Political Death [Paperback]

Antonia Fraser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

When the wayward lady Imogen Swain summons journalist Jemima Shore to her home, Jemima once again finds herself in the thick of love affairs--old and new--intrigue, and betrayal. For the colorful Lady Imogen kept diaries documenting her passionate affair with a rising young politician who has since risen to high ranks in the government. Increasingly eccentric as the years have passed, Lady Imogen now threatens to reveal details of the affair, and of the subsequent and unsolved disappearance of a young journalist. Jemima's meeting with Lady Imogen is the first step in a sinister series of events which will remind the reader why Antonia Fraser is the reigning queen of murder--British style!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lady Imogen Swain, once a Cecil Beaton beauty, now annoys Harrod's employees by trying to return 30-year-old ball gowns in this highly civilized, unexpectedly tepid tale of political doings in Britain. During a particularly nasty general election campaign, Lady Imogen decides to tell the world what she knows about the infamous "Faber Mystery," a political scandal as old as her wardrobe. She invites Jemina Shore, TV's consummately professional investigative journalist, to her dilapidated townhouse to reveal what happened to Franklyn Faber, who vanished without a trace in the middle of his 1964 trial for selling state secrets. Could his fate, which has baffled the nation for decades, be described in one of the diaries Lady Imogen presses into her hands? Initially inclined to think not, Shore changes her mind later that evening when, after reading a few passages, it becomes clear that Lady Imogen, as former mistress to one of the players in the scandal who is currently up for reelection, does indeed know whereof she speaks. Unfortunately, the answer rests in one of the other diaries, which goes missing after Lady Imogen falls to her death that same night from her rickety balcony. Her disaffected daughters and her former lover's children are among the suspects in an intelligent tale that is filled with atmosphere but whose characters seem a bit remote.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

The multitalented Fraser (The Wives of Henry VIII, LJ 12/92) seems to have found a niche with her mystery series featuring British journalist Jemima Shore. Here, Shore meets a colorful doyenne who claims to have had an affair with a powerful politician.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Crimeline (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553572032
• ISBN-13: 978-0553572032
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.5 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating look at murder in the past, February 9, 2000

By 

Scott E Amundsen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Political Death (Paperback)

Lady Antonia displays her interest in history by focusing this book on a murder in the distant past. As always, Jemima Shore finds herself surrounded by a cast of fascinating, eccentric characters, almost any of whom could be a murderer. Fraser is remarkably good at creating vivid characters, and none perhaps so vivid as Jemima Shore herself. Fraser is a great mystery writer; if you are an Agatha Christie fan, check out Antonia Fraser; you're in for a treat!