Nightingale's Gate [Mass Market Paperback]

Linda Francis Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 29, 2001

ONE WOMAN WILL RISK EVERYTHING
TO SAVE THE MAN SHE LOVES.

A gentleman killer is stalking prostitutes in the alleys of Boston. The police arrest Lucas Hawthorne, the notorious son of a prominent family and owner of the infamous club Nightingale’s Gate. As the daughter of Boston’s leading prosecutor, attorney Alice Kendall has followed the headlines, but she is not prepared when the accused walks into her office seeking counsel. Nor is she prepared for his seductive charm. Alice knows she should keep her distance from a man like Lucas. But she takes the case to trial, standing against her father for this mysterious man.

Lucas has led a life filled with unapologetic scandal and dark secrets–secrets that he has revealed to no one, including the lovely lawyer who haunts his dreams. Alice has the power to awaken the dormant cravings of his heart, but only if she can face the shocking truth that torments his soul. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Attorney Alice Kendall is hired to defend club owner Lucas Hawthorne, who's being tried for the murder of a prostitute. Her father, Walker Kendall, is the district attorney determined to put Lucas behind bars. While this makes for interesting reading, there's a bit of a twist to the story: it takes place in the late 1800s, when female attorneys were few and far between. Alice's choice of profession makes her seem less than womanly, and just associating with a man in Lucas' trade is enough to ruin her socially. Part romance, part courtroom drama, in turns funny and poignant, Lee's tale of love and social pressure captivates the reader from beginning to end. The final in a trilogy, following Dove's Way (2000) and Swan's Grace (2000), this romance can certainly stand on its own, although readers will be overcome by the urge to find the earlier titles once the last page is turned. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Heart-stirring romance . . . her books are impossible to put down!"
–SAMANTHA JAMES

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books (May 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449002071
• ISBN-13: 978-0449002070
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,051,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling Historical, May 29, 2001

By 

Sheri Melnick (Enola, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nightingale's Gate (Mass Market Paperback)

Alice Kendall is a woman lawyer at a time when woman lawyers were few and far between. Though she has had few clients in her first year of practice, she not only aced the bar exam but graduated at the top of her class. Fellow attorney Grayson Hawthorne decides that Alice would be the perfect person to defend his brother Lucas who has been accused of murdering a prostitute.

At first Alice declines to represent Lucas, partially because she feels that the case would be difficult to win especially against her father, a veteran prosecutor. Furthermore, Alice is disturbed by her attraction to Lucas, a known black sheep of his respectable family who has earned his reputation as the owner of a gentlemen's gambling club.

After agreeing to represent Lucas, Alice is a little more than disturbed by his reluctance to disclose to her just why he couldn't have been involved in the murder. As the attraction between Alice and Lucas grows, she begins to believe in his innocence as more clues surface proving the possibility that someone else is likely the killer. While the trial progresses, emotions hit an all-time high as Alice faces off in court with Clark, the prosecutor and her would-be suitor, as well as her father who has taught her much of what she knows.

What a page-turner!!! Linda Frances Lee had me glued to the pages as soon as I began reading. The dark intensity of the hero coupled with the strength and innocence of the heroine are an irresistable combination. Because the innocence of the hero is never entirely clear from the onset of the novel, the introduction of probable suspects and the manner in which they are connected to one another keeps the reader gripping the edge of the chair until the real killer is finally revealed. This is a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy of DOVE'S WAY and SWAN'S GRACE.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nightingale soars with passion and intrigue, February 2, 2002

By 

Desmond Chan (Bishan North Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightingale's Gate (Mass Market Paperback)

A gorgeous piece of work merging a powerful courtroom drama and intrigue with a poignant passion, Linda Francis Lee's NIGHTINGALE'S GATE is sadly overlooked and under-rated by romance fans. The plot centres around grisly serial killings of prostitutes milling around Boston alleys and the victims are marked by an imprint of a nightingale. Lucas Hawthorne, the heart-throb and notorious rake who opens the Nightingale Gentleman's club is the prime suspect. The commonwealth prosecutor, Walker Kendall is determined to send him to the gallows. Grey, his brother has the foresight to engage him Alice Kendall, who is Walker's daughter. She is spurred by her father's lack of confidence in her to win the courtcase.

As investigation continues, more facts are revealed to piece out the puzzle. Linda Francis Lee throws in some delicious red herrings and prime suspects including Alice's father, Clark - her father's protege and prosecuting lawyer, Bradford Hawthorne -Luca's father. The mystery is spine-tingling and dark given the decadence of the Boston underground. Yet the courtroom drama's magentism cannot be compared to the triumph of passion between Alice and Lucas. Lucas is a brooding hero who despite being the owner of the scandalous club, is a man tormented by the loss of his innocence and a former lover. Alice is capable as the female lawyer who shows courage in her job and her righteousness and intelligence is worthy of emulation. The professional relationship is soon overwhelmed by emotions and desire, yet the question of whether Lucas is the killer hangs in the balance.

Nightingale's Gate is Linda Francis Lee's most solid effort so far in the trilogy after Dove's Way and Swan's Grace. It soars with an emotional and heart-rendering finale and the propulsive intrigue is galvanizing and gritty to keep you awake throughout the night. Already selected by Amazon.com's editors as one of the top ten historical romance in 2001, this book is a high-flyer with reviewers. It is a gem waiting to be unearthed by astute readers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an exhilarating romantic legal procedural, June 5, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nightingale's Gate (Mass Market Paperback)

In the late nineteenth century Boston, District Attorney Walker Kendall charges the owner of Nightingale's Gate gentleman's club Lucas Hawthorne with murder. The distinguished DA plans to prove in court that the debased Lucas killed hooker Lucille Rouge.

Forced by his brother Grayson to obtain legal council, Lucas visits young lawyer Alice Kendall, daughter of the famous DA. Alice knows she must refuse to accept Lucas as a client though she could use the money. Alice realizes that defending the notorious Lucas will be construed as a conflict of interest. She also knows that she has no experience with homicide cases. Alice concludes that she cannot mount a proper defense. In spite of what she should do, intrigued by Lucas, Alice accepts him as her client. As they work closely together, the virtuous Alice and the depraved Lucas fall in love, but he cannot escape his past.

NIGHTINGALE'S GATE is an exhilarating romantic legal procedural that readers from both genres will relish. The conflict of interest (at least from a modern day perspective) should have halted the heroine's involvement in the case, but once the audience accepts Alice's entry, the plot turns into a stirring historical tale. Lucas is a tormented individual while Alice is a brave person trying to succeed in an exclusively male world. If justice prevails Linda Francis Lee will receive a cache of new readers wanting more historical romantic legal thrillers like this one.

Harriet Klausner