The Serpent and the Scorpion

Ursula Marlowe Mystery #2

by Clare Langley-Hawthorne

A gripping mystery of scandal and intrigue starring a spirited and beautiful Edwardian heiress It's the end of 1911 and Ursula Marlow, struggling to maintain control over her father's textile empire, finds her business trip to Egypt interrupted by two violent deaths. The first victim is her new friend, Katya-the mysterious wife of a wealthy Russian financier. Then when a young woman dies in a fire in one of Ursula's factories just days later, she returns to investigate and discovers the woman was already dead before the fire started. Driven by her need for justice, the headstrong Ursula is determined to unravel the possible connection between the two deaths, the return of her Bolshevik ex-lover, and disturbing events in the Middle East. The Serpent and the Scorpion is a tale of romance, betrayal, and murder that will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Peters, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Jacqueline Winspear.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Egypt, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

304 pages, ebook

First published September 16, 2008

About the author

Clare Langley-Hawthorne was raised in England and Australia. She was an attorney in Melbourne before moving to the United States, where she began her career as a writer. Her first novel, Consequences of Sin, has been nominated for the 2008 Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Macavity award. The second in the Ursula Marlow series, The Serpent and The Scorpion, is due out in October 2008. Clare lives in Oakland, California with her family. "

Reviews

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's the beginning of 1912 and we enter into a world that is filled with rich industrialists, struggling workers who have begun to unionize and strike, suffragettes are protesting, anarchists are doing their thing and the first whispers of an upcoming war are being heard.

It's at a high-class New Year's party that we are introduced to Ursula Marlow, a young heiress and suffragette, who is trying to recover already from an already horrendous set of murders that she was instrumental in solving at a terrible cost: she lost a friend as well as her father, and watched as her fiancé was convicted of the deaths.

Shortly after that party, Marlow travels to Egypt on business and meets up again with a new friend made during that New Year's party. Things seem to go well — she has made contracts for the cloth she needs for her factories, when she is struck once again with tragedy while shopping in an open air market. Clearly, she wants to do something, wants to investigate the death but she faces an uphill battle — as a woman in a foreign country in this era, no police officer is truly willing to share information with her. Despite that, Marlow persists and finds enemies just about everywhere.

I don't quite know what to think of this book, this character. Ursula is very much of the new era: educated, moneyed, seeking recognition of the value and worth of women beyond bearing children and maintaining a home, fighting against the old ideas of how the world works. But sometimes, she acts very stupidly, even when it is matters of her own heart and her business, the very thing that is important to show her intelligence and skills.

There are moments in this book that I wish someone would get through her head that she really does make her case that women are strong, intelligent and capable — so often Ursula behaves otherwise. She's not the type of character I can get behind and root for — in fact, I don't think I liked or admired any of these people. Maybe the Scotland Yard detective ...

The Serpent and the Scorpion is an easy read and the mystery is interesting but the characters are written in such a way that almost immediately, the reader already knows who are the bad guys. I could almost predict what was going to happen and the ending. It's a little too predictable.

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and enjoyable read.

[Suzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

had trouble getting into this book. It was ultimately o.k. but just too many things going on and couldn't relate to the characters.

[Mookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not unconvinced that Ursula Marlow isn't nursing some opioid addiction. Half the book she is languishing somewhere, depressed and hazy, with the air oppressive and mysterious. This languid heaviness does succeed in establishing an interesting kind of atmosphere, but picking up the pace never hurts either. I enjoyed it nonetheless, but I don't think I'll buy a copy of my own. Happy about the romance, although Mr. whats-his-face could stand to be more personable. Because of his reserved, stoic nature, part of me will always wonder if his love for his isn't some kind of ruse to marry an heiress. Emotions are sexy too, you know.

[Darlene Messenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is second in the Ursula Marlow series. Slow going at first, the mystery quickly picks up pace and ends with a shocking conclusion. Ursula is a suffragette and business owner, an anomaly in early British 1900's. The Bolsheviks, looming war, Titanic sinking, upheaval in the Middle East and arms dealing aristocrats all play a significant role as Ursula investigates the "accidents" in her factories and the murder of two young women. Interesting and unique mystery series. I plan to read the next one immediately.

[Joyce Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this second in the series of Ursula Marlow, heiress, suffragette and business women, set in the early 20th century. Ursula travels to Egypt and witnesses the death of a friend and gets involved in a complex international investigation upon her return to England.

[Kimberlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.girllostinabook.com/2014/0...

[Amanda Waller · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid who done it mystery

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a blurb comparing it to,(among others) those of Dorothy L. Sayers and Jacqueline Winspear.
And there are similarities to Winspear. But Dorothy L Sayers? The creator of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane? One of the greatest detective writers ever?

I think not. This is flat and barely believable. I had a pretty good idea of a great deal of the mystery early in. And if Ursula is so bright and independent why does she have to be rescued repeatedly a la Nancy Drew and Ned Nickerson?

Nice try. Doesn't work. Won't be waiting for bated breath for the next one.

[Jek · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character was so annoying I found myself wishing she didn’t succeed. I pushed through hoping she’d develops near the end but sadly nothing changed and it ended anticlimactically.

[Shandana · Rating 2 out of 5]

i love mysteries set in egypt so i enthusiastically picked this one up. it was a disappointment.

the heroine is set up to be a strong-willed suffragette who has had many lovers. mind you, this is set in england in the early 20th century. the woman would have been ostracized, no matter that she was a coal heiress and had friends in high places.

the mystery wasn't much of a mystery. it was easy to tell who was behind all the nefarious happenings. and the heroine really began to annoy when she screamed and complained about everything and never confided in the supportive, aristocratic hero. don't think i will be picking up the next book in the series...

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful Edwardian mystery with a feisty, likable heroine named Ursula Marlowe. The period details were well done, and Langley-Hawthorne certainly did her research on the lesser-known aspects of Edwardian life, life women studying at Oxford, the suffrage movement, socialism and the minute details that distinguish the class structure within the upper class. My only wish is that I'd read the first Ursula Marlowe mystery before I picked up this one, since now I know all the details of the first mystery as well. Still, I might give it a read just to spend more time with the delightful Miss Marlowe. Recommended for all historical mystery fans.

[Jake Rideout · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were fortunate enough to host Clare for a reading last night, and it was fabulous! She's one of those authors who, even if you've already read the book, makes you want to read it again. This is the second book in her Ursula Marlow series, which are woman-detective novels set in Edwardian England. Ursula, a militant suffragette and member of high society, finds herself caught up in another murder investigation when her new friend is stabbed in an Egyptian marketplace. Ursula takes up the case, endangering her life and her reputation. These books are wonderful--carefully researched, cleverly written, and delightful.

[Ladysatel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The young heiress Ursula Marlow is in Egypt to find sources of cotton for her mills in England. While there she meets a young woman Katya Vilensky. Katya is wife to Peter Vilensky a wealthy financier.

While on a trip to the Bazaar both women are sorrounded by a group of ruffians and separated. Ursula hears Katya cry out and suddenly the group is gone. Katya lies dead in the street. The Egyptian authorities are not inclined to pursue the matter.

Ursula receives information of sabatoge at the cotton mills and has to return suddenly to England.

And so begins a great story of intrigue, love, romance , betrayal, looming war and murder. A great period mystery,

[Littlegolynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just starting to get interesting. I had to get my head in the British writer mode. It is also taking place in 1912 which also causes me to make a change in mind set.
This book is taking so much longer to read. It reads like the era it it written in,old cars that need a crank to start, only snail mail, and ocean liner travel.
I'm to much in the now era. Fast cars, cell phones, and air travel.
Jan.8,2009 finished this book and glad of it. Unless you really like period mysteries on the line of Agatha Christie don't bother reading this one.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A misleading cover implies that the mystery in this volume takes place in Egypt, which would have been much more exciting. We find Ursula struggling to maintain control of her father’s business and chafing under the guardianship of Lord Wrotham. When a new friend is murdered, and a young woman dies in one of Ursula’s factories, her quest for the truth also includes the return of her ex-lover, an exiled Bolshevik. Fraught with complicated geo-political details, this mystery is more complicated than Ursula’s first adventure, and it ends on an unsatisfying cliffhanger.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't as vested in this mystery as I was in the first Ursula Marlowe book, Consequences of Sin. The whole Egyptian/Russian past lover story wasn't as interesting as the plotline of Ursula dealing with business and her relationship with Lord Wrotham. The ending leaves quite a cliffhanger, so the next book should be interesting.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Urusula Marlow, beautiful heiress and radical thinker returns. She now owns her father's factories and goes North when a fire reveals a dead worker in the fire. The woman was dead before the fire was started.

Again a good mystery moving from the bazaars of Egypt, to the mills of the North, to the radical times of 1911-1912. Ends on a cliff hanger.

[Juli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is definitely slow in developing, but about halfway through it started to pick up. It is not really that much of a mystery but more like a quiet thriller--one where you are not quite sure who will survive. It won't be for everyone, but I would still recommend it for people who like period mysteries.

[Fred Rauch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series which I really enjoyed. Checked with Barnes and Noble and book 3 "Unlikely Traitor" is print on demand. Phooey!!!!!! Wanted to read it as book 2 (this one ends with Lord Worthen being arrested for treason. I will not know how book 3 goes and/or ends. I will simply assume that Ursula gets him off and they marry. (Just read some other reviews - all is well.)

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love my historical mysteries and I hope that this author keeps going. Ursula Marlowe is a good detective and great character for those who like the Maisie Dobbs series, I highly recommend Clare Langley-Hawthorne.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first one and loved the second. Hope there will be a third as we're left with a real cliffhanger. The attention to detail and amount of research the author goes into is impressive. Ursula Marlow is a complex and compelling heroine.

[Kellylynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another simple read. I really did not like how this story ended setting up the next book. But otherwise the story was okay. The character development was good on some but a bit stiff on others. If I had time and my to be read pile wasn't so large, I would potentially pick up the next book.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this second Ursula Marlowe mystery and am looking forward to the next one. Marlowe is a great new sleuth with a new angle.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Ursula Marlow book more than the 1st one (Consequences of Sin). I would give it a 4.5. If you enjoy historical fiction and mysteries, I'd highly suggest this book.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.45 rounded to 2.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the second in the Ursula Marlow books was decidedly better than the first, and I more or less got over her not being Maisie Dobbs, I doubt I will read any future Marlow mysteries.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to Consequences of Sin, I enjoyed this book quite a lot as well. I'm eager for the next in the series.

[Mary G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a really nice story. Well done.