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Rannoch Fraser Mysteries #1
Vienna Waltz
November 1814
Nothing is fair in love and war. . .
Nothing is fair in love and war. . .
With Napoleon Bonaparte exiled to Elba, the elite of Europe have gathered at the glittering Congress of Vienna--princes, ambassadors, the Russian tsar--negotiating the fate of the Continent by day and flirting and waltzing by night. But on one of those candle-warmed evenings, Princess Tatiana, the most beautiful and talked about woman in Vienna, is found murdered during an ill-timed rendezvous with three of her most powerful conquests. . .
Suzanne Rannoch has tried to ignore rumors that her new husband, Malcolm, is also one of Tatiana's lovers. As a protégé of France's Prince Talleyrand and an attaché for Britain's Lord Castlereagh, Malcolm sets out to investigate the murder. He needs Suzanne's unique skills and knowledge if he is to succeed. The complex dance between husband and wife in the search for the truth tests their marriage, their liberty, and their very lives. No one's secrets are safe, and the future of Europe may hang in the balance. . .
436 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2011
75 people are currently reading
1565 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Grant
55 books177 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 114 reviews
May 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and give it a 4.25* It was written in 2011 and the series has continued through 14 books. The mystery is intricate and takes place during the Congress of Vienna. I am intrigued by the Napoleonic era and its aftermath. The book has a LARGE cast of characters, but all play a part, and I didn't see the end coming. There is also a romance that is threaded throughout the book, and I enjoyed that the heroine Suzanne is a strong woman who is a partner with her husband. There is violence described. I would have given the book a 5* but it's a complex mystery and at times I could set it down...only to pick it up again.
August 19, 2024
Review from 2014
B+ for narration / A- for content, 4.5 stars
Vienna Waltz is a real treat for fans of meaty, intricately plotted and well-researched historical fiction. Set during the Congress of Vienna in 1814, when the ambassadors from the major powers in Europe – Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia and France – gathered in order to seek a long-term peace following the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, the book is the first in a series of mystery/espionage novels featuring Malcolm Rannoch, attaché to the British delegation, and his half-French, half-Spanish wife, Suzanne.
While ostensibly a diplomat and bureaucrat, Malcolm is in fact one of the British Foreign minister’s most successful intelligence agents – he doesn’t like the word “spy”. His wife is equally tough and resourceful and, like her husband, adept at keeping secrets – many of which pertain to their hasty marriage two years previously. We learn throughout the course of the story that theirs is a marriage of convenience, albeit one “with benefits”, as they have a son. Malcolm literally stumbled across Suzanne, bruised and bloodied following an attack on her home – during an intelligence mission in the Spanish mountains. After escorting her to the British Embassy in Lisbon it seemed that marriage was the most logical way to afford her his protection.
As a working partnership in the service of the British government, they are a superb team, and as parents, they dote on their son, Colin. But as a couple, their relationship is shrouded in the unspoken, and they are quite guarded around each other when it comes to expressing their feelings. Malcolm, the grandson of a duke, had never intended to marry, given the frequency with which he is required to risk his life and the example afforded him by his parents of a disastrous marriage in which both partners were frequently and blatantly unfaithful. And Suzanne is a mystery – to Malcolm and to the listener – although some aspects of her past are revealed in this story. Yet while the pair views their marriage as one of expediency, it’s obvious to everyone who sees them together that they care very deeply for each other.
The romantic angle in the book is fairly low key, although it is integral to the story. At the beginning, Suzanne receives a note from Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, one of the most beautiful women present at the Congress. The princess is known to have taken many lovers from the highest echelons of society, including both Tsar Alexander of Russia and Prince Metternich, Foreign Minister of Austria. And, if rumour is to be believed, Suzanne’s own husband is one of those men currently in receipt of the lady’s favours.
The note directs Suzanne to come to the Princess’ apartments in the early hours of the morning – but when she arrives, it’s to find the Princess dead and Malcolm kneeling over the body. Before she can ask any questions, however, the Tsar and Metternich arrive – both of whom also received notes from the Princess asking them to meet her. The murder of Princess Tatiana sets in motion a train of events which lead to the uncovering of many secrets – both political and personal – culminating in the discovery of a plan which could upset the very delicate balance of not only the Congress, but Europe itself.
Ms Grant has penned a brilliantly complex story of mystery and intrigue in which her masterful grasp of the period and the precarious political situation of the time shines through at every stage. As a result, it’s one of those audiobooks that needs to be listened to in good-sized chunks, so that the listener can keep track of exactly who is doing what, with whom, where and why. That’s not to say it’s a difficult listen – far from it. I’d just say that it needs to be savoured in order to fully appreciate such a well-constructed and multi-faceted story.
There is a large cast of characters – both real and fictional – and Ms Grant does a superb job in weaving them all together, although I will admit that I did occasionally find myself referring to the print edition (in which there is a list of dramatis personae) in order to remind myself of who some of the many princes, dukes and countesses are in relation to each other. Such a large cast must have provided quite a challenge for narrator Derek Perkins, but he does a splendid job with a vast array of European accents (French, German, Russian), and is able to switch between them seamlessly and with what seems like little effort. Each character is clearly differentiated, and while there were occasions I wasn’t able to discern who was speaking until the text gave me that information, I think it was due to a problem with my recall than to any fault in Mr Perkins’ performance.
His portrayals of Malcolm and Suzanne work really well, and while I initially thought it odd that he has chosen not to give Suzanne an accent, I realised after I’d been listening for a while that it’s actually a very good way of distinguishing her from all the other female characters, as almost all the other ladies in the story are performed using Russian, German or French accents. Malcolm’s crisp delivery and slight hint of a Scottish accent suit him perfectly and also single him out easily and clearly for the listener. I do have one reservation, however, which is to do with the portrayal of the secondary female characters – some of them sounded too old. Tsarina Elisabeth, for example, sounds as though she’s verging on the elderly at times, so I was surprised when, late in the book, she’s revealed to be around thirty-four.
Other than that, however, Mr Perkins gives a very accomplished performance. His voice is pleasantly mellow, and the narrative is both well-paced and subtly nuanced. Vienna Waltz is one of those books which has been sitting on my TBR pile for some time, and now I’m sorry I didn’t get around to it sooner. The positive side to the delay, however, is that there are several more novels and novellas for me to listen to before the next book comes out in Spring 2015, and I’m really looking forward to listening to more adventures with the Rannochs.
B+ for narration / A- for content, 4.5 stars
Vienna Waltz is a real treat for fans of meaty, intricately plotted and well-researched historical fiction. Set during the Congress of Vienna in 1814, when the ambassadors from the major powers in Europe – Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia and France – gathered in order to seek a long-term peace following the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, the book is the first in a series of mystery/espionage novels featuring Malcolm Rannoch, attaché to the British delegation, and his half-French, half-Spanish wife, Suzanne.
While ostensibly a diplomat and bureaucrat, Malcolm is in fact one of the British Foreign minister’s most successful intelligence agents – he doesn’t like the word “spy”. His wife is equally tough and resourceful and, like her husband, adept at keeping secrets – many of which pertain to their hasty marriage two years previously. We learn throughout the course of the story that theirs is a marriage of convenience, albeit one “with benefits”, as they have a son. Malcolm literally stumbled across Suzanne, bruised and bloodied following an attack on her home – during an intelligence mission in the Spanish mountains. After escorting her to the British Embassy in Lisbon it seemed that marriage was the most logical way to afford her his protection.
As a working partnership in the service of the British government, they are a superb team, and as parents, they dote on their son, Colin. But as a couple, their relationship is shrouded in the unspoken, and they are quite guarded around each other when it comes to expressing their feelings. Malcolm, the grandson of a duke, had never intended to marry, given the frequency with which he is required to risk his life and the example afforded him by his parents of a disastrous marriage in which both partners were frequently and blatantly unfaithful. And Suzanne is a mystery – to Malcolm and to the listener – although some aspects of her past are revealed in this story. Yet while the pair views their marriage as one of expediency, it’s obvious to everyone who sees them together that they care very deeply for each other.
The romantic angle in the book is fairly low key, although it is integral to the story. At the beginning, Suzanne receives a note from Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, one of the most beautiful women present at the Congress. The princess is known to have taken many lovers from the highest echelons of society, including both Tsar Alexander of Russia and Prince Metternich, Foreign Minister of Austria. And, if rumour is to be believed, Suzanne’s own husband is one of those men currently in receipt of the lady’s favours.
The note directs Suzanne to come to the Princess’ apartments in the early hours of the morning – but when she arrives, it’s to find the Princess dead and Malcolm kneeling over the body. Before she can ask any questions, however, the Tsar and Metternich arrive – both of whom also received notes from the Princess asking them to meet her. The murder of Princess Tatiana sets in motion a train of events which lead to the uncovering of many secrets – both political and personal – culminating in the discovery of a plan which could upset the very delicate balance of not only the Congress, but Europe itself.
Ms Grant has penned a brilliantly complex story of mystery and intrigue in which her masterful grasp of the period and the precarious political situation of the time shines through at every stage. As a result, it’s one of those audiobooks that needs to be listened to in good-sized chunks, so that the listener can keep track of exactly who is doing what, with whom, where and why. That’s not to say it’s a difficult listen – far from it. I’d just say that it needs to be savoured in order to fully appreciate such a well-constructed and multi-faceted story.
There is a large cast of characters – both real and fictional – and Ms Grant does a superb job in weaving them all together, although I will admit that I did occasionally find myself referring to the print edition (in which there is a list of dramatis personae) in order to remind myself of who some of the many princes, dukes and countesses are in relation to each other. Such a large cast must have provided quite a challenge for narrator Derek Perkins, but he does a splendid job with a vast array of European accents (French, German, Russian), and is able to switch between them seamlessly and with what seems like little effort. Each character is clearly differentiated, and while there were occasions I wasn’t able to discern who was speaking until the text gave me that information, I think it was due to a problem with my recall than to any fault in Mr Perkins’ performance.
His portrayals of Malcolm and Suzanne work really well, and while I initially thought it odd that he has chosen not to give Suzanne an accent, I realised after I’d been listening for a while that it’s actually a very good way of distinguishing her from all the other female characters, as almost all the other ladies in the story are performed using Russian, German or French accents. Malcolm’s crisp delivery and slight hint of a Scottish accent suit him perfectly and also single him out easily and clearly for the listener. I do have one reservation, however, which is to do with the portrayal of the secondary female characters – some of them sounded too old. Tsarina Elisabeth, for example, sounds as though she’s verging on the elderly at times, so I was surprised when, late in the book, she’s revealed to be around thirty-four.
Other than that, however, Mr Perkins gives a very accomplished performance. His voice is pleasantly mellow, and the narrative is both well-paced and subtly nuanced. Vienna Waltz is one of those books which has been sitting on my TBR pile for some time, and now I’m sorry I didn’t get around to it sooner. The positive side to the delay, however, is that there are several more novels and novellas for me to listen to before the next book comes out in Spring 2015, and I’m really looking forward to listening to more adventures with the Rannochs.
May 3, 2011
The year is 1814 and Europe's leaders have gathered in Vienna to redefine the boundaries from Napoleon's now defunct empire. As the book opens, Princess Tatiana Kirsanova is found brutally murdered and the suspects are as numerous as her lovers - and that includes Malcolm Rannoch, attaché to the British ambassador - everyone in Vienna is convinced he's Tatiana's lover, including his wife Suzanne. Or did Tsar Alexander do Tatiana in? Prince Metternich, the Austrian foreign minister? Might the infamous Talleyrand who has his fingers in every pie have something to do with it? What deep dark secret could Tatiana have stumbled on that someone would want to kill for?
Whew, the possibilities are just endless. This was a fast, fun and very entertaining read that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. The cast of characters (historical and fictional) are large and complex and do use the guide the author provides (Dramatis Personae as she calls it). There's plenty of history, mystery and romance (I'd have liked to see more romance, but beggars can't be choosers). Suzanne and Malcolm are smart, intelligent, urbane and very very witty (do not mess with Suzanne, whatever you do), and I really appreciated the author including some real moments of interaction with their son, he was very much more than mere window dressing or a plot device. I loved watching their relationship develop and unfold and definitely want to read more, and from what I understand there's more coming soon and from a blog interview (and Jill's info) it appears that Grant has written other books on this pair, and had to change her name and the pair's name with the new publisher Kensington. Why do they do that?
4/5 stars and just so Mr. FTC can sleep at night I obtained my copy from my county library. The world is still safe.
Whew, the possibilities are just endless. This was a fast, fun and very entertaining read that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. The cast of characters (historical and fictional) are large and complex and do use the guide the author provides (Dramatis Personae as she calls it). There's plenty of history, mystery and romance (I'd have liked to see more romance, but beggars can't be choosers). Suzanne and Malcolm are smart, intelligent, urbane and very very witty (do not mess with Suzanne, whatever you do), and I really appreciated the author including some real moments of interaction with their son, he was very much more than mere window dressing or a plot device. I loved watching their relationship develop and unfold and definitely want to read more, and from what I understand there's more coming soon and from a blog interview (and Jill's info) it appears that Grant has written other books on this pair, and had to change her name and the pair's name with the new publisher Kensington. Why do they do that?
4/5 stars and just so Mr. FTC can sleep at night I obtained my copy from my county library. The world is still safe.
January 5, 2016
Vienna Waltz is a historical mystery set at the Congress of Vienna in November 1814. Our principle investigators are married duo Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch. Malcolm is part of the British convoy of diplomats attending the Congress with Lord Castlereagh; he’s part attaché and part spy. Suzanne has her own skill set and proves to be a valuable asset when Princess Tatiana, a woman rumoured to be the mistress of some of the most powerful men at the Congress, is found murdered.
Teresa (a.k.a. Tracy) Grant has been on my radar for a long while; however, I’ve always been hesitant to pick up the series since it has a very strange publication order. Originally, the series began with Malcolm and Suzanne as Charles and Melanie Fraser. Later, the author changed publishers and the characters changed into their existing form. Basically what I was worried about is how exactly I should read these books. Luckily, the author has shared a handy guide on her website and gives readers a recommended reading order. It’s this reading order that I’ve decided to go with.
Malcolm and Suzanne have been married for two years. They originally met in Spain during the war and Malcolm offered Suzanne marriage as she had lost all her family due to war (and was inconveniently pregnant and unmarried). Thus, the marriage can be seen as one of convenience; however, it’s clear immediately in Vienna Waltz that there are some finer feelings between Malcolm and Suzanne, which is further complicated due to Suzanne’s own mysterious past. If you want to know more about how their marriage came about, I urge you to read the prequel novella, His Spanish Bride .
In Vienna Waltz, Malcolm and Suzanne’s new marriage is tested when Suzanne finds Malcolm standing over the body of Princess Tatiana. Are the rumours in Vienna true? Is Tatiana Malcolm’s mistress? Exactly the kind of rumours that a new bride, who isn’t entirely sure of her husband to begin with, wants to hear. Despite finding Malcolm in such a compromising position, Suzanne decides to lend her support and assists Malcolm in his government-sanctioned investigation. Soon the pair are tracking down Tatiana’s blackmail victims and discovering an assassination plot. Are the two linked and can the mystery be solved without turning into an international incident? Considering that Malcolm’s a spy, I think we can safely assume that he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.
Vienna Waltz turned out to be an outstanding read and I loved the even-handed balance between the mystery, historical detail, and character development. Despite being on the lengthier side, Vienna Waltz never dragged and I never felt that a piece of the puzzle was missing. All too often in the mystery genre do I find that the mystery is developed at the expense of the characters solving in. This is not the case in here. Yes, the details are sparse; Malcolm and Suzanne are both mysterious and clearly keeping many secrets from each other. If you read His Spanish Bride you will instantly know the big one about Suzanne that I’m referring to. I really liked how these two characters are still feeling each other out in their early marriage. They also have a young son, Colin, who they both dote on, but when it comes to each other they both show caution. It’s a relationship that can be richly developed in a series and it stands out as the main attraction for me to keep reading. I can only assume that Malcolm and Suzanne will have their ups and downs as their secrets become revealed, and I have to say that I can't wait to find out how all of this plays out. There are some pretty heavy implications to the secrets that Suzanne in particular is keeping.
What I was also surprised to really like was the author’s choice to include the perspectives of additional characters (historical and fictitious) involved in the mystery. I wouldn’t have thought this would have been a smart move and it could have bogged down the narrative, but what I really liked was the focus on those characters’ emotional state. For example, readers see what life for Tsarina Elisabeth is like; the mistakes of her past; her longing for a former lover. This added such an interesting and intimate quality that created an unexpected dimension to the mystery. Considering the number of suspects involved in the murder, it was useful to get an understanding of their motivations and feelings when choosing to make a specific action.
Vienna Waltz was a very good book. The historical detail was fabulous, the mystery filled with political ramifications, and the investigative duo were outstanding and complex. I'm only able to stop myself from starting the next book in the series to write a review; I doubt I'll be writing reviews for the next installments - I'll be too busy binge reading!
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
Teresa (a.k.a. Tracy) Grant has been on my radar for a long while; however, I’ve always been hesitant to pick up the series since it has a very strange publication order. Originally, the series began with Malcolm and Suzanne as Charles and Melanie Fraser. Later, the author changed publishers and the characters changed into their existing form. Basically what I was worried about is how exactly I should read these books. Luckily, the author has shared a handy guide on her website and gives readers a recommended reading order. It’s this reading order that I’ve decided to go with.
Malcolm and Suzanne have been married for two years. They originally met in Spain during the war and Malcolm offered Suzanne marriage as she had lost all her family due to war (and was inconveniently pregnant and unmarried). Thus, the marriage can be seen as one of convenience; however, it’s clear immediately in Vienna Waltz that there are some finer feelings between Malcolm and Suzanne, which is further complicated due to Suzanne’s own mysterious past. If you want to know more about how their marriage came about, I urge you to read the prequel novella, His Spanish Bride .
In Vienna Waltz, Malcolm and Suzanne’s new marriage is tested when Suzanne finds Malcolm standing over the body of Princess Tatiana. Are the rumours in Vienna true? Is Tatiana Malcolm’s mistress? Exactly the kind of rumours that a new bride, who isn’t entirely sure of her husband to begin with, wants to hear. Despite finding Malcolm in such a compromising position, Suzanne decides to lend her support and assists Malcolm in his government-sanctioned investigation. Soon the pair are tracking down Tatiana’s blackmail victims and discovering an assassination plot. Are the two linked and can the mystery be solved without turning into an international incident? Considering that Malcolm’s a spy, I think we can safely assume that he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.
Vienna Waltz turned out to be an outstanding read and I loved the even-handed balance between the mystery, historical detail, and character development. Despite being on the lengthier side, Vienna Waltz never dragged and I never felt that a piece of the puzzle was missing. All too often in the mystery genre do I find that the mystery is developed at the expense of the characters solving in. This is not the case in here. Yes, the details are sparse; Malcolm and Suzanne are both mysterious and clearly keeping many secrets from each other. If you read His Spanish Bride you will instantly know the big one about Suzanne that I’m referring to. I really liked how these two characters are still feeling each other out in their early marriage. They also have a young son, Colin, who they both dote on, but when it comes to each other they both show caution. It’s a relationship that can be richly developed in a series and it stands out as the main attraction for me to keep reading. I can only assume that Malcolm and Suzanne will have their ups and downs as their secrets become revealed, and I have to say that I can't wait to find out how all of this plays out. There are some pretty heavy implications to the secrets that Suzanne in particular is keeping.
What I was also surprised to really like was the author’s choice to include the perspectives of additional characters (historical and fictitious) involved in the mystery. I wouldn’t have thought this would have been a smart move and it could have bogged down the narrative, but what I really liked was the focus on those characters’ emotional state. For example, readers see what life for Tsarina Elisabeth is like; the mistakes of her past; her longing for a former lover. This added such an interesting and intimate quality that created an unexpected dimension to the mystery. Considering the number of suspects involved in the murder, it was useful to get an understanding of their motivations and feelings when choosing to make a specific action.
Vienna Waltz was a very good book. The historical detail was fabulous, the mystery filled with political ramifications, and the investigative duo were outstanding and complex. I'm only able to stop myself from starting the next book in the series to write a review; I doubt I'll be writing reviews for the next installments - I'll be too busy binge reading!
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
August 20, 2023
3.8 stars rounded to 4.
The start of this book was a bit boring to me, but then finally after a while I got into the story.
THE REASONS I WAS BORED IN THE BEGINNING:
1) The prologue was definitely too long and full of unnecessary details that didn't serve the mystery... after the previous reading had been fantastic, reading a boring prologue made me ill disposed towards the book and after the first chapter I already thought I didn't like it and that I would have abandoned the series.
2) Even the first two chapters failed to capture my interest: the murder of a despicable woman I didn't care that it was solved, in the book everyone was attracted to her, but the truth is that from the very beginning a selfish personality devoted to power is evident, she was a dirty blackmailer even towards those who loved her.
3) The two protagonists are married, but apart from the fact that they have a son and get along well in bed, they seem like perfect strangers and there is always an air of embarrassment between them.
... I couldn't find a reason to appreciate this book, but perhaps I was still under the spell of the previous book (which I loved) and therefore I decided to continue reading, all in all, the plot on the back cover sounded interesting:
__THE PLOT__ November 1814, Congress of Vienna. The elite of Europe ( sovereigns, ambassadors, princes and even the tsar) are negotiating the fate of the Continent after Bonaparte's exile on the island of Elba.
Suddenly one night Princess Tatiana, the most beautiful and talked about woman in Vienna, is found murdered during an ill-timed rendezvous with three of her most powerful conquests.
Suzanne Rannoch has tried to ignore rumors that her new husband, Malcolm, is also one of Tatiana's lovers and since both she and her husband are among those summoned to the appointment and find he was the one who found the body, they decide to investigate...
WHY I CHANGED MY MIND and APPRECIATED THE BOOK
...of course, by reading the book, the reader uncovers that there are many other hidden reasons to investigate on the murder, reasons that husband and wife keep hidden to each others.
1) Investigating together, facing dangers, saving each other's lives, the two characters begin to open up to each other and we discover that actually they are deeply in love with each other but they dare not admit it openly because of their past and their fears.
The 2 main characters finally exude warmth, the reader's heart warms up, the secrets are revealed little by little, giving rise to new trust in the partner and the hope of being truly loved by the other one.
2) The characters that revolve around Malcolm and Susanne are several, many of whom really existed in history and who played decisive roles in the society of the time.
At the beginning of the book we find the whole list of characters and those who really existed are marked with an asterisk and this was very useful to me, since as I met the characters in the book, I enjoyed reading their life summary on Wikipedia, it gave me a way to have a broader view of that historical moment and that historical event and of course of those impressive people.
3) Although for a good part of the book I wasn't interested in finding out who killed the libertine princess (I was more interested in discovering the secrets of all the characters, in fact throughout the story EVERY CHARACTER has secrets to hide), in the end the killer wasn't obvious at all !!!
In the last chapters I thought I knew who the killer was, but actually it was all EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, the AUTHOR WAS REALLY INGENIOUS and THE ENDING REALLY SURPRISED ME!
I was going to give this book 3 stars, I liked it, but I wouldn't read it again and I thought maybe I wouldn't continue in the series, but then the complicated web of lies and secrets surprised me a lot, more I got fond to Susanne and Malcolm and I really wish to spend more time with them by reading book #2 in the series (although not right away), so I've rated the novel 3.8 stars and rounding up to 4.
Well, I hope I was able to express my feelings about the book in a right way, since English is not my mother tongue, if not please forgive me.
The start of this book was a bit boring to me, but then finally after a while I got into the story.
THE REASONS I WAS BORED IN THE BEGINNING:
1) The prologue was definitely too long and full of unnecessary details that didn't serve the mystery... after the previous reading had been fantastic, reading a boring prologue made me ill disposed towards the book and after the first chapter I already thought I didn't like it and that I would have abandoned the series.
2) Even the first two chapters failed to capture my interest: the murder of a despicable woman I didn't care that it was solved, in the book everyone was attracted to her, but the truth is that from the very beginning a selfish personality devoted to power is evident, she was a dirty blackmailer even towards those who loved her.
3) The two protagonists are married, but apart from the fact that they have a son and get along well in bed, they seem like perfect strangers and there is always an air of embarrassment between them.
... I couldn't find a reason to appreciate this book, but perhaps I was still under the spell of the previous book (which I loved) and therefore I decided to continue reading, all in all, the plot on the back cover sounded interesting:
__THE PLOT__ November 1814, Congress of Vienna. The elite of Europe ( sovereigns, ambassadors, princes and even the tsar) are negotiating the fate of the Continent after Bonaparte's exile on the island of Elba.
Suddenly one night Princess Tatiana, the most beautiful and talked about woman in Vienna, is found murdered during an ill-timed rendezvous with three of her most powerful conquests.
Suzanne Rannoch has tried to ignore rumors that her new husband, Malcolm, is also one of Tatiana's lovers and since both she and her husband are among those summoned to the appointment and find he was the one who found the body, they decide to investigate...
WHY I CHANGED MY MIND and APPRECIATED THE BOOK
...of course, by reading the book, the reader uncovers that there are many other hidden reasons to investigate on the murder, reasons that husband and wife keep hidden to each others.
1) Investigating together, facing dangers, saving each other's lives, the two characters begin to open up to each other and we discover that actually they are deeply in love with each other but they dare not admit it openly because of their past and their fears.
The 2 main characters finally exude warmth, the reader's heart warms up, the secrets are revealed little by little, giving rise to new trust in the partner and the hope of being truly loved by the other one.
2) The characters that revolve around Malcolm and Susanne are several, many of whom really existed in history and who played decisive roles in the society of the time.
At the beginning of the book we find the whole list of characters and those who really existed are marked with an asterisk and this was very useful to me, since as I met the characters in the book, I enjoyed reading their life summary on Wikipedia, it gave me a way to have a broader view of that historical moment and that historical event and of course of those impressive people.
3) Although for a good part of the book I wasn't interested in finding out who killed the libertine princess (I was more interested in discovering the secrets of all the characters, in fact throughout the story EVERY CHARACTER has secrets to hide), in the end the killer wasn't obvious at all !!!
In the last chapters I thought I knew who the killer was, but actually it was all EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, the AUTHOR WAS REALLY INGENIOUS and THE ENDING REALLY SURPRISED ME!
I was going to give this book 3 stars, I liked it, but I wouldn't read it again and I thought maybe I wouldn't continue in the series, but then the complicated web of lies and secrets surprised me a lot, more I got fond to Susanne and Malcolm and I really wish to spend more time with them by reading book #2 in the series (although not right away), so I've rated the novel 3.8 stars and rounding up to 4.
Well, I hope I was able to express my feelings about the book in a right way, since English is not my mother tongue, if not please forgive me.
August 30, 2014
Oh, I LOVED this book! Vienna Waltz is one of those books that can be tricky to classify. It's not strictly historical fiction or mystery, but neither would one consider it a genre romance. Really, it's a brilliant mix of all of these.
Set at the 1814 Congress of Vienna, the author skillfully mixes the real intrigues of the time with a mystery of her own. The leads, Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch, are in attendance as Malcolm serves as a diplomatic attache. As the book opens, a notorious Russian courtesan is murdered and her body discovered under circumstances that causes some suspicion to fall on Malcolm - and any of a number of other men at the Congress.
What follows is a journey through Malcolm and Suzanne's relationship, the mystery of Tatiana's murder and intersections with the scheming of several different diplomatic delegations. The book is filled with appearances by many real historical figures, and Grant brings them and their world so vividly to life that I enjoyed letting myself sink into this book and once I had finished, I had to start researching to see what happened next to all the real-life historical figures that so intrigued me.
If you like mystery and romance and want to sink yourself into a meaty historical tale, this is definitely a book you should read.
Set at the 1814 Congress of Vienna, the author skillfully mixes the real intrigues of the time with a mystery of her own. The leads, Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch, are in attendance as Malcolm serves as a diplomatic attache. As the book opens, a notorious Russian courtesan is murdered and her body discovered under circumstances that causes some suspicion to fall on Malcolm - and any of a number of other men at the Congress.
What follows is a journey through Malcolm and Suzanne's relationship, the mystery of Tatiana's murder and intersections with the scheming of several different diplomatic delegations. The book is filled with appearances by many real historical figures, and Grant brings them and their world so vividly to life that I enjoyed letting myself sink into this book and once I had finished, I had to start researching to see what happened next to all the real-life historical figures that so intrigued me.
If you like mystery and romance and want to sink yourself into a meaty historical tale, this is definitely a book you should read.
May 14, 2012
This book was complicated for me. Every time I picked it up, I really got interested in what I was reading. But, for some reason, I didn't often want to pick it up. As a result, it took forever to read.
Another thing is that I felt like I was being dropped into things in medias res - like I was missing something. When I came onto Goodreads to figure out if I had missed some earlier books in the series, I found out that I had - but that this was a prequel. (For those of you interested, apparently Teresa Grant wrote additional books about Malcolm and Suzanne earlier with a different publisher. When she moved publishers, she had to change their names.) Maybe if I had read the later books earlier, I would have felt less dicombobulated.
I did enjoy Grant's setting of the Vienna conference and might've liked to have seen even more of the history that was happening there (although I'm a history wonk, so that might be why). I enjoyed the mystery of who killed Tatiana, and didn't figure it out until the murderer was revealed.
I loved both Malcolm and Suzanne - he was strong, she was feisty - just my kind of heroes. But I think that Grant did too much head-jumping. The story may have held me longer and made me want to pick it up more often if I could rely on which head I would be reading in. I think that there may have been a way to limit the heads (not the cast of characters) and allow Malcolm and Suzanne more time to shine.
Another thing is that I felt like I was being dropped into things in medias res - like I was missing something. When I came onto Goodreads to figure out if I had missed some earlier books in the series, I found out that I had - but that this was a prequel. (For those of you interested, apparently Teresa Grant wrote additional books about Malcolm and Suzanne earlier with a different publisher. When she moved publishers, she had to change their names.) Maybe if I had read the later books earlier, I would have felt less dicombobulated.
I did enjoy Grant's setting of the Vienna conference and might've liked to have seen even more of the history that was happening there (although I'm a history wonk, so that might be why). I enjoyed the mystery of who killed Tatiana, and didn't figure it out until the murderer was revealed.
I loved both Malcolm and Suzanne - he was strong, she was feisty - just my kind of heroes. But I think that Grant did too much head-jumping. The story may have held me longer and made me want to pick it up more often if I could rely on which head I would be reading in. I think that there may have been a way to limit the heads (not the cast of characters) and allow Malcolm and Suzanne more time to shine.
February 27, 2022
This was a suspenseful and dramatic story set during the Congress of Vienna in 1814. The main characters, Malcolm Rannoch (fictional British diplomat) and his wife Suzanne discover the body of Princess Tatiana, (also fictional)mistress to a number of players in Vienna, and Malcolm is suspected of her death. Trying to find the real killer, Malcolm uncovers a number of threatening secrets and an assasination plot that would upset and influence the Congress if not thwarted.
Weaving her story among the lives of real historic personages of the day, Tracy Grant creates a believable plot and mixes true events with the fictional. She introduces her historic characters and the fictional in a playbill frontispiece to the novel which helps the reader easily keep track of the people involved in this thrilling masterpiece. It was exciting to read about such powerful people as Russian Tsar Alexander, Austrian Prince Metternich, and the ever strategic manipulator Talleyrand, as they endeavored to carve up Napoleon's empire. Important and beautiful women of the day were presented in the persons of Tsarina Elizabeth, Duchess Wilhemine of Sagan, and Countess Dorothee de Talleyrand-Perigord, wife of Talleyrand's nephew and his social hostess. The salons of Vienna were described in detail, as well as other events of the day, including operas and musical performances by a young Franz Schubert, a minor character in the story. The fashion descriptions were beyond compare for both men and women. All the glitz and glamour one would expect to see was evident as well as intrigue and danger. I learned so much from this most satisfying and enjoyable book.
Weaving her story among the lives of real historic personages of the day, Tracy Grant creates a believable plot and mixes true events with the fictional. She introduces her historic characters and the fictional in a playbill frontispiece to the novel which helps the reader easily keep track of the people involved in this thrilling masterpiece. It was exciting to read about such powerful people as Russian Tsar Alexander, Austrian Prince Metternich, and the ever strategic manipulator Talleyrand, as they endeavored to carve up Napoleon's empire. Important and beautiful women of the day were presented in the persons of Tsarina Elizabeth, Duchess Wilhemine of Sagan, and Countess Dorothee de Talleyrand-Perigord, wife of Talleyrand's nephew and his social hostess. The salons of Vienna were described in detail, as well as other events of the day, including operas and musical performances by a young Franz Schubert, a minor character in the story. The fashion descriptions were beyond compare for both men and women. All the glitz and glamour one would expect to see was evident as well as intrigue and danger. I learned so much from this most satisfying and enjoyable book.
March 7, 2024
I first read a story by Tracy Grant aka Teresa Grant aka Anthea Malcolm when she collaborated with Joan Grant and wrote The Courting of Philippa, one of my favorite Regency romances. I was slightly amused when I read one of the main characters in this series used Malcolm as a first name.
The writing is good and the suspense is a plus. I couldn’t help but think of the saying, Liar, liar, pants on fire, because I didn’t know who to believe as the story progressed. There is just the right amount of a non-fiction mix of people included in the story who actually lived during this era. It gave the plot a better sense of place.
And even though Vienna Waltz is listed as the first book in the series, I thought I dropped somewhere in the middle. Malcolm is already married and has a child. Soon enough, I realized I needed to go back and read His Spanish Bride. I should have done this first.
All in all, it was an interesting historical mystery.
The writing is good and the suspense is a plus. I couldn’t help but think of the saying, Liar, liar, pants on fire, because I didn’t know who to believe as the story progressed. There is just the right amount of a non-fiction mix of people included in the story who actually lived during this era. It gave the plot a better sense of place.
And even though Vienna Waltz is listed as the first book in the series, I thought I dropped somewhere in the middle. Malcolm is already married and has a child. Soon enough, I realized I needed to go back and read His Spanish Bride. I should have done this first.
All in all, it was an interesting historical mystery.
November 30, 2014
I am not sure why this author made reading this series so confusing. I enjoyed quite a bit about this book but the entire time I was reading it I knew that there was a great deal of background fact that I knew nothing about, so chunks of this story made very little sense. The gaping holes meant I had difficulty following the plot and understanding the characters. So I went to her website hoping there would be a FAQ or some other section that would explain what I clearly didn't get. That made it even more confusing. I discovered that the book I was listening to, which Audible labeled Malcom and Suzanne Rannoch Book 1, was originally written as Charles and Melanie Fraser Book 3, although chronologically it was Book 1, except for a new prequel that was just released. There was an attempt to address the character name change - some publisher issue, but that really didn't help, since it seems she continues to refer to Charles and Melanie on the website. The website has "letters" written between Charles and Melanie and a few other characters. I thought they might fill in some of the background, but like the books, they are not published in chronological order and it looks like many are no longer available. I then read the prequel about how Malcom and Suzanne or Charles and Melanie met and married, but it was written after Vienna Waltz and the explanation in the prequel doesn't match the information in Vienna Waltz.
I finished this book and started the next book in the series. But I don't know that I will finish it. I enjoyed this, but there was just too much I didn't understand, it was too difficult to follow and the writer seems intent on intentionally keeping the series confusing. I think it will take way too much effort to read this series and it isn't well enough written to go through the hassle.
I finished this book and started the next book in the series. But I don't know that I will finish it. I enjoyed this, but there was just too much I didn't understand, it was too difficult to follow and the writer seems intent on intentionally keeping the series confusing. I think it will take way too much effort to read this series and it isn't well enough written to go through the hassle.
March 30, 2011
1814. Vienna. A beautiful Princess has been murdered. The murderer could be anyone, for representatives from around the continent have gathered for the Congress of Vienna.
Vienna Waltz opens right in on the action, no set-up here. We find out things as we go along, and I love books like that. The hero and heroine of our tale: Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch are thrust in the middle of the murder investigation, because on the night of the murder, Princess Tatiana had dispatched messages to meet her in her rooms. Malcolm and Suzanne among them. Unfortunately, the poor Princess is already dead before anyone arrives.
The Princess has been linked to everyone from the tsar to Suzanne's husband, and Suzanne can't shake the feeling that her husband had a special bond with the Princess – more than he's letting on.
The cause of the Princess' death could be anything. As we follow along with Malcolm and Suzanne, we are shown every aspect of Vienna: from glittering royal balls, operas, and secret meetings. Intrigue, danger, secrecy, and of course murder are all there. Nothing is as it seems. No one is to be trusted. Secrets must not be revealed, because the future of Europe is at stake.
Teresa (aka Tracy) Grant has written another gripping historical mystery. I was on the edge of my seat several times and even once almost threw the book in the air when I yelled, “I knew it!” No disappointment here!
Vienna Waltz opens right in on the action, no set-up here. We find out things as we go along, and I love books like that. The hero and heroine of our tale: Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch are thrust in the middle of the murder investigation, because on the night of the murder, Princess Tatiana had dispatched messages to meet her in her rooms. Malcolm and Suzanne among them. Unfortunately, the poor Princess is already dead before anyone arrives.
The Princess has been linked to everyone from the tsar to Suzanne's husband, and Suzanne can't shake the feeling that her husband had a special bond with the Princess – more than he's letting on.
The cause of the Princess' death could be anything. As we follow along with Malcolm and Suzanne, we are shown every aspect of Vienna: from glittering royal balls, operas, and secret meetings. Intrigue, danger, secrecy, and of course murder are all there. Nothing is as it seems. No one is to be trusted. Secrets must not be revealed, because the future of Europe is at stake.
Teresa (aka Tracy) Grant has written another gripping historical mystery. I was on the edge of my seat several times and even once almost threw the book in the air when I yelled, “I knew it!” No disappointment here!
May 30, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this; well written, making excellent use of historical context and characters to weave a plot that holds one’s attention throughout. A few “reveals” seemed pretty clear or likely in advance, but it all still worked, and I found I did care about the central characters. It is also a story that values friendship and honor, and love. Full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com
July 6, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. It was a fascinating read on two separate levels. Firstly, it’s superbly well researched and replete with political machinations in the dazzling setting of the Congress of Vienna in November 1814: despite being quite long and complex, a convoluted mixture of several layers of secrets upon secrets, once you reach the final part of the novel every thread that might have seemed loose or unrelated is revealed to be integral part of a bigger picture. Secondly, the characters have been given such detailed personal histories that they bring the story completely alive: I appreciated the space Grant has given to each of them (not only the MCs), space necessary for these characters to develop, to reveal more of themselves to the reader.
I confess I was a little hesitant about this book at first, because after reading His Spanish Bride and London Interlude (which according to the author are not supposed to be read until after the fourth book, Imperial Scandal), I got a spoiler about what happens in later books, but given that I’d grown attached to the MCs I just jumped right into it. And I’m glad I did! Even after the first few pages, I was frantic to keep reading, to unravel every secret! I just had to know. And that just makes for an unputdownable, riveting read.
I confess I was a little hesitant about this book at first, because after reading His Spanish Bride and London Interlude (which according to the author are not supposed to be read until after the fourth book, Imperial Scandal), I got a spoiler about what happens in later books, but given that I’d grown attached to the MCs I just jumped right into it. And I’m glad I did! Even after the first few pages, I was frantic to keep reading, to unravel every secret! I just had to know. And that just makes for an unputdownable, riveting read.
October 12, 2023
In addition to murder mysteries and thrillers, I love reading about European Royalty and Aristocracy. Generally I confine these to non fiction because I find facts - historical facts at least - more appealing than fiction. This book - though fiction - brought both these genres together - which is probably why I found it so enjoyable. Loved the glitter, intrigue and the backdrop of the Vienna Congress (of which I knew very little before reading this book). Not the best writing or character development, but such an entertaining page turner. I am skimming through the series on goodreads and find that they quit the international stage and their lives become relatively boring as the series progresses, but hope I will be able to read the next 2-3 books where the action remains in Europe.
July 22, 2013
I admit I have been eye-balling this series for some time. It hits one of my favorite tropes, namely a sophisticated married couple mystery solving team. Even better if it is a series.
But there were a few things that kept putting me off. Namely I couldn't figure out quite where to start. Between the author changing her name, the main characters inexplicably having a name change in the middle of the series, at least one book undergoing a title change and then figuring out if I should start out with the book that was published first or the book that is chronologically first...yeah kind of confusing.
I finally decided to start with this one.
As I was reading I found myself somewhat uninvolved with the setting. Normally, I am a huge fan of real history being part of an historical fiction rather than the history acting as window dressing. The author includes in her cast of characters many of the real historical figures who were at the Congress of Vienna re-drawing the political map of Europe in the wake of the various wars that occurred prior to Napoleon's exile. And many of them were very much characters involved in the fictional plot.
However I found the sprinkling of the political discussions as Count WhatseyWhosey and Prince Thingamjiggy talked about Prussia and Poland dead boring. And I just wasn't as captivated with Grant's Vienna as I thought I would be. I think Tasha Alexander pulled me into the atmosphere of Vienna better in her A Fatal Waltz. However unlike the Alexander book which I thought was a dud in the mystery aspect, this book excelled in that area. So even though I wasn't pulled into the history, I do think the author smartly used the scandalous deeds perpetrated by the glittering set and the murder mystery to strongly center the plot.
Things I liked:
- Malcolm and Suzanne. They carried the story with aplomb and were all that I hoped for.
- The little side stories especially Fitz and his wife Eithne
- the way the author allowed the plot to unfold. We got lots of little mysteries along with the main one so that the story really had the feel of secrets being revealed on the way to a mystery being solved.
Things I didn't like so much:
- Victim. The victim was just a little too, too much. She was juggling multiple lovers many of them very powerful men and they were all there and knew each other. She was passing information to everyone. She had her finger in every pie. As I was reading and as the revelations about her kept coming I didn't so much wonder who killed her, but rather why it took somebody even this long to kill her ass. There was a kitchen sink feel to how the author approached her victim. I honestly didn't care about her and frankly I felt more sorry for her murderer.
- True parentage follies. So basically, did any woman have a kid with her own husband? Calling Maury Povich!
Overall good read and I want to continue to series.
But there were a few things that kept putting me off. Namely I couldn't figure out quite where to start. Between the author changing her name, the main characters inexplicably having a name change in the middle of the series, at least one book undergoing a title change and then figuring out if I should start out with the book that was published first or the book that is chronologically first...yeah kind of confusing.
I finally decided to start with this one.
As I was reading I found myself somewhat uninvolved with the setting. Normally, I am a huge fan of real history being part of an historical fiction rather than the history acting as window dressing. The author includes in her cast of characters many of the real historical figures who were at the Congress of Vienna re-drawing the political map of Europe in the wake of the various wars that occurred prior to Napoleon's exile. And many of them were very much characters involved in the fictional plot.
However I found the sprinkling of the political discussions as Count WhatseyWhosey and Prince Thingamjiggy talked about Prussia and Poland dead boring. And I just wasn't as captivated with Grant's Vienna as I thought I would be. I think Tasha Alexander pulled me into the atmosphere of Vienna better in her A Fatal Waltz. However unlike the Alexander book which I thought was a dud in the mystery aspect, this book excelled in that area. So even though I wasn't pulled into the history, I do think the author smartly used the scandalous deeds perpetrated by the glittering set and the murder mystery to strongly center the plot.
Things I liked:
- Malcolm and Suzanne. They carried the story with aplomb and were all that I hoped for.
- The little side stories especially Fitz and his wife Eithne
- the way the author allowed the plot to unfold. We got lots of little mysteries along with the main one so that the story really had the feel of secrets being revealed on the way to a mystery being solved.
Things I didn't like so much:
- Victim. The victim was just a little too, too much. She was juggling multiple lovers many of them very powerful men and they were all there and knew each other. She was passing information to everyone. She had her finger in every pie. As I was reading and as the revelations about her kept coming I didn't so much wonder who killed her, but rather why it took somebody even this long to kill her ass. There was a kitchen sink feel to how the author approached her victim. I honestly didn't care about her and frankly I felt more sorry for her murderer.
- True parentage follies. So basically, did any woman have a kid with her own husband? Calling Maury Povich!
Overall good read and I want to continue to series.
August 22, 2011
It's funny...I put off reading this book for awhile, because I was really bothered by the name changes of the two main characters. (They went from Charles and Mélanie Fraser to Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch.)
But once I got started reading, I quickly realized the only things that changed about these characters were their names. Everything else was the same. And truthfully, I still thought of them as Charles and Mélanie even as I was seeing Malcolm and Suzanne on the page.
With that out of the way...I enjoyed this book as much as the others in the series. I love the fact that I didn't work out who the murderer was until the big reveal. (Though, there was one detail I did work out before it was revealed.) I also love the fact that even though I've already read the books that fall later in the series chronologically--when some HUGE secrets were revealed--I am still finding there is so much more to learn about these characters. They are that richly written.
I have to say, I cannot recommend this series enough. I think even folks who aren't fans of historical mysteries would really enjoy these. Though I would suggest reading them in chronological order as opposed the publishing date:
Vienna Waltz
Beneath a Silent Moon
Secrets of a Lady
The Mask of Night
(Though, I believe the next book in the series is set to take place in the time frame between Vienna Waltz and Beneath a Silent Moon.)
But once I got started reading, I quickly realized the only things that changed about these characters were their names. Everything else was the same. And truthfully, I still thought of them as Charles and Mélanie even as I was seeing Malcolm and Suzanne on the page.
With that out of the way...I enjoyed this book as much as the others in the series. I love the fact that I didn't work out who the murderer was until the big reveal. (Though, there was one detail I did work out before it was revealed.) I also love the fact that even though I've already read the books that fall later in the series chronologically--when some HUGE secrets were revealed--I am still finding there is so much more to learn about these characters. They are that richly written.
I have to say, I cannot recommend this series enough. I think even folks who aren't fans of historical mysteries would really enjoy these. Though I would suggest reading them in chronological order as opposed the publishing date:
Vienna Waltz
Beneath a Silent Moon
Secrets of a Lady
The Mask of Night
(Though, I believe the next book in the series is set to take place in the time frame between Vienna Waltz and Beneath a Silent Moon.)
July 23, 2012
To say I enjoyed this book would do it and the author a great disservice. I usually have a lot of trouble expressing exactly how I feel/felt about a book but with this one, I'll give it my best shot. I love the books I can just fall into, enjoy it, and then flip the last page with a smile on my face and The Vienna Waltz was just that. It isn't a suspenseful "my goodness I'm going to stay up until 3am" type of read but more "Wow I really enjoy the characters and want the book to go on forever even if I don't know who the killer is."
The main characters are facing some serious issues but the storyline never gets tedious or drawn out. Situations are described and then the story moves on. Thankfully certain interesting "facts" are not driven into your brain over and over and over again but are kindly refreshed with a different slant on the story. Luckily the Rannoch's finally figure everything and themselves out by the end. It can only mean good things for future books!
There were times that her previous novels were mentioned and I really wished I had read them first but this one does ok on it's own. I will definitely be adding Ms. Grant to my "favorite author's" list!
The main characters are facing some serious issues but the storyline never gets tedious or drawn out. Situations are described and then the story moves on. Thankfully certain interesting "facts" are not driven into your brain over and over and over again but are kindly refreshed with a different slant on the story. Luckily the Rannoch's finally figure everything and themselves out by the end. It can only mean good things for future books!
There were times that her previous novels were mentioned and I really wished I had read them first but this one does ok on it's own. I will definitely be adding Ms. Grant to my "favorite author's" list!
October 9, 2013
A little mystery & romance are wound through this historical fiction novel & I really liked it. It's third in a series & I've not read the two before this one (I've picked a few of late that are the middle of series. I don't know why). I didn't find it to be a problem at all that I hadn't read the two prior & the story flowed nicely. Suzanne & Malcolm Rannoch are very good characters to pass time with & I'll continue at least to the next book as I already have it on my desk waiting for me. They mystery was well done & I was not terribly surprised about who it was that murdered Tatiana but I was surprised about why. I didn't see that coming. What I did see coming from the beginning was the nature of Tatiana & Malcolm's relationship. I don't know if it was telegraphed so much as it just felt like it had to be what it turned out to be because of the way Malcolm was characterized. Still in all, it was very well done. Add to the murder mystery, the glittering society balls, gowns & the backdrop of political intrigue & I was a happy chica.
July 5, 2011
I'm giving this a 4 of 5 stars, which is a rare rating from me. The characters were all well-drawn, including the numerous secondary characters. Most characters were complexly drawn as well--they had redeeming points or aspects with which we could empathize, but they also could be self-serving or selfish or nasty or whatever. The setting (The Congress of Vienna) was a more unusual setting than many historical fiction novels, and the research seems quite solid, though I have trouble believing that the short bibliography were all the books the authors consulted, and feel she ought to have given a more complete list. I definitely want to read more about the two main characters. Also what was excellently done in this book was the way that the back-story was so carefully laid out--the reader keeps getting tantalizing clues to keep one wondering. Definitely will read more by this author.
January 8, 2012
I knew I would like this book when I saw reviews on the back by Lauren Willig, Tasha Alexander, and Deanna Raybourn, and I was right. Once I started reading, I couln't put this book down! What I liked most was that the relationship between the two main characters, Malcolm and Suzanne, was as multi-layered as the murder mytery they were solving together. They had been married for two years and had a son, but both had major secrets that they were keeping from each other. As they solved the mystery, they were forced to reveal parts of their past that tested their relationship. The setting of Vienna in 1814 was absolutely glittering, full of balls, waltzes, and music--made me want to climb inside the pages of the book. I just discovered that this is actually a prequel for three more books, so off to the library I happily go!
April 1, 2013
A prequel, of sorts, to Tracy Grant's earlier novels Secrets of a Lady and Beneath a Silent Moon. Set at the Congress of Vienna (fascinating) and full of mystery, intrigue and romance. Perfect vacation reading!
May 10, 2018
Vienna Murder
I enjoyed reading this story and how Malcom and Suzanne Rannoch handled the murder of Princess
Tatiana. There were other plots that was in the making that the Rannoch’s solved. This is a good mystery to read!!
I enjoyed reading this story and how Malcom and Suzanne Rannoch handled the murder of Princess
Tatiana. There were other plots that was in the making that the Rannoch’s solved. This is a good mystery to read!!
February 24, 2019
Very interesting story about diplomacy and an era that I knew nothing about.
July 19, 2011
This is a Charles & Melanie Fraser prequel, with both author and characters renamed, one presumes for marketing reasons. It's an okay historical mystery, but Malcolm and Suzanne are so repressed that their emotional arc is completely uninteresting -- and it suffers the same issue as Beneath a Silent Moon, which is that the secrets of Daughter of the Game are so explosive prequels seem besides the point. Also, I am a bit tired of how every single book involves some secret about Charles' family. I was actually much more invested in Dorothee Talleyrand-Perigord's relationship with her uncle, and Talleyrand's politicking, than I was in the main plotline.
There's some interesting stuff about limitations on women's lives and ways women evaded them and both triumphed in and were punished for this evasion -- lots of women having love affairs, wielding indirect political power, having illegitimate children who were hidden. Much more complicated than the usual romance novel view of the 19th century. I ended up wishing Grant had jettisoned the Fraser/Rannoch scaffolding and done a straight-up historical about the behind-the-scenes politicking at the Congress of Vienna, which clearly fascinated her.
There's some interesting stuff about limitations on women's lives and ways women evaded them and both triumphed in and were punished for this evasion -- lots of women having love affairs, wielding indirect political power, having illegitimate children who were hidden. Much more complicated than the usual romance novel view of the 19th century. I ended up wishing Grant had jettisoned the Fraser/Rannoch scaffolding and done a straight-up historical about the behind-the-scenes politicking at the Congress of Vienna, which clearly fascinated her.
June 23, 2019
An interesting historical mystery/romance. This was a very long book with a ton of detail in it so it wasn’t a quick, easy read. I found it very interesting.
I have to keep referring back to the FAQs on the authors website to know which book I should be reading. It’s so very confusing! Nonetheless I’m working through it all in chronological order. Don’t know how I will figure out the whole parallel universe books but I expect I’ll follow the authors direction on that.
Also I can’t imagine how Malcolm will forgive Suzanne for her deception when he learns of it but it seems that’s the world they live in, one of deception.
The number of affairs or assignations that people have seems quite astonishing to me. I wonder if it was really like that or if it’s slightly exaggerated.
Oh, and lastly the cost of this Kindle book was just ridiculous! This one and Imperial Scandal are 4 times as much as the other books. I’m not sure why but I’m not the type of person who can read a series, particularly one as complicated as this, without reading all the books so I paid it.
I have to keep referring back to the FAQs on the authors website to know which book I should be reading. It’s so very confusing! Nonetheless I’m working through it all in chronological order. Don’t know how I will figure out the whole parallel universe books but I expect I’ll follow the authors direction on that.
Also I can’t imagine how Malcolm will forgive Suzanne for her deception when he learns of it but it seems that’s the world they live in, one of deception.
The number of affairs or assignations that people have seems quite astonishing to me. I wonder if it was really like that or if it’s slightly exaggerated.
Oh, and lastly the cost of this Kindle book was just ridiculous! This one and Imperial Scandal are 4 times as much as the other books. I’m not sure why but I’m not the type of person who can read a series, particularly one as complicated as this, without reading all the books so I paid it.
July 26, 2016
I have not finished this. I may come back to it some day. I really like the setting of the Vienna Convention in 1815, where the fate of post-Napoleon Europe was being decided, but the excessive description bogs the whole story down too much. I don't need a complete depiction of everything that could be seen if I were plopped into the story. I don't need to know every characters' fidgets either. Ms. Grant's writing is fine, but she needs a ruthless content editor; her story loses all momentum.
In addition the formatting of at least the Kindle ebook is really disruptive: scene changes happen without any indication. One line can be a line of dialog between person X and person Y, and the very next line (no blank line in between) is the start of a conversation between person A and person B in a different location and time of day. This formatting snafu took me out of the story every time, which made the over-writing that much more apparent.
In addition the formatting of at least the Kindle ebook is really disruptive: scene changes happen without any indication. One line can be a line of dialog between person X and person Y, and the very next line (no blank line in between) is the start of a conversation between person A and person B in a different location and time of day. This formatting snafu took me out of the story every time, which made the over-writing that much more apparent.
July 28, 2011
Although there is a change in the names of author and primary characters, Grant’s fans will find Vienna Waltz recognizable as Tracy Grant’s work and Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch as Charles and Mélanie Fraser. Set at the Congress of Vienna in 1814, this book chronologically comes earlier than the Fraser books. It opens with the murder of Titiana, a beautiful Russian princess whose numerous lovers include VIPs in attendance at the Congress, including Malcolm, attaché to the British delegation. Malcolm with Suzanne’s help sets out to solve the murder case. The book has the intelligence, the historical detail, the complex plot, the complicated characters, and the beautifully crafted prose that Grant’s readers expect from her. I’m hoping that this is the first of many new books by this author, whatever name she chooses to write under.
April 10, 2011
I used to read a lot of historical fiction, but I've recently gotten away from the genre. This book reminded me of what I LOVE about historical fiction: the opportunity for a glimpse at the world in another time. I particularly enjoyed how VIENNA WALTZ was seamlessly cast with both real and fictional characters. It gave the book the feel--almost--of a history text, but so much more fun!
The descriptions were wonderful, the storyline intricately twisted, and the intrigue was diabolical! It was a suspenseful and engaging read.
Highly recommended. I cannot wait for Ms. Grant's next novel.
The descriptions were wonderful, the storyline intricately twisted, and the intrigue was diabolical! It was a suspenseful and engaging read.
Highly recommended. I cannot wait for Ms. Grant's next novel.
December 9, 2011
I ended up enjoying this a great deal. It's sort of historical romantic suspense and yes, the central figures are British diplomats, but there is such scope to this book. Plus, it's set in Vienna which is not a typical historical setting and there are main characters from practically every nationality, including Russia which is a personal favorite of mine. The character name swapping is still weird and the only reason that I didn't give it five stars, but it's a pretty minor complaint and anyone who hasn't the author's work before won't suffer from it.
March 29, 2016
I absolutely loved this novel by new-to-me author Teresa Grant (aka Tracy Grant). Set in 1814 during the Congress of Vienna, where the leaders of Europe gather to decide the fate of the continent after Napoleon's abdication, it's awash with actual history, and the mysteries Ms. Grant manages to weave among the attendees, both real and imagined, are intriguing and realistic. It's been quite some time since I was so riveted by a story. Ms. Grant is a truly gifted author, and I have every intention of glomming her backlist for more gems.
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