Murder on the Sacred River

Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries #20

by Tasha Alexander

In this next enthralling mystery in Tasha Alexander’s bestselling series, Lady Emily chases down a killer in India along the misty banks of the sacred river Narmada.
1908: Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves, along with an eccentric group of English tourists, are vacationing in India at Ahilya Fort, the old home to the Maharaja’s family, when a man is found shot along the Narmada River. Emily and Colin jump into action, but their suspect list is large, including a wonderful spinster and her not-so-wonderful companion; a local doctor; a widow who lives nearby; an English explorer; and an Englishman who now runs a tea plantation near Darjeeling.

1740: Fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai has been married to the son of Malharrao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory, for seven years. Now the time has finally come to produce an heir. But though Ahilya’s in-laws have shown her nothing but kindness, her notoriously-drunken husband remains a mystery to her, having rarely spoken to Ahilya since their wedding as children. Faced with this tortured and distant man, Ahilya’s sense of loyalty is tested as she attempts to balance fulfilling her duty with forging her own destiny. Her decisions will have ripple effects across time—including Lady Emily’s investigation almost two hundred years later.

Lady Emily’s case takes a dramatic turn when a shocking new person arrives at the fort—and when the killer strikes again shortly afterwards, she and Colin must race to uncover the villain’s identity before it’s too late.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Historical, India

336 pages, Hardcover

Published September 22, 2026

About the author

The 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.

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Real Rating: 3.75* of five

The Publisher Says: In this next enthralling mystery in Tasha Alexander’s bestselling series, Lady Emily chases down a killer in India along the misty banks of the sacred river Narmada.

1908: Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves, along with an eccentric group of English tourists, are vacationing in India at Ahilya Fort, the old home to the Maharaja’s family, when a man is found shot along the Narmada River. Emily and Colin jump into action, but their suspect list is large, including a wonderful spinster and her not-so-wonderful companion; a local doctor; a widow who lives nearby; an English explorer; and an Englishman who now runs a tea plantation near Darjeeling.

1740: Fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai has been married to the son of Malharrao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory, for seven years. Now the time has finally come to produce an heir. But though Ahilya’s in-laws have shown her nothing but kindness, her notoriously-drunken husband remains a mystery to her, having rarely spoken to Ahilya since their wedding as children. Faced with this tortured and distant man, Ahilya’s sense of loyalty is tested as she attempts to balance fulfilling her duty with forging her own destiny. Her decisions will have ripple effects across time—including Lady Emily’s investigation almost two hundred years later.

Lady Emily’s case takes a dramatic turn when a shocking new person arrives at the fort—and when the killer strikes again shortly afterwards, she and Colin must race to uncover the villain’s identity before it’s too late.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: So, dual timelines...I did not know when I picked up this series how that was going to remain a feature of the reading experience. At least I've never, not once, felt unsure of which timeline I'm reading.

I confess the whole "sacred river" trope felt bookhorned into the plot. It's more set-dressing than it is integral to the action from my observation, a kind of local color add-on that doesn't sit very well with me when it's so emphasized in the synopsis.

Colin and Lady Emily are exactly as you'd expect them to be, and that's a good thing. Like Peabody and Emerson, they're as British as Bovril and just as unmistakable. The murder victim is the sort of person who they'd cut dead. And, may I say, dead's the exact right way for the creep to be. The interrelationship of the murder to the 1740s timeline bordered on psychometry, and wasn't a bit surprising; but it was absolutely fascinating as a piece of historical knowledge I now treasure possessing.

There was a slight air of didacticism surrounding the proceedings as we-the-reader are quite brusquely led to the conclusions Author Tasha wishes us to reach. It's not as elegantly done as I could wish, but since I agree with her, I'll look past it.

Already a fan? Here's another one to enjoy. Not yet a fan? This is a good place to start. Don't like historical mysteries? Please see a therapist at your earliest opportunity.

[Heather · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the gifted ebook.

**My Review**

This is book 20 in the Lady Emily Ashton mystery series, and even though I haven't read any of the previous books, I had no trouble following along. The story takes place in two different timelines, 1908 and 1740, with every other chapter switching between them. I actually enjoyed going back and forth between the two stories.

One thing I really loved was the relationship between Lady Emily and her husband, Colin. There was something so calm and peaceful about the two of them together, and I really enjoyed that. Then we go back to 1740 and meet Ahilyabai, who is only 15 years old and has already been married for seven years. Her husband isn't exactly thrilled about being married, and I found that part of the story interesting too.

I thought this was an enjoyable historical mystery, and I'm glad I gave it a chance even though I was jumping into a series so far along.

**Would I Recommend?**

Yes! If you enjoy historical mysteries with two timelines, I think this is worth picking up. And don't let the fact that it's book 20 scare you away. I had no problem following the story without reading the others.

[Linda Galella · Rating 4 out of 5]

1908 - Colin Hargreaves, an agent for the Crown, and his wife, Lady Emily, are waking from a nights’ sleep. They’ve been sent to Maheshwar, India, at the behest of the King. Someone bangs on the door to their quarters shouting, “…are you awake? I need you at once!”

1740 - fifteen year old Ahilya is finally old enough to live with her husband, Khanderao. They’ve been married since she was 8. Khanderao is heir to the throne and sorely disappointing to his father, Malharrao, Lord of Indore. The young successor to the throne is a salacious drunkard whose only success is found on the battlefield. He’s not enthralled with the idea of being an husband to Ahilya.

Thus starts MURDER ON THE SACRED RIVER, number 20 in the ongoing Lady Emily Mystery series, by Tasha Alexander. The Hargreaves set about to solve the mystery of why an Englishman was shot and killed on the banks of the sacred Narmada River. Assisting them is a large contingency of secondary characters that are nicely developed. Most of them are quirky in the best ways.

Ahilya and Khanderao have a difficult time working out the relationship expected of them. He continues to disappoint at every turn. She has the unwavering support of both her father and mother-in-law. In fact, Lord Malharrao takes Ahilya under his wing and teaches her how to be the leader of Indore and everything that involves.

Tasha Alexander tells the story with separate, well marked chapters that bounce between 1740 and 1908. I found the older timeline to be infinitely more interesting. The characters are richer, experience growth and have impactful lives. Alexander based this storyline on the Holkar Dynasty.

Easily read as a standalone, MURDER ON THE SACRED RIVER will appeal to readers of: Historical Fiction, Historical Mysteries, Indian History and Mythology, Family Sagas, Colonialism and its attendant social and political influences📚

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC via Kindle with thanks to the publisher and author.

[Grandma Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Murder on the Sacred River is another wonderful installment in Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series. I haven’t read every book in the series, but Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, are always such a special part of these stories for me. They complement each other beautifully, and I love watching their relationship continue to grow. Emily certainly does not always conform to what society expects of a proper English lady, and I love that Colin supports and loves her for exactly who she is.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the setting. Tasha Alexander transported me to India, not just geographically but historically as well. The story unfolds through two timelines, and I found both equally fascinating. I loved learning about the culture, customs, history, and people of India while becoming immersed in the story. I especially enjoyed the historical storyline involving Ahilya and Khanderao. There were several things I learned that sent me looking for more information on my own, which is something I particularly appreciate in historical fiction. For someone who loves to travel through books, this was a wonderful experience.

The mystery itself was excellent. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, the story took a turn that changed everything. I was pleasantly shocked by the eventual solution. I did not guess the identity of the murderer, yet when everything was revealed, it made sense. That is exactly what I want from a good mystery. The story moved at a medium-to-fast pace for me, and I never felt that it dragged or wished it would hurry up and get to the point.

There is also some delightful humor woven throughout the story. Miss Whitcombe in particular was both a snoot and a hoot! Those lighter moments balanced the mystery and more serious historical elements beautifully.

I began this book with an advance review copy and later finished it with the audiobook from my library after the book was released. I was blessed with an advance review copy from NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed here are my own and unbiased.

Murder on the Sacred River was fascinating, immersive, educational, surprising, and thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend it, and I am already looking forward to my next adventure with Lady Emily and Colin.

Five very enthusiastic stars!

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Emily and her husband Colin are vacationing in India at Ahilya Fort, which for normal people would involve scenery, food, maybe a nice walk. For these two, it means a man gets shot beside the Narmada River and they immediately clock in. Apparently after nineteen previous books, finding a corpse on holiday is no longer an emergency. It is an itinerary change. Emily is already interviewing people. Colin is handling the official side. I am brand-new to their marriage and instantly understand that this is what they do instead of couples massages.

The dead man is identified as Titus Stringfellow by his old friend Alistair Ralston. Great. We have a name. We have history. We have started building motives. Then Titus Stringfellow turns up alive, which feels RUDE after everyone has already emotionally committed to his murder. Ralston is forced to admit the corpse is actually Viscount Rupert Tyldesley, the man who ran away with the woman Ralston loved and who was believed to have died in Africa. Alistair, this seems like information we could have used before Lady Emily reorganized her whole afternoon around the wrong dead Englishman.

Naturally, the suspect pool is less a list and more a group-tour manifest. There is a charming spinster, her unpleasant companion, a local doctor, a nearby widow, an English explorer, a tea plantation owner, and several people who react to basic questions like Emily just requested access to their tax returns. Everybody knows something. Nobody wants to say it in the correct order. Half these people are not technically lying, they are simply withholding the exact detail that would have saved everyone forty pages.

Emily, meanwhile, has the confidence of a woman who has already solved nineteen murders and knows the most obvious suspect is never allowed to be the whole story. She does not charge into danger so much as politely wander toward it while asking increasingly specific questions. Colin understands this and seems to have accepted that “vacation with my wife” means eventually standing beside a body while she notices someone’s shoes are wrong. Their relationship is so calm about all of this that I immediately became suspicious of my own hobbies.

Then every other chapter drops us into 1740 with fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai, and suddenly the dead Englishmen have to wait because this girl has my FULL attention. She has been married for seven years to Khanderao Holkar and is now expected to produce an heir with a husband who barely speaks to her because he is busy drinking, using opium, seeing other women, and generally behaving like responsibility filed a restraining order against him. Her in-laws are kind to her. They see how capable she is. Everyone keeps telling her she has a great future while tying that future to a man who can barely remain emotionally present in the same room.

And Ahilya quietly starts taking over the entire book. I would return to Emily’s investigation and think, yes, yes, suspicious tourist, second murder, possible treasure, but WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH AHILYA? Her story gets heavier as she confronts duty, marriage, power, and the brutal expectations placed on women. She keeps being told what her life is supposed to be, and instead of making one giant dramatic rebellion, she starts building a self inside all those rules. That hit. No joke. Moving on before my margarita becomes a historical grief beverage.

Back in 1908, the mystery keeps expanding because apparently one misidentified corpse was only the opening act. There are rumors involving Ahilya’s treasure, coins and jewels start turning up, another person dies, and the arrival of a shocking new guest sends everybody’s secrets scrambling for cover. I changed suspects constantly. At one point I suspected the doctor, the companion, the explorer, the tea planter, and the entire concept of English tourism. Every new clue made somebody look guilty and somebody else look guilty in a more expensive outfit.

The only problem was that Ahilya’s story had me by the throat, so occasionally I would return to the murder and need a second to remember which Englishman had lied about which dead man. Still, Emily keeps pulling at every loose thread until the whole arrangement comes apart, and the final answer did not feel like it had been smuggled in from another book. I did not solve everything before she did, which I appreciated because I had already embarrassed myself by believing Titus was dead for several chapters.

I’m at 3.5 stars for Murder on the Sacred River. I arrived at book twenty with no prior knowledge, immediately watched the murder victim walk in alive, became far more invested in Ahilyabai than several currently breathing suspects, and somehow never felt like Lady Emily was going to fine me for skipping nineteen previous investigations. The mystery was twisty, the history kept stealing the spotlight, and Emily and Colin are apparently that married couple who can turn a riverside holiday into a homicide inquiry without even changing clothes.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Investigate the Murder of a Man Who Was Not Dead, While the Actual Dead Man Waited Patiently for Everyone to Get His Name Right

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC, and for allowing me to begin A Lady Emily Mystery at number twenty like a woman entering a theater during the final act and loudly asking who everyone is. I came for one murder, got two timelines, the wrong corpse, a historical queen, and enough suspicious English tourists to ruin tea permanently.

[Alisha]

This latest installment in the Lady Emily series takes readers to a new setting for its latest murder mystery: India.

As per usual, the Lady Emily chapters are interspersed with a completely different story set in an earlier age. In this case, the mystery was the less compelling of the two stories. The historical tale was more interesting but also more disturbing, dealing as it does with the custom of sati (or, as many of us have seen it spelled, suttee). Parts of it were a hard read.

This isn’t the best of the series, as the investigation and the main characters feel a little flat.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press via NetGalley for offering me this review copy.

[Regan · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Interesting read....once again Alexander has two stories running in parallel, alternating chapter by chapter. Personally I find that style annoying and read the older time period and then go back and hope I didn't miss any chapters that take place in the present. The parts in the 1700's really didn't have anything to do with the 1908 time period but was the story of an Indian Queen. Parts of that were interesting, but it didn't really add to the main story for me. It often felt like filler to try to get to a 300 page threshold so it wouldn't have to be a novella. The ending felt rushed....all of a sudden the most disagreeable character is going to do the right thing and a couple, after knowing each other a few weeks, decide to get married.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 20th book in the Lady Emily series, which I "joined" on book 16 and really enjoy. Set in 1908, Murder on the Sacred River finds Lady Emily Ashton and her husband Colin vacationing in India in 1908, staying at Ahilya Fort, which was built on the banks of the sacred river Narmada by Maharani Ahilya in the mid-1700's. When a British man is found dead in a boat on the river, the local police turn to Colin and Lady Emily to investigate since they are well known for their past successes in solving complex cases. The main suspects are their fellow guests at the fort and several locals. The story alternates between that timeline and one that starts in the 1740's, telling the story of Ahilya, a Maharani who was well-loved for the changes she implemented during her reign to better the lives of the people around her. Lady Emily and Ahilya are both strong, smart, caring women from two different backgrounds, living in two very different periods and with very different marriages, but both make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of those around them. The murder investigation in 1908 had several unexpected twists, and I found myself completely at a loss to figure it out before Lady Emily put the pieces together for me. My two favorite things about this series are the characters and marriage of Lady Emily and Colin, who work together as equals with love and respect, and the fact that they explore the world, which gives the reader a chance to experience different cities and cultures around the turn of the 20th century.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was compelled to read Murder on the Sacred River though I have not read other books in the Lady Emily series, of which this is #20. It worked well as a standalone novel, and I did not feel like I was missing background information.

The book has a dual timeline with the focus on the 1908 timeline and briefer chapters taking place in the 18th century. India is described beautifully throughout both timelines. The 1908 chapters often feel a bit more modern with some of the 21st century ideas expressed by the characters, but the earlier characters felt quite authentic. Both stories took a bit of time to take off, and the pace picks up around 40% through the novel.

Emily and her husband, Colin, investigate a murder of a British visitor in India when the case is handed to them by the lazy, incompetent local police. There are a lot of characters to track, and all of them seem to become suspects at one point or another. Some of the speculation that focuses suspicion on certain characters is implausible at best, but it does keep the reader guessing. The conclusion of the mystery wasn't satisfying in my opinion, the actual facts of the case not entirely more plausible than some of the previous speculations. I did like the conclusion of the earlier timeline story and found it more worthwhile than secondary stories in dual timeline novels often are.

This novel didn't captivate me enough to send me searching for other books in the series, but it was a decent read for those interested in historical mysteries or dual timeline novels. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy. Opinions are my own.

[Amber Voskuil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story! I enjoyed learning some history about India and I was guessing until the very end who-dun-it.. It was a bit anticlimactic I thought at the end though.. Maybe it’s just me..
Always love Emily and Colin and how they work together so well! I did really miss the usual friendly banter that they usually have had in previous books though… 😕
Thank you Minotaur Books for sending me a copy of the book.

[Lindsay pinkcowlandreads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I love historical murder mysteries and Tasha Alexander always delivers more with her Lady Emily Mystery series by including I’ll do all timeline story taking place in a more distant past than Lady Emily’s Victorian era. I think the distant history story is usually my favourite too!

In Murder on the Sacred River, lady Emily, and her husband Colin Hargraves are with a group of English tourist vacationing in India. They’re staying at the Ahilya Fort, a former home of the Maharaj‘s family, when one of the fellow British tourist was found shot dead at the river side. Thankfully, Lady Emily her husband are there too pick up the case and find out who shot the mysterious tourist before anyone else gets hurt!

In the dual timeline, we are at the same location and it is the story of the home namesake, Ahilya and her interesting tail of family and friendship she comes from humble beginnings to the Maharaja’s regent. Ahilya Story is fascinating and relevant to today as she struggled with her husband‘s substance abuse and neglect.

I really enjoyed both timelines and stories and found as I usually do that the mystery is fun and entertaining, but the history really grabs me! I love getting to have both and one connected story.

For readers who haven’t read the Lady Emily Mystery series enter intimidated to jump in on this many book series- don’t be! I didn’t start at the beginning and found it very easy to catch up with Lady Emily and her husband, there’s not a lot of backstory that is relevant to their mysteries that you requires you to start with the first book. Each book also has the secondary story based in history that is completely on its own for each book depending on where they are located and what historical events are places are relevant. If you’re a fan of historical murder, mysteries, and history in general, I can’t recommend this series enough!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder on the Sacred River is the next selection in the Lady Emily mystery series. This book sees both Emily and Colin (husband) in India for a long visit. While there, the two are around when a murder occurs and so they naturally become the official investigators. There is also a story told in alternate chapters of the past. I always enjoy reading about these sections of Alexander’s books the most.
Everything comes together beautifully in the end, and we can even see what influence the more distant past has had upon the current circumstances of our characters.. The series has been going for quite awhile now, and I think I will be fine to not continue with another one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really do hate the dual timeline bit. Either flesh out the main mystery into full-length novels (which is how this series started out), or publish each storyline as its own novella. I have reached the point where the only reasons I read these novels are because I like Alexander's writing and the non-Emily chapters are usually the better ones.

There aren't any details in the Ahilya chapters that are also needed for Lady Emily's chapters, and to be honest, Lady Emily's story starts to pale when compared to the historical timelines. I ended up being more interested in Ahilya's story and found myself skimming through Lady Emily's chapters. The fact that no one knows what's going on due to the stupid misidentification idea makes it harder for the reader to know or care what's happening. It's page after page of Emily and Colin spinning their wheels because they're looking for motive/means/opportunity in all the wrong places. Even once the dead man is correctly identified, it doesn't get any better because m/m/o has almost nothing to do with the main set of suspects.

[Vicki Kondelik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on the Sacred River is the twentieth novel in Tasha Alexander’s series about Lady Emily Hargreaves, an unconventional English noblewoman in the late 19th-early 20th century, and her handsome husband Colin, a secret agent for the British government. Long-time readers of the series will know that Emily and Colin have traveled all over the world, and that each book—at least, the ones that don’t take place in England—has a different setting. This one takes place in India in 1908. The beginning of the book finds Emily and Colin staying with a group of British tourists at the Ahilya Fort in Maheshwar. This fort was built in the 18th century by the maharani Ahilya (full name: Ahilyabai Holkar), a ruling queen who was, and still is, revered for improving the lot of the common people of her kingdom, especially women. As usual with Alexander, Emily’s adventures are intertwined with a plot set in the more distant past, and in this book it’s the story of Ahilya, and how she came to rule her kingdom.

Emily and Colin’s stay at the fort is disturbed by the discovery of the body of an Englishman found shot to death in a boat on the sacred Narmada River. One of their fellow tourists, Ralston, identifies the body as that of a friend of his. Ralston didn’t know that the man was in India, and no one else in the group knew him, so it’s hard to find a motive. This group includes quite an assortment of characters. Besides Ralston, there is a historian, Desmond Montgomery, who is doing research on Ahilya. Also in the group is Imogen, a pleasant, unmarried woman in her late 20s, who, in those days, is considered a spinster, and her companion, the very unpleasant Miss Whitcombe, who is rude to everyone. Emily doesn’t know how Imogen can stand traveling with Miss Whitcombe, but Imogen explains that her companion had a tragic childhood. Dr. Varma, an Indian physician, takes Emily around the city and acts as a translator for her. Emily, who is usually wonderful at languages, has a hard time with Hindi. Emily soon meets Mrs. Ghosh, a widow who is having an affair with Montgomery and who helps her in the murder investigation.

The local police are out of their depth with the murder and leave it to Colin, with the help of Emily, of course, to investigate. Emily and Colin find a witness, Mr. Lanka, a seller of chai, who saw a man and a woman moving along by the river at the time of the murder, even though, of the whole group, only Miss Whitcombe heard the gunshot. Veer, an eight-year-old orphan boy, saw similar comings and goings. Then Lanka is also murdered, and the police are even more unwilling to investigate the death of an Indian than that of an Englishman. A theme that runs throughout the book is the arrogant attitude of the British toward the Indians, an attitude not shared by Emily and Colin, but which is shared by several members of the group. Emily is appalled by the way the English act as though theirs is the superior culture, even though, as she points out, England is a young country compared to India.

The case takes a shocking turn when a new traveler arrives at the fort. To say more would be a huge spoiler, but I will say that this new twist changes everything about what we thought we knew about the case, and, instead of no one having a motive, it turns out that everyone has one. This is a truly brilliant twist to the plot. The roots of the case seem to go back to a love triangle in the past, and the tragic death of a young woman in Africa. Several characters who supposedly had no desire to go to India are, of course, there now, and some have better reasons for being there than others.

Emily and Colin have known since the beginning that the dead man was not shot in the boat, but was killed elsewhere, and his body was moved into the boat. Colin finds the actual site of the murder, and he discovers coins with Ahilya’s face on them and a pair of earrings which might have belonged to Ahilya. Emily wonders if this was part of a larger treasure, and if the treasure was the real motive for the murder. Mrs. Ghosh denies this, though, and says Ahilya didn’t wear jewelry, at least during her widowhood, and before her widowhood, Ahilya didn’t live in Maheshwar, but in her capital of Indore.

The case takes a series of unexpected turns, even after the big twist, and I will not spoil it by saying whether the love triangle or Ahilya’s treasure has anything to do with the murder, or even whether the treasure exists. I will say, though, that I never guessed who the killer was. I thought it was someone entirely different. I love the way Emily and Colin each come to a solution by different ways. Emily usually relies on intuition, and Colin on hard facts, but both methods lead to the same conclusion. Unfortunately, Emily’s and Colin’s twin sons Henry and Richard have stayed behind in England, so we don’t get their contributions to the case, even though there is a delightful thread where Henry, the livelier and more mischievous of the two, wants his parents to bring him an elephant from India.

The parallel plot, about Ahilya and how she came to be a great ruler, is just as compelling as the main plot. In fact, as much as I love Emily and Colin, when one of Ahilya’s chapters ended, I always felt like I couldn’t wait to get back to her story. This part of the book begins in 1740, when Ahilya is fifteen and has been married to the maharaja’s heir for seven years, ever since both were children. Her in-laws think very highly of her and see qualities in her that would make a strong ruler—qualities that are missing from their son. Ahilya’s husband, Khanderao, spends his time drinking and sleeping with his concubines, and shows no interest in her, or in ruling the kingdom. But Ahilya knows it is time for her to consummate her marriage and produce an heir.

It is heartbreaking to read about Ahilya’s attempts to do everything she can to make her husband love her, only to have him ignore her. She always thinks she will be able to improve him, and she knows he could be a better man, if only he listened to her and stayed away from alcohol, opium, and other women. Khanderao is a brave soldier, and Ahilya accompanies him into battle and becomes an expert on artillery. Another important part of the story is Ahilya’s friendship with Kiya, a woman of the people, who, although of a much lower social status than Ahilya, understands her and her marriage in a way that Ahilya herself does not.

Parts of Ahilya’s story are very tragic and have to do with the Hindu ritual of sati (more commonly spelled suttee), in which a widow commits suicide on her husband’s funeral pyre. I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that Ahilya contemplates sati but decides not to do it (and gets criticized by some, for that reason). After all, we know, from Emily’s story, that Ahilya spent many productive years as a widow and ended up ruling the kingdom in her own right after the death of her father-in-law. During her reign, Ahilya was a patron of the arts and did much to improve the lot of the common people, especially women. She founded educational institutions for women, and a weaving workshop for women who could not otherwise make a living.

This is a wonderful novel, and while I was reading, I did not know whether Ahilya was real or fictional. Unfortunately, the advance copy of the ebook that I read did not include an author’s note, so I looked online and was delighted to find she was real. The Wikipedia page for Ahilyabai Holkar (her full name) would indicate that Alexander follows her story very well. Also, Alexander’s website includes beautiful pictures of Ahilya’s fort and other nearby sites where the novel takes place.

I also made a less than delightful discovery on Alexander’s website. The page for Murder on the Sacred River says that it is the last book in the series. I hope that is just a misprint, and that what’s really meant is that it’s the latest, not the last. I love this series, and as far as I know, it’s been very popular, so I would be surprised if the publisher dropped it. Of course, publishers have dropped other series I thought were very popular (Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope, for example). This book didn’t feel like a series ending, and it left a few threads hanging. I would especially love to find out what happens with Henry and the elephant. So, I hope this is just a mistake on the website.

If this is the last book, or even if it is not, but you would like some further reading, I have some recommendations. This book, with its setting in India, will appeal to fans of Sujata Massey, Harini Najendra, and Nev March. There are many series with Victorian sleuthing couples I would recommend, especially Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series, which was an inspiration for this one. In fact, I first “met” Tasha Alexander online in an old Yahoo group for fans of Amelia Peabody, and I remember when she announced her first book there. More recently, there are Dianne Freeman’s Countess of Harleigh mysteries and Andrea Penrose’s Earl and Countess of Wrexford mysteries (a Regency couple, but the dynamic between the two leads, and their contrasting ways of approaching a case, reminds me of Emily and Colin). Also, there are the Jane Wunderly mysteries by Erica Ruth Neubauer, which take place later, in the 1920s, but which include many of the same elements: an unconventional young widow (as Emily is when you first meet her), an enigmatic secret agent who becomes her second husband, and each book featuring a different setting. Even with all these different series, though, Alexander’s is outstanding, and I hope it is not coming to an end anytime soon.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder on the Sacred River is the twentieth book in the Lady Emily Mystery series. As with earlier books in the series it has two plots in alternating chapters.

The main plot, taking place in 1908 Maheshawar, India, features Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband Colin as they investigate the death of an Englishman found along the sacred Narmada River. Along with a ragtag group of English visitors the Hargreaves are staying at Ahilya Fort, named after an 18th century Maharani Ahilya Khanderao, noted for development of a cultural renaissance in the province. After the death is determined to be a murder local police defer to the Hargreaves for the investigation. Not all the characters are whom they seem to be. A number of twists and turns revealing hidden relationships leave the reader guessing and end with a surprise killer.

The secondary plot, beginning in 1740, features a fictionalized life of Ahilya, married at eight, and now at fifteen just beginning her life as the wife of the future Maharaja. Her chapters explore the years of her marriage and the development of her character throughout the marriage and her eventual widowhood.

This book can be read as a standalone even though it includes mentions of important supporting characters from earlier books in the series. Personally, I find the hopping back and forth between timelines rather disconcerting. Although I do recommend the book to Lady Emily's fans,
and perhaps tangentially to those interested in British life in India at the beginning of the 20th century, it is not among the better books in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the advance copy for this honest review.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder on the Sacred River is the 20th book in Tasha Alexander's historical series Lady Emily Mysteries. Twenty books and still going strong! I admit that as usual, I haven't read the series from the beginning, as I'm late becoming a huge fan of historical mysteries. I've read books 14, 15 and 17, and though the core characters remain the same, each mystery stands alone. You can jump in at any time and be confident you won't be totally lost.

1908: Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves, along with an eccentric group of English tourists, are vacationing in India at Ahilya Fort, the old home to the Maharaja’s family, when a man is found shot along the Narmada River. Emily and Colin jump into action, but their suspect list is large, including a wonderful spinster and her not-so-wonderful companion; a local doctor; a widow who lives nearby; an English explorer; and an Englishman who now runs a tea plantation near Darjeeling. 1740: Fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai has been married to the son of Malharrao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory, for seven years. Now the time has finally come to produce an heir. But though Ahilya’s in-laws have shown her nothing but kindness, her notoriously-drunken husband remains a mystery to her, having rarely spoken to Ahilya since their wedding as children. Faced with this tortured and distant man, Ahilya’s sense of loyalty is tested as she attempts to balance fulfilling her duty with forging her own destiny. Her decisions will have ripple effects across time—including Lady Emily’s investigation almost two hundred years later. Lady Emily’s case takes a dramatic turn when a shocking new person arrives at the fort—and when the killer strikes again shortly afterwards, she and Colin must race to uncover the villain’s identity before it’s too late.

Like the other books I've read, this story goes back and forth between Lady Emily's current time and a different historical period. And this time, the past is the story of an actual person, which makes it even more interesting! In some of the books I sometimes wanted to read more about Lady Emily instead of the past, but this time I kept wanting to go back to 1740's India! I was beginning to wonder what the two time frames could possibly have in common and be connected to the current mystery, but once again Tasha Alexander does a fantastic job in tying everything together. I always enjoy spending time with Lady Emily, who has quite the investigative skills when interviewing suspects and involved individuals. She is married to handsome Colin Hargreaves, who is an agent of the Crown. What I love about their relationship is that they are equals; both have their own unique skills and respect each other. It's definitely not the "little lady" trying to jump in and investigate and getting in trouble along the way. This was a great mystery. For the life of me I couldn't identify the murderer; I had several of my own suspects, but I was totally off the mark. What also added to mystery was the identity of the dead man. I didn't see that coming! I loved the story of Ahilya, who actually was a Maharani in 1740's India. She was married as a child to a slightly older child, and it was quite an odd relationship as they got older. Ahilya was taught how to run the State by her father-in-law, and she was very educated and wanted to change the lives of Indian women for the better. Her husband Khanderao, however, was more concerned with drinking and concubines, though he was a decent leader of the army. She loved and respected him, but it was definitely not an equal relationship. She put up with a lot (it was the 1740's, after all), but always kept duty in the forefront of her life and actions. The history of the time period was fascinating, as were some of the customs. I was quite disturbed by sati, which is where a widow immolates herself on her deceased husband’s funeral pyre. Yes, it was a very different time and place, but the thought of burning oneself alive? I shudder to think of the pain and screams. (I love my husband, but no way am I going to throw myself into the fire with him when he's cremated!) Ahilya was a strong woman who changed the lives of many in India, and I think you'll admire her as much as I did. There were some great supporting characters. They weren't always likable, but they were good additions to the story. I especially liked Imogen Galsworthy, a very tall woman with a great love of traveling and history. And then there's the woman you can love to hate: Edith Whitcombe. She was Imogen's lady companion; she thought the Indian citizens should behave just like the British would! But people can change... And then there was a widow who was translating Ahilya's letters for an English explorer who was taken with her story. You'll wonder about her at times. All in all, this was a very engrossing book. I'm sure you will be hooked on the series. I've got many previous books to catch up on. Yay!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can this possibly be the 20th entry in the Lady Emily murder mystery series? Tasha Alexander is so prolific, and each book spins a wonderful new tale with just a few, mostly humorous, references to earlier books. In this one, they have to do with the famous aristocrat-investigators’ sons, especially the youngest and most impetuous, whom Lady Emily wisely leaves to his father, the witty, handsome and clever Colin Hargreaves. who rarely fails to indulge him. These domestic touches show the couple’s tender side, despite the
fact that they are also hard-nosed investigative partners who become involved in terrible things. I find it touching that they still seem genuinely loving, and still enthralled with each other.

The novel presents a dual timeline story. The investigation takes place in 1907, just before the Titanic’s sinking, when the wealthy boarded luxury ships and sailed without much worry across the ocean to any point in the British Empire. The more ‘exotic’ imperial colonies, where the English could demonstrate their self-perceived racial superiority, were preferred. The couple are staying at the historic Ahilya’s Fort, the Maharaj’s residence. Their hopes for a restful child-free holiday are shot when, in addition to having to lodge with some very odd fellow Britishers, they very quickly become involved in a local murder—which just as quickly proves to be not so local and no random accident. An Englishman is found dead beside a boat in the Narmada River, the sacred river of the title. He is at first presumed to have died accidentally, then he is incorrectly identified by one of the other English visitors. The bumbling Ralston starts to look like the perpetrator. In very short order, everyone is under suspicion and subjected to the couple’s hard-nosed questioning.

Meanwhile, the 18th century tale might best be described as a domestic story. It centres on the Holkar family, the ruling dynasty of what was then the self-governing colony of Indore. Unbeknownst to the rulers or their people, their days of independence were numbered. The heir to the throne, Khanderao married to the beautiful, spiritual and highly capable Ahilya when she is only 8 years old. She goes to live with her in-laws, who effectively adopt her, educate her on matters of statecraft and warfare, and protect her from their only son. Khanderao is not evil, but he is weak, and when the time comes for he and Ahilya to be truly married, and to produce an heir, he is only rarely guilt-stricken enough to do his duty. He drinks heavily, indulges in opium, and carouses with his four wives and nine concubines. Here we see Ahilya, despite her insecurities, isolation and sorrow, remain always loving and loyal. Her ultimate act, after ruling justly and successfully for many years, is to leave ‘a jewel’ for future Indorians.

I loved the descriptions of early 20th century Indian society, culture and religion as much as those of the early 18th century. The ways in which the mystery of each period is resolved through the investigations of the Hargreaves is also excellent. Best of all, I think, are the similarities in the personalities of Lady Emily, who appears to follow the gender conventions of her time, yet is very much a modern woman, loyal to her husband but not dependent on him. The same is true of Ahilya, who, after her husband’s death, defies tradition even more. Book 20 is very satisfying, and I have no doubt I’ll be reading Book 21.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for an advance copy of this book.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Murder on the Sacred River” by Tasha Alexander is an electrifying, fast-paced, and impossible-to-put-down new novel in the Lady Emily murder mystery series.

The story spans two time frames. The first is set in 1908 in India at Ahilyah Fort, the old home to the Maharaja’s family. Here, Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves have travelled with a group of English tourists for a vacation. Shortly after their arrival, a man is found shot along the Narmada River. Lady Emily and her husband begin their investigation, but this will be no simple murder to solve: the suspect list is long and the motives unclear.

The second time frame is set in 1740, seven years after fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai marries Malharrao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory. She must produce an heir, but it proves difficult when her husband has barely spoken to her since their wedding day, and he’s always drunk and elusive. She finds her loyalty and strength tested when she must balance her sense of duty with forging her own destiny. The decisions she makes will impact the future, including Lady Emily’s investigation.

Tasha Alexander brings to life the scents, flavours, and culture/history of India through her vivid depictions and immersion into the settings of the two different timelines. As usual, the Lady Emily murder mystery series takes readers on an insightful journey into the past where they learn about life, customs, and duties through Ahilyabai. It really feels like stepping back in time to when Ahilyabai was learning how to be a partner to her husband while fulfilling her duties to her family and the people. One can genuinely feel how torn she is in making decisions that are right not only for herself, but for those around her. She’s quite an admirable character, one who is enjoyable to follow along with.

Lady Emily, as always, is a delight to read. She’s intelligent, headstrong, and determined, which makes her the perfect person to tackle a murder mystery. She’s great at finding clues, following her gut instinct, and making conversation with the people who have a connection to the victim. Yet, it’s impossible to figure out who could be responsible for the death of an innocent man, especially when there are so many suspects, all of whom have plenty of reasons to kill. As the tension ramps up, so does the investment in figuring out who the killer is and why they have struck.

Another fantastic murder mystery set in the beautiful country of India! “Murder on the Sacred River” by Tasha Alexander is a must-read for those who love cozy mysteries and is expected to be published on September 22, 2026. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books) for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book and for the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

[Ashley Cohoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨☆ (3.5/5 stars)

Murder on the Sacred River by Tasha Alexander was my first time reading the Lady Emily series, despite this being book twenty, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to jump in without feeling completely lost. There are obviously established relationships and history between the characters, but I never felt like I needed to have read the previous nineteen books to understand what was happening.

The story follows Lady Emily and her husband Colin in India in 1908, where their trip quickly turns into a murder investigation after an Englishman is found dead along the Narmada River. What starts as a fairly straightforward mystery becomes much more complicated once questions arise about the victim's identity, old relationships start resurfacing, and nearly everyone seems to be hiding something. There were enough twists and shifting suspects to keep me guessing, and I definitely appreciated that I didn't immediately figure everything out.

For me, though, the standout was the second timeline following Ahilya in the 1700s. I became much more invested in her story than I expected. Watching her navigate marriage, duty, loss, and the expectations placed on women while slowly growing into someone capable of leading was easily the most compelling part of the book. Her chapters had so much emotional weight, and every time the story shifted back to 1908, I found myself wanting to get back to her.

The historical setting was also beautifully done. I loved getting a sense of India in two very different time periods, and the book does a good job weaving history and culture into the story without making it feel like a history lesson. The contrast between Ahilya's life and the British characters in 1908 also added another interesting layer to the novel.

The main mystery was entertaining, but at times there were a lot of characters, motives, and secrets to keep track of. A few stretches moved more slowly for me, especially early on, and some of the suspicion being thrown around felt a little forced. The dual timelines also weren't equally strong in my opinion- Ahilya's storyline consistently held my attention more than the murder investigation.

Overall, Murder on the Sacred River was an enjoyable historical mystery with a beautiful setting, plenty of twists, and a really compelling historical storyline woven throughout. The mystery itself was solid, but Ahilya's story is what really made this one memorable for me. I don't know that I'm ready to go back and read nineteen previous books, but I definitely understand why this series has lasted as long as it has.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book rating: 4⭐️
Genre: historical fiction
Themes: colonialism, murder, treasure, India, maharanis
📖 Read if you like: Daughters of Egypt

The newest Lady Emily Ashton mystery is a dual timeline delight. It follows the young and newly wedded Ahilya who is destined to become a legendary maharani of piety, generosity and pragmatism. She is gifted with intelligence and kindness, which she needs to take on the responsibility of the realm and manage her husband’s demons. Fast forward to 1908 where Lady Emily and her husband Colin are vacationing at Ahiliya Fort in India along with a group of eccentric English expats and adventurers. When a man is found dead along the Narmada River, it will unwind the legend of Ahiliya’s secret treasure and the story of her life.

This is my favourite book in the series yet. Not only does it push the boundaries for socially accepted roles for women during several timelines, but it also offers a criticism on colonialism that was much appreciated. The commentary on the British view of Indians as pagan wildlings, the repatriation of stolen artifacts and the general erasure of history in favour of the conquerors were all sharply exposed within the story.

A diverse cast of characters and opinions offered interesting conversations during the murder mystery and showcased a complicated relationship between locals and colonialists. All of the characters were really well rounded with complexities and the writing was evocative with rich description and timely debate. I could even appreciate Miss Whitcombe though I would not want to spend any time with her!

The mystery was interesting and well flushed out with several possible culprits, but the older timeline really stole the show. In all honesty I will always appreciate the historical aspect more than the mystery in novels. Ahilya’s attempts to appeal to her husband Khanderao while reigning in her own talents and ambitions was very engrossing and I learnt more about this prolific leader. Her story is full of tragedy and the custom of sati is particularly gruesome but historically accurate.

Overall, this novel was transportive with not one, but two intelligent women weaving the narrative. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the eARC. Looking forward to Lady Emily’s next adventure!

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I have followed Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves through Turkey, Russia, Egypt, Italy and many other locations in this series. In her twentieth entry in the series, Tasha Alexander takes them to India. While I have enjoyed every book in the series, Murder on the Sacred River stands out not only for the twists in their investigation, but also for the fascinating story of Ahilya, a maharani in the 1700s. In 1908, Emily and Colin are staying in Ahilya Fort when a body is found in a boat on the Narmada River. The body is identified by Ralston, a tea plantation owner staying at the fort. He believes that it is his old friend Titus Stringfellow. When Emily and Colin are asked to investigate by the police, their suspects include the other guests at the fort, including a spinster and her companion, an explorer working on Ahilya’s history and Ralston. When the real Titus Stringfellow shows up, Ralston has some explaining to do and he moves up on the suspect list.

In alternating chapters, Alexander takes you to 1740 and the story of Ahilya. She was married as a child to the maharaja’s son, but now it is time to provide an heir. Although she loves her husband, he has rarely spoken to her since their marriage. He spends his nights with concubines and drinking with his friends. He has little interest in his responsibilities. Ahilya was taught at his side as they grew up and the maharaja is becoming more dependent on her assistance at court. She is a strong woman who sees the needs of the people around her, even as her husband exists in a drunken stupor. It becomes her mission to help her husband become the leader she feels he could be. There are gentle times with her husband, but also frequent setbacks as she takes more responsibility, eventually ruling after her husband’s death. Emily and Colin must restart their investigation when the true identity of the victim is discovered. Even as they faced a number of twists and an additional murder, I kept looking forward to returning to Ahilya’s story. In the end, both story lines come together with the discovery of what Ahilya left behind to be found. Emily and Colin’s storyline will keep you guessing to the very end and hoping that they will return soon with another investigation. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.

[boogleloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars: This is Alexander's twentieth entry in the Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries series which is a Historical Mystery set in India, 1908 and 1740. Featuring an noblewoman and her husband, who are vacationing in India at the old home to the Maharaja’s family, find themselves investigating a fellow Englishman's murder that they learn seems to be linked to 1740 and a maharani's decisions, as she attempts to balance fulfilling her duty to her troubled husband with forging her own destiny. Among rumors of a lost treasure, the couple jump into action to unmask the killer but their suspect list is large, including a spinster and her companion; a local doctor; a widow who lives nearby; an English explorer; and an Englishman who runs a tea plantation. The duo's case takes a dramatic turn when a shocking new person arrives at the fort – and when the killer strikes again shortly afterwards, they must race to uncover the villain’s identity before it’s too late.

With plenty of twists and turns, Alexander has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Told in dual POVs and timelines, Alexander's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced. Alexander manages to interweave both of the plots and timelines effortlessly. Alexander's historical research's thorough and interesting without overshadowing the mystery plot and provides a great sense of time and place.

Alexander touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, And Only to Deceive. This is a favorite series; Highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and ARC provided by St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 / 5.0 Stars

This is yet another wonderful tale in the Lady Emily mystery series. It's 1908. Our plucky Lady Emily and her husband Colin have sailed to subcontinent India and are enjoying a bit of vacation among a few other British tourists while staying in an historic Indian fortress. Colin is soon called upon to sort out the murder of a British tourist who just happens to be an acquaintance of someone in their party. There are many twists and turns, red herrings, and misdirection throughout the story making it a most engaging read.

Author Tasha Alexander writes an exquisite narrative capturing two stories set centuries apart, with a narrow thread connecting them. Both are set in India - one in the late 18th century touching upon that of the much revered Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar and the main story is set in 1908. The author has captured well the feminine strength of both stories. Eventually, the two stories are connected across the eons and the stories draw to a delightful unified conclusion.

As for the writing, it is solid, evocative, and well delivered. The scene settings are rich and the descriptions of Indian dress - exquisite. One is easily transported to the times of the story as the tales are beautifully spun. If historical fiction with a mystery woven in for good measure suits you, then I commend this book to you.

I am grateful to author Tasha Alexander and her publisher Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: September 22, 2026
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1250375018

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on the Sacred River by Tasha Alexander is another epic story with two timelines: one historical fiction with the maharani Ahilya as the central character; another a mystery for Lady Emily and Colin to solve in their own time (1908). Both were intriguing stories, connected only in that the couple was staying in a fort designed and built for Ahilya in Maheshwar, India. It is interesting that the brunt of the murders in 1908 took place because of a lost treasure. It is intriguing to note how the word treasure means different things to different people. In the end, the reason for murder is the bain of the modern world: greed. Colin finds himself in India on some unknown quest for the Crown. Emily joins him. Their children, at home in England, follow them by letter. Henry requesting they bring him home an elephant. They will not, but they have no doubt that he will find a way.

Colin Hargreaves and Lady Emily have been together for many years now and solved many mysteries. They work well together, Emily’s intuition and ability to read people is nothing but a boon to Colin’s existence. Excellent characters, they continue to grow throughout their travels and travails. Alexander is able to create interesting and complex peripheral characters and has certainly done so in this book. It is a good mystery, full of friendship, curiosity, deceit, and romance. It is a well done book, as are they all, and a delight to read. It opens up the world, not only to Lady Emily, but to the reader as well, taking us to times and places one would never have access to.

I was invited to read Murder on the Sacred River by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #TashaAlexander #MurderOnTheSacredRiver

[Monica Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting addition to this series. What I love about these books is that it is always a historical fiction story within a historical fiction mystery story.

In the first timeline we have Lady Emily trying to solve a mystery about the death of an Englishman a the Ahilya Fort in India. There are a variety of characters each with their own interesting backstory. Emily is a force to be reckoned with and even though it is 1908, she doesn't let anyone get in the way of her getting to the truth. I love that she is the main character and her husband is more of the side piece. My favorite part of the book was the secondary story. This was of Ahilya in 1740. She is married to the future ruler but he loves alcohol more than he loves being an effective ruler in India. Ahilya wants to be a good wife, and mother but she also is extremely intelligent and wants to do right by the people of India. She must overcome the issues in her marriage to become an instrument of change especially for the women in India.

Both stories were interesting and I had no idea who the murderer was until the very end. However I am a true historical fiction fan more than a mystery fan and I loved learning about Ahilya. Her story was fascinating. I also learned so much more about the history of India. A truly fascinating read! Even though this is book 20 in the series, one does not have to read the 19 that came before this. I have only read one other in this series and I completely understood all that was happening.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Amelia and her husband Colin Hargreaves are vacationing in India after Colin does a little something for the king. They find themselves invited to Ahilya's Fort on the banks of the Narmada River along with an assortment of other English travelers.

When the body of an Englishman is found in a boat with a gunshot wound to his head, their vacation becomes an investigation because the local police are more than willing to hand the case off to them. Once the man's identity becomes known after an initial misidentification, Amelia and Colin discover that many of their fellow travelers might have had reason to kill him.

The eccentric lady and her bad-tempered companion, the visiting historian, a man named Mr. Ralston, a local doctor, and a local widowed lady are all suspects in this one.

Woven into the mystery plot are flashbacks to 1740 and the woman for whom the fort is named. She was married at eight to the future maharajah and educated to be a helpmeet to him. The flashbacks tell of her life from childhood to old age. She did a lot of good as ruler after the deaths of her husband and in-laws and has become a figure of importance in the region. Rumor has it she left a treasure behind her which excites current (1908) day fortune hunters.

This was an entertaining historical detail filled with wonderful scenes of India at the time period. Amelia greatly enjoys the food and drink and the culture while still investigating and solving the mystery.

I did rather miss that their boys were left home in England, but enjoyed Henry's letters pleading for an elephant.

[Saltygalreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

1908: Emily and Colin Hargreaves are vacationing in India at the former home of a maharaja when a man’s dead body is found in a boat on the river. The duo is commissioned by the local police to investigate the murder, a daunting task with a long list of suspects in an unfamiliar country.
1740: Ahila is the young maharani married to Khandero, the troubled heir who struggles with overindulgence in wine, opium and concubines. But Ahila is determined to fulfil her responsibilities and live up to the love and expectations of her devoted in-laws.

The storyline alternates between the two eras and weaves Ahila’s story together with Emily’s investigation in India.

This was a cracking good read in the historical mystery series featuring Lady Emily. I always marvel at how the author manages to merge the two timelines and stories together, and this one was no different. This novel was somewhat different to the prior one in the series since Emily is travelling and not in London. Being in India allows her to have more freedom and be less concerned with what society may think or say about her detecting activities. There are several unlikeable characters in their circle of suspects, and more than one with a potential motive. As with the previous book in the series, the historical storyline drew me in and I found these chapters really absorbing.
Highly recommended to readers that enjoy historical fiction and/or cozy mysteries.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy of Murder on the Sacred River. All opinions and comments are my own.

This ‘story within a story’ finds Colin Hargreaves and Lady Emily Hargreaves investigating the murder of an Englishman in 1908 India. And before they’re done, you’ll have been given a history of the great Indian Maharani Ahilya in alternating chapters, which detail her life in the 18th century and the building of the fort in which Colin and Lady Emily conduct their investigations and ultimately, uncover a murderer.

There’s a whole host of unpleasant characters in Murder on the Sacred River, suspects all, which does somewhat make it hard to get invested in the story. And while the chapters on the Maharani are interesting, they derail the continuity of the book. I found their inclusion a distraction. They do outline the life of a strong, powerful woman, much like Lady Emily, who has proven herself to be a good detective (as well she should, this is the 20th book in the series).

There’s talk about stolen treasures of India, and ultimately, a dead man who definitely needed killing. And a big finish, which sees everything tied up very nicely. While I appreciate the lovingly researched story of Ahilya and her contribution to the history of her country, I didn’t find Murder on the Sacred River as compelling a mystery as earlier entries in the series.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the latest Lady Emily novel, Tasha Alexander brings readers, Lady Emily, and Colin Hargreaves to India and Ahilya Fort, the maharaja’s ancestral home, but while on a trip with eccentric English tourists in 1908 a man is found shot along the Narmada River. Emily and Colin begin investigating, but there are many suspects on their lists. Almost two centuries earlier, teenage Ahilyabai had been married to the son of Malharrao Holkar, Lord of Malwa territory, for seven years by 1740, but she could not provide her kind in-laws and drunken and mysterious husband with an heir. Ahilya’s sense of loyalty and duty are both tested, and her decisions will go on to affect others centuries later -- including Lady Emily, whose case soon takes a dramatic turn. Emotional, fascinating, and immersive, this feels different from the other books in the series, and readers will love how the two storylines end up intersecting in Emily’s investigation. The book is absolutely packed with detail, and readers will really appreciate the depth of detail that Alexander uses to bring India to life. A great instalment in this historical mystery series, readers will love the dual-timeline, dual-perspective nature of the newest book from Tasha Alexander.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the advance copy.

[sniksnak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 20, Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries series
The story is presented in dual timelines.
In 1908, Lady Emily Hargreaves and her husband, Colin, vacation at India’s historic Ahilya Fort with an eclectic group of English tourists. The serene getaway turns deadly when a man is shot along the sacred Narmada River, implicating suspects including a spinster and her companion, a local doctor, a widow, an English explorer, and a Darjeeling tea plantation owner. A second murder and an unexpected arrival heighten the stakes, prompting Emily and Colin to methodically uncover the culprit.
Interwoven is a 1740 storyline featuring fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai Holkar, married to Malharrao Holkar’s son, who contends with pressures to produce an heir amid her husband’s challenges. Her explorations of duty, destiny, and self-determination reverberate into Lady Emily’s investigation centuries later. The novel fuses India’s captivating locales, historical depth, and taut suspense along the fog-laden riverbanks.

**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review. #ARC #NetGalley
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