Ell Potter's narration of this story is dynamic. And Sarah Ferguson's (the Duchess of Windsor) excitement for listeners to embark on this adventure is evident in her bright voice in the author's note. Lady Mary would rather explore the countryside than attend elite dinner parties, and her reputation as the mousy youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch is one she uses to her advantage. As Mary discretely sleuths for high society, she begins a captivating romance with a British Intelligence Service member. Potter has a flair for the dramatic, and her pace quickens during climactic moments, especially when she employs scandalized tones that reflect the mores of Victorian London. Potter's posh British accent and lively Scottish brogue showcase her expertise with international characters. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
A Most Intriguing Lady: A Novel
Narrated by Sarah Ferguson, Ell Potter
Sarah FergusonUnabridged — 12 hours, 42 minutes
A Most Intriguing Lady: A Novel
Narrated by Sarah Ferguson, Ell Potter
Sarah FergusonUnabridged — 12 hours, 42 minutes
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Overview
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
From Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, a sweeping, romantic compulsively readable historical saga about a Duke's daughter-the perfect Victorian lady-who secretly moonlights as an amateur sleuth for high society's inner circle.
Victorian London was notorious for its pickpockets. But in the country houses of the elite, gentleman burglars, art thieves and con men preyed on the rich and titled. Wealthy victims-with their pride and reputation at stake-would never go to the police. What they needed was a society insider, one of their own, a person of discretion and finely tuned powers of observation, adept at navigating intrigue.
That person was Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the youngest child of Queen Victoria's close friends the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Bookish, fiercely intelligent, and a keen observer, Mary has deliberately cultivated a mousey persona that allows her to remain overlooked and significantly underestimated by all. It's the perfect cover for a sleuth, a role she stumbles into when trying to assist a close friend during a house party hosted by her parents at their stately Scottish home, Drumlanrig Castle.
It is at this party where Lady Mary also meets Colonel Walter Trefusis, a distinguished and extremely handsome war veteran. Tortured by memories of combat, Walter, like Mary, lives a double life, with a desk job in Whitehall providing a front for his role in the British Intelligence Service. The two form an unlikely alliance to solve a series of audacious crimes-and indulge in a highly charged on-off romance.
Pacy, romantic, and fun, A Most Intriguing Lady documents one remarkable woman's ability to be both the perfect lady, and a perfectly talented detective...and, of course, to find love too.
Editorial Reviews
★ 01/30/2023
This superior blend of mystery and romance from the Duchess of York (Her Heart for a Compass) introduces Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the younger daughter of close friends of Queen Victoria, who chafes at being expected to adhere to her era’s rigid restrictions on women. She gets an opportunity to exercise her intellect and knowledge of human nature in 1872 when her parents host a party at a family home on the Scottish Borders. When a guest is distraught by the theft of her jewel-festooned brooch, Lady Mary solves the mystery, and this personally rewarding experience leads to other cases. By 1875, her reputation for handling sensitive inquiries discreetly—including probing the theft of charitable funds and the burglary of an aristocrat’s safe concealed in her sitting room—has led to a secret life as a problem-solver for high society. Her detective work coincides with her growing interest in Col. Walter Trefusis, a 34-year-old war veteran who leads a covert life of his own. The author never lets the romantic plotline dominate and plausibly depicts the struggles of a capable woman who empowers herself to achieve her own potential. Claudia Gray fans will welcome a sequel. Agent: Lacy Lynch, Dupree/Miller & Assoc. (Mar.)
"A fantastic historical mystery with plenty of passion as you would expect from the Duchess of York. A triumph!" — Roma Downey OBE, actress, producer and New York Times bestselling author
"A rollicking, romantic tale of love and intrigue in aristocratic Victorian Scotland. Sarah Ferguson’s fascinatingly detailed novel kept me turning the pages as it’s very entertaining." — Dame Joan Collins
"She’s done it again, and I bet this one will be even more successful." — Jeffrey Archer
“A tale of daring and determination, set against the glamorous heights, and the harsh restrictions of aristocratic society in the middle years of the British nineteenth century." — Sir Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, on Her Heart for a Compass
“[An] intriguing coming-of-age story fans of historical drama are sure to enjoy…the novel…[paints] a rich, believable picture of nineteenth-century life.” — USA Today on Her Heart for a Compass
"Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has delivered to readers a brilliant and glittering jewel of a novel, replete with fascinating historical detail, lush lyrical language, and compelling, complex characters who leap from the page. I was wholly swept away by this story, wishing to race through its gripping plot while also lingering to relish each delicious page. This beautiful novel heralds the entry of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, as the new leading voice in Historical Fiction." — Allison Pataki, New York Times Bestselling author of The Queen’s Fortune, on Her Heart for a Compass
“Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has looked deep into her own generous impulsive heart to write a compelling story of a young woman who rebels against the restrictive Victorian conventions of her time to find self-fulfillment and love.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Archer on Her Heart for a Compass
“Fans of Downton Abbey will revel in everything they love about a big, fat 19th-century yarn.” — Kirkus Reviews on Her Heart for a Compass
"Captivating...A debut historical novel of thought-provoking escapism. The pages turn swiftly." — Booklist
A fantastic historical mystery with plenty of passion as you would expect from the Duchess of York. A triumph!”
A rollicking, romantic tale of love and intrigue in aristocratic Victorian Scotland. Sarah Ferguson’s fascinatingly detailed novel kept me turning the pages as it’s very entertaining.”
A rollicking, romantic tale of love and intrigue in aristocratic Victorian Scotland. Sarah Ferguson’s fascinatingly detailed novel kept me turning the pages as it’s very entertaining.”
A fantastic historical mystery with plenty of passion as you would expect from the Duchess of York. A triumph!”
A tale of daring and determination, set against the glamorous heights, and the harsh restrictions of aristocratic society in the middle years of the British nineteenth century."
"Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has delivered to readers a brilliant and glittering jewel of a novel, replete with fascinating historical detail, lush lyrical language, and compelling, complex characters who leap from the page. I was wholly swept away by this story, wishing to race through its gripping plot while also lingering to relish each delicious page. This beautiful novel heralds the entry of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, as the new leading voice in Historical Fiction."
[An] intriguing coming-of-age story fans of historical drama are sure to enjoy…the novel…[paints] a rich, believable picture of 19th-century life.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has looked deep into her own generous impulsive heart to write a compelling story of a young woman who rebels against the restrictive Victorian conventions of her time to find self-fulfillment and love.
"Captivating...A debut historical novel of thought-provoking escapism. The pages turn swiftly."
"Captivating...A debut historical novel of thought-provoking escapism. The pages turn swiftly."
Ell Potter's narration of this story is dynamic. And Sarah Ferguson's (the Duchess of Windsor) excitement for listeners to embark on this adventure is evident in her bright voice in the author's note. Lady Mary would rather explore the countryside than attend elite dinner parties, and her reputation as the mousy youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch is one she uses to her advantage. As Mary discretely sleuths for high society, she begins a captivating romance with a British Intelligence Service member. Potter has a flair for the dramatic, and her pace quickens during climactic moments, especially when she employs scandalized tones that reflect the mores of Victorian London. Potter's posh British accent and lively Scottish brogue showcase her expertise with international characters. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2022-12-24
Against a backdrop of upper-class Victorian life, a quiet young woman turns out to be a talented sleuth.
A second collaboration between the Duchess of York and historical romance writer Marguerite Kaye focuses on the younger sister of their original creation, again a real person about whom very little is known. The book proceeds in a series of episodes set between 1872 and 1877, over which time the romance between Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, age 21 at the outset, and one Col. Walter Trefusis, is sparked and proceeds to its real-life outcome. This time out, the imaginary nature of these episodes seems more noticeable. The plot hinges on Lady Mary's unusual ability to sense the character and thoughts of others, enabling her to solve domestic mysteries of one sort and another. The most well-developed and believable of these incidents is the first, in which Lady Mary, with Col. Trefusis' support, finds a noblewoman's missing brooch, presumed stolen. Though Trefusis and she clearly begin to fall in love, stubborn obstacles in their own personalities will (of course) keep them apart. A woman as out of kilter with the conventions of her time as was her older sister, Mary is determined to avoid matrimony in any case. "Can't you understand, Mama? I don't want to be a dutiful wife. I don't want to have to love, honour and obey a husband at any price. I don't wish to be an—an appendage to my husband. I want to be something more than simply a wife." She will get her chance. In a final incident, Lady Mary gets theatrical training and goes undercover to solve a theft of documents of national importance lost by her friend the colonel in the course of his mysterious employment. This giddy episode includes some fun moments with a Victorian girl gang and its scar-faced, carrot-topped leader, Queenie Divers.
Richly evokes the estates, house parties, and diversions of the Victorian period.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940176224566 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins |
| Publication date: | 03/07/2023 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Sales rank: | 933,419 |
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