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Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries #10
The Adventuress
A New York Times Bestselling Author A Lady Emily Mystery Emily and Colin have come to the French Riviera for a joyous occasion ― the engagement of her lifelong friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge, and American heiress Amity Wells. But the merrymaking is cut short with the shocking death of one of the party in an apparent suicide.
454 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2015
265 people are currently reading
2363 people want to read
About the author
Tasha Alexander
29 books2,597 followersThe daughter of two philosophy professors, I grew up surrounded by books. I was convinced from an early age that I was born in the wrong century and spent much of my childhood under the dining room table pretending it was a covered wagon. Even there, I was never without a book in hand and loved reading and history more than anything. I studied English Literature and Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame. Writing is a natural offshoot of reading, and my first novel, And Only to Deceive, was published in 2005. I'm the author of the long-running Lady Emily Series as well as the novel Elizabeth: The Golden Age. One of the best parts of being an author is seeing your books translated, and I'm currently in love with the Japanese editions of the Emily books.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I live in southeastern Wyoming. I still don't have a covered wagon, but a log house goes a long way toward fulfilling my pioneer fantasies. Andrew makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 381 reviews
November 15, 2015
Lady Emily's long time best friend, Jeremy is finally getting married. To celebrate the engagement Emily and husband Colin have come to the French Riviera but, what should have been a happy time for the couple is soon shadowed by a murder and other unexplained events. When Neville is found dead in Jeremy's room and it was proclaimed a suicide, not only does Emily question the verdict but also if it was a case of mistaken identity.
It's no secret that Lady Emily and Jeremy have a very close relationship, they are the best of friends. Now that Jeremy has chosen to marry a woman named Amity, the relationship is explored in this book. Does Jeremy love Emily as more than a friend? and how does that come between him and his new bride to be? Unexplained stuff begins to happen to Emily, events that try to put a wedge between her and her friends but most of all between her and Amity.
Thought I figured out who done it very early in the book. I have to say the motive threw me off. It is probably the only reason I took stars off from this book because out side of that, I thought it was really well written and very character driven. Historical combined with mystery makes for a very intriguing read for me and I loved how it explored other subplots outside of murder, because while Emily did not believe Mr. Neville committed a suicide, she tried to find the real reason behind his murder while trying to avoid all her misfortune that was aimed to make Emily look bad.
I found there had been several characters I hate in this book. Amity and her entire family got on my nerves. Her brother was weird, her parents were vicious, and she was fake and unlikable. I get that Emily was trying to become friends with her for Jeremy's sake, but really, that woman was just awful.
That being said, the ending made me pause and a bit angry. It felt kind of thrown together as if for a second there the author panicked and didn't know who to blame for the murder. Not only did I find it a bit unbelievable, but odd, maybe mostly because there was nothing that implied in the book otherwise. It left me scratching my head like I completely missed something, but no, I don't remember any tiny hints of it throughout the book outside of the obvious as to who was trying to, but not the why.
Overall, the writing is actually quite good. The characters are well developed. I really enjoy historical and mysteries, so the two genres together was a bonus. It was fun to follow Emily through the French Riviera.
This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Café
October 15, 2015
After that throwaway line in the last book about Emily's best friend, Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge, confirmed bachelor, getting engaged, I was chomping at the bit to find out how that came about. The author didn't keep me in suspense and even provided the lovely French Riviera as the backdrop. Because its an engagement party, what could possibly go wrong?
This is the tenth book in the Lady Emily series and I loved how the author brought things around to something that has been brewing since book two. Emily chose Colin Hargreaves and they have been happily married for some time, but there was always definitely something with her childhood friend, Jeremy. The reader could jump into the story and do alright if they are perceptive, but there will be a feeling that this story is attached to those before it. I advice getting them in order so some of the undercurrents, backgrounds, and personalities make sense.
Emily and Colin travel to Cannes for the engagement party of Em's longtime friend, Jeremy, and the American heiress, Amity Wells. They are no sooner settled then one of Jeremy's school chums, Neville Chambers, commits suicide and does it in Jeremy's room in the wee hours with Jeremy's whiskey with Jeremy no where in sight. Emily finds that she is the only one suspicious about things that don't add up, but doesn't want to further ruin the engagement party.
She already feels unsettled about Amity and something not quite being right about her as she tries so hard to be all things to all people even while showing a willful side of abandonment to society's rules. Emily falls under the groups' scrutiny as odd mishaps make her look like she is inflicting petty tortures on Amity. Emily searches her own motives not because she has done these things, but to know if her suspicions and uneasiness are from an interest in finding the truth for the right reasons. Things escalate and danger lurks.
I enjoyed this one that brought things back to the tone of some of the early books. The author creates a certain atmosphere of doubt and suspicion early on, but doesn't give it substance for some time. Emily is uneasy and off balance and she is meant to be. Someone is pulling strings and contriving situations, but to what end? It was perfect.
And like the last few books in the series, the author adds a secondary storyline that tucks into the first one that dips into the past from other perspectives. The woman set up to be Emily's rival, Amity Wells is the main narrator of this second story line. It was interesting and definitely gave a deeper layer and background to what is going on in the present.
Now, I have to admit that I figured out the 'who', 'how', and 'why' quite early. I'm pretty sure it was because it's not that difficult, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment or interest. I wanted to follow along and see Emily and her friends figure it out and I felt emotionally connected because this explored Em's connection to Jeremy as she worked to come to terms with his marriage. Never fear, there is no love triangle here or cheating, but there is the need for the adjustment to something new with the addition of Amity in the mix. There is also the fact that someone wants to turn Em's husband and friends against her. It was all so evil and calculated, if bloodless. I really wanted Em to hunt this one down and end the problem.
In summary, I found this riveting and I hesitated to put it down each time I was forced to and that hasn't been the case for the last few in the series. I would recommend these for those who like the blend of Victorian Era history with suspense and a little romance.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the tenth book in the Lady Emily series and I loved how the author brought things around to something that has been brewing since book two. Emily chose Colin Hargreaves and they have been happily married for some time, but there was always definitely something with her childhood friend, Jeremy. The reader could jump into the story and do alright if they are perceptive, but there will be a feeling that this story is attached to those before it. I advice getting them in order so some of the undercurrents, backgrounds, and personalities make sense.
Emily and Colin travel to Cannes for the engagement party of Em's longtime friend, Jeremy, and the American heiress, Amity Wells. They are no sooner settled then one of Jeremy's school chums, Neville Chambers, commits suicide and does it in Jeremy's room in the wee hours with Jeremy's whiskey with Jeremy no where in sight. Emily finds that she is the only one suspicious about things that don't add up, but doesn't want to further ruin the engagement party.
She already feels unsettled about Amity and something not quite being right about her as she tries so hard to be all things to all people even while showing a willful side of abandonment to society's rules. Emily falls under the groups' scrutiny as odd mishaps make her look like she is inflicting petty tortures on Amity. Emily searches her own motives not because she has done these things, but to know if her suspicions and uneasiness are from an interest in finding the truth for the right reasons. Things escalate and danger lurks.
I enjoyed this one that brought things back to the tone of some of the early books. The author creates a certain atmosphere of doubt and suspicion early on, but doesn't give it substance for some time. Emily is uneasy and off balance and she is meant to be. Someone is pulling strings and contriving situations, but to what end? It was perfect.
And like the last few books in the series, the author adds a secondary storyline that tucks into the first one that dips into the past from other perspectives. The woman set up to be Emily's rival, Amity Wells is the main narrator of this second story line. It was interesting and definitely gave a deeper layer and background to what is going on in the present.
Now, I have to admit that I figured out the 'who', 'how', and 'why' quite early. I'm pretty sure it was because it's not that difficult, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment or interest. I wanted to follow along and see Emily and her friends figure it out and I felt emotionally connected because this explored Em's connection to Jeremy as she worked to come to terms with his marriage. Never fear, there is no love triangle here or cheating, but there is the need for the adjustment to something new with the addition of Amity in the mix. There is also the fact that someone wants to turn Em's husband and friends against her. It was all so evil and calculated, if bloodless. I really wanted Em to hunt this one down and end the problem.
In summary, I found this riveting and I hesitated to put it down each time I was forced to and that hasn't been the case for the last few in the series. I would recommend these for those who like the blend of Victorian Era history with suspense and a little romance.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2015
Usually I hate when fashion becomes almost a secondary character in a novel, but here I enjoyed it immensely!
I kept immagining the marvellous gowns Emily has made for her by Worth!!!
I wanted to go back in time and steal her whole wardrobe!!! Who wouldn't?
And shell we speak about the jewelry? Sigh...
Well enough about fashion, even if it was the most enjoyable moments I had while reading!
I must say that the whole series is very light, well written, interesting enough and I read all books in very little time!
The characters are interesting too:
- Lady Emily is very fashionable, very rich, very beautiful, very intelligent, very progressive... a little very too (if you get the hint!)!!!
- Ms. Hargreaves, Colin, her husband is similarly very too : he's very beautiful, very charming, very honorable, very rich, very intelligent (and misterious), very in love with Emily...
- Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge, is Emily's best friend since childhood. He's nonchalant, very rich, very rake, but very in love with Emily (who could resist her?)... or is he only pretending?
- Ivy, her BFF, comes out like a vapid little girl, much like Christable here... They are symbols of the perfect Victorian woman: whitout opinion, obidient, shy, demure...
- Margaret, also Emily's friend, is the opposite: she's strong-willed, strong-opinionated, but for her that's OK. Why? Because she's American and therefore she must be the representative of the Victorian era idea of American women...
- Cécile du Lac is the imbodiment of everything French: she's sophisticated, she's refined, she's full of ennui, she's friend with Impressionist artists, she drinks champagne...
- Davis, her butler, is favorite character. I think he's the best drawn character in the whole series! He is what, in my immagination, is The Perfect Butler!
The mysteries are not so mysterious, but are enough to keep reading interesting and Lady Emily and Co. on their toes! Obviously Lady Emily, with little help from the others, solves them whitout problem!
A small unnerving thing that is woven through all books, is their complessive richness. They're all so rich that they don't mind absolutely about anything! Whatever whim they have can be fulfilled.
Maybe it was true... I don't know... I'm not such an expert of the period, but to me it seemed excessive.
A postive in Emily's character is her goodness. She always want to help those less fortunates in concrete fashion. She want's to right the wrongs and she does is in the appropriate manner. (Always thanks to her immense wealth!)
Well, after what I said, you could think this is a bad series, but it's not! Even full of such cliches as I mantioned, the books are interesting and very easy to read.
I kept immagining the marvellous gowns Emily has made for her by Worth!!!
I wanted to go back in time and steal her whole wardrobe!!! Who wouldn't?
And shell we speak about the jewelry? Sigh...
Well enough about fashion, even if it was the most enjoyable moments I had while reading!
I must say that the whole series is very light, well written, interesting enough and I read all books in very little time!
The characters are interesting too:
- Lady Emily is very fashionable, very rich, very beautiful, very intelligent, very progressive... a little very too (if you get the hint!)!!!
- Ms. Hargreaves, Colin, her husband is similarly very too : he's very beautiful, very charming, very honorable, very rich, very intelligent (and misterious), very in love with Emily...
- Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge, is Emily's best friend since childhood. He's nonchalant, very rich, very rake, but very in love with Emily (who could resist her?)... or is he only pretending?
- Ivy, her BFF, comes out like a vapid little girl, much like Christable here... They are symbols of the perfect Victorian woman: whitout opinion, obidient, shy, demure...
- Margaret, also Emily's friend, is the opposite: she's strong-willed, strong-opinionated, but for her that's OK. Why? Because she's American and therefore she must be the representative of the Victorian era idea of American women...
- Cécile du Lac is the imbodiment of everything French: she's sophisticated, she's refined, she's full of ennui, she's friend with Impressionist artists, she drinks champagne...
- Davis, her butler, is favorite character. I think he's the best drawn character in the whole series! He is what, in my immagination, is The Perfect Butler!
The mysteries are not so mysterious, but are enough to keep reading interesting and Lady Emily and Co. on their toes! Obviously Lady Emily, with little help from the others, solves them whitout problem!
A small unnerving thing that is woven through all books, is their complessive richness. They're all so rich that they don't mind absolutely about anything! Whatever whim they have can be fulfilled.
Maybe it was true... I don't know... I'm not such an expert of the period, but to me it seemed excessive.
A postive in Emily's character is her goodness. She always want to help those less fortunates in concrete fashion. She want's to right the wrongs and she does is in the appropriate manner. (Always thanks to her immense wealth!)
Well, after what I said, you could think this is a bad series, but it's not! Even full of such cliches as I mantioned, the books are interesting and very easy to read.
February 7, 2020
Here’s the thing.
Here’s.
The thing.
If you use an unreliable narrator, and fool me, I will give you a high five and a rueful laugh.
If you use an unreliable narrator a second time, I will raise my eyebrows in offended bemusement.
If you use an unreliable narrator a THIRD time, I will shake my head at you and wait with impatience for the heroine to catch up with me. TA’s editor has got to put a stop to this.
I’ve never seen a more dishonest use of a POV than in this book.
Aside from that huge problem, the main characters in this series have become caricatures of themselves, which is really depressing, but I suppose unsurprising.
(audiobook)
Here’s.
The thing.
If you use an unreliable narrator, and fool me, I will give you a high five and a rueful laugh.
If you use an unreliable narrator a second time, I will raise my eyebrows in offended bemusement.
If you use an unreliable narrator a THIRD time, I will shake my head at you and wait with impatience for the heroine to catch up with me. TA’s editor has got to put a stop to this.
I’ve never seen a more dishonest use of a POV than in this book.
Aside from that huge problem, the main characters in this series have become caricatures of themselves, which is really depressing, but I suppose unsurprising.
(audiobook)
November 30, 2015
Ugh! I don't know what has happened but it is becoming apparent that Tasha Alexander needs to wrap up this series. I thought the last book was just a random fluke but this book was worse. In fact, the author notes at the back of the book are better written than the novel itself. Two strikes...will I give her three before I'm done? I honestly don't know.
The "action" veers all over the place and the interactions between characters either stops well before a logical finish or continues down into absurdity. The conversations ramble, many times without much sense, and are out of character for everyone except Colin and maybe Cecilé. So many times throughout the book, I had to lay it down and say "What in the world? Why did he/she/they do/say that?" Emily is portrayed alternately as idiotic and stupid and then vapid and desperate. She "threw" herself at Amity "begging" for forgiveness or understanding so many times that I almost put the book down on that alone. Yet, ultimately I wanted it confirmed that it was indeed Amity behind the attempts on Jeremy. Now I'm unsure if that was wise
Speaking of Amity, she is absolutely the stupidest character ever. You can not make me believe that that many London society types (including Jeremy!!) wouldn't have seen through that act in a heartbeat. Yet Jeremy pants after her like a dog in heat. I liked Jeremy and Ms. Alexander appeared to like him too. But come on, Jeremy, you deserve better than that manipulative whining, childish, and spoiled she-dog
All in all, a very disappointing read and 4 hours that I won't get back. To think I could have had a Sunday nap instead.
The "action" veers all over the place and the interactions between characters either stops well before a logical finish or continues down into absurdity. The conversations ramble, many times without much sense, and are out of character for everyone except Colin and maybe Cecilé. So many times throughout the book, I had to lay it down and say "What in the world? Why did he/she/they do/say that?" Emily is portrayed alternately as idiotic and stupid and then vapid and desperate. She "threw" herself at Amity "begging" for forgiveness or understanding so many times that I almost put the book down on that alone. Yet, ultimately I wanted it confirmed that it was indeed Amity behind the attempts on Jeremy. Now I'm unsure if that was wise
Speaking of Amity, she is absolutely the stupidest character ever. You can not make me believe that that many London society types (including Jeremy!!) wouldn't have seen through that act in a heartbeat. Yet Jeremy pants after her like a dog in heat. I liked Jeremy and Ms. Alexander appeared to like him too. But come on, Jeremy, you deserve better than that manipulative whining, childish, and spoiled she-dog
All in all, a very disappointing read and 4 hours that I won't get back. To think I could have had a Sunday nap instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2016
For a while I thought that this might be the installment that finally made it from "amusing series to get from the library" to "maybe I'll want my own copies in future." Ultimately, however, the mystery managed to be at once too predictable and too opaque. I fingered the culprit quite early but then dismissed them as too obvious, only to reach the end with a "...really? Come on." While the storytelling was often a bit heavy-handed, the final revelation felt oddly empty and unsatisfying. The circumstances of our corpse's demise remained a little vague, and what was once presented as a Most Mysterious Clue discovered in said corpse's luggage was never explained.
I appreciated being subjected to less rhapsodizing over how Exquisitely Beautiful and Intelligent and Accomplished Lady Emily is than usual in these books, though we were treated to one gem of a passage on p. 80 that concludes with "you seem more goddess than woman." (Seriously?!) I find that when Lady Emily is not being forced on me--when Alexander shows, rather than tells us how Amazing she is--I do actually like her.
Indeed, one of my main recurring critiques of Alexander's writing is the preponderance of Telling. Each book begins with a lengthy exposition of the ever-growing backstories of all of our principal players, and of Emily's abiding interest in antiquity and her Rebellious Flouting of Convention. Clothing and interiors are exhaustively catalogued, but often in such a way that, relayed in Emily's first-person voice, comes across as bragging rather than evocation. Alexander has clearly done her research. When I heard her speak on a panel, that was one of the things that impressed me most about her: she loves history, absorbs it, re-imagines it. It is unfortunate that sometimes that great talent--that love--is garbled in translation from Alexander to Lady Emily.
I maintain that there *is* talent here; I will read the next book in the series, but I won't hold my breath.
I appreciated being subjected to less rhapsodizing over how Exquisitely Beautiful and Intelligent and Accomplished Lady Emily is than usual in these books, though we were treated to one gem of a passage on p. 80 that concludes with "you seem more goddess than woman." (Seriously?!) I find that when Lady Emily is not being forced on me--when Alexander shows, rather than tells us how Amazing she is--I do actually like her.
Indeed, one of my main recurring critiques of Alexander's writing is the preponderance of Telling. Each book begins with a lengthy exposition of the ever-growing backstories of all of our principal players, and of Emily's abiding interest in antiquity and her Rebellious Flouting of Convention. Clothing and interiors are exhaustively catalogued, but often in such a way that, relayed in Emily's first-person voice, comes across as bragging rather than evocation. Alexander has clearly done her research. When I heard her speak on a panel, that was one of the things that impressed me most about her: she loves history, absorbs it, re-imagines it. It is unfortunate that sometimes that great talent--that love--is garbled in translation from Alexander to Lady Emily.
I maintain that there *is* talent here; I will read the next book in the series, but I won't hold my breath.
February 16, 2017
Tasha Alexander is well into the Lady Emily series now, and it looks like her current way of keeping things fresh is to transplant her protagonist into different settings. This time, she;s in the French Riviera, along with Colin her husband, her friend Cecile, her friend/sometimes suitor Jeremy, and assorted other hoi polloi. Jeremy is getting married and his fiancee decided that a huge party in southern France would be just the thing to kick off their engagement.
If I were Tasha Alexander, I'd have picked the French Riviera just for the excuse to go research it in the flesh, and I'd have many other ideas for gorgeous settings on tap. Lady Emily in Greece! (She's never actually spent an entire book there.) Lady Emily in Cornwall! Lady Emily in India! Japan! And Tasha Alexander does do her best to put the reader right into the setting, so it's all well worth it-in the past, she's visited Paris, Vienna, Istanbul, Venice. Oh! I just visited her website and it looks like I will have my wish for Greece! And then St. Petersburg- excellent.
Anyway, while I enjoyed the setting, I did have some issues with this book. First, Lady Emily and her friends are incredibly privileged. They stay in the most expensive hotels, do all sorts of silly and expensive things to keep from being bored, and all the aristocratic fuss about incidentals got on my nerves after a bit. It's sometimes hard to like the characters, charming as they are, when you think about the class system that props up their fun.
And second, I don't think the author played fair with the murderer. In this book we have two POV- Lady Emily and Amity Wells, Jeremy's new fiancee. I've spoiler-warninged this, so if you want to solve the mystery on your own read no further!
Amity ends up being behind all the sinister goings-on, but even with her POV chapters, the author does not give the reader enough information to see this. You'd probably expect that there was some reason that Amity got her own chapters, so it's really not much of a surprise. Lately, Tasha Alexander has been flirting with different POVs and other ways to change up her books a bit, but I'm not sure this was necessary and it even ended up being rather frustrating.
The strength of the books is in Emily and Colin's relationship- I'm truly enjoying them as a couple- and in the places the author takes you. The mysteries vary in strength, and I'd say this is a weaker effort in that regard.
If I were Tasha Alexander, I'd have picked the French Riviera just for the excuse to go research it in the flesh, and I'd have many other ideas for gorgeous settings on tap. Lady Emily in Greece! (She's never actually spent an entire book there.) Lady Emily in Cornwall! Lady Emily in India! Japan! And Tasha Alexander does do her best to put the reader right into the setting, so it's all well worth it-in the past, she's visited Paris, Vienna, Istanbul, Venice. Oh! I just visited her website and it looks like I will have my wish for Greece! And then St. Petersburg- excellent.
Anyway, while I enjoyed the setting, I did have some issues with this book. First, Lady Emily and her friends are incredibly privileged. They stay in the most expensive hotels, do all sorts of silly and expensive things to keep from being bored, and all the aristocratic fuss about incidentals got on my nerves after a bit. It's sometimes hard to like the characters, charming as they are, when you think about the class system that props up their fun.
And second, I don't think the author played fair with the murderer. In this book we have two POV- Lady Emily and Amity Wells, Jeremy's new fiancee. I've spoiler-warninged this, so if you want to solve the mystery on your own read no further!
Amity ends up being behind all the sinister goings-on, but even with her POV chapters, the author does not give the reader enough information to see this. You'd probably expect that there was some reason that Amity got her own chapters, so it's really not much of a surprise. Lately, Tasha Alexander has been flirting with different POVs and other ways to change up her books a bit, but I'm not sure this was necessary and it even ended up being rather frustrating.
The strength of the books is in Emily and Colin's relationship- I'm truly enjoying them as a couple- and in the places the author takes you. The mysteries vary in strength, and I'd say this is a weaker effort in that regard.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2015
This, the 10th entry in the Lady Emily series is quite good! Some of the later books in this series have been hit or miss for me, but this one was definitely a hit.
It picks up with the last little bit of book 9, with Lady Emily's best friend (and constant admirer) Jeremy's engagement to Amity, a wealthy American. She is unsure, as is the reader, how to feel about this and what her feelings are about Amity. His fiancée is quite the mystery and none of us truly know what to make of her. She's seems to crave Emily's attention yet be jealous of her simultaneously. There are many strange happenings and lots of uncertainty as the story progresses. Someone has it out for Emily but is being very sly about it. I wonder who??
I very much enjoyed this and highly recommend it to Lady Emily followers, and those who enjoy a Victorian era mystery.
It picks up with the last little bit of book 9, with Lady Emily's best friend (and constant admirer) Jeremy's engagement to Amity, a wealthy American. She is unsure, as is the reader, how to feel about this and what her feelings are about Amity. His fiancée is quite the mystery and none of us truly know what to make of her. She's seems to crave Emily's attention yet be jealous of her simultaneously. There are many strange happenings and lots of uncertainty as the story progresses. Someone has it out for Emily but is being very sly about it. I wonder who??
I very much enjoyed this and highly recommend it to Lady Emily followers, and those who enjoy a Victorian era mystery.
December 27, 2015
2.5 out of 5 stars.
Once upon a time, there was nothing I wanted to read more than a Lady Emily mystery. Here we are, though, on the tenth book in the series, and the latest in a row of disappointing reads, which leads me to wonder if it is time for this series to wrap up.
The best part of the story was the beginning. The suddenness of that first line, as well as the emotional reaction torn from Emily were well done, for all factors created an atmosphere I was riveted to. But too soon, the veneer of reader engagement began to wear off. This is another story in the series in which the murderer and the motivation behind the act is easy to determine within a few pages. I want to read a mystery book and feel a level of suspense. I want to read a mystery book and find myself collecting clues to reach a conclusion along with the main character; for the past few Emily books I have been able to solve the crime before the heroine. (The only plus to this plot is that it felt like it was more worthy of a full length novel; this is significant since I have lamented in the past that the later stories in the series have felt more suited to a novella.)
If a series is to reach a tenth book, then it is always my hope that new dimensions are being revealed within the characters and that circumstances have begun to shift. But has Emily continued to grow? I do not think so. For me, I often find the characters in this series to now be caricatures of themselves rather than the brilliance they once were. So I ask: how do you know when to let a series go? Should I continue to hope for more, for better; or should I call it quits?
Once upon a time, there was nothing I wanted to read more than a Lady Emily mystery. Here we are, though, on the tenth book in the series, and the latest in a row of disappointing reads, which leads me to wonder if it is time for this series to wrap up.
The best part of the story was the beginning. The suddenness of that first line, as well as the emotional reaction torn from Emily were well done, for all factors created an atmosphere I was riveted to. But too soon, the veneer of reader engagement began to wear off. This is another story in the series in which the murderer and the motivation behind the act is easy to determine within a few pages. I want to read a mystery book and feel a level of suspense. I want to read a mystery book and find myself collecting clues to reach a conclusion along with the main character; for the past few Emily books I have been able to solve the crime before the heroine. (The only plus to this plot is that it felt like it was more worthy of a full length novel; this is significant since I have lamented in the past that the later stories in the series have felt more suited to a novella.)
If a series is to reach a tenth book, then it is always my hope that new dimensions are being revealed within the characters and that circumstances have begun to shift. But has Emily continued to grow? I do not think so. For me, I often find the characters in this series to now be caricatures of themselves rather than the brilliance they once were. So I ask: how do you know when to let a series go? Should I continue to hope for more, for better; or should I call it quits?
July 13, 2016
I very much enjoyed this tenth book in the Lady Emily series. It had a good mystery along with some suspense. I also enjoyed the way this story was presented, alternating between chapters told in the first person narrative from Lady Emily's point of view and third person perspective of Amity's (an important character in this book) story. It allowed for some intriguing information to slowly be revealed, which added to the suspense and mystery.
I am a fan of the Lady Emily series, but I have not yet read all of the previous books leading up to this one. I had planned to read this series in order, but came across this newest book in my public library and could not resist taking it home. I can honestly say that this book could be read as a standalone, but I appreciated having read the first few books in this series so that I had background knowledge of characters and relationships. One thing that I noticed about this book was that Lady Emily's husband, Colin, did not have as large of a role in this book and neither did their relationship. I happen to be particularly fond of him, but I do think this fit with the story. I believe this is a story that is best enjoyed without knowing details.
Many of the elements that are particularly wonderful about this series were in place, including excellent historical details, luscious fashion descriptions, a descriptive location, a strong camaraderie of friends, and the incomparable Lady Emily herself. I am looking forward to the next adventure.
I am a fan of the Lady Emily series, but I have not yet read all of the previous books leading up to this one. I had planned to read this series in order, but came across this newest book in my public library and could not resist taking it home. I can honestly say that this book could be read as a standalone, but I appreciated having read the first few books in this series so that I had background knowledge of characters and relationships. One thing that I noticed about this book was that Lady Emily's husband, Colin, did not have as large of a role in this book and neither did their relationship. I happen to be particularly fond of him, but I do think this fit with the story. I believe this is a story that is best enjoyed without knowing details.
Many of the elements that are particularly wonderful about this series were in place, including excellent historical details, luscious fashion descriptions, a descriptive location, a strong camaraderie of friends, and the incomparable Lady Emily herself. I am looking forward to the next adventure.
December 1, 2016
The first two books in the Lady Emily series were fun to read - they felt like a new twist on a well-trod genre. Subsequent books in the series were less intriguing, but I was still entertained enough to pick up The Adventuress at the library. This most recent novel, however, was just bad.
There was no mystery about who the murderer was - the only mystery was why none of the characters figured it out sooner. Furthermore, Alexander's experiment with multiple povs just doesn't work.
There was no mystery about who the murderer was - the only mystery was why none of the characters figured it out sooner. Furthermore, Alexander's experiment with multiple povs just doesn't work.
August 17, 2016
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Oh how I love Tasha Alexander's, Lady Emily books! Mind you Book 9 was not my cup of tea due to the premise of the story, which I found very disturbing. However, The Adventuress was well crafted and very enjoyable! I love trying to figure out who the villain(s) is as I read.
Sophia Rose's review perfectly captures the essence of this book. Lady Emily and her husband Colin are off to celebrate her best friend, The Duke of Bainbridge's, engagement to an American heiress, in the south of France. The setting is ideal and the story flows. I found this to be a very quick and exciting read.
My only quibble is I would have appreciated more detail into the Wells family history just a bit more; especially regarding the brothers of Amity who didn't attend the engagement party on the Cote d'Azur! There were definitely some secrets that were never revealed nor expanded on.
Oh how I love Tasha Alexander's, Lady Emily books! Mind you Book 9 was not my cup of tea due to the premise of the story, which I found very disturbing. However, The Adventuress was well crafted and very enjoyable! I love trying to figure out who the villain(s) is as I read.
Sophia Rose's review perfectly captures the essence of this book. Lady Emily and her husband Colin are off to celebrate her best friend, The Duke of Bainbridge's, engagement to an American heiress, in the south of France. The setting is ideal and the story flows. I found this to be a very quick and exciting read.
My only quibble is I would have appreciated more detail into the Wells family history just a bit more; especially regarding the brothers of Amity who didn't attend the engagement party on the Cote d'Azur! There were definitely some secrets that were never revealed nor expanded on.
January 31, 2016
I semi-enjoyed the first few books in Alexander's Lady Emily series, but also found them long-winded and ponderous. I had some liking and respect for Emily, but more so for her delicious Colin, partner and, eventually, husband. The Adventuress, however, is a dud. The narrative is confusing, using both Lady E's first person narration and inserting one of the major character's third person perspective. But what moved this into "dud" territory were characters I neither liked, nor cared about, even Emily and Colin were wooden. If you'd like to read a slightly more developped review, please follow the link:
http://missbatesreadsromance.com/2016...
Note I received an e-ARC from Minotaur Books, via Netgalley.
http://missbatesreadsromance.com/2016...
Note I received an e-ARC from Minotaur Books, via Netgalley.
February 6, 2019
I loved, loved, loved this book!!!
I have read all the books in the Lady Emily series, and I think this is my favourite since the first book when I was utterly charmed and delighted by Emily and immediately in love with her and her world. This book felt very similar to me, and I finished listening [I had this as an audio book] to it in only 3 days because I was very hard pressed to stop listening at each sitting.
Emily was her full self here - independent, intelligent, sensible, kind but nobody's fool. She cannot help herself from taking control of every situation she's involved in and sorting everything - and everyone! - out. She is a delight and I deeply enjoy visiting with her in each book.
The story here wasn't much of a mystery, but that in no way diminished my enjoyment of the book. I knew WHO was guilty, I just couldn't quite settle on WHY that individual was doing what they were doing. The clues took us on a goose chase about the motivations and intentions of the guilty party, and that was what made this so much fun to read. You think things are one way, then something happens and you realize that can't be it.
All the while, Emily is being Emily. We also get to visit with and enjoy all the regulars in Emily's life: Cecile, Margaret, Jeremy, and, of course, the gorgeous and fabulous Colin! This book was just a super-fun romp with excitement, danger and far flung locations. I loved every moment of it and can't wait to read the next Lady Emily adventure!!
I have read all the books in the Lady Emily series, and I think this is my favourite since the first book when I was utterly charmed and delighted by Emily and immediately in love with her and her world. This book felt very similar to me, and I finished listening [I had this as an audio book] to it in only 3 days because I was very hard pressed to stop listening at each sitting.
Emily was her full self here - independent, intelligent, sensible, kind but nobody's fool. She cannot help herself from taking control of every situation she's involved in and sorting everything - and everyone! - out. She is a delight and I deeply enjoy visiting with her in each book.
The story here wasn't much of a mystery, but that in no way diminished my enjoyment of the book. I knew WHO was guilty, I just couldn't quite settle on WHY that individual was doing what they were doing. The clues took us on a goose chase about the motivations and intentions of the guilty party, and that was what made this so much fun to read. You think things are one way, then something happens and you realize that can't be it.
All the while, Emily is being Emily. We also get to visit with and enjoy all the regulars in Emily's life: Cecile, Margaret, Jeremy, and, of course, the gorgeous and fabulous Colin! This book was just a super-fun romp with excitement, danger and far flung locations. I loved every moment of it and can't wait to read the next Lady Emily adventure!!
August 1, 2020
This is on of my favorite so far! Emily and her husband are on a vacation with a group of friends to celebrate the engagement of Emily’s longtime friend and admirer Jeramy. Jeramy is to marry of all things an American girl! Shame! Ha ha! The goats of the weekend party is poisoned with alcohol! Lord who hasn’t been close to that! Ha ha again! But at first it appears a suicidal act but is it really???
January 19, 2023
4 stelle e mezza
Continuo a leggere questa serie saltando in qua e in là... Forse, se la leggessi in ordine, apprezzerei ancor di più l'evolvere dei personaggi, ma anche così riesco a godermela.
Storia ambientata in Costa Azzurra, con un colpevole che alla fine avevo avvistato. L'unica cosa che non mi convince è come siano tutti convinti, a parte la protagonista, che uno decida di suicidarsi, avvelenando tutta la bottiglia di un liquore che non beve mai... Già non ho capito cosa ci facesse nella stanza del suo amico perché non è mai stato spiegato...
Continuo a leggere questa serie saltando in qua e in là... Forse, se la leggessi in ordine, apprezzerei ancor di più l'evolvere dei personaggi, ma anche così riesco a godermela.
Storia ambientata in Costa Azzurra, con un colpevole che alla fine avevo avvistato. L'unica cosa che non mi convince è come siano tutti convinti, a parte la protagonista, che uno decida di suicidarsi, avvelenando tutta la bottiglia di un liquore che non beve mai... Già non ho capito cosa ci facesse nella stanza del suo amico perché non è mai stato spiegato...
December 2, 2024
What starts as an interesting premise grinds to a halt almost immediately and doesn’t pique my interest again until the final chapters
October 14, 2015
The Adventuress takes Lady and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, to the French Riviera on what should be a happy occasion. Her childhood friend, Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge is to be married at last to Amity Wells, an American heiress. The Wells family has invited all of Jeremy's friends and relations to a celebration lasting two weeks in Cannes. Amity's marriage to a Duke is the culmination of all her mother's ambitions for social prominence. Emily should be happy for Jeremy, who has been using a supposed infatuation with her to avoid marriage for years. However, having met Amity, she is a little uneasy. Everything goes awry when a close friend of Jeremy supposedly commits suicide. Everyone, including Colin, accepts the coroner's verdict; everyone but Emily that is. The gathering descends into a morass of suspicion, ugly pranks directed at both Emily and Amity, another death and tension. Just what is going on?
The Adventuress is told from the alternating viewpoints of Emily and Amity. Since Amity is anything but a reliable narrator, it kept me guessing throughout; not so much the who but the why and how. Tasha Alexander is a wonderful storyteller, bringing Cannes in the Victorian era to vivid life. I have followed this series from the beginning and liked some books more than others. The Adventuress was a single-sitting read for me. I needed to find out the answers to the puzzle. I was particularly charmed by the reference to "an eccentric lady and her even more eccentric archaeologist husband". The Adventuress is the second book that brought Amelia Peabody to mind this month. She is gone but decidedly not forgotten.
I highly recommend The Adventuress for readers of mystery and historical fiction. Thanks to St. Martins/Minotaur and NetGalley.com for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 4 Stars
The Adventuress is told from the alternating viewpoints of Emily and Amity. Since Amity is anything but a reliable narrator, it kept me guessing throughout; not so much the who but the why and how. Tasha Alexander is a wonderful storyteller, bringing Cannes in the Victorian era to vivid life. I have followed this series from the beginning and liked some books more than others. The Adventuress was a single-sitting read for me. I needed to find out the answers to the puzzle. I was particularly charmed by the reference to "an eccentric lady and her even more eccentric archaeologist husband". The Adventuress is the second book that brought Amelia Peabody to mind this month. She is gone but decidedly not forgotten.
I highly recommend The Adventuress for readers of mystery and historical fiction. Thanks to St. Martins/Minotaur and NetGalley.com for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 4 Stars
August 20, 2015
If you have enjoyed Alexander's Lady Emily series, you will like this latest addition. I liked the first 3 books in the series, and then read a couple that didn't excite me as much, but Lady Emily is in fine form in this tenth installment. (I stopped reading after the 5th one, so I need to do some catching up.)
An engagement party on the French Riviera for Emily's childhood friend Jeremy has a mixed group of old friends and new American acquaintances thrown together. Emily tries to like Amity Wells, Jeremy's intended, but finds herself alternately sympathetic and annoyed with Amity's behavior. Is part of the problem an unacknowledged jealousy that Emily will be losing a long-time admirer to his new love?
When the suicide of one of Jeremy's best friends disrupts and dismays the gathering, what was intended to be a celebration quickly descends into something else entirely. Nerves and tempers are on edge.
I fixed the murderer in my sights. Then changed my mind. Then changed it again. Alexander kept me consistently questioning the situation and the suspects (because, of course, it wasn't a suicide).
Love the setting and the historical elements. Had to do a little research concerning the man in the iron mask because I was only familiar with the fictitious accounts--such a bizarre historical footnote; one of those real mysteries that will never be solved.
Anyway, The Adventuress has a compelling plot, interesting characters, and provides a diverting virtual vacation to the South of France. (A Garden Carried in the Pocket)
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Historical Mystery. Oct. 13, 2015. Print length: 304 pages.
An engagement party on the French Riviera for Emily's childhood friend Jeremy has a mixed group of old friends and new American acquaintances thrown together. Emily tries to like Amity Wells, Jeremy's intended, but finds herself alternately sympathetic and annoyed with Amity's behavior. Is part of the problem an unacknowledged jealousy that Emily will be losing a long-time admirer to his new love?
When the suicide of one of Jeremy's best friends disrupts and dismays the gathering, what was intended to be a celebration quickly descends into something else entirely. Nerves and tempers are on edge.
I fixed the murderer in my sights. Then changed my mind. Then changed it again. Alexander kept me consistently questioning the situation and the suspects (because, of course, it wasn't a suicide).
Love the setting and the historical elements. Had to do a little research concerning the man in the iron mask because I was only familiar with the fictitious accounts--such a bizarre historical footnote; one of those real mysteries that will never be solved.
Anyway, The Adventuress has a compelling plot, interesting characters, and provides a diverting virtual vacation to the South of France. (A Garden Carried in the Pocket)
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Historical Mystery. Oct. 13, 2015. Print length: 304 pages.
December 19, 2015
4 Stars!
This was my first book by Tasha Alexander. I had heard of her and knew that her books were historical fiction, but this was the first time that I actually got the chance to read one of her books. And, I loved it. I was thoroughly entertained and it definitely held my interest.
The author absolutely named the bride to be correctly when she named her Amity (brings back notions of the Amityville Horror to me). And believe me, she was a horror. One of the nastiest people I'd met in a long time. The time era in which this took place, no one acted like her. Everyone had impeccable manners, hers, not so much.
Anways, I certainly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more by this author. I certainly recommend her if you like historical fiction when they are all dressed up in all those gowns with corsets and that stuff. And can't show their bare feet. I certainly would not have wanted to live during that era, but I do enjoy reading about it.
A huge thanks to St. Martin's/Minotaur and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. If you haven't read this author, you should give her a try. I can't wait to read another one!
This was my first book by Tasha Alexander. I had heard of her and knew that her books were historical fiction, but this was the first time that I actually got the chance to read one of her books. And, I loved it. I was thoroughly entertained and it definitely held my interest.
The author absolutely named the bride to be correctly when she named her Amity (brings back notions of the Amityville Horror to me). And believe me, she was a horror. One of the nastiest people I'd met in a long time. The time era in which this took place, no one acted like her. Everyone had impeccable manners, hers, not so much.
Anways, I certainly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more by this author. I certainly recommend her if you like historical fiction when they are all dressed up in all those gowns with corsets and that stuff. And can't show their bare feet. I certainly would not have wanted to live during that era, but I do enjoy reading about it.
A huge thanks to St. Martin's/Minotaur and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. If you haven't read this author, you should give her a try. I can't wait to read another one!
December 26, 2015
Has Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge, finally found a woman to marry? This story opens where we are led to initially believe the Duke has been killed. Emily rushes to his room and quickly discovers the dead body is not the Duke. The story takes place in France where Jeremy and his fiancee have organized a two week soiree in celebration of their engagement. Emily gets to meet her and her family. Because of her life long friendship with Jeremy, and the previous feelings that Jeremy has had for Emily, the fiancee's family is not very welcoming to Emily. Strange things start to happen when Emily tries to solve the mystery of the dead body in the Duke's room. With the mean behavior from the fiancee's family, Emily is fortunate to be surrounded by her loving husband and best friends, Margaret and Cecile. Together they work to find out what is really going on. This is another good book in the Lady Emily series.
March 26, 2025
Tasha Alexander’s “The Adventuress” will challenge experienced readers of historical fiction to regularly step back and consider developments and events. Alas, with this tenth book in the Lady Emily series, familiarity and optimism may obscure significant elements from worthy consideration. So, take care and apply yourselves, gentle readers as Lady Emily and her husband Colin travel to the French Riviera to attend the engagement party of Jeremy, her best friend since childhood, the hither-to-for rakish Duke of Bainbridge to an American heiress who is so very “new money,” but no Molly Brown; oh, no, not at all! See “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”
Since The Adventuress is a late-Victorian, historical, mystery, plot twists and obfuscation are the order of the day, so do your best to penetrate the narrative, and expect to draw the wrong conclusions. Jeremy’s best friend, Neville, is found dead after apparently taking his life. Society and conventions interfere with everyone’s expectations. Colin and Emily are caught up in optimism for the occasion and the romance of the setting.
Jeremy, to make matters worse is betrothed to Amity Wells, an American. Her family runs afoul of British-Victorian sensibilities, no surprise there. This is a family seeking their place in society on both sides of the Atlantic. The Wells’s are compelled by social norms driving Americans with values based on business success and fostering rising expectations. This will conflict with the fading, but still strong, aristocratic value placed on leisure and avoiding work by any member of the aristocracy or gentry as unbecoming. The Wells family reflects the crude expectations, many Europeans continue to hold when observing Americans, even today.
As always, my purpose in these reviews is to enhance the reader’s experience. I trust there is sufficient fodder to whet your appetites.
Most readers will sharpen their skills after completing this tome, I might recommend taking a good look at the useful book, “Reading Like A Writer.” so read on and enjoy. Be prepared for disappointment.
Four Stars **** for the great setting, character development, and good dialogue and narrative structure, an excellent read.
Since The Adventuress is a late-Victorian, historical, mystery, plot twists and obfuscation are the order of the day, so do your best to penetrate the narrative, and expect to draw the wrong conclusions. Jeremy’s best friend, Neville, is found dead after apparently taking his life. Society and conventions interfere with everyone’s expectations. Colin and Emily are caught up in optimism for the occasion and the romance of the setting.
Jeremy, to make matters worse is betrothed to Amity Wells, an American. Her family runs afoul of British-Victorian sensibilities, no surprise there. This is a family seeking their place in society on both sides of the Atlantic. The Wells’s are compelled by social norms driving Americans with values based on business success and fostering rising expectations. This will conflict with the fading, but still strong, aristocratic value placed on leisure and avoiding work by any member of the aristocracy or gentry as unbecoming. The Wells family reflects the crude expectations, many Europeans continue to hold when observing Americans, even today.
As always, my purpose in these reviews is to enhance the reader’s experience. I trust there is sufficient fodder to whet your appetites.
Most readers will sharpen their skills after completing this tome, I might recommend taking a good look at the useful book, “Reading Like A Writer.” so read on and enjoy. Be prepared for disappointment.
Four Stars **** for the great setting, character development, and good dialogue and narrative structure, an excellent read.
August 2, 2017
Another story in the Lady Emily series, and this one finds Emily and her husband in the French Riviera, celebrating the engagement of Emily's childhood friend, the Duke of Bainbridge. He is engaged to a lively American heiress, Amity Wells. But when one of Jeremy's best friends is found dead, supposedly a suicide, Emily has the feeling that something more is going on, but in investigating the death, she finds herself in danger. Meanwhile, someone seems bent on causing grief between Amity and Emily, because of her close friendship with Jeremy. And it may just be that the cause of the one, is the perpetrator of the other.
A fun adventure, and it was great to come back to the characters that I love.
A fun adventure, and it was great to come back to the characters that I love.
September 4, 2022
This may be my favorite Lady Emily book. There are some excellent twists and the story plays out well to the end. Early on, I thought I knew the culprit and motive but discounted it for other possibilities. I was particularly gratified to find, at the end, I was right at first guess.
February 15, 2018
More danger and action! Great plot, and I do love the Duke!
August 26, 2018
One of my favorite authors and mystery series. This book did not disappoint!
November 22, 2018
I really enjoy this series. This title touches on the "American Princesses," who frequently married into the English aristocracy in the 19th century. I like that these novels touch on important social issues of the time.
September 28, 2019
This was my favorite Lady Emily book (so far). All of the best characters in one place, plus a fun location and central mystery. I normally prefer the stories set in England, but I think having everyone together helped. The end was a little silly (so much bad guy exposition!), but who cares? I will miss this villain.
July 7, 2018
I love this series so much! I will say, though, that I guessed everything in advance, even down to Amity wishing to marry Jack instead. I found it mildly frustrating that Emily, Colin and company didn’t suspect her further when they realized Jeremy was the intended target (which seemed so obvious) - asking themselves: who’d want him dead, and why? Especially given the details they learned about Amity’s first ruined love affair, and her close friendship with Jack before even meeting Jeremy, and the clear evidence that someone was out to make Emily look bad. All that aside, I love this series and love Tasha Alexander’s writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2018
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Alexander Autumn (October-November 2018)
Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge, has dedicated his life to achieving the title of the most useless man in England. He wants to live a life of semi-debauchery and avoid all the society mothers trying to snare him for their daughters. He knows he will have to wed eventually, his younger brother Jack would never forgive him if he inherited the Dukedom due to Jeremy's licentious lifestyle. But Jeremy claims his dear friend Lady Emily holds his heart, and since she is happily married, his finding connubial bliss is never going to happen. Emily sees his infatuation as nothing more than hyperbole and is proven right when Jeremy falls victim to the wiles of an American buccaneer. Amity Wells is the dream woman, she might even be more debauched than Jeremy! She knows what he needs even before he does. So what if she's a little loud, a little beyond the pale, she's the girl for Jeremy. A girl who Emily realizes she will never be friends with within minutes of meeting her. Yet Jeremy is Emily's oldest and dearest friend and for him she will make an effort. She will stick her courage to the sticking place and celebrate his engagement in the extravagant manner to which Amity is accustomed.
Amity plans a grandiose engagement party on the French Riviera with her parents footing the bill. There are excursions everyday, on land and on sea, nightly walks along La Croisette, delicious dinners, and sumptuous breakfasts. Amity even prides herself on organizing a lads night for Jeremy and his friends at the local casino where there will be dancers direct from Paris. Though that particular festivity ends differently than anyone expected, with Jeremy's friend, Chauncey Neville, dead in Jeremy's suite of an apparent suicide. Emily isn't convinced this dear, sweet man would have ended his life in such a fashion. Yet Emily's husband Colin tells her that with suicide it's not like their murder investigations, they aren't neatly wrapped up, there will always be questions which they will never know the answers to. Emily isn't sure. Even if Colin doesn't want to investigate she feels it necessary to start a discreet investigation. This will at least distract her for the forced joviality of those remaining after Mr. Neville's funeral and Amity's brother Augustus who puts her on edge. But soon weird things start to happen to discredit Emily. Could she be getting close to a truth someone wants hidden? Or does Amity just want her out of the way?
Years and years ago I became obsessed with this miniseries I kept stumbling upon on one of the higher cable channels in the middle of the night. I had no idea what it was called because I would always find it after the opening credits and would usually fall asleep before the end credits rolled. Remember, this was the nineties. Not everyone had computers they could access and find the answers they sought in an instant. As for my trusty TV Guide, well... it didn't list the higher channels in some sick game it liked to play with me where it loved to leave me in ignorance. And yes, I fully believe it was sentient and thought this was funny. Therefore I spent years in ignorance clutching to the few facts I knew. The miniseries starred Carla Gugino, the star of the Thanksgiving Pauly Shore classic Son in Law, and that the house from the Brideshead Revisited miniseries was in it. It turns out I was watching the 1995 adaptation of Edith Wharton's unfinished novel The Buccaneers. The story is about four eligible and wealthy young American girls who go to England to marry into the aristocracy. If I had known these women were called buccaneers perhaps I would have figured out the title earlier. But as it was, all I knew is I wanted to be one, despite not being the daughter of a robber barren. I could become British through an advantageous marriage! And yes, this dream is still with me.
My obsession with these young buccaneers is what enthralled me with Tasha's The Adventuress. I was getting to read a murder mystery with a buccaneer at the center, Amity Wells! Dream come true! Like Emily, there was something I instantly disliked about Amity, but at the same time I was drawn to her. The little chapters spaced between Emily's narrative showed a different side to Amity. Could Emily be an unreliable narrator in this instance? Could Amity really want to befriend Emily? Amity being so "American" as the Victorian Brits would put it left an interesting impression in my mind. She's very layered, making her a far more worthy adversary for Emily than some of her past cases gave her. This is a girl who has a secret, yet at the same time her desire for freedom and to get out from under her parents makes her almost reckless in the way she's willing to morph herself into Jeremy's perfect mate. This made me think of her as a kind of Victorian mean girl. She's outside the pack, but also setting the rules. It's an interesting dichotomy. I couldn't help thinking of her as Emma Roberts from American Horror Story or Scream Queens. She comes into any situation and can be either the ringleader or the victim depending on how she decides to play it. But underneath there's iron. She's getting her way and just playing her part to get it.
Though Amity's most interesting purpose within the story is not how she affects Emily as a person with all her Americanness, but how just her presence will forever change Emily's relationship with Jeremy. Even if Emily doesn't believe for an instant that Jeremy is hopelessly in love with her and is convinced he's using it as an excuse to avoid marriage, losing his constant attention and devotion that she is constantly plied with is a blow. She views that she is losing the Jeremy that she's always known. He's not flirting with her, he's not as attentive, he's not pissing off Colin with comments about how he and Em would make the perfect couple. In other words, his attentions are firmly on his fiance and Emily has to come to the cold hard conclusion that this annoys her. She liked being the center of Jeremy's world. She liked all the attention she was getting. Whenever she was feeling down Jeremy could boost her ego with a few remarks. And throughout the story she views this change as a negative. The fact is that Jeremy has grown up and Emily hasn't. You can see the lie clearly when Emily tells Amity that Emily's relationship with Jeremy will be in flux until it settles into the new pattern of them both being married. We've followed Emily on all her adventures and her behavior to Jeremy has never changed. Luckily for Em things turn out all right for her in the end.
But this change in Emily and Jeremy's relationship brings to the fore one very important question. Does Jeremy really love Emily? Yes, he obviously loves her as his closest and dearest friend as she does him, but could Emily be so blind that she's never realized that Jeremy is indeed in love with her? I think she is. What's more, I think Colin knows and is a bit exasperated that Emily, his astute wife who is able to see murder where everyone else sees suicide, can not see behind the flirtatious ways of Jeremy to see his real feelings are a deep and abiding love. I don't just have my observations that I've coupled with Colin's, oh no, for the first time in Amity's storyline we see how Jeremy felt about an incident that happened in A Fatal Waltz: "That kiss. That kiss. Could it be that, at last, he had found someone who could make him forget another kiss, on a cold day in Vienna? A kiss that ought never have happened, but that still consumed him, even after all these years?" He was CONSUMED by his kiss with Emily! CONSUMED! If he hadn't loved her before he obviously has been in love since that day and it makes me pity Jeremy and just want the best for him. To have a love that is never to be? He deserves some happiness. He deserves someone who loves him like Emily loves Colin. Oh, how my heart breaks for him.
And because I don't feel like ending this review on a sad "Poor Jeremy" note I'll end it on the Roman Feast that Amity was planning for the excursion to Nice and the visit to the ruins at Cimiez. Everyone was throwing themselves into this feast that would let them live in the decadent style of a Roman if just for a night. Well, everyone except Colin, who would not be caught dead in a toga, and Emily, who prefers Greece to Rome. There's a part of me that awhile back would have been all for it. I didn't know anything about Roman feasts, except vomitoriums, because obviously growing up kids remember the disgusting stuff. Within the story they mainly talk about the clothes and that eating is done while reclining, something I can never believe is good for the digestion. But I know OH so much more all thanks to Sue Perkins, Giles Coren, and their show, which used to be available on Hulu, The Supersizers. The Supersizers "went" to different time periods and "ate" different decades, and the weird title shift is what happened between season one and two. For the finale of season two they "ate" Ancient Rome. I was fully nauseated by the whole episode. Seeing as a feast might start with such "tasty" dishes as brain and rose petal patina I'm saying right now, you are NEVER getting me to EVER participate in any kind of authentic Roman Feast. You can see why Emily wants to stick to Greek foods!
Jeremy, the Duke of Bainbridge, has dedicated his life to achieving the title of the most useless man in England. He wants to live a life of semi-debauchery and avoid all the society mothers trying to snare him for their daughters. He knows he will have to wed eventually, his younger brother Jack would never forgive him if he inherited the Dukedom due to Jeremy's licentious lifestyle. But Jeremy claims his dear friend Lady Emily holds his heart, and since she is happily married, his finding connubial bliss is never going to happen. Emily sees his infatuation as nothing more than hyperbole and is proven right when Jeremy falls victim to the wiles of an American buccaneer. Amity Wells is the dream woman, she might even be more debauched than Jeremy! She knows what he needs even before he does. So what if she's a little loud, a little beyond the pale, she's the girl for Jeremy. A girl who Emily realizes she will never be friends with within minutes of meeting her. Yet Jeremy is Emily's oldest and dearest friend and for him she will make an effort. She will stick her courage to the sticking place and celebrate his engagement in the extravagant manner to which Amity is accustomed.
Amity plans a grandiose engagement party on the French Riviera with her parents footing the bill. There are excursions everyday, on land and on sea, nightly walks along La Croisette, delicious dinners, and sumptuous breakfasts. Amity even prides herself on organizing a lads night for Jeremy and his friends at the local casino where there will be dancers direct from Paris. Though that particular festivity ends differently than anyone expected, with Jeremy's friend, Chauncey Neville, dead in Jeremy's suite of an apparent suicide. Emily isn't convinced this dear, sweet man would have ended his life in such a fashion. Yet Emily's husband Colin tells her that with suicide it's not like their murder investigations, they aren't neatly wrapped up, there will always be questions which they will never know the answers to. Emily isn't sure. Even if Colin doesn't want to investigate she feels it necessary to start a discreet investigation. This will at least distract her for the forced joviality of those remaining after Mr. Neville's funeral and Amity's brother Augustus who puts her on edge. But soon weird things start to happen to discredit Emily. Could she be getting close to a truth someone wants hidden? Or does Amity just want her out of the way?
Years and years ago I became obsessed with this miniseries I kept stumbling upon on one of the higher cable channels in the middle of the night. I had no idea what it was called because I would always find it after the opening credits and would usually fall asleep before the end credits rolled. Remember, this was the nineties. Not everyone had computers they could access and find the answers they sought in an instant. As for my trusty TV Guide, well... it didn't list the higher channels in some sick game it liked to play with me where it loved to leave me in ignorance. And yes, I fully believe it was sentient and thought this was funny. Therefore I spent years in ignorance clutching to the few facts I knew. The miniseries starred Carla Gugino, the star of the Thanksgiving Pauly Shore classic Son in Law, and that the house from the Brideshead Revisited miniseries was in it. It turns out I was watching the 1995 adaptation of Edith Wharton's unfinished novel The Buccaneers. The story is about four eligible and wealthy young American girls who go to England to marry into the aristocracy. If I had known these women were called buccaneers perhaps I would have figured out the title earlier. But as it was, all I knew is I wanted to be one, despite not being the daughter of a robber barren. I could become British through an advantageous marriage! And yes, this dream is still with me.
My obsession with these young buccaneers is what enthralled me with Tasha's The Adventuress. I was getting to read a murder mystery with a buccaneer at the center, Amity Wells! Dream come true! Like Emily, there was something I instantly disliked about Amity, but at the same time I was drawn to her. The little chapters spaced between Emily's narrative showed a different side to Amity. Could Emily be an unreliable narrator in this instance? Could Amity really want to befriend Emily? Amity being so "American" as the Victorian Brits would put it left an interesting impression in my mind. She's very layered, making her a far more worthy adversary for Emily than some of her past cases gave her. This is a girl who has a secret, yet at the same time her desire for freedom and to get out from under her parents makes her almost reckless in the way she's willing to morph herself into Jeremy's perfect mate. This made me think of her as a kind of Victorian mean girl. She's outside the pack, but also setting the rules. It's an interesting dichotomy. I couldn't help thinking of her as Emma Roberts from American Horror Story or Scream Queens. She comes into any situation and can be either the ringleader or the victim depending on how she decides to play it. But underneath there's iron. She's getting her way and just playing her part to get it.
Though Amity's most interesting purpose within the story is not how she affects Emily as a person with all her Americanness, but how just her presence will forever change Emily's relationship with Jeremy. Even if Emily doesn't believe for an instant that Jeremy is hopelessly in love with her and is convinced he's using it as an excuse to avoid marriage, losing his constant attention and devotion that she is constantly plied with is a blow. She views that she is losing the Jeremy that she's always known. He's not flirting with her, he's not as attentive, he's not pissing off Colin with comments about how he and Em would make the perfect couple. In other words, his attentions are firmly on his fiance and Emily has to come to the cold hard conclusion that this annoys her. She liked being the center of Jeremy's world. She liked all the attention she was getting. Whenever she was feeling down Jeremy could boost her ego with a few remarks. And throughout the story she views this change as a negative. The fact is that Jeremy has grown up and Emily hasn't. You can see the lie clearly when Emily tells Amity that Emily's relationship with Jeremy will be in flux until it settles into the new pattern of them both being married. We've followed Emily on all her adventures and her behavior to Jeremy has never changed. Luckily for Em things turn out all right for her in the end.
But this change in Emily and Jeremy's relationship brings to the fore one very important question. Does Jeremy really love Emily? Yes, he obviously loves her as his closest and dearest friend as she does him, but could Emily be so blind that she's never realized that Jeremy is indeed in love with her? I think she is. What's more, I think Colin knows and is a bit exasperated that Emily, his astute wife who is able to see murder where everyone else sees suicide, can not see behind the flirtatious ways of Jeremy to see his real feelings are a deep and abiding love. I don't just have my observations that I've coupled with Colin's, oh no, for the first time in Amity's storyline we see how Jeremy felt about an incident that happened in A Fatal Waltz: "That kiss. That kiss. Could it be that, at last, he had found someone who could make him forget another kiss, on a cold day in Vienna? A kiss that ought never have happened, but that still consumed him, even after all these years?" He was CONSUMED by his kiss with Emily! CONSUMED! If he hadn't loved her before he obviously has been in love since that day and it makes me pity Jeremy and just want the best for him. To have a love that is never to be? He deserves some happiness. He deserves someone who loves him like Emily loves Colin. Oh, how my heart breaks for him.
And because I don't feel like ending this review on a sad "Poor Jeremy" note I'll end it on the Roman Feast that Amity was planning for the excursion to Nice and the visit to the ruins at Cimiez. Everyone was throwing themselves into this feast that would let them live in the decadent style of a Roman if just for a night. Well, everyone except Colin, who would not be caught dead in a toga, and Emily, who prefers Greece to Rome. There's a part of me that awhile back would have been all for it. I didn't know anything about Roman feasts, except vomitoriums, because obviously growing up kids remember the disgusting stuff. Within the story they mainly talk about the clothes and that eating is done while reclining, something I can never believe is good for the digestion. But I know OH so much more all thanks to Sue Perkins, Giles Coren, and their show, which used to be available on Hulu, The Supersizers. The Supersizers "went" to different time periods and "ate" different decades, and the weird title shift is what happened between season one and two. For the finale of season two they "ate" Ancient Rome. I was fully nauseated by the whole episode. Seeing as a feast might start with such "tasty" dishes as brain and rose petal patina I'm saying right now, you are NEVER getting me to EVER participate in any kind of authentic Roman Feast. You can see why Emily wants to stick to Greek foods!
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