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Rannoch Fraser Mysteries #10
Secrets of a Lady
November 1819
The description below is from the original publication. The editions published after 2007 include selected correspondence between various characters as "author insights" which give further character and plot development.
With DAUGHTER OF THE GAME, Tracy Grant makes a stunning debut with a tale of nonstop adventure, dark mystery, and passionate romance. This novel lays bare the world of Regency London and explores the nature of good and evil, truth and lies, loyalty and betrayal...
Set mainly in London just after the Napoleonic Wars, DAUGHTER OF THE GAME is a fast-paced and involving historical thriller. Charles and Melanie Fraser are the perfect aristocratic couple: handsome, wealthy, powerful, accomplished, they are the envy of their friends and the toast of London society.
A London night: outside, a mist hovers over the cobblestones and yellow pools of lamplight glow with murky radiance. And inside the glittering mansions of society's finest families, lushly dressed ladies dance the night away with coolly elegant gentlemen... and the latest gossip is exchanged with a tilt of a fan. Surely in a world of such supreme confidence, no evil could touch those charmed lives.
On this cloud-shrouded evening the unthinkable comes to pass: six-year-old Colin Fraser vanishes from the cocoon of his family's Berkeley Square home. His disappearance plunges his socially -- and politically -- prominent parents, Charles and Melanie Fraser, into a maze of intrigue, one that stretches back to the Napoleonic Wars.
The Frasers' perfect jewel-box of a life is shaken to the core. Charles is a former intelligence agent and the grandson of a duke. And now Charles is a member of Parliament. He possesses a cool intellect and a burning sense of justice. Driven by the devastation he saw during the war and by his own family's sordid history, he is a man who will not rest until he discovers the truth. Melanie is a war refugee who charms London's "beau monde" at routs and receptions, all the while writing pamphlets on child labor and women's education. In a world where marriage is a matter of convenience and love is a game, their union is a model of constancy.
As Colin's ransom, his captors demand a ring...not just any ring, but the legendary Carevalo Ring. Many people, it seems, are enticed by the gold and ruby ornament, but are they lured by its beauty or by the promise of power that surrounds it? And there are those, perhaps even elements in the British government, who would kill to possess it.
Charles and Melanie's race against time to recover the ring and save their son becomes a dark and perilous game, where plot plays upon counterplot. Their hunt takes them to the Drury Lane Theatre and the debtors' prison in the Marshalsea, a London gaming hell and a Brighton racing stable, a gin-soaked brothel and a Thames-side villa. They uncover a chilling labyrinth of secrets, both personal and political, that binds them together in unexpected ways and threatens to destroy them.
As layers of deception are stripped away, Charles and Melanie begin to question all that they believed in. In a world of spies, blackmail, and murder, no one is quite who they seem to be.
Caught up in a tangled web of political and sexual intrigue going back many years, the Frasers can be sure of nothing. For the secret to finding Colin lies in the murky loyalties of war-torn Europe, in past sins and scandals. For no one is quite who they seem to be and deception and betrayal -- of a country, an ideal, a lover, a spouse -- come far more easily than truth and fidelity...
The description below is from the original publication. The editions published after 2007 include selected correspondence between various characters as "author insights" which give further character and plot development.
With DAUGHTER OF THE GAME, Tracy Grant makes a stunning debut with a tale of nonstop adventure, dark mystery, and passionate romance. This novel lays bare the world of Regency London and explores the nature of good and evil, truth and lies, loyalty and betrayal...
Set mainly in London just after the Napoleonic Wars, DAUGHTER OF THE GAME is a fast-paced and involving historical thriller. Charles and Melanie Fraser are the perfect aristocratic couple: handsome, wealthy, powerful, accomplished, they are the envy of their friends and the toast of London society.
A London night: outside, a mist hovers over the cobblestones and yellow pools of lamplight glow with murky radiance. And inside the glittering mansions of society's finest families, lushly dressed ladies dance the night away with coolly elegant gentlemen... and the latest gossip is exchanged with a tilt of a fan. Surely in a world of such supreme confidence, no evil could touch those charmed lives.
On this cloud-shrouded evening the unthinkable comes to pass: six-year-old Colin Fraser vanishes from the cocoon of his family's Berkeley Square home. His disappearance plunges his socially -- and politically -- prominent parents, Charles and Melanie Fraser, into a maze of intrigue, one that stretches back to the Napoleonic Wars.
The Frasers' perfect jewel-box of a life is shaken to the core. Charles is a former intelligence agent and the grandson of a duke. And now Charles is a member of Parliament. He possesses a cool intellect and a burning sense of justice. Driven by the devastation he saw during the war and by his own family's sordid history, he is a man who will not rest until he discovers the truth. Melanie is a war refugee who charms London's "beau monde" at routs and receptions, all the while writing pamphlets on child labor and women's education. In a world where marriage is a matter of convenience and love is a game, their union is a model of constancy.
As Colin's ransom, his captors demand a ring...not just any ring, but the legendary Carevalo Ring. Many people, it seems, are enticed by the gold and ruby ornament, but are they lured by its beauty or by the promise of power that surrounds it? And there are those, perhaps even elements in the British government, who would kill to possess it.
Charles and Melanie's race against time to recover the ring and save their son becomes a dark and perilous game, where plot plays upon counterplot. Their hunt takes them to the Drury Lane Theatre and the debtors' prison in the Marshalsea, a London gaming hell and a Brighton racing stable, a gin-soaked brothel and a Thames-side villa. They uncover a chilling labyrinth of secrets, both personal and political, that binds them together in unexpected ways and threatens to destroy them.
As layers of deception are stripped away, Charles and Melanie begin to question all that they believed in. In a world of spies, blackmail, and murder, no one is quite who they seem to be.
Caught up in a tangled web of political and sexual intrigue going back many years, the Frasers can be sure of nothing. For the secret to finding Colin lies in the murky loyalties of war-torn Europe, in past sins and scandals. For no one is quite who they seem to be and deception and betrayal -- of a country, an ideal, a lover, a spouse -- come far more easily than truth and fidelity...
485 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
84 people are currently reading
2510 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Grant
56 books179 followersTracy Grant studied British history at Stanford University and received the Firestone Award for Excellence in Research for her honors thesis on shifting conceptions of honor in late fifteenth century England. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her young daughter and three cats. In addition to writing, Tracy works for the Merola Opera Program, a professional training program for opera singers, pianists, and stage directors. Her real life heroine is her daughter Mélanie, who is very cooperative about Mummy’s writing. Tracy is currently at work on her next book chronicling the adventures of Malcolm and Mélanie Suzanne Rannoch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
April 4, 2012
Really my rating is 2.5 stars. I thought the actual mystery was a good one. I did not guess who did it. There were other twists & turns in the story that surprised me in a good way. So Tracy Grant has a clever plot going for her.
However, something about the 2 main characters bugged me. I didn't find them as enchanting as I was obviously supposed to. They just rubbed me the wrong way, which is a large problem when the two main characters are on almost every page. They seemed too modern, too twenty first century. The story was set in the early 1800s during the Regency period in England - one of my favorite periods in history. However, it could have been set at any time. I didn't get a feel for London at that time. And Charles, the husband, was just too too understanding and open minded. I could not suspend my disbelief enough to accept he would respond the way the author had him responding. It veered to comedy, the way he was so liberated and understanding.
However, something about the 2 main characters bugged me. I didn't find them as enchanting as I was obviously supposed to. They just rubbed me the wrong way, which is a large problem when the two main characters are on almost every page. They seemed too modern, too twenty first century. The story was set in the early 1800s during the Regency period in England - one of my favorite periods in history. However, it could have been set at any time. I didn't get a feel for London at that time. And Charles, the husband, was just too too understanding and open minded. I could not suspend my disbelief enough to accept he would respond the way the author had him responding. It veered to comedy, the way he was so liberated and understanding.
March 9, 2009
Tracy Grant’s Secrets of a Lady, set in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, starts off interestingly enough with the kidnapping of a young boy from his wealthy family’s house and the slow revelation that his parents’ seemingly idyllic marriage isn’t all that it seems. But I find the main characters boring and paper thin – Mélanie is impossibly beautiful and refined (despite the life that she’s revealed to have lived) but simultaneously, a totally kickass fighter who can shoot and stab people without difficulty but who also has exquisite taste in everything; Charles, her husband, is yet another Lymond-clone (unaware of his true paternity and angsting about same; extremely enlightened and liberated about women; incredibly forgiving, etc.)
The language is also problematic for me (e.g. I believe “mad” in English English more or less always refers to “insanity” rather than anger, and yet it’s used for the latter purpose constantly. There are many other such linguistic blunders that surprise me, given the blurb that mentions Ms. Grant’s prize for her undergraduate history thesis!) In fact, the only things I liked about this novel were the attempt (however thin) to contextualize the romantic suspense novel and ground it in actual political events; and the characters of the children and the cat, who seem to have been based on observations of actual children and cats, in contrast to the adult characters who seem to have been based on wishful thinking and the belief that constantly describing someone as brilliant, beautiful, etc., will convince the reader of same!
I guess I should have known what to expect, having read and not particularly liked Beneath a Silent Moon (the "prequel" to Secrets of a Lady) but I kept hoping I'd like this one better!
The language is also problematic for me (e.g. I believe “mad” in English English more or less always refers to “insanity” rather than anger, and yet it’s used for the latter purpose constantly. There are many other such linguistic blunders that surprise me, given the blurb that mentions Ms. Grant’s prize for her undergraduate history thesis!) In fact, the only things I liked about this novel were the attempt (however thin) to contextualize the romantic suspense novel and ground it in actual political events; and the characters of the children and the cat, who seem to have been based on observations of actual children and cats, in contrast to the adult characters who seem to have been based on wishful thinking and the belief that constantly describing someone as brilliant, beautiful, etc., will convince the reader of same!
I guess I should have known what to expect, having read and not particularly liked Beneath a Silent Moon (the "prequel" to Secrets of a Lady) but I kept hoping I'd like this one better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2011
Whew...ok, wow. Any review I try to give here would not do this book justice. Suffice it to say that I absolutely loved it. This book had so many twists and turns (including one moment where my mouth literally dropped open in surprise), that my head was spinning pretty much the entire time...which is definitely a good thing.
The characters are rich and compelling, the dialogue is sharp, honest and tightly written, and the action scenes are breath-taking. There are parts that were very difficult to read and I welled up with tears more than once.
I cannot wait to read more of this author's work!
The characters are rich and compelling, the dialogue is sharp, honest and tightly written, and the action scenes are breath-taking. There are parts that were very difficult to read and I welled up with tears more than once.
I cannot wait to read more of this author's work!
November 18, 2019
I had forgotten about this series (I've only read a few) and, on returning to Secrets of a Lady, I found it very reminiscent of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series. As with that series, here we have a British aristocrat trying to throw off tradition and his beautiful, intelligent wife who is more than capable of assisting him in his sleuthing endeavors. This was perhaps not the best book to jump back into the series with considering all of the references to the past and the wrench thrown into the Frasers' seemingly perfect marriage. Still, I'll be looking out for more Fraser mysteries.
May 21, 2012
I really liked Vienna Waltz and Imperial Scandal so I wanted to read more books by Tracy/Teresa Grant. Secrets of a Lady/Daughter of the Game was the debut book by the author. I think she wrote it close to ten years ago. The characters in this book, Charles and Melanie Fraser, are supposed to be the same characters in her newer books (Vienna Waltz and Imperial Scandal), but renamed Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch. I was really excited to read about what happened to them as the books were not written/released in chronological order. However, I found Secrets of a Lady not to be as well written as the more recent books. Truly, that is not unexpected since she wrote it ten years ago. I would expect that her writing would improve over the years. My real problem was that I found Charles and Melanie much less likeable than Malcolm and Suzanne. I just couldn't wrap my head around the idea that these were the same characters. There were some similarities, but Grant's more recent writing made Suzanne and Malcolm much more approachable and sympathetic. I was rooting for Suzanne and Malcolm to work it all out. I understood their struggles and conflicts. With Charles and Melanie, it was just painful. Things happened too fast, Charles was a jerk, maybe justifiably so, but it didn't make me root for them to work it out. He came across very much holier than thou. I appreciated that Melanie essentially pointed that out to him, but you would think after seven years of marriage he would cut her a little slack a little sooner once the shock wore off and not have her have to spoon feed him all the reasons for doing the things that they did back in the day when they were fighting for what they believed in. Bottom line, if you have read about Charles and Melanie and loved them, I think you will love the newer books about Malcolm and Suzanne even with the name change. If you love Suzanne and Malcolm, be warned that Charles and Melanie are little rougher around the edges.
*The re-release as Secrets of a Lady did include some changes which may make a difference to some readers. I read and reviewed the original version- Daughter of the Game.*
*The re-release as Secrets of a Lady did include some changes which may make a difference to some readers. I read and reviewed the original version- Daughter of the Game.*
April 6, 2011
This would have been five star if we hadn't had the heavy-handed drama with the surprise villain at the end - otherwise I thought it was an amazing tour-de-force of a marriage of seven years of true feelings, true passion, true beliefs and secrets on both sides finally being thrown into the crucible of the lies and secrets because they endanger the son of Melanie and Charles.
As I said in the review of the chronologically earlier book - what if the Juana and Harry Smith situation had NOT been as it was in real life (or as Georgette Heyer romanticised it in The Spanish Bride)? Okay, Harry was never a spy.
I loved Melanie and Charles doing their utmost to save their son, the closer focus on their immediate family and helpers, with the surprise revelation of Charles true father thrown in - I loved that the dialogue and interior monologues followed along with the various shocks and I could follow why the marriage actually does grow in strength after the various shocks.
If I hadn't read the chronologically earlier book first, where we see Charles dysfunctional family in all its glory, I would not have believed in his overcoming of the mores of the time in his acceptance of what Melanie did, though.
I wouldn't mind seeing more O'Roarke and Roth, if I can get them. Colin's reaction to the situation was a bit too good to be real for a 6-year-old to me, though. As was Roth's dealing with that last letter...
As I said in the review of the chronologically earlier book - what if the Juana and Harry Smith situation had NOT been as it was in real life (or as Georgette Heyer romanticised it in The Spanish Bride)? Okay, Harry was never a spy.
I loved Melanie and Charles doing their utmost to save their son, the closer focus on their immediate family and helpers, with the surprise revelation of Charles true father thrown in - I loved that the dialogue and interior monologues followed along with the various shocks and I could follow why the marriage actually does grow in strength after the various shocks.
If I hadn't read the chronologically earlier book first, where we see Charles dysfunctional family in all its glory, I would not have believed in his overcoming of the mores of the time in his acceptance of what Melanie did, though.
I wouldn't mind seeing more O'Roarke and Roth, if I can get them. Colin's reaction to the situation was a bit too good to be real for a 6-year-old to me, though. As was Roth's dealing with that last letter...
September 25, 2009
Oh, boy, this is my kind of book. I loved it. Fantastic Regency mystery. Fast-paced, intense dialogue, all kinds of twists and turns and lots of surprises.
Charles and Mélanie Fraser's son has just been kidnapped from his own home. In the search for a priceless heirloom, which is the key to getting him back, the Frasers have to trample in places that no self respecting member of high society would ever be caught dead in.
In their course, the Frasers unearth secrets that have been long buried. The dialogue that ensues is as harsh and honest that you'll ever see between a married couple.
The characters are intriguing and you never know who's hiding what. You never know who's around the corner ready to do someone in. People aren't what they appear to be. And there are moments that will just outright shock you.
This is the perfect regency, no doubt about it. You can see and just about smell the world you're reading. The descriptions are just right, not overdone.
I recommend this to any historical mystery lover.
Charles and Mélanie Fraser's son has just been kidnapped from his own home. In the search for a priceless heirloom, which is the key to getting him back, the Frasers have to trample in places that no self respecting member of high society would ever be caught dead in.
In their course, the Frasers unearth secrets that have been long buried. The dialogue that ensues is as harsh and honest that you'll ever see between a married couple.
The characters are intriguing and you never know who's hiding what. You never know who's around the corner ready to do someone in. People aren't what they appear to be. And there are moments that will just outright shock you.
This is the perfect regency, no doubt about it. You can see and just about smell the world you're reading. The descriptions are just right, not overdone.
I recommend this to any historical mystery lover.
May 14, 2022
One of the best series I have read. As usual, there are many plot twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyable.
April 25, 2009
Rich, handsome and respected, Charles Fraser survived the Napoleonic Wars and now has it all: two healthy children, the love of his beautiful and intelligent wife Melanie, and a burgeoning political career. But then his son is kidnapped, and Charles can only save him by plunging into society's underbelly and the bloody past he tried to repress.
Only a few chapters in, a Huge Secret is revealed. Most of the time, Huge Secrets are either the end of a novel or are forgiven/forgotten after a single touching scene. But here, the characters deal with the repercussions for the rest of the novel. I really enjoyed watching them work through the consequences and renegotiate their relationships. Charles and Melanie are a little too anachronistically enlightened to be believable, but I'm glad Grant made the attempt.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT!
Melanie was a French spy and for the first few years of their marriage, stole papers and info from Charles and their English friends. Moreover, their son is actually Melanie's with her spy master, Raol. AND Raol in in fact Charles's father as well. AND Charles's younger half-brother Edgar is the villain. Why make Raol father Charles? Why have Edgar be evil? Half the twists are unnecessary.
Only a few chapters in, a Huge Secret is revealed. Most of the time, Huge Secrets are either the end of a novel or are forgiven/forgotten after a single touching scene. But here, the characters deal with the repercussions for the rest of the novel. I really enjoyed watching them work through the consequences and renegotiate their relationships. Charles and Melanie are a little too anachronistically enlightened to be believable, but I'm glad Grant made the attempt.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT!
Melanie was a French spy and for the first few years of their marriage, stole papers and info from Charles and their English friends. Moreover, their son is actually Melanie's with her spy master, Raol. AND Raol in in fact Charles's father as well. AND Charles's younger half-brother Edgar is the villain. Why make Raol father Charles? Why have Edgar be evil? Half the twists are unnecessary.
April 27, 2015
Last night I was desperate to find a decent book to read. I was striking out spectacularly and I didn't have much hope of it getting better. Secrets of a Lady is an ebook I'd started over a month ago but had to put down early on. Luckily for me I decided to give it another shot because it was excellent.
The historical feel of it was probably my favorite thing. I'm a history nerd and it's rare that an author engages me so much I feel like I might be back in that era. Grant does an excellent job of mimicking that world without falling into the stereotypes we've created of it. All of the little details were so great without overwhelming the story.
After that I was fascinated by the romance between the main characters. Don't trust the blurb on this since it has almost nothing to do with what actually happens. This is about a married couple who faces the typical trauma of a seven year itch on an unusual way- by finally learned all of each others secrets. It was riveting.
Lastly the mystery plot was quite excellent. Technically this was the focal point of the novel but it was overshadowed by the many revelations between characters. That doesn't mean that the author didn't do a good job with it. It was suspenseful and kept me on my toes.
The historical feel of it was probably my favorite thing. I'm a history nerd and it's rare that an author engages me so much I feel like I might be back in that era. Grant does an excellent job of mimicking that world without falling into the stereotypes we've created of it. All of the little details were so great without overwhelming the story.
After that I was fascinated by the romance between the main characters. Don't trust the blurb on this since it has almost nothing to do with what actually happens. This is about a married couple who faces the typical trauma of a seven year itch on an unusual way- by finally learned all of each others secrets. It was riveting.
Lastly the mystery plot was quite excellent. Technically this was the focal point of the novel but it was overshadowed by the many revelations between characters. That doesn't mean that the author didn't do a good job with it. It was suspenseful and kept me on my toes.
July 4, 2014
I felt this was really a great idea but it fell short of its potential. There were too many twists and turns, which is to be expected in a spy thriller, but when everything the characters know is turned upside down so quickly, it feels unrealistic. And the family trees were more twisted than those on Game of Thrones, which is really saying something, but it was handled less realistically.
Not to mention how unrealistic the characters themselves were. More progressive than many people are today, even though it's set over two hundred years ago, with so many occupations they're extremely good at. Between them, they were spy, aristocrat, reformer, politician, prostitute, actress, perfect hostess, perfect parents...it was just too much. I also felt the writing was amateurish, too self-consciously dramatic and tending to tell instead of show. When a character is supposed to hide his feelings and still spends the entire book talking about his feelings to everyone, I don't buy it.
The potential was there, it just needed a boost of better writing and some restraint in characterization and narrative to make it work.
Not to mention how unrealistic the characters themselves were. More progressive than many people are today, even though it's set over two hundred years ago, with so many occupations they're extremely good at. Between them, they were spy, aristocrat, reformer, politician, prostitute, actress, perfect hostess, perfect parents...it was just too much. I also felt the writing was amateurish, too self-consciously dramatic and tending to tell instead of show. When a character is supposed to hide his feelings and still spends the entire book talking about his feelings to everyone, I don't buy it.
The potential was there, it just needed a boost of better writing and some restraint in characterization and narrative to make it work.
September 16, 2007
I loved this book. It's different than my usual fare but it caught me and wouldn't let me go.
Imagine two spies married and in love, their child is kidnapped, and then a lot of surprises get revealed in their mad dash to save his life. Add to that great writing, great character building, and amazing pacing, and you can see why I LOVED this book and was sad when it was over.
And the ending and resolution do not disappoint.
I'm going to keep an eye out for anything else Tracy Grant has in the works.
Imagine two spies married and in love, their child is kidnapped, and then a lot of surprises get revealed in their mad dash to save his life. Add to that great writing, great character building, and amazing pacing, and you can see why I LOVED this book and was sad when it was over.
And the ending and resolution do not disappoint.
I'm going to keep an eye out for anything else Tracy Grant has in the works.
January 23, 2023
I'm not sure why, but the Fraser version of the series is oddly not as interesting or charming. Maybe it's the lack of the ensemble or the fact that the author has improved in both writing and characterization (if I understand, this book was an early version of the series). The amount of Shakespeare quotes is quite frankly annoying. The drama was unrelenting. The characters were bland. Everything seemed familiar but wrong. I didn't dislike it but I didn't love it either, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.
October 3, 2009
Can't put it down suspense, romance, intrique. I usually shy away from very long books, and this one is over 500 pages. Read it for a book club- an engrossing read that captured my interest from the beginning. Losts of twist and turns till the very end- There was a period after around page 300 where it started to drag and be a bit repetitive, but it still kept my interest and surprised me.
August 1, 2008
There's an effing typo on the back of the book. This does not bode well. *facepalm*
*UPDATE* - OK, so it's actually good. But still... Proofreading = Good.
*UPDATE* - OK, so it's actually good. But still... Proofreading = Good.
June 22, 2017
Enjoyable quick read with an eye for historical detail.
May 19, 2018
What a tangled web. Secrets of a Lady was one of Tracey Grant's earlier books. It is about characters named Melanie and Charles Fraser. It precedes most of the Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch books in terms of original publication. Yet in terms of historical chronology, this book takes place late in the sequence. And yet many of the things that happen and secrets revealed occur early in the Rannoch books. Chronologically, this is the first book about the Frasers but the second book published.
The Frasers and the Rannoch's are the same characters with minor differences. Most of their family and friends are the same. Some of the secondary characters have different names, but many have the same names such as Colin, Jessica, O'Rourke, Laura, Blanca and Addison. TG herself makes a comment that it is like an alternate dimension or parallel universe or some such.
The difficulty is in trying to find an order to read the books and TG offers suggestions but even so there are problems. Secrets of a Lady is a spoiler to many of the Rannoch books. It tells much of the characters' histories in one book where in the Rannoch books, many of the revelations take place spread out over the series. And there are a few differences in the stories.
I think this story is excellent and it certainly has a good twist at the end. Like the Rannoch books, much of the text is about relationships as opposed to story progression. This is where the problem is. As mentioned earlier, the relationship story including backstories is much the same as in the Rannoch books, but it is revealed more quickly. The point is, if you read this first, you spoil many of the fine twists in the Rannoch books. If you read them first, as I did, much of this book is old news. Very much.
Since this book was written many years earlier, I think it lacks some of the polish and depth of the Rannoch books. There is hardly any of the double meanings and deeper meanings which they contained. The Rannoch books frequently juxtapose things occurring in Malcolm and Suzanne's life against things happening in the lives of their friends as a sort of irony.
I didn't like Charles and Melanie as much as Malcolm and Suzanne. There is at least one major event in Charles backstory which is different from Malcolm's and I think that makes his character slightly different. As to why I like Melanie less, I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps my preference is artificial and non-existent.
In short, my recommendation would be that a new reader start with the Rannoch books such as Vienna Waltz and especially Imperial Scandal and so on, and not read this book at all. I don't think this adds enough to their story and some of the differences in detail are hard to keep straight. In some ways those differences are minor but in some ways they are not. To me, Kitty is a major difference.
Mature themes: There is backstory description of war related rape which is particularly vicious and includes an 8 year old girl. There are other atrocities against preteen children including one by the judicial system. There are many descriptions of non-sexual physical violence including killing which are not unusual in a book of this type. There is no description of consensual sex.
The Frasers and the Rannoch's are the same characters with minor differences. Most of their family and friends are the same. Some of the secondary characters have different names, but many have the same names such as Colin, Jessica, O'Rourke, Laura, Blanca and Addison. TG herself makes a comment that it is like an alternate dimension or parallel universe or some such.
The difficulty is in trying to find an order to read the books and TG offers suggestions but even so there are problems. Secrets of a Lady is a spoiler to many of the Rannoch books. It tells much of the characters' histories in one book where in the Rannoch books, many of the revelations take place spread out over the series. And there are a few differences in the stories.
I think this story is excellent and it certainly has a good twist at the end. Like the Rannoch books, much of the text is about relationships as opposed to story progression. This is where the problem is. As mentioned earlier, the relationship story including backstories is much the same as in the Rannoch books, but it is revealed more quickly. The point is, if you read this first, you spoil many of the fine twists in the Rannoch books. If you read them first, as I did, much of this book is old news. Very much.
Since this book was written many years earlier, I think it lacks some of the polish and depth of the Rannoch books. There is hardly any of the double meanings and deeper meanings which they contained. The Rannoch books frequently juxtapose things occurring in Malcolm and Suzanne's life against things happening in the lives of their friends as a sort of irony.
I didn't like Charles and Melanie as much as Malcolm and Suzanne. There is at least one major event in Charles backstory which is different from Malcolm's and I think that makes his character slightly different. As to why I like Melanie less, I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps my preference is artificial and non-existent.
In short, my recommendation would be that a new reader start with the Rannoch books such as Vienna Waltz and especially Imperial Scandal and so on, and not read this book at all. I don't think this adds enough to their story and some of the differences in detail are hard to keep straight. In some ways those differences are minor but in some ways they are not. To me, Kitty is a major difference.
Mature themes: There is backstory description of war related rape which is particularly vicious and includes an 8 year old girl. There are other atrocities against preteen children including one by the judicial system. There are many descriptions of non-sexual physical violence including killing which are not unusual in a book of this type. There is no description of consensual sex.
July 16, 2017
Charles Fraser, grandson of the Duke of Rannoch, met his wife, Melanie, during the Peninsula War. They barely knew each other when they met but now, nearly seven years later, and well after Waterloo, they are deeply in love and have the kind of intimacy in marriage others can only dream of.
Until their son Colin is kidnapped by a figure from a past they thought dead and buried. They come face to face with secrets in their marriage and their family that may tear them and their marriage apart. They must race against the clock to save Colin from unscrupulous spies, keep their own Foreign Office at arms length, manage the shocking revelations, and stay alive.
The characters are wonderful. The plot is great. The dialogue is excellent. And the historical research for the background is impeccable. The portrayal of intimacy in marriage and how the betrayal of trust affects that intimacy and each of the partners is so wonderfully shown here. I am so impressed with this plot line has been handled. Not to mention the way other family storylines have been woven through to make sense of the motivations for decisions past and present.
This is the first of this authors books that I have read and I am really looking forward to reading more of this series.
Until their son Colin is kidnapped by a figure from a past they thought dead and buried. They come face to face with secrets in their marriage and their family that may tear them and their marriage apart. They must race against the clock to save Colin from unscrupulous spies, keep their own Foreign Office at arms length, manage the shocking revelations, and stay alive.
The characters are wonderful. The plot is great. The dialogue is excellent. And the historical research for the background is impeccable. The portrayal of intimacy in marriage and how the betrayal of trust affects that intimacy and each of the partners is so wonderfully shown here. I am so impressed with this plot line has been handled. Not to mention the way other family storylines have been woven through to make sense of the motivations for decisions past and present.
This is the first of this authors books that I have read and I am really looking forward to reading more of this series.
October 5, 2018
I just finished this book in two days and... man, I loved it SO MUCH. I feel like it was written just for me. Spies! Lost jewels! Revolutionaries! Angsty relationships! Dysfunctional families! Lock-picking! Also, a sympathetic and non-apologetic revolutionist heroine and a refreshingly nuanced take of post-Napoleonic politics which I almost never see. The pacing is smart, the characterization is on point, the writing is beautiful without being showy. I FELT SO MANY EMOTIONS READING THIS.
I can't believe this book came out in 2004. In some ways, I think, it was ahead of its time.
This is a great book, and if you love historical fiction or romance or action (or all of the above), I highly recommend it!
I can't believe this book came out in 2004. In some ways, I think, it was ahead of its time.
This is a great book, and if you love historical fiction or romance or action (or all of the above), I highly recommend it!
February 4, 2024
This is more of a mystery novel rather than a romance, and the romance is between a married couple, which threw me off at the beginning.
I thought it was well written and intriguing, though four stars might be a tad high -- it is full of crazy twists and turns which apparently take place in about a 48-hour span. Both the FMC and the MMC are injured but manage to continue on their quest, which seems a bit unbelievable.
Has some anachronistic language and sensibilities (especially from the MMC), but, overall, it was enjoyable.
I'm a little confused about this book's placement in this series of books, however. It sounds like the same characters are in earlier books, with different names??? Too complicated for me.
I thought it was well written and intriguing, though four stars might be a tad high -- it is full of crazy twists and turns which apparently take place in about a 48-hour span. Both the FMC and the MMC are injured but manage to continue on their quest, which seems a bit unbelievable.
Has some anachronistic language and sensibilities (especially from the MMC), but, overall, it was enjoyable.
I'm a little confused about this book's placement in this series of books, however. It sounds like the same characters are in earlier books, with different names??? Too complicated for me.
October 25, 2019
I had high expectations for this novel; I admit to judging it by its cover and believing it was going to be a rollicking Regency mystery written in Austen's style. It was, however, a rather far-fetched tale about the lengths one would go to to retrieve a lost family heirloom - here, the Caravalo Ring. Wife and husband discover they have each betrayed and lied to the other, and much polarizing of emotions ensues as they race to find the ring to rescue their son. They love each other, he hates her, she hates him, it was simply too extreme in each revolution to be believable. I had to force myself to keep going back. More like a rough second draft than a polished final version.
July 25, 2018
Well, this took some unexpected turns. You know how a shocking twist can set up a situation where you think "Oh, let's see you write your way out of this one"? Well, this author really didn't. The shocks were shocking, but then everything felt very silly and so soap opera-y that it stopped mattering. The level of coincidence was ridiculously high.
On the other hand, it's readable, and it does at least try to say something worthwhile about being on opposite sides of a war, for which I give it an extra star.
On the other hand, it's readable, and it does at least try to say something worthwhile about being on opposite sides of a war, for which I give it an extra star.
April 24, 2020
Secrets of A Lady Best in Series
I have read books in both series:Charles, Suzanne,Malcolm..so confusing! However, this story concerning the search for their kidnapped son and how they both deal with revelations from their past..was truly riveting and enjoyable. Excellent Story!!
I have read books in both series:Charles, Suzanne,Malcolm..so confusing! However, this story concerning the search for their kidnapped son and how they both deal with revelations from their past..was truly riveting and enjoyable. Excellent Story!!
September 4, 2024
No heroes here. The H and h are married for some years when their 'son' is kidnapped. The little boy is hurt, they find him only after their sordid family histories are revealed. The abusers are forgiven, because 'family'! Just no.
May 24, 2017
Good book set in the Regency era - nice mystery, good characters, some of the plot twists a little bit of a stretch.
June 2, 2017
I read this book when it was known as Daughter of the Game.
March 7, 2018
It was ok. Something I could put down and walk away from. I liked the fact that she's a local aurthor though.
September 7, 2019
A fun read - I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story as well as the adventure.Very well researched and full of interesting surprises. Very entertaining and highly recommended.
September 19, 2019
Intense. Hard to put down. I felt every emotion of every character. Definitely one Tamara should read, each chapter draws into the next and love is challenged beyond normal limts.
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