The Lion's Shadow [Mass Market Paperback]

Marthe Arends (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Beautiful, headstrong, and intelligent, Cassandra Whitney has embraced the suffragette movement with all of the determination she can muster. When she meets another young woman who is interested in joining the fight for the woman's vote, Cassandra gladly takes her under her wing, bringing Helena St. John to rallies and demonstrations.

When Helena's brother, the self-righteous but fascinating explorer Griffin St. John, learns that his sister has become involved in the tumultuous and unpredictable women's rights movement, he demands that Cassandra put a stop to escorting his sister. Cassandra, who feels much too strongly for the movement, resists his command--and sparks begin to fly.

When a rally turns violent and the women are subsequently jailed, it is Griffin who comes to release them. And while suspicious accidents continue to threaten his life, Griffin begins to soften his attitude toward the stubborn, fascinating Cassandra.

The notebook of secrets . . . the violent anti-suffrage demonstartions . . . the mysterious man with the gold tooth . . . it all turns dark in The Lion's Shadow.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Lion's Shadow is a remarkable accomplishment. Marthe Arends delivers an ambitious, sweeping novel that brings history to rich, romantic life. Add her to your list of favorite authors." -- Evan Marshall, author of Missing Marlene: A Jane Stuart and Winky Mystery

"The Lion's Shadow is an enchanting and fascinating story with characters who step right off the page and into the reader's memory. It's an outstanding achievement, full of wit and humor. I loved it." -- Margaret Chittenden, multi-published author of romance and suspense novels and The Charlie Plato Mystery Series

"The struggle for women's suffrage comes alive in this enjoyable tale of an impulsive, outspoken heroine and a dashing, forthright hero. A delightful romance meets a plot ripe with suspense!" -- Carola Dunn, author of the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries and innumerable Regencies

From the Author

The women's suffrage movement has long been the subject of fascination for me. While researching The Lion's Shadow, I came across several first-person accounts of the imprisonment, and subsequent force-feedings, of the militant suffragettes; their descriptions of what it was like to be devoted body and soul to a cause that we now take for granted were chilling, and inspired me to tell the story of one woman who strove to keep the balance between dedication to the cause, and fanatical support which often ended in violence. As a devoted mystery fan, I couldn't resist weaving in a theme of suspense which touched all of the characters, sending them spiralling off down a number of interesting paths.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Avid Press, LLC (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929613059
• ISBN-13: 978-1929613052
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,738,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars i wasn't sure i'd like it; but, Zowie! I did!, December 4, 1999

By 

blumenfelt (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lion's Shadow (Mass Market Paperback)

A friend of mine recommended "The Lion's Shadow" to me, and i must admit, i was hesitant at first- the book is billed as a "historical romance", and romance novels are not my ususal venue. However, the description of the book sounded promising- elements of mystery and adventure-, and I also took a peek at the reviews on this site. The comments made by Mrs. Titus W. Trout (an amusing name, no?) convinced me to give it a go. I must say the promise of mystery and adventure was, indeed, kept.

This book really is quite a page-turner, as they say. Difficult to put down, with lots of intrigue and adventure thrown in with the romance; and so well written! The style is witty, the characters an interesting and amusing mix- from the rather brooding hero Griffin St. John, the charmingly feisty heroine Cassandra Whitney (fervently devoted to the cause of women's suffrage, despite her family's objections), to the oily, obnoxious cousin Freddy- each one a colorfully-drawn work of art.

I will definitely recommend this book to friends! (some of whom will find it under the tree this Christmas)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast-moving funny historical novel of romance and suspens, November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lion's Shadow (Mass Market Paperback)

THE LION'S SHADOW by Marthe Arends

The opening scene aptly sets the tone for the rest of the book. It is irreverently laugh-aloud funny. Our heroine, Cassandra Jane Whitney, is joining other Suffragettes in London chaining themselves to a fence to promote their beliefs. But Cassandra (I have to wonder if that name is not prescient) can't seem to get the chain threaded through the fence properly. The rain is pelting down and she is being harangued by a friend of her mother who definitely does not approve. She gives the chain one final jerk and pulls it completely free propelling her into a nicely dressed man waiting to pass by. They both end up in the mud. When the police come she can't even get herself arrested. She is one snake bit heroine.

Of course this is not the last of the handsome (if muddy) man. . At tea at Aunt Caroline's the next day she is horrified to see Griffin, the man she fell on, his sister Helena, and his brother and wife Lord and Lady Sherringham. Helena soon decides she wants to be a Suffragette too while Lord Sherringham is one of the loudest opponents in the House of Lords. Griffin does not approve of the Suffragettes either. Helena confides to Cassandra that she is worried because Griffin has experienced a suspicious number of accidents. Soon it begins to look like someone is after Cassandra and Helena as well. Cassandra is determined to get to the bottom of this.

Cassandra, while constantly assuring us of her rectitude, her aplomb, her dignity, thrashes her way about knocking things and people over and generally upsetting every thing and every body. She is not at all incompetent however. This is no shy and retiring woman waiting for her hero to ride to her rescue. She is perfectly capable of rescuing herself even if, sometimes, she might break a few things in the process. And at least once she manages to rescue her man.

This is breezy, light-hearted and just lots and lots of fun. I chuckled aloud as I read it. Cassandra reminds me just a bit of the young Amelia Peabody. She certainly reflects the determination many women had in the early twentieth century to begin taking control of their own destinies. She does, I feel, show remarkable stupidity sometimes when she rushes into what the reader knows is going to be danger, but she is always able to extricate herself. And I cannot imagine how she does all these things wearing the constricting clothing of that time.

The writing is very nice, providing, among other things, a series of eye-catching images beginning with the opening scene and including the night at the opera and the spectacle of two women rolling on the ground fighting in front of an exclusive men's club. The story is fast-moving and well-told and draws the reader in very quickly. It is not all fun and frolic, however, as serious issues are addressed. Sometimes by comparison situations seem more crucial seen side-by-side with comedy.

I have to say I enjoyed Cassandra's adventures very much. She is a well-drawn character, as is Griffin, while the others, if not as completely drawn, still come to life on the pages. While this book is more of a romance than I often care about, this one works very well and the story was so much fun I gulped it down in one day.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly charming and engrossing, August 6, 2000

By 

Christine Spindler (Auenwald) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lion's Shadow (Mass Market Paperback)

The Lion's Shadow is that rare kind of book where you relish every sentence. Romance, mystery and historical background are perfectly balanced. Cassandra is a marvelous heroine - strong-willed and resourceful, with a unique touch of humor.