A Grave Celebration

Lady of Ashes #6

by Christine Trent

Violet Harper and her husband Sam are attending the long-anticipated opening of Egypt's new Suez Canal. The canal is the mastermind of the brilliant French engineer, Ferdinand de Lesseps. Fireworks, galas, and canal cruises are all part of the planned festivities at ports along the way.Tensions abound across the various European delegations in attendance. The Prussians, Dutch, French, British, Austrians, and Russians all have political grievances against each other, made worse by internal struggles inside Egypt itself.All of this animosity is forgotten, though, in the midst of clinking glasses and deafening cheers. That is, until a seemingly innocent Egyptian is found stabbed during an evening of fireworks.To keep the grisly affair out of the international newspapers, de Lesseps and the Egyptian viceroy, Isma il Pasha, insist that there be no investigation, but Violet is determined to make a quiet inquiry. Who may have wanted the man dead? Or, rather, who didn t have hatred for the French, whose total mastery of the Suez Canal meant they would be controlling canal shipping for the foreseeable future? Was the man the simple victim of a local criminal? Or is someone conducting a vendetta against the great man de Lesseps himself?When a delegate's servant is also found murdered, it becomes obvious that there are evil forces among the revelers, who will stop at nothing to keep Violet from discovering the truth.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical, Suspense, 19th Century, Mystery Thriller

341 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2016

About the author

Christine Trent is the author of the Heart of St. Mary's County series set in her beloved Maryland hometown. Book 3, THE CEDAR POINT AFFAIR, releases in July 2025 and Book 4, THE MADNESS OF MOLL DYER, will release in February 2026.

She is also the author of the ROYAL TRADES series about women in unusual professions, including THE QUEEN'S DOLLMAKER (a dollmaker to Marie Antoinette), A ROYAL LIKENESS (an apprentice to the great waxworker, Madame Tussaud), and BY THE KING'S DESIGN (a cloth merchant to the Prince Regent). These books were re-released in 2023.

Christine is best known for her LADY OF ASHES series featuring Violet Harper, a Victorian undertaker with a passion for her macabre work. Christine's latest entry in this historical mystery series is THE DEADLY HOURS, an anthology written with Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, and Anna Lee Huber, which follows the travels of a cursed pocket watch through time.

Can't get enough historical mystery? Christine has also written two novels (NO CURE FOR THE DEAD and A MURDEROUS MALADY) featuring Florence Nightingale as an intrepid sleuth.

Learn more about Christine at www.christinetrent.com.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the whole series has been building to this event and while the mystery was gripping I feel I had to suspend disbelief too much for it. Also, I feel like Violet and Sam are never together. I thought they would be more like partners.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable mystery. My only reason for four stars and not five was that I thought it was too much history and not enough mystery. The history of the opening of the Suez was interesting, but took up too many pages of the book for me. I still look forward to book # 7 when it comes out. This is a great Victorian mystery series.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

In discussing her current concerns about her fiancée, Louise-Hélène states to Valarie
“I believe there is much we don’t understand about Egypt’s politics, madame." Boy ain't that the truth! even for today's Egyptian political climate giving credence to the saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first Lady of Ashes book so much that I committed to reading them all; however, they got steadily worse as time went on. How many times do I need to hear about Violet’s concern that she might be getting fat? Each story made little sense - like the author began writing and didn’t know who was responsible for the murders until 2/3 of the way through the book. I wish I would have saved my time and stopped reading after the first book.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

I was very excited about the next installment in this series. However, I found this book very difficult to get into. I'm not sure if it was the plot or the number of characters with complicated names. I am hoping that the next book in the series will draw me in like the first several in this series had.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

MINUS ★

Holy Mole, Posole! What an unmitigated waste of time, paper, & ink!

This was once such a wonderful & novel (pun intended) series. Lady Violet, 1890's, England's only Female undertaker, Snoop for Queen Victoria.

Originally Violet's undertakings (again a pun intended) dealt with her undertakings, deaths, funeral practices, sleuthing out murders & murderers. Really interesting & attention holding stories.

This one focused mostly on the machinations of politicians & the opening ceremonies of the Suez Canal.... Sure there were murders, but as the bodies were whisked away before Violet had any time with them; the reader wasn't treated on any of Violets usual observations or preparations.

The people were ugly, egotistical, & without redeeming qualities. There really wasn't much of a tangible story and the underlying story wasn't at all apparent until the very last chapter when Violet explained "who-done-it" in the most improbable place & manner.

All the pomp & pomposity of the "dignitaries" was boring; so much so that I was almost bored to death (again a pun intended) and Violet (had she been in attendance) would never have been able to figure this one out.

I had to request this from another Library System.... Glad we didn't waste our budget $$$$ on this one. So, I guess I will no longer be reading anything more in this series.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked it enough to finish it, but certainly not one of the best of the series. I was really looking forward to this installment and the historical setting. There was lots of history but little mystery.. And what mystery there was was solved in such a convenient and contrived way that I am disappointed by this otherwise talented and creative author. Really? "click, click,click" and it all starts to fall into place so conveniently when there had been no obvious or even subtle hints of connections...just time to start giving the solution. And the setting for announcing the solution to the mystery - no way it could have happened that way. Given the people and the power assembled she would have been drug off the stage at the first attempt to interrupt.

Best part of the book? the author notes at the end disclosing the historical events and personages on which the story was built.

With all that said, while disappointed with this one, I'm eagerly looking forward to the next offering.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. It's finally time for Violet and Sam to go to Egypt for the opening of the Suez Canal, as part of Queen V's delegation. A few deaths and a lot of real people happen. It felt good to finish the series, but there was so little mystery in this one! At least the others had sleuthing, however improbable, this was mostly Violet watching the interactions of world leaders. I wish there had been more clues so that Violet's realization didn't have to be so surprising and over the top. The best part by far was the afterword with all of the historical information she used, and was absolutely fascinating and captivating.

[Barbara Fraley · Rating 3 out of 5]

violet harper and her husband, sam, find themselves in Egypt as part of the british delegation to witness the opening of the suez canal. but the bodies begin to pile up and then are whisked away quickly to keep anyone from realizing that these unfortunate souls were murdered. but violet is not fooled and she and sam are in danger. how do you expose a murderer when you don't yet know who it is and not end up as his or her next victim?

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment. It lacked all of the qualities that made the previous five books in the series interesting. It resembles a lengthy and not particularly interesting history of Egypt and the Suez Canal. There was little character development beyond Violet, who, as the center of the story, was dithering and ineffectual in the extreme. I managed to finish the book, but I did not enjoy it.

[Marquelle Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery by Christine Trent! Just love the strong heroine in a time when women were often seen as less. I also love how Ms. Trent ties a historical theme through all of her tales. I am not a big history buff, but boy do I love good historical fiction! I even read all the endnotes with historical facts and what was changed to fit the storyline. I hope there will be more Lady of ashes books in the future!

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was not able to finish this book. More than half way through and there still wasn't any mystery. It was all politics and the opening of the Suez Canal. I don't usually give up on books, but try as I might, I couldn't get interested in it at all, and had other books to read. So, I didn't finish it. Very disappointed, I've enjoyed the previous books in this series.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sixth in the series finds Victorian undertaker Violet Harper and her husband attending the opening ceremonies of the Sue’s canal. As is customary, deaths, danger, and intrigue abound. However, this book includes a wealth of history both Egyptian and European as well as some information on funerary practices.

[Gwen - Chew & Digest Books - · Rating 4 out of 5]

On top of the usual, unique position of our amateur detective, the story takes place during the historical opening of the Suez Canal which adds a locale, characters, and event that I've never read portrayed in fiction or non.

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! This one really shines on its own even if you didn't read the previous books. Awesome to experience the celebration of the Suez Canal thru Violet's eys.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In light of the author losing her mother while trying to write this book it was fine

[Nanci Pattenden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 6 in the series and not my fav by far. Way to much history and background. Well researched and well written as always, but not enough of Violet and her investigation.

[Caroline Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh!

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #6 in the series. Read if you like mysteries or historical fiction.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great tbh. This series went downhill as it continued. There were so many loose ends that never got resolved even though this is the last book. Maybe the author meant to write more?

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many characters. Too much politics. Too many characters. (did I say that already?) I had trouble keeping them straight.
Somehow not a lot of Violet even though she's the MC??? She didn't seem to do a lot except be nosy.

If this had been my first exposure to Ms Trent and Violet, I wouldn't have finished this or read anything else by her. I just really didn't enjoy it.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the politics and pageantry associated with the opening of the Suez canal. The murder mystery honestly seemed like an afterthought to the personalities of each country's delegation-Empress Eugenie, De Lesseps and his timid fiancee, Egypt's viceroy, the Emperor of Austria, etc.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery! This series is new to me, but I certainly will read the others now. The imagery is tantalizing, the historical data intriguing, and the characters are noteworthy. No need to repeat the publisher's blurb or get involved with spoilers.
I had hoped for a good read when I entered the Goodreads Giveaway, was pleased to have won, and absolutely delighted with the read!

[Terelyn Marks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Violet does Perry Mason ending -- explaining her theory of the murders before an audience and is almost killed herself (AGAIN!) by the villain.

[Brenda Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery. I won this book through Goodreads.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite series