Beneath a Silent Moon

Rannoch Fraser Mysteries #4

by Tracy Grant

Alternate Edition of ISBN: 0061473553

June-July 1817
The task had taken shape thanks to the inconvenient way secrets had of bubbling to the surface. It went without saying that it was going to be difficult. But then, murder always was…

The London docks.

Beneath a silent moon, a mysterious exile slips back into the city to complete a nefarious mission that began decades before.

On that same night, London's titled, wealthy and beautiful waltz the night away at Glenister House. Among the guests aristocratic Charles Fraser, a former spy recently returned from the Napoleonic Wars, and his bride Mélanie, who has charmed London society but hides her own secrets. In the brilliance of Mayfair, a visitor from their past pulls Charles and Mélanie back into the world of danger and espionage they thought they had left behind. But this time, the intrigues are rooted in Charles's complex and troubled family.

Melanie and Charles Fraser have traded the moment-to-moment dangers of the war-ravaged Continent for the glittering world of the British ton. But beneath the shimmering veneer of London society, they discover an establishment that is rotten to its very core. An assassination and a trail of clues that lead back to the French Revolution itself plunge Charles and Melanie once more into the danger that has always been the common ground in their marriage. As they search for the truth, they find that the answers cut shockingly close to their own friends and family - including the seemingly perfect Honoria Talbot.

A secret society, and the dangerous liaisons of the Fraser family lead Charles and Mélanie from the glittering ballrooms and shadowy streets of London to the Fraser estate on the Scottish coast. This is a deadly game that could shake the fate of nations: but for Charles, the stakes are the lives of those he holds most dear, and the love of the enigmatic woman who shares his name...and his bed.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Regency

459 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Tracy Grant studied British history at Stanford University and received the Firestone Award for Excellence in Research for her honors thesis on shifting conceptions of honor in late fifteenth century England. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her young daughter and three cats. In addition to writing, Tracy works for the Merola Opera Program, a professional training program for opera singers, pianists, and stage directors. Her real life heroine is her daughter Mélanie, who is very cooperative about Mummy’s writing. Tracy is currently at work on her next book chronicling the adventures of Malcolm and Mélanie Suzanne Rannoch.

Reviews

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve not been reading Tracy Grant, you really have been missing out. Her Rannoch/Fraser series of romantic suspense features a compelling relationship, fascinating characters and worldbuilding that I just love. If you’re not familiar with the series, it may require a touch of explanation. The series originally started with two books published by Avon, Daughter of the Game (later reissued as Secrets of a Lady) and Beneath a Silent Moon. Those books featured the escapades of Charles and Melanie Fraser. The publisher did not renew for further books in the series, but Grant was later picked up by Kensington. The one hitch was that she would need to find new names for her characters. So, Charles and Melanie became Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch.

It takes some getting used to, but the whole series is worth the added touch of effort. If you check out any of these books on Goodreads, you’ll find the series listed in chronological order with a note from the author’s website about suggested reading order. Personally, I skipped over the first couple of e-novellas and started with Vienna Waltz. I’ve been able to keep up with the series without confusion and that particular novel was a very strong entry to the series. I’ve not reviewed all the Rannoch/Fraser books for AAR since I started reading years after the books were released, but I have been reviewing them on my Goodreads account as I read.

For those not familiar, Charles Fraser is a British diplomat who worked as a spy during the war. He has connections to a very powerful aristocratic family, and his star is on the rise. During the war, he married the pregnant Melanie, a young Frenchwoman, and accepted her child as his own. Charles is aware that Melanie was involved in spying herself, and she has in fact assisted him on some of his diplomatic missions overseas. However, what is known to the reader but not to Charles is that at least in the beginning, Melanie was working at cross-purposes to Charles. Melanie feels deeply conflicted concerning her past loyalties and this conflict has been gradually working to a head over the course of the series.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/feb-tbr-c...

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure who linked me to the author's website, I know I had read about her on Dear Author sometime before.
It might have been Li reading another in the series or DearAuthor talking about the current release in the series...
I was totally impressed with her essays about her research and the excerpts I read of the books. Once I had finished this book, I went online right away to buy the follow-up.

In any case - if you are a fan of Georgette Heyer's The Spanish Bride - based on the true life diary of Harry and Juana Smith - then the Frasers, Mélanie and Charles, are a look at what might have gone wrong with a war-time decision of a man who never thought he would marry (because of his family background and recent events) offering his hand to support a woman who has impressed him and needs marriage from his point of view (and has no other way of likely survival or acceptance of her circumstances).

I find it fascinating the the author writes in various time-frames in the life of this couple - I decided I'd start with the book that seemed to be earliest chronologically - but the new big publisher release Vienna Waltz (which changes the name of the characters because the author is now writing for a different publisher - how stupid can those publishers be to make it MORE difficult to read in a series!!) is set at the Congress in Vienna roughly two or three years earlier.

There is no info-dumping or As you know, Bob here: we get allusions to decisions that are not explained in this book, but they all serve to explain where the couple stands now - and then there is the mystery - connected to the family and its past, which is why I really enjoyed this more than many other mysteries which I only read for the interaction of the main sleuths. These revelations all have major repercussions in the life of Melanie and Charles and their loved ones.

I'd say this book focuses a lot on Charles' parents and close family, but - as I found out in the follow-up - not even here do we find out everything that actually is buried under the cover of time passing. I loved the supporting gay couple (not sure how likely the tolerance of what they were doing would have been in real life).

Another nifty twist was starting the book after the main couple had been married for some years and had two children! Because the Napoleonic Wars are finally over, they return to London - so we and they get introduced in their current form to the British ton and their family - what there is of that.

The dialogue and the characterisation just work. Really enjoyable for the intrigues and layers of misdirection and the teamwork and problematic relationship between Melanie and Charles.

[Jans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath a Silent Moon by Tracy Grant - Book Review

I’ve always been a fan of Regency romance novels, so this book intrigued me. It is far from the standard Regency tale, however. Regency romances tend to be very predictable. Although the story is laid in England and Scotland in 1817, this novel is much more than a romantic adventure or bodice-ripper. This story grabs the reader on page one and holds on through the conclusion.

Thickly packed with mystery, intrigue, espionage, murder, and a secret society, this complicated plot has more layers than an onion. The members of a family and their close friends peel away the layers, one by one, exposing shocking lies and even more shocking truths. Letters written in secret code and hidden rooms are included in the quest. Suspicions run rampant in the old Scottish castle where the characters seek to untangle countless threads to unmask the killer.

Many of the characters have secrets and almost every one is a suspect at some point. Once the facts come to light and pieces are put in place, the reader almost needs a scorecard to keep track of the complicated connections.

The story ends very nicely, with a series of letters to tie up loose ends and give the story a solid conclusion.

I ordered and read Tracy Grant’s sequel to this book, “Secrets of a Lady”. It was also excellent.

My Grade: A

Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Avon A (April 29, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061473553
ISBN-13: 978-0061473555

[Bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite some very anachronistic language (did people really say "setup" and "breast-feeding" in England in 1817? I highly doubt this!) and some oddities of setting (did they play cricket in the Highlands of Scotland? Also doubt this!) as well as some far-too-modern attitudes from her characters (though they do remark on their odd behavior themselves, so kudos for that), Tracy Grant's Beneath a Silent Moon is a cut above most of the Regency romances I've read (not least because there's an actual plot that doesn't just involve whether the lady will win/keep the love of the man - although there's definitely some of that!) Mélanie, the heroine, reminds me a lot of Teresa Moreno from the "Sharpe" TV series, though Charles Fraser, her husband, sadly doesn't resemble Sean Bean at all! But the mystery is intriguing, the family dynamics positively Jacobean, and the two central characters (and the depiction of family life) are winning! I'm looking forward to reading Secrets of a Lady (which was published first, though it comes chronologically after Beneath a Silent Moon and so I preferred to read in the order in which things occurred in the characters' lives.)

[Gwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book by accident and after reading the first sappy paragraph " The night air was like a lover's touch. Cloaked in mystery, beckoning with promise, sweet at times but quickly cloying and underneath, rotten to the core." I almost returned it. Alas, I gave it a chance and it failed miserably. The over-usage of adjectives was annoying and unnecessary. I had to re-read several lines as I couldn't pick up the point through all the fluff.
Also, this was the most boring 'murder mystery' I've ever read. The characters were shallow, monotonous and tiresome. I found the storyline so tedious and over worded I wanted to rip my hair out. My OCD is the only thing that kept me reading it, that and the fact that I wasted $15 on it. Which makes the fact that the ending was so pointless and absurd extremly frusterating.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the writing itself was nearly as good in this as in the first book of the series, I was highly disappointed to find it nothing more than a cozy whodunit. I loved the first book SO much, but the sequel was very different.
None of the characters (both new and otherwise) were as developed as those in the first book, either. And while I was planning on reading the rest of the series, I don't know that I will now, for fear of more pointless murder mystery.
To be fair, though, the only murder mysteries I've ever like are Sherlock Holmes and Deanna Raybourne.

[Jack Vasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronologically, this is the first Fraser book. It appears to be the second book published of all the Rannoch Fraser books. The Rannoch's and the Frasers are almost the same people, but not quite. As TG says there is "a parallel universe aspect". The problem is that there is a lot of repetition of backstories that are sometimes the same and sometimes different. There are a few major events that are either completely different or take place at entirely different times. As a result of all this, it is confusing to keep details straight if you read them both. TG makes different recommendations at https://tracygrant.wordpress.com/faq/.... The most sensible to me is to read 9 of the Rannoch stories first and then the three Fraser books, beginning with this one. This sequence is almost but not quite chronological. If you have read either this or Secrets of a Lady first, then finish up the Fraser books before going back in time to the Rannoch's. This book and Secrets of a Lady could be read either way since neither really contains spoilers to the other. There are some extremely subtle hints in this book as to what we learn in Secrets.

Don't skip the letters at the end. Some of them are teasers for a sequel (not Secrets but maybe Mask of Night). Some are quite humorous tellings of the rumors surrounding events of the book. Some wrap up some of the secondary sub-plots of this book. Unfortunately some are just uninteresting ramblings.

This book tells a complete story, but there is a significant unfinished thread which appears to lead to a sequel.

This book is a good mystery, although it is a complicated one. It seems like at least half the characters slept with at least a couple of other people, not their spouses. There is plenty of danger. There are a couple of nice twists. There is a lot of development of the relationship between Charles and Melanie, although much of their relevant backstory as to how they married doesn't appear until Secrets of a Lady.

I have shelved this as Romance. What I've said in almost all my reviews, that this isn't your typical Romance, is true here. The main relationship is Charles and Melanie and the book goes deep with them. They are already married and have significant problems but there is love there. The book also contains more than one secondary romance.

The author loves to insert references to Shakespeare that go far beyond mere quotes but parallel her characters with those of the Bard.

As someone who has struggled through trying to keep details straight through a dozen of these stories, both Rannoch and Fraser, I am aggravated by several things as a result. The relevant one here is that Charles comes off to me as a different person than Malcolm. Charles is much more restrained and even harsh. He has two major backstory events, which are life defining and which appear nowhere in Malcolm's life that I have seen so far. He vacillates between tenderness for Melanie and resentment. Until the Mayfair Affair, Malcolm's affection for Suzanne is consistent even if he has a hard time expressing it to her. In both series, other characters remark that the two have something special, but in this book, it doesn't ring true of Charles.

Melanie/Suzanne has deep affection for Charles/Malcom in either series. Melanie is extremely intuitive and reaches huge accurate conclusions based on little evidence.

I am also irritated by the fact that both Charles/Malcolm and Melanie/Suzanne receive wounds that should hinder them far more and longer than takes place in the books. I believe at one point Charles is running within a day, if not less, of having a bullet pulled out of his thigh.

Mature themes: there are references in backstory to suicide, incest, rape/murder, and soldiers ravishing a village, although none of these are described in detail. There is discussion of contests or dares to seduce innocent women and men. Oddly there are no explicit sex scenes.

Personal Rant: I have read many hundreds if not thousands of books including dozens of series. The Rannoch/Fraser series is unique among all of them in what I consider a greedy, money-hungry way. The sad thing is that the stories have enough merit in themselves that such greed isn't necessary and the author could continue to write new stories indefinitely. This is a series where a set of characters is established with firm backstories and then the writer goes back and not only resets the characters and the names, but retells all the back story and changes some things so that it can't help be confusing to the reader. Many pages are given to retelling the history. I understand that the author had to change names because she changed publishers. That doesn't bother me, rather it is changing the histories of the main characters. Perhaps I am conveniently overlooking Star Trek and X-Men, but in both those cases, the franchises were significantly oriented toward visual media and it was necessary to insert new actors if the stories were to continue. And each of those was done brilliantly and somehow they weren't confusing. Even Doctor Who doesn't reset the main character's history.

[MissKitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book #4 in the series, which was published in 2003, together with another book (#10 in the series). Both were written very early in the career of this author. These were her first 2 books.

So what happened was, the author decided to continue with this mystery, spy-thriller, romance series, but then wrote the in between books to fill in the timelines of the same characters.

First problem was that she changed publisher and had to re-name her characters. Therefore for these books she started off w characters named Charles and Melanie Fraser, whose names she changed to Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch for all the other books. All copies i found of theses aformentioned books #4 and #10 still use the names of charles and Melanie. So the reader will have to be okay with the switch, if you can adjust.

Next problem I encountered was based solely on my reading experience, since I read the books in sequence from 0.5 to 3.5. So as a new reader, I experienced the development of the characters and their relationship in chronological order. And while sometimes it is better to write prequels to give a better understanding of the backstory, in this instance, something was actually lost.

This is book 4, so for someone following the author’s careen and had read this first, there is an ambiguity and an uncertainty between the couple, they are unsure of each other and not very confident of the feelings of their partner which work for the added sense of mystery of the book. There are broad hints about this being a marriage of convenience at the start. All of this would have been FINE had I not already read books 1-3.5!

By book 3 and 3.5 the couple have already revealed more about their feelings to each other and are much more confident and comfortable in their relationship. In the previous book to this they function as a solid team! So its jarring to see them being tentative with each other as they were in book 0.1.

I have not yet read book 5.0 which continues with some unfinished threads from this book, but has a new central mystery. Im still waiting for the main hammer to fall which is when the husband finds out his wife has actually been a French spy all along. That happens in book 5. So I might hunt that out next but in the meantime Im taking a break from this author.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up about page 100 or so. I have read two of her other books in this very confusing series and they were ok. I owned this one so decided to give it a try. What with the abrupt change of names of the couple and the absolute mass confusion about which book comes first and this was was written before this one but they can be read in any order and then read this but remember the names will change..- why would an author do that to any perspective reader? The books refer to details that, supposedly, you know about or.. maybe not because the couple had a different name then.. or maybe you read them in the order of publication date and that’s wrong or maybe you read them as they author advises except you can’t figure out what the heck she is talking about….so ridiculous to have to spend time sorting out something that shouldn’t need a second.. this comes first, this comes second and so on…

I would not recommend this series at all unless you are prepared to sit down and put a lot of time and work into figuring out the reading order… it’s like One Gigantic Puzzle.

So not impressed.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in 1817 and begins in London but travels to Scotland. Melanie and Charles Fraser are present when Charles's father announces his engagement to a young woman who is a long time family friend. Melanie and Charles meet an old friend who is killed but manages to set the couple on a trail that leads to numerous family secrets and deaths. The book was a quick easy read.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Change to Fraser confusing…

…and the inconsistency of their relationship from the Continent was off putting. During the previous novels we saw their trust and love take root to the point Malcolm could acknowledge the three little words, but it’s as if we’re at point zero in this one plus the confusing names. Disappointing

[Melani D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tale was quite convoluted and sometimes hard to keep up with who was who, but the author did a nice job wrapping it all up. But for the love of gawd, I was tired of the piercing, cold, hard pick an adjective, blue eyes. You’d think there was no other eye color. A minor annoyance a better editor would have fixed

[Cindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally another author I can read the whole series of and not want to put the book down. The mystery is a complicated as the relationship between Melanie and Charles. I read this backwards, should have read this one first, doesn't spoil it, just made me feel like I know some secrets....

[Jean Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75.

[Lirazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Barbara Literski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

I enjoy reading about Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch..
It is like that I am there and the Rannoch’s are friends.
This is a good mystery as to who did it!!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the next novel that was published after I read the last one. But it is the next one in chronological order. Fairly dark look at Charles's family ties. Well written, though.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jacob Paez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tantalizing tale of lovers, secrets and twists that leaves you begging for more.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

She seems like she is trying too hard to be something

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading and enjoying “Daughter of the Game” by Tracy Grant, I was anxious to begin her second novel “Beneath A Silent Moon”. At first I was rather disconcerted by the fact that this story precedes what happened in the first novel. I thought this book would be a continuation of the exploits of Charles and Melanie Fraser. However, the time line for this novel makes it a prequel for “Daughter of the Game”. Frankly, I wasn’t sure a prequel was going to set well with me since I had myself ready to continue from the point I left off in the lives of these characters. However, after the first few chapters, I fell right in with the story. Although I already knew of future things to come in the lives of Charles and Melanie, I became enmeshed in “helping” them solve the dilemmas of their current situation.

In this book, Charles and Melanie have been married for 4 ½ years and they have recently returned to London. A messenger approaches them and arrangements are made for them to meet with Francisco, an old friend of Charles’ and a fellow spy. During their rendezvous, Francisco is murdered, but not before he can convey some parts of a mystery and some documents to Charles and Melanie. His dying words were “It all comes down to honor” or so they thought at first. But when they track down the woman he asked them to meet, Manon, she says that what he was unable to finish saying before he died was that “It all comes down to Honoria”. The only Honoria that Charles knows is his cousin. Francisco had also mentioned a group known as the Elsinora League.

Later, as they attend a ball, Charles is dumbstruck when Lord Glenister announces the betrothal of his niece, Honoria Talbot to Kenneth Fraser, Charles’ father. Most everyone had always expected Charles and Honoria to marry. However, now that Charles was married to Melanie, perhaps it was time for Honoria to move on and to marry. But Kenneth Fraser was the last person Charles expected Honoria to choose. When Kenneth decides to have a house party at his estate in Scotland to celebrate his coming marriage, secrets begin to come unraveled. Honoria is found murdered in Kenneth’s bed and the investigation begins to find her killer. They can’t possibly have any idea of all they will discover as they endeavor to reach that goal.

After I got over my initial shock regarding the book as a prequel, I really started to enjoy the story. There are so many mysteries to uncover that I actually solved a few. It is a complex tale, so if you are not up to picking thru the mazes, you may want to save this one for another time. But if you like a challenge, this one’s for you.

[lostinabookbrb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting

The story takes place in the early 1800's in Britain. I don't know much about the historical accuracy but it suspended my disbelief well enough. Mentions of the Napoleonic wars are mentioned. There isn't too much I have to say about setting. The author does a good job of explaining most of the surroundings but this is also the 7th book in a series and I have a feeling there are some descriptions not mentioned because they were mentioned in other books.

Characters

Charles and Melanie are fleshed out individual characters and their relationship is also well defined through the book. You can feel their love for one another but how they were raised and societal expectations (to a degree) keep them from being too sentimental. Other characters such as Honoria, Quen, and so many more are also given depth. Besides the married relationship, the author does a great job with character relations in terms of friends and family. The complex feelings and history that can go on between different people are well explored.It's a good thing to keep in mind that this story takes place in the 1800s where it wasn't unheard of for cousins to marry one another. It's discussed a lot and I think some characters are cousins and married to one another in this book.

Plot

It's a standard type of historical mystery. A murder happens in the beginning and thus leads to other secrets. Everyone has something to hide. There are multiple plot lines the author juggles and I think it is handled remarkably well. There is a thorough explanation at the end of what happened and at the time, it does feel like a Scooby Doo type of rehashing but upon thinking it over, does tie up the plots nicely and gives explanations to what was happening throughout.Also, though this book is the 7th in a series, I feel it can be read as a standalone. As I was looking through the series, it does seem like this can be considered the first in a trilogy following Charles and Melanie.

Overall

A good historical mystery with complex relationships between people. I recommend it to those who like mysteries.

[tiasreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really a mixed bag for me. The basic elements of the story were good. Charles and Melanie are great characters; I like them and enjoy spending time in their company. But this sequel did not live up to the standards of the first in the series. It was just too much.

The shift in time was too abrupt, switching to events that happened a few years before the first book with no warning. It was not handled well and it took me about 30 pages to adjust my mind to the change, a rarity for me. There were too many characters, too many red herrings and dead ends, too many shocking revelations. There were too many instances of a character not being the biological son/daughter of their supposed parents. Too many times a character would say & do things, but wait, he/she has a secret, end of chapter, subject dropped and not picked up for several chapters, if at all. The whole thing was choppy and disjointed. I realise that it's fiction and escapist fun, but credibility was strained to the breaking point. The first book was a fun, silly adventure. This book crossed the line into bad soap opera.

Bottom line? Because of my affection for the characters, I'll try the next in the series, albeit with reservations. But if the next one is like this one, I'm done with Tracy Grant.

[Mskychick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! THere was a wonderful mystery here which slowly built over the course of the whole book. So many secrets were uncovered it was almost dizzying. I love how twisted and convulated the plot is. I ached to see how distant Melanie and Charles felt, and how seperate Charles held himself from Melanie. I really hope that they begin to reconcile in the next book and open up to each other. Hints of a coming rapproachment were given at the end of this book.

I'm a very fast reader, which is a pain when I go on vacation, because it takes so many books to get through a trip. Thank goodness there are now eReaders! These books are dense enough that it takes me a little while to work my way thtough them, but the intrigue and the mystery is excellent enough to keep me captivated all the way though. I waited until I read Beneath a Silent Moon, my 2nd book by Tracy Grant, after finishing Secrets of a Lady. With 2 of hers under my belt, I decided these are worthy of being books I will be happy to own and keep, and are good vacation books, so I bought all the rest of her books for my ereader last night. Now I have to wait until I go on vacation to read them though- ugh! I want to start reading the next one right away instead.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the series (by publication date) actually occurs prior to the events in the 1st book. Charles and Melanie are in London, after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and Melanie is being introduced to the family and society of her husband. She meets the woman that everyone expected Charles to marry, Honoria, and everyone is shocked when Charles' father announces his engagement to her. Further intrigue involves a message from a former war collegue, who is shot and killed at their clandestine meeting. They head to the old family home in Scotland, with several related/close families, where Charles' father tells him that he plans to break the family entail and leave the cherished Scottish estate to the first son of his new wife. When Honoria ends up dead and in a compromising position. The family intend to solve the murder internally, and Charles is asked to take the lead. What he and Melanie uncover is a very tangled nest of interlocking scandal and intrigue that they must unravel to find the killer. The family tree at the beginning of the book is very helpful in keeping the relationships between the characters sorted out. This was a mix of murder mystery and high society impropriety in the atmospheric air of Scotland.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a heads up, this is listed as book 4 in the series but actually it seems to have started out as a stand-alone novel written in 2003, well before she decided to make it into a series. It is a twisty and well written book but really muddles things if you read the series 'in order'. You ask yourself questions like "why do the characters suddenly have different names?". It wasn't until I read what is purported by Goodreads to be book 5 or by Fantastic Fiction to be book 8 that I figured out what had happened. When Grant decided to make a series out of the characters, she rewrote the details of Malcom's past to fit the ongoing plot. You could skip reading this book entirely or just read it later for an alternative reality.

[Paul Burnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never was there a family with quite so much intrigue and quite so many secrets as the Fraser/Rannochs and their cousins! Some of the intrigues are commonplace and some of the secrets are less than earth-shaking, but some of each type are . . . well, D E A D L Y. Miss Grant’s writing is also dead on! Even though we re-visit some of the issues, people, and intrigues we thought settled in The Berkeley Square Affair of this series, I was thoroughly entertained. Not even that Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch were here called Charles and Melanie Fraser, I still recognized the characters I had loved in the previous five or six books I’d read in the series. I just wish Amazon would clearly mark book series for those of us who’ll want to read them in order! Oh, and in this one, too, just watch the characters’ hands when they are talking and you’ll know right away what they’re really thinking or feeling.

[Mely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rereading this. I'm liking it better than I did the first time, when possibly I was just too overwhelmed by why on earth the author would want to write a prequel after the revelations of Daughter of the Game. I think this probably does read better in chronological order than in order of publication, although my opinion may just still be relatively high because I haven't hit the most convoluted of the secrets and family relationships yet.

(And reading the series in chronological order is difficult now that she's writing name-changed sequels as Teresa Grant.)

I am very much enjoying the mutual pining and the reserved personalities.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in a fantastic series! Though, I will say that I enjoyed both Secrets of a Lady and The Mask of Night just a tiny more.

I have to admit that I got a little confused at times, there seemed to be a lot going on with the interpersonal relationships between some of the characters...but, with this book you do gain valuable insight into what makes Charles tick through meeting his family.

All in all, a gripping historical mystery chock full of surprises.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy the Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch series by Tracy/Teresa Grant, you'll also like this series about Charles & Mélanie Fraser - the characters are the same.

This book is set between The Paris Affair & The Berkeley Square Affair in the Rannoch series. In this mystery, you will find references to the plot of The Berkeley Square Affair.

While I have enjoyed reading each book by Tracy/Teresa Grant, I think she has developed as a writer and does a better job on the Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch mysteries than she did on the earlier Charles & Mélanie versions.

I will admit that it has been VERY confusing trying to figure out which book to buy/read next because of the re-writes under Ms. Grant's new name.