Customer Reviews

Nightingale's Gate

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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.

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.

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

This book was an accidental find for me, but I am really glad I came across it. It is a fabulous story focusing on a courtroom drama, but it contains many elements that kept me riveted right to the last moment. Troubled hero, unloved heroine, father-daughter relationship that has gone awry, a woman trying to make her way in a man's world...as well as a beautiful romance and suspenseful thriller...what more could you want?! My only complaint was I felt the ending was rushed and the relationship between Alice and her father was not properly dealt with, in my opinion. I also was sad that Lee did not pay enough attention to the relationship between the Lucas' parents - it had been explored so well in "Swan's Way" and I was disappointed in the lack of details Lee gave us about how they got back together again. Having said that, it kept me enthralled - highly recommended.

I loved this book so much that I tracked down all of the other books by Linda Francis Lee and even found her online. One of the best books I have ever read with amazing twists and turns!

This was a great romance. There were a few predictable parts as with most romances but the ending was not what I expected! Over all the book is really good and I have read it more than once!
I would recomend reading the other two books in the series first so you know who everyone is ect.

Nightingale's Gate is the final book in the trilogy by Linda Francis Lee, and it is a fitting finale for this fascinating series. Lee presents the story of the third Hawthorne brother, Lucas, and his journey to find love. Filled with intrigue and suspense and enhanced by it's wonderful romantic thread, Nightingale's Gate is perhaps the best story of the trilogy. I'm sorry to see this one end, but was happy to see that Lee wraps up her storyline with the inclusion of the other Hawthorne brothers and updates on their lives and loves. I highly recommend all three books, Dove's Way, Swan's Grace and Nightingale's Gate.

Sharon Galligar Chance Times Record News

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

Having read SWAN'S GRACE, I was a little leary of reading this book but did so at the constant urging of a good reading buddy. I really enjoyed this book and found it much better than its predecessor. Lucas and Alice are both wonderful, but I still had a lot of questions at the end that I won't go into since people reading this review may not have read the book yet. The story grabs you and keeps you interested, I just wondered if everything was "wrapped up" as it could/should have been. Overall, a very good book.

. . . that never lets you out of its grip. NIGHTINGALE'S GATE kept me up all night. The fast-paced story pulled me into the lives of its suspects as I tried to guess the identity of the real killer. Suspsense, well-drawn characters and scorching love scenes--what else could you ask for?! Ms. Lee's latest is not to be missed.