Customer Reviews

The Counterfeit Guest: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are looking for a historical this is a good one, however it is a so-so romance. The author has written a very precise look at this time in history. Women at that time were very limited in their ability to seek out a mate of their choice. The mores of the day prevailed. A woman did not come into contact with very many eligible men and the men were the ones with the right to decide if they would offer for the woman. Love was not ever part of the equation.

Mary is an heiress, due to the fortunate passing of an elderly relative. In the previous book she and Captain Robert Holland were attracted to each other. At that time each was relatively poor and depended upon their work for their livelyhood. Now there is a gulf between them and although men are encouraged to better themselves when they marry, Robert feels unworthy, so he has stopped all correspondence with Mary.

When Mary's friend marries for wealth and station after her father dies, she invites Mary to visit. An aquaintance, who Mary had helped once with an investigation, asks for her help again. It seems that the new husband is suspected of being a traitor. As Mary looks for proof of the traitor it brings Captain Holland back into her sphere of friends, as he is related to the young lady who is now married to a man she hardly knows.

Not only is the mystery good but the plight of women in that time is clearly defined. I did enjoy the read.

Mary Finch, orphaned teacher at a girls' school turned wealthy heiress, was introduced in Rose Melikan's 2008 novel The Blackstone Key. In that outing, Mary found out about her late uncle's surprising bequest, fell in with smugglers, and met the dashing artillery expert Captain Robert Holland. The Blackstone Key was delightful, a slow but still compelling pseudo-Victorian novel. Having finished it, I was eager to read the second installment in Melikan's proposed three-book series.

In The Counterfeit Guest, Mary is again required to act in a manner ill-befitting a proper 18th-century lady of means. After her father's death, Mary's friend Susannah Armitage--a cousin, as it happens, of Captain Holland--marries an older man, Colonel Crosby-Nash. When suspicions arise that Crosby-Nash is in league with the French, Mary stays with her friend and acts as a mole in the Crosby-Nash household, a dangerous business if in fact he is a traitor. Meanwhile, against a backdrop of general unrest in the military, Captain Holland is required to deal with mutinous gunners at his own base.

Unfortunately, though The Counterfeit Guest offers much the same elements as Melikan's first Mary Finch novel, the book doesn't quite work. The story plods along as slowly as an evening spent in the tedious company of Susannah and Colonel Crosby-Nash. The writing itself is good, taken sentence by sentence, but the book is too long and the plot mostly uninteresting. There is too little development in the relationship between Mary and Holland, who don't share the same stage, as it were, as often as one would like.

If I had not so enjoyed The Blackstone Key, I'm afraid I would never have stuck with this one to the end. As it was, I was just curious enough about the development of the book's romance to see it through. The third book in the series is due out in 2010. Here's hoping Melikan will be able to recapture the magic of the first novel.

Note: Review copy received from publisher.

-- Debra Hamel

I won't go over the plotting since that has been effectvely covered by the synopsis and other reviewers, but I would like to express how impressed I am with the narrative voice of this wonderful new(to me) writer.

I have not come across such an authentic tone in a very long time. I admit being put off by the drap cover art which, by the way, does not do justice to the fine story telling within. I am glad I bit the bullet and set aside such supercial reservations.

I liked how the writer let the characters play out the mores of the day. Many writer fall pray to too much telling and not enought showing. Not Rose Melikan.

While reading this book, I felt like a fly on the wall listening to real people having real, interesting conversations and experiencing genuine emotions.

Very well done.

I loved The Blackstone Key: A Novel, so I had high expectation for the second installment, and I was not disappointed. Although this is suppose to be the second book in a trilogy, I would love to see Miss Finch have her own series of adventures.

The book begins with references to the first, so, while it is not necessary to have read it, it would help with understanding the relationship between Captain "Bobs" Holland and Miss Mary Finch. She has remodeled the White Ladies to her liking, but Holland has abruptly ended their friendship instead of letting it blossom into romance...all because of money - his lack of it, and Mary's new inheritance.

Regardless, Mary has befriended the Armitage sisters, only to find out that Susannah's new husband may be a traitor to the country. Soon enough, Mary is recruited to be a spy, which is kept secret from everyone, even Bobs. Unknowingly, Captain Holland's mission to prevent mutinies among the solider is related to Mary's mission.

Mary is so different from other women of that time period, it is sometimes hard to understand why she is so reluctant to pursue a romantic relationship with Captain Holland, and I had the same slight disappointment with the ending, as I did with the first book.

However, not only is this an exciting historical fiction novel, but it is filled with drama, suspense and mystery. Spies, plots, and attempted murder are just a few of the events that involve Miss Finch. I am looking forward to the third installment with great anticipation!

Her friend, Susannah, has a new husband, Colonel Crosbys-Nash. Mary doesn't know much about him but when at a ball at their home, sees some suspicious peoples. Then upon Sir John Scott's recommendation, she visits a gentleman named Shy who wants her to spy on Colonel Crosbys-Nash, since she is friend's with his wife, wouldn't that make sense to go with them to the country and keep Susannah company?

Mary also likes Susannah's cousin, Holland, otherwise known as Bobs. Holland is an officer in the Army, and is also enlisted in spying on the Colonel.

The Colonel starts to suspect Mary, and maybe Mary is in over her head. Being out in the country, one of her contacts found murdered, what will Mary do.

This was a very intriguing book, held me captive for many hours. I loved the relationship between Holland and Mary, but I wish there had been more contact between the two ladies.

I know there was a previous book, but I don't think you have to read the first one before reading this one. It stood on it's own. Although, having a little previous history between Mary and Holland might have been a little more juicy!

Overall a very good book. I want to read the first one now and I hope she comes up with more Adventures for Mary Finch and Holland!!!!

This novel takes a reader along with Mary Finch as she becomes involved in her second Adventure. Notice the capital "A" because that distinguishes these occurrences from all the other exciting happenings in the life of this young woman. Mary was also the heroine in the first book of this series The Blackstone Key: A Novel. When this novel begins it is 1796 and Mary Finch has been awarded a legacy and has used it to purchase a property called White Ladies. The restoration progress makes it necessary for Mary Finch to live away from White Ladies but finally everything is completed and she invites two unmarried former school teachers to come live with her there. After settling into her new home Mary Finch becomes involved in trying to unmask a particular man who is believed to be a spy for the French. Mary's greatest problem is that this man is married to her close friend.

This novel is very well written with a wealth of detail about the political climate in England during this very unsettled time in their relations with France. Mary had known Captain Robert Holland for many years and had entertained thoughts of a romantic nature regarding him. She thought her feelings were reciprocated until she discovered that her new status as a single woman with a substantial income had made him shy away rather than be considered a fortune hunter. When Mary is recruited to go into the home of the suspected spy and gather information about his activities she jumps at the chance. This author has certainly done the research required to make her espionage tale plausable.

I found the book to be rather slow moving. The first several hundred pages were not very interesting for me and I must admit that I had to struggle to maintain my interest in the story. Once the action began to occur regarding the plans to have British military personnel mutiny for better wages in order to slow down their effectiveness in fighting off a French invasion the action picked up. I never was able to be interested in Mary Finch. She is a quiet character. Even while in the midst of a dangerous undertaking I still found her to be very quiet, much too quiet and unassuming. Perhaps it was the manner in which the book is written that caused me to see her in this fashion. I only know that she did not spark much interest for me.

The first book in this trilogy, The Blackstone Key, was one of the first books I received for reviewing through the Vine program last year. While my reaction to that book was fine, but nothing astounding, I found myself several months later still interested in reading the next book added it to my list of books to order upon release.

Mary is now an heiress and self-sustaining with a different lifestyle than she enjoyed previously. This time she becomes entangled in ferreting out a spy and protecting a friend from a bad marriage. She's spunky and charming, a 21st century influenced character who still seems overall to fit in her time.

Overall, I enjoyed this second novel. I had a hard time choosing a star rating so I ended up with four to be generous since I did spend an agreeable afternoon with Mary and Holland. There may be complaints about some histocial accuracy and such, but once again, it's much more historical novel than most romances or mysteries and as such is more accurate than many other entries in those genres. Most readers won't care a bit. If you are one who will, go find something else to read. If you don't care, this one should entertain well enough with interesting characters, plot and setting well-balanced into an entertaining read. This is a slightly heavier light historical meant to entertain and perhaps whet the appetite to learn more about the period in history, too.

If you are a fan of Deanna Raybourn's books or even perhaps Anne Perry, this trilogy may fill the void while waiting for more by them. In characterization and style it is closer to Raybourn, but the romance is handled very subtly and the journey is less mystery than experiences along the way as Perry sometimes delivers. It is not a romance novel, so if that is your primary interest, choose something else, otherwise this one will suffice. I myself am looking forward to the next book now still a year away...

I had read Melikan's first book, The Blackstone Key: A Novel, last summer and had been very pleased. So, I was excited to see The Counterfeit Guest available on Vine and I snatched it up as quickly as I could.

This book does start off rather slow with social engagements, a funeral, and such. Fortunately, Mary Finch is an interesting young woman who is learning how to live among the gentility. Her supporting characters are also quite entertaining.

Again, the author does an excellent job with the dialogue and settings. They seem accurate for the time frame. Mary's adventures are quite suspenseful and the romance is sweet. I am, again, looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I chose THE COUNTERFEIT GUEST as a Vine choice without having read the first book in the series, THE BLACKSTONE KEY, then was lucky enough to find KEY right before GUEST arrived in the mail. However, while it is good to know about Mary Finch's first "Adventure" and how she made the acquaintance of Captain Robert Holland, it is not absolutely necessary, unless you are chronicling Mary's growth as a character.

Now an heiress and living at her late uncle's estate White Ladies with two of her fellow teachers as chaperones, Mary is asked to undertake a clandestine mission: observe Colonel Crosby-Nash, suspected of being a traitor. Since the colonel is married to Mary's friend Susannah Armitage, it is fairly easy for Mary to keep tabs on him, and even receive an invitation to their country house. In the meantime Captain Holland, who has abruptly broken off his new relationship with Mary, finds himself battling internal conflict in the Army, bred by instigating spies who use suggestion and broadsides to spread their revolutionary aims. Eventually Mary's mission and Holland's will mesh, posing danger for both of them.

Mary has become a bit less naive in this second novel and her spying mission takes a certain nerve--there are several tense moments that are quite breathtaking. Holland, too, sees more action in this second novel, including a foray into preventing an explosive situation, accompanied by his faithful batsman Drake. The suspense builds nicely, but slowly, in the manner of 19th century novels of this genre. If you like nonstop action, this is not the novel for you.

We also learn more about Mary's new life and Holland's past, and that certain "wise" decisions don't always work out that way.

I found this novel thoroughly enjoyable and am looking forward to Melikan's sequel.

I had not read Ms. Melikan's first book, however that did not take away from my enjoyment of A Counterfeit Guest. While having read the first book might add to enjoying this one, there is enough background given to fill the reader in on anything that they need to know.

The story is an interesting one and well-thought out. I liked the secondary characters, particularly the two older ladies who live with Miss Finch. I also thought the dialog was done very nicely and did not seem out of place. That is, the dialog did not sound like something out of a contemporary novel.

The pacing seemed a bit slow, however, and I found myself wishing the story would move along. Still, it did move, albeit slowly, and it held my interest in spite of this.

As several other reviewers have mentioned, this is written in the style of the older romances. It does contain humor, but is not a comedy. If you are expecting a romance similar to those on the bestseller list, you will be disappointed. However, if you wish to relax and savor a lovely period piece of fiction, you will be pleased.