19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Don't you think the spirit of a lost little girl might seek a woman who's missing a child?", October 26, 2010
This review is from: Dangerous to Know: A Novel of Suspense (Lady Emily) (Hardcover)
After a violent attack on her honeymoon in Constantinople, Lady Emily Hargreaves repairs to the estate of her mother-in-law in Normandy, France, for a period of convalescence. Unfortunately, the other Mrs. Hargreaves does not warm to her son's new wife and Lady Emily must make do with her husband's ready affections. The problem of her hostess's welcome pales in comparison to the shock of a mutilated body Emily discovers on an afternoon ride, the body identified as the daughter of an aristocratic family in Rouen, recently escaped from an asylum. Edith Prier is the black sheep of the Prier's, her slide into madness a shame the family is unwilling to acknowledge. Having lost a child in her brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily quickly becomes invested in finding the girl's murderer, collaborating with her new husband, Colin, an agent for the empire.
Since the couple has solved a number of crimes together, Emily has no reason to expect otherwise in this case. But Alexander dashes her plucky heroine's hopes with a serious conflict between husband and wife, Colin asserting his duty to protect his wife from harm. The phrase "I will not allow" causes much discord between the newlyweds, Lady Emily of course unable to stem her naturally inquisitive nature, danger or not. There is madness afoot: in the haunting cries of a child heard in the night; in Edith's unsuitable affair and tragic fate; in the mind of a neighbor's wife, who vacillates between hilarity and lapses of memory; and in the blade of a killer's bloody knife that leaves two victims in its wake.
Alexander's characters are suitably Victorian: the frosty mother-in-law; the cautious Colin, torn between duty and passion; the return of Sebastian Capet, itinerant thief and admirer of Lady Emily; a passing acquaintance with Monet, Sisley and Renoir; a brooding brother who seeks vengeance for his sister; even hints of Jack the Ripper's arrival in the French countryside as the Normandy Ripper. Wherever Lady Emily goes, adventure is sure to follow. It is hard not to compare this series with Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series, another husband and wife investigative duet, each pair enjoying their particularities and rebellious personalities, Raybourn's Brisbane perhaps more authentically Heathcliffian, but Alexander's Lady Emily not as impulsively dramatic as Lady Julia, her reasoning sharper as any man's and not dependent on one to save her. In the end, it is a toss up, plenty or room for both authors and the fans that enjoy their Victorian thrillers. Luan Gaines/2010.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another strong entry in an excellent series, October 26, 2010
This review is from: Dangerous to Know: A Novel of Suspense (Lady Emily) (Hardcover)
The lush landscapes of Normandy are the setting for this, the fifth and arguably most mature and complex of the Lady Emily series. It is a uniquely skilled writer who can so convincingly and accurately portray such diverse settings, but Alexander manages to do that once again in Dangerous to Know. A taut plot, rich character development, and easy-reading style push this book along in the most entertaining way. It's like Halloween candy for readers, yet it also delves into the core of human experience with terrific insight. Not to miss for any fan of good writing generally or historical fiction in particular.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a convert, November 29, 2010
This review is from: Dangerous to Know: A Novel of Suspense (Lady Emily) (Hardcover)
I have to begin by saying that historical mystery/romance fiction is not really my genre of choice (I grew up mainly on science-fiction and a little bit of fantasy). I started reading Alexander's work by way of recommendation from a friend as something to fill the time on a trans-atlantic flight, and I'm now extremely grateful to that friend for it. Once returned from that trip I tore through the rest of her work until I caught up with Lady Emily's story, and found it hard to be patient until the next work was published.
Dangerous to Know was worth all the waiting. Alexander mixes plotlines masterfully, capturing both the mind and the heart of the reader. I don't think I can do justice in praise to how she brings her characters to life, and the way she keeps you guessing right to the very end. Not to mention that the research she puts into the historical accuracy of even the smallest details is terribly impressive. I _can_ tell you I'm already finding it hard to wait patiently for the next, but I'll be filling the time in re-reading the series to my wife - a delightful way to spend an evening.
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