fun and actually interesting. Someone is posing as a friend of Emily’s at a ball! However none of the said women’s friends have seen her for years! Her staff at her home runs without her!? Where in the world is she??? World traveler or a victim? Or both? No spoilers but both are possible!
February 10, 2019
After a few just-ok Lady Emily books, I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I liked the chapters alternating with different points of view and timelines. Colin was less obnoxious too.
November 6, 2018
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Alexander Autumn (October-November 2018)
At a masquerade ball there are bound to be people dressed in similar costumes. A plethora of Cleopatras and Queen Elizabeths and Valkyries are to be expected. But Emily didn't expect another goddess of the hunt at the masked ball at Devonshire House. Let alone one who would cause a scene. Estella Lamar has supposedly stopped her gallivanting around the globe and eschewing the company of her peers by deigning to come to the Devonshire's ball in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. But there's only one problem, beyond the fact she is dressed like Emily, she is not Estella Lamar! Emily's dear friend Cecile in full Marie Antoinette regalia, boat firmly in coiffure, is perhaps the only person Estella is in contact with, aside from the newspapers, as she journeys to the far flung corners of the globe, and Cecile quite clearly says that this Estella is an imposter! The ersatz Estella flees only to be found dead hours later on the banks of the Thames. The Duke of Devonshire contacts Emily's husband Colin to request that he investigates and to make sure this doesn't connect back to the ball. Soon Colin and Emily are on the case and are shocked to find that the victim is a rather respectable midwife, Mary Darby, who had aspirations of being an actress. So how did she end up at the event of the season impersonating a known recluse?
The more they look into Mary's murder the more they realize that Mary isn't the key, Estella is. Estella left France years previously after the death of her parents to see the pyramids and never looked back. Since then she has never returned to any of her three homes despite them all being kept in constant readiness of her arrival. In fact none of her employees have seen her since she left for Egypt! Yet her picture is always in the newspapers at some famous location. Or is it? Her face is never visible so it could be anyone so long as they have the right measurements... Emily begins to worry that her friend Cecile will be in for some heartbreaking news the further they follow the leads. Leads that take them across the channel to Paris where they make Cecile's house the center of their operations. They interrogate lawyers, dressmakers, printers, photographers, journalists, florists, and servants aplenty. But the only true clue they have is that they are chasing someone with a fondness for Dickens. Leaving names like Magwitch from Great Expectations and Swiveller from The Old Curiosity Shop in their wake as a type of calling card. Could this person be the auburn haired man with the magnificent mustache trailing Emily? Who knows. As time goes on it's harder to remember that they are there to find Mary's killer and not solve the mystery of Estella... But who says they can't solve both?
The more you read about wealthy families and their proclivities the more you realize it's a very thin line between eccentricity and illness which is blurred all the more depending on how much money is involved. Estella is a recluse with money, therefore her dislike of society and her habits that might seem rude to others Cecile is able to lump under the umbrella of eccentricity no matter what Emily thinks. So what if Estella left dinner before dessert? Who are we to judge if she hates people dropping in unannounced? If her best friends are dolls whom she tells stories to for hours on end should we really judge? Does it matter that much that all her houses are kept in readiness if she never plans on visiting them so long as the servants are paid? What would raise eyebrows among those of more modest means are easily forgiven by Estella's peers. Instead of seeing these habits as spiraling to some sad fate she is left to her own whims because of her monetary protection. There is almost an elegance to the madness of those with means and I can't help thinking of my Great-Grandmother Mildred Martin. Her husband was a prominent politician, lawyer, and judge in Wisconsin, while she left the raising of my grandmother to other family members and spent about forty years in her room, which she never left. Yet this was just viewed as how it was. One wonders in Mildred's case, much like Estella's, if things could have been different...
Yet Cecile shows us that Paris is far more forgiving of eccentricities than other cities. They thrive on their Bohemian artists and outsiders. Paris is a place unlike anywhere else and while Emily did spend some time in Paris during her first adventure, And Only to Deceive, the city didn't feel as real as it does in this volume. While it could be Tasha's abilities as a writer maturing over eight installments, which they have, I also have to give credit to the two locations that made this volume, the Père Lachaise Cemetery and the Catacombs of Paris. While this could be considered by some as macabre bordering on making Paris the "City of the Dead" as it where I think it's more fascinating then ghoulish, like Parisians's obsession with Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol. But then again I am a girl who loves her true crime... What resonated with me was how these actual cities of the dead connect Paris to it's past and how one is there to honor the dead, so long as you're willing to keep your end of the bargain and pay for the upkeep, while the other is there to make a titillating show of death. To concentrate on the more sensational side of death with the Catacombs, I'd never known how they were used basically as a body dump for those ousted from places like Père Lachaise and that they were actually designed to be something out of a Guillermo del Toro daydream. The more you know!
Paris is also interesting in that while it is a city that celebrates it's history it is also willing to tear it down for the good of advancement. This fascinating dichotomy can be seen in this book by the discussion of two different art forms that I love. At the Devonshire ball there is a famous photographer, Mr. Lafayette, recording all the costumes for posterity. I just adore that this modern technology was used to capture this moment in history. Following Emily into his studio reminded me of how much I am fascinated by the history of photography, from the Civil War through to the Cottingley Fairies to even our modern obsession with selfies. Photography was and is an art form that was just at the cusp of it's heyday when Queen Victoria was celebrating her diamond jubilee. Whereas this is countered with printers in France. And don't you dare say typography isn't an art, because it so is! The current resurgence in letterpress is a sign that this form of artistic expression, while some might view it as outdated, is really classical and important to the history of not just books, but graphic design. I couldn't help being fascinated by an argument that French printers kept coming back to in Emily's investigation. Everyone has heard the current argument of one or two spaces behind a period, and at this time it was two for English typesetting, but in France it was a space on either side of the punctuation, making my graphic designer friends scream about floating punctuation. But just this little insight made the book that much more real and tangible to me.
Though it's actually the references to another author, not all the technology, art, or intricately arranged femurs and skulls with a slight wink to Indiana Jones, that really made this feel like a book written just for me. I'm talking about the Dickens of it all! I love that our villain uses Dickens in a way that isn't just a smokescreen for their real identity, but as a way to clue Emily, or any other Dickens aficionado, to their real motives. By using the name of Magwitch from Great Expectations, our villain is trying to make a statement while assuaging their own guilt, that while they might be a villain, like Magwitch, the proceeds of the villainy is going to serve the greater good. In the Dickens book that would be to fund Pip's lifestyle and education, but here, here by finding out what Magwitch is doing with their ill gotten gains proves the answer to the riddle of Estella. This integration of one author's work into another's is meta goodness. Think of it as a more historically accurate version of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books. I personally think this is just bloody brilliant, and now have started thinking if you could actually do it with other authors in a similar way. They would have to be popular in order to not be obscure... but then again, our villain might have just been doing it for his own fun. And mine. Because seriously, it entertained me to no end.
But in extrapolating the idea of using a popular author to entertain the masses or just using an author to entertain oneself Tasha does have a reference that most likely her loyal readers will get but those unfamiliar with authors whom Tasha loves to read and recommend, well it would have gone over their head. I'm talking about the Elizabeth Peters Easter Egg cleverly buried in The Counterfeit Heiress. Elizabeth Peters is the pen name of Barbara Mertz under which she wrote her wonderful Amelia Peabody series. The series, recommended to me by both Lauren Willig AND Tasha, is a wonderful twenty volumes of Egyptological romps starring Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson and their friends and family as they catch master criminals and excavate priceless artifacts. If you haven't checked out this series, please do, you will not be disappointed. The third book in the series, The Mummy Case, has the hilariously named Baroness von Hohensteinbauergrunewald. The Baroness happens to have a cameo in passing in our story. Cecile and Emily go to Le Meurice, a hotel that Emily loves, and where they hope to find Estella, instead they find out the Baroness has just checked out, a fact that they both lament. Who wouldn't want to meet a lady with that name or that reputation? Ah, this just makes me want to read The Mummy Case all over again... there are just too many books to read let alone re-read!
At a masquerade ball there are bound to be people dressed in similar costumes. A plethora of Cleopatras and Queen Elizabeths and Valkyries are to be expected. But Emily didn't expect another goddess of the hunt at the masked ball at Devonshire House. Let alone one who would cause a scene. Estella Lamar has supposedly stopped her gallivanting around the globe and eschewing the company of her peers by deigning to come to the Devonshire's ball in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. But there's only one problem, beyond the fact she is dressed like Emily, she is not Estella Lamar! Emily's dear friend Cecile in full Marie Antoinette regalia, boat firmly in coiffure, is perhaps the only person Estella is in contact with, aside from the newspapers, as she journeys to the far flung corners of the globe, and Cecile quite clearly says that this Estella is an imposter! The ersatz Estella flees only to be found dead hours later on the banks of the Thames. The Duke of Devonshire contacts Emily's husband Colin to request that he investigates and to make sure this doesn't connect back to the ball. Soon Colin and Emily are on the case and are shocked to find that the victim is a rather respectable midwife, Mary Darby, who had aspirations of being an actress. So how did she end up at the event of the season impersonating a known recluse?
The more they look into Mary's murder the more they realize that Mary isn't the key, Estella is. Estella left France years previously after the death of her parents to see the pyramids and never looked back. Since then she has never returned to any of her three homes despite them all being kept in constant readiness of her arrival. In fact none of her employees have seen her since she left for Egypt! Yet her picture is always in the newspapers at some famous location. Or is it? Her face is never visible so it could be anyone so long as they have the right measurements... Emily begins to worry that her friend Cecile will be in for some heartbreaking news the further they follow the leads. Leads that take them across the channel to Paris where they make Cecile's house the center of their operations. They interrogate lawyers, dressmakers, printers, photographers, journalists, florists, and servants aplenty. But the only true clue they have is that they are chasing someone with a fondness for Dickens. Leaving names like Magwitch from Great Expectations and Swiveller from The Old Curiosity Shop in their wake as a type of calling card. Could this person be the auburn haired man with the magnificent mustache trailing Emily? Who knows. As time goes on it's harder to remember that they are there to find Mary's killer and not solve the mystery of Estella... But who says they can't solve both?
The more you read about wealthy families and their proclivities the more you realize it's a very thin line between eccentricity and illness which is blurred all the more depending on how much money is involved. Estella is a recluse with money, therefore her dislike of society and her habits that might seem rude to others Cecile is able to lump under the umbrella of eccentricity no matter what Emily thinks. So what if Estella left dinner before dessert? Who are we to judge if she hates people dropping in unannounced? If her best friends are dolls whom she tells stories to for hours on end should we really judge? Does it matter that much that all her houses are kept in readiness if she never plans on visiting them so long as the servants are paid? What would raise eyebrows among those of more modest means are easily forgiven by Estella's peers. Instead of seeing these habits as spiraling to some sad fate she is left to her own whims because of her monetary protection. There is almost an elegance to the madness of those with means and I can't help thinking of my Great-Grandmother Mildred Martin. Her husband was a prominent politician, lawyer, and judge in Wisconsin, while she left the raising of my grandmother to other family members and spent about forty years in her room, which she never left. Yet this was just viewed as how it was. One wonders in Mildred's case, much like Estella's, if things could have been different...
Yet Cecile shows us that Paris is far more forgiving of eccentricities than other cities. They thrive on their Bohemian artists and outsiders. Paris is a place unlike anywhere else and while Emily did spend some time in Paris during her first adventure, And Only to Deceive, the city didn't feel as real as it does in this volume. While it could be Tasha's abilities as a writer maturing over eight installments, which they have, I also have to give credit to the two locations that made this volume, the Père Lachaise Cemetery and the Catacombs of Paris. While this could be considered by some as macabre bordering on making Paris the "City of the Dead" as it where I think it's more fascinating then ghoulish, like Parisians's obsession with Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol. But then again I am a girl who loves her true crime... What resonated with me was how these actual cities of the dead connect Paris to it's past and how one is there to honor the dead, so long as you're willing to keep your end of the bargain and pay for the upkeep, while the other is there to make a titillating show of death. To concentrate on the more sensational side of death with the Catacombs, I'd never known how they were used basically as a body dump for those ousted from places like Père Lachaise and that they were actually designed to be something out of a Guillermo del Toro daydream. The more you know!
Paris is also interesting in that while it is a city that celebrates it's history it is also willing to tear it down for the good of advancement. This fascinating dichotomy can be seen in this book by the discussion of two different art forms that I love. At the Devonshire ball there is a famous photographer, Mr. Lafayette, recording all the costumes for posterity. I just adore that this modern technology was used to capture this moment in history. Following Emily into his studio reminded me of how much I am fascinated by the history of photography, from the Civil War through to the Cottingley Fairies to even our modern obsession with selfies. Photography was and is an art form that was just at the cusp of it's heyday when Queen Victoria was celebrating her diamond jubilee. Whereas this is countered with printers in France. And don't you dare say typography isn't an art, because it so is! The current resurgence in letterpress is a sign that this form of artistic expression, while some might view it as outdated, is really classical and important to the history of not just books, but graphic design. I couldn't help being fascinated by an argument that French printers kept coming back to in Emily's investigation. Everyone has heard the current argument of one or two spaces behind a period, and at this time it was two for English typesetting, but in France it was a space on either side of the punctuation, making my graphic designer friends scream about floating punctuation. But just this little insight made the book that much more real and tangible to me.
Though it's actually the references to another author, not all the technology, art, or intricately arranged femurs and skulls with a slight wink to Indiana Jones, that really made this feel like a book written just for me. I'm talking about the Dickens of it all! I love that our villain uses Dickens in a way that isn't just a smokescreen for their real identity, but as a way to clue Emily, or any other Dickens aficionado, to their real motives. By using the name of Magwitch from Great Expectations, our villain is trying to make a statement while assuaging their own guilt, that while they might be a villain, like Magwitch, the proceeds of the villainy is going to serve the greater good. In the Dickens book that would be to fund Pip's lifestyle and education, but here, here by finding out what Magwitch is doing with their ill gotten gains proves the answer to the riddle of Estella. This integration of one author's work into another's is meta goodness. Think of it as a more historically accurate version of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books. I personally think this is just bloody brilliant, and now have started thinking if you could actually do it with other authors in a similar way. They would have to be popular in order to not be obscure... but then again, our villain might have just been doing it for his own fun. And mine. Because seriously, it entertained me to no end.
But in extrapolating the idea of using a popular author to entertain the masses or just using an author to entertain oneself Tasha does have a reference that most likely her loyal readers will get but those unfamiliar with authors whom Tasha loves to read and recommend, well it would have gone over their head. I'm talking about the Elizabeth Peters Easter Egg cleverly buried in The Counterfeit Heiress. Elizabeth Peters is the pen name of Barbara Mertz under which she wrote her wonderful Amelia Peabody series. The series, recommended to me by both Lauren Willig AND Tasha, is a wonderful twenty volumes of Egyptological romps starring Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson and their friends and family as they catch master criminals and excavate priceless artifacts. If you haven't checked out this series, please do, you will not be disappointed. The third book in the series, The Mummy Case, has the hilariously named Baroness von Hohensteinbauergrunewald. The Baroness happens to have a cameo in passing in our story. Cecile and Emily go to Le Meurice, a hotel that Emily loves, and where they hope to find Estella, instead they find out the Baroness has just checked out, a fact that they both lament. Who wouldn't want to meet a lady with that name or that reputation? Ah, this just makes me want to read The Mummy Case all over again... there are just too many books to read let alone re-read!
October 6, 2020
I always enjoy a Lady Emily mystery. This one had many references to Charles Dickens.
January 27, 2018
Wow! I thought I knew where this plot might be going, but when it got there - well, wow! Another winner in the series for me!
February 26, 2015
4.5 stars.
Tasha Alexander's The Counterfeit Heiress by is an absolutely riveting mystery set during the late 1800s. Although it is the ninth installment in the Lady Emily series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel.
The story opens at a masquerade ball celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubliee. A mysterious encounter with a stranger is just the first of the puzzling events experienced by Lady Emily and her close friend Cécile du Lac during the ball. Emily quickly forgets the perplexing meeting when Cécile realizes that the person purporting to be her old friend Estella Lamar is an imposter. Once Cécile realizes no one has actually seen Estella in person for nearly twenty years, she and good friend Jeremy Sheffield head to Paris to investigate further. When the fake Estella is found murdered the next morning, Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves quickly join Cécile and Jeremy where all four try to discover which woman was actually the killer's intended victim.
Emily and Colin are a charming couple who are happily married and work very well together throughout the investigation. Emily's previous experience as an investigator leaves her well-equipped to look into the murder while simultaneously helping Cécile scrutinize the mysterious circumstances surrounding Estella's lengthy absence. As a trusted agent for the Crown, Colin gains access to information that would be otherwise unavailable and a worrisome picture soon emerges about Estella and the murdered woman who has been identified as Mary Darby, an midwife and would be actress. Is Estella really a world traveling adventurer? Or is there a more sinister reason for her prolonged absence? And most importantly, why would anyone hire Mary to attend the ball in Estella's place?
Alternating chapters provide fascinating insight into Estella and the events preceding her departure twenty years earlier. A picture of a shy, socially awkward young woman quickly emerges and offers a reasonable explanation for why no one questions her long-lasting journey. As more of her past is revealed, it soon becomes clear she crossed paths with someone who may have something to do with her disappearance, but what exactly his role is, remains unclear.
The Counterfeit Heiress is a fast-paced mystery that is quite compelling. The characters are exceptionally well-developed and engaging. The storyline is very intriguing with enough twists and turns that make it impossible to know for certain what happened to Estella. Tasha Alexander brings the novel to an incredibly exciting conclusion that provides answers for all the lingering questions raised throughout the investigation. An exhilarating installment that is sure to delight old and fans of the Lady Emily mystery series.
Tasha Alexander's The Counterfeit Heiress by is an absolutely riveting mystery set during the late 1800s. Although it is the ninth installment in the Lady Emily series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel.
The story opens at a masquerade ball celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubliee. A mysterious encounter with a stranger is just the first of the puzzling events experienced by Lady Emily and her close friend Cécile du Lac during the ball. Emily quickly forgets the perplexing meeting when Cécile realizes that the person purporting to be her old friend Estella Lamar is an imposter. Once Cécile realizes no one has actually seen Estella in person for nearly twenty years, she and good friend Jeremy Sheffield head to Paris to investigate further. When the fake Estella is found murdered the next morning, Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves quickly join Cécile and Jeremy where all four try to discover which woman was actually the killer's intended victim.
Emily and Colin are a charming couple who are happily married and work very well together throughout the investigation. Emily's previous experience as an investigator leaves her well-equipped to look into the murder while simultaneously helping Cécile scrutinize the mysterious circumstances surrounding Estella's lengthy absence. As a trusted agent for the Crown, Colin gains access to information that would be otherwise unavailable and a worrisome picture soon emerges about Estella and the murdered woman who has been identified as Mary Darby, an midwife and would be actress. Is Estella really a world traveling adventurer? Or is there a more sinister reason for her prolonged absence? And most importantly, why would anyone hire Mary to attend the ball in Estella's place?
Alternating chapters provide fascinating insight into Estella and the events preceding her departure twenty years earlier. A picture of a shy, socially awkward young woman quickly emerges and offers a reasonable explanation for why no one questions her long-lasting journey. As more of her past is revealed, it soon becomes clear she crossed paths with someone who may have something to do with her disappearance, but what exactly his role is, remains unclear.
The Counterfeit Heiress is a fast-paced mystery that is quite compelling. The characters are exceptionally well-developed and engaging. The storyline is very intriguing with enough twists and turns that make it impossible to know for certain what happened to Estella. Tasha Alexander brings the novel to an incredibly exciting conclusion that provides answers for all the lingering questions raised throughout the investigation. An exhilarating installment that is sure to delight old and fans of the Lady Emily mystery series.
May 2, 2015
It is 1897 and Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, are making preparations for their attendance at the premier social event of the season. It is Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year and the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire are hosting a masquerade ball in her honor. All is going as usual until Lady Emily is approached by a mysterious auburn haired man who addresses her with half of a line of Homeric poetry which Emily responds to with the line's finish. Rather than continuing the conversation he seems exasperated and quickly leaves. She is puzzled but diverted by another attendee who points out Estelle Lamar. Estelle Lamar is a very wealthy and mysterious world traveler who has not been seen in England or her native France for nearly two decades. When Emily in turn points Estelle out to her friend Cecile, she is outraged. Estelle was a childhood friend and this woman is not Estelle! Cecile and Emily confront her and the woman flees. The next day the woman is found murdered on the riverbank; her name is Mary Bradley, a failed actress and midwife. Colin is more concerned with the murder of Mary but Cecile is distraught over the impersonation. She has received letters from Estelle over the the years but is now afraid that something dire has happened.
The search for Estelle takes Colin and Emily to some of the darkest places in Paris as the mystery deepens. Told in alternating voices, that of Emily and the missing Estelle herself, with references to the works of Dickens, The Counterfeit Heiress is a fascinating story that kept me guessing until the end. Getting into the mind of Estelle was quite a journey and it's ultimate end very poignant. The Lady Emily series has been an on and off pleasure for me. I have enjoyed some of the books and others not so much, but I think The Counterfeit Heiress is the strongest since And Only to Deceive. I recommend it highly for the mystery and the history. If you are at all interested in the historical ball that begins the book there is a wealth of information and many photos by the famous photographer, Lafayette, to be found on the net.
RATING- 4 Stars
October 10, 2018
I love this series, and I particularly enjoyed this installment of the series. The author continues to find ways to keep both the characters and the world they live in fresh for a reader.
This book has two stories that run sort of parallel although they are intertwined, and both of the plots here held my attention completely as I listened to this [I got it as an audio book and the narrator is excellent!]. I found myself totally engrossed in the stories and with the characters in both timelines.
I love Lady Emily and her charming and - if we are to believe everyone around Emily - absolutely gorgeous husband Colin. They are a great couple and have a laudable equal relationship which is seriously unusual for the time they live in. I love the interplay between them - it always charms me!
I also adore the supporting characters in Emily's world, particularly her best friend Cecile, and her suitor turned pal Jeremy. They are both characters of the first order, and add plenty of snap and sparkle to the adventures of Emily's that they participate in.
I also really enjoyed the parallel storyline of the missing heiress Estella that everyone is searching for, and whose own story we learn in snippets of alternating chapters. I really enjoyed the way that past and present were woven together, and how things dovetailed as small facts became clear or more important as the investigation goes on, and as we learn more about what really happened to Estella.
Truthfully, this wasn't a big mystery, as I figured out where things were going fairly early on, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book at all. This was a well-plotted, cleverly intertwined double story that I found very entertaining. I enjoyed this a lot and will continue with this series.
This book has two stories that run sort of parallel although they are intertwined, and both of the plots here held my attention completely as I listened to this [I got it as an audio book and the narrator is excellent!]. I found myself totally engrossed in the stories and with the characters in both timelines.
I love Lady Emily and her charming and - if we are to believe everyone around Emily - absolutely gorgeous husband Colin. They are a great couple and have a laudable equal relationship which is seriously unusual for the time they live in. I love the interplay between them - it always charms me!
I also adore the supporting characters in Emily's world, particularly her best friend Cecile, and her suitor turned pal Jeremy. They are both characters of the first order, and add plenty of snap and sparkle to the adventures of Emily's that they participate in.
I also really enjoyed the parallel storyline of the missing heiress Estella that everyone is searching for, and whose own story we learn in snippets of alternating chapters. I really enjoyed the way that past and present were woven together, and how things dovetailed as small facts became clear or more important as the investigation goes on, and as we learn more about what really happened to Estella.
Truthfully, this wasn't a big mystery, as I figured out where things were going fairly early on, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book at all. This was a well-plotted, cleverly intertwined double story that I found very entertaining. I enjoyed this a lot and will continue with this series.
January 6, 2020
Creepy for sure! I still want to attend a masquerade ball, visit Paris and walk through cemeteries but I'm not buying anyone a China doll.
October 20, 2014
At a costume ball in honor of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, an imposter, posing as the wealthy heiress Estella Lamar, is revealed. The impersonator flees the party, but is later found murdered. Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, both of whom had attended the ball are on the case. Hargreaves is a trusted special agent of the Crown, who is smart enough to know that his wife’s investigatory talents will be useful. In their search for answers, as to who the victim was and who murdered her and why, they quickly find the victim’s identity but the other answers prove more elusive. Although Miss Lamar, a noted traveler, has been seen in numerous newspaper photos in exotic locales no one seems to have seen her in person in over fifteen years. Emily and Colin think that the solution to the murder and the puzzle of the missing Estella Lamar are in some way bound together, but it takes a lot of sleuthing for them to discover the truth.
THE COUNTERFEIT HEIRESS is an interesting combination of mystery and historical fiction set in England and France at the end of the nineteenth century. I found the contrast in sensibilities of the English and French intriguing; also the numerous references to Dickens’ characters provide an unexpected literary perspective. This is an enjoyable tale that asks the question: How much of what we allow the world to see is real and how much is staged? This is a fine book for any fan of historical fiction mystery—it’s not Arthur Conan Doyle, but if you have read Holmes, the ambiance will seem familiar.
THE COUNTERFEIT HEIRESS is an interesting combination of mystery and historical fiction set in England and France at the end of the nineteenth century. I found the contrast in sensibilities of the English and French intriguing; also the numerous references to Dickens’ characters provide an unexpected literary perspective. This is an enjoyable tale that asks the question: How much of what we allow the world to see is real and how much is staged? This is a fine book for any fan of historical fiction mystery—it’s not Arthur Conan Doyle, but if you have read Holmes, the ambiance will seem familiar.
November 9, 2014
When I first started this book, I was developing a dislike for the character of Estella Lamar. I kept reading, but my dislike grew. One time I turned the page and the next chapter was entitled Estella. I decided that I had read enough that night and I closed the book, but I did not give up. Two days later, I picked up the book again and started reading the chapter about Estella. I really do like this series so I continued to read as I felt the author would not let me down. She did not. I read right to the end which was only moments ago. And, yes, Dickens did play a role throughout the book. I should have connected Estella to someone particular that is very definitely attached to Dickens, but I did not. Shame on me! I truly should have. Jeremy , Lady Emily's childhood/adult friend has a surprise for everyone. So please keep a lookout for this surprise ! Definite 4 stars and recommended . I am looking forward to the next installment to this series !!
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