Book Description Review “Tasha Alexander brings both eras to life through meticulous research, and the dual stories come together in a chilling finale. Scenes set among the ruins of Pompeii and in the city pre-disaster have such depth that it feels like we’re walking directly into them…an urbane thriller with a big heart.” ―Bookpage“A captivating story of Pompeii… engaging.” ―Kirkus Reviews“[Evokes] the setting’s rich history…lovers of classical culture should be pleased.” ―Publishers Weekly Praise for Uneasy Lies the Crown:“Engrossing…English history lovers will be enthralled.”―Publishers Weekly“Readers are in the author’s trustworthy hands, and the working out of the puzzle will delight mystery and history buffs alike.” ―BooklistPraise for Death in St. Petersburg:“Alexander is at the top of her game…(her) impeccable research and smart storytelling keep readers on the edge of their seats…A gripping tale by a grand mistress of the genre.”―RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)Praise for the Lady Emily Mysteries:“Tasha Alexander has created Victorian London’s most colorful and delightfully eccentric sleuth.” ―Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs Series“Consistently witty, smart, and entertaining.”―Booklist Read more About the Author TASHA ALEXANDER, the daughter of two philosophy professors, studied English Literature and Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame. She and her husband, novelist Andrew Grant, live on a ranch in southeastern Wyoming. She is the author of the Lady Emily mystery series, including And Only to Deceive and Uneasy Lies the Crown. Read more Customers Review: Loved the history in both stories… a big fan of this series… BUT so disappointed in the decline of morality so easily accepted, situational ethics excuses all around and forcing women’s rights at every turn… and the final picture left at the end… really…plus unrealistic in its optimism going forward … not my favorite and fear direction of the series going forward … so bummed … read most of the others at least twice…love the blending of accurate history and good mystery… read in 2 days…not what I hoped for … Colin with a teenage daughter… made me sad… other parts and attitudes too…so may be my last one…
I wanted to like this novel because I’m a Lady Emily fan & have been (most of my life) fascinated by the history of Mt Vesuvius. However, the core of the story (a murdered man encased in a coating of plaster & discovered by the vacationing Lady Emily & entourage while on a stroll among the ruins) just didn’t grab my imagination. I kept asking myself why Lady Emily & her husband didn’t turn the matter over to the local police & enjoy their holiday (in the way too massive ruins). Instead they hang around & do a half hearted investigation sandwiched in with picnics, expensive parties & lavish clothing. The two red herrings in the form of Benjamin & Callie smelled like yesterday’s fish…too much shouting & pouting. The archaeologists were poorly developed & unconvincing. The insertion of Hargreaves’s daughter Kat was awkward. Lady Emily was way too full of her own overly educated importance (except when feeling disrespected by her husband & his snotty, just discovered child). I truly didn’t want to spend another moment with any of them. The secondary story of the poet slave girl was too cliche. I kept remembering scenes from the British series called ‘Rome’…Rome is worth your time of you want authentic, sweaty Romans.
I have read all the Lady Emily books and this one disappointed. It was predictable, had too many characters, a very trite story within the story and I really disliked the introduction of a new family member. The regular characters were not developed and I didn’t care about any of them , including the murder victim. I may not be reading any further books in this series.
I have read the entire series and The first time the story was split into to two different time periods it was interesting…but now it is getting old. The last two books i have just read the chapters with Emily and Colin in them. It will be interesting going forward with the new family member! But if the book is split again i may not be buying it.
I alas believe series should be read in chronological order and the Lady Emily series is no exception. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, especially mysteries.This book gets very detailed about the times, first century AD and the early 20th century, places and people. It made it hard to stay awake and read. Regardless, devote a little more time and enjoy Pompeii through Alexander’s stories.
I enjoyed reading this. It is typical of Ms. Alexander’s Lady Emily mysteries in that it has a classical setting, in this case Pompeii, and involves her husband and some of their closest friends. You don’t find out the culprit until the end, and I honestly didn’t guess. Anyone who likes these books will like this one.
I very much enjoyed the story, going back and forth between Emily’s story and Kassandra’s. Pompeii is always an interesting setting for a mystery. I look forward to seeing how their new addition to the family fairs!
Loved it, loved it, loved it. Excellent story and really drew me in from the beginning. Lady Emily is one of my favorites, so keep them coming Ms. Alexander! |
72 reviews