Publishers Weekly
01/11/2021
Alexander’s lively 15th Lady Emily mystery (after 2020’s In the Shadow of Vesuvius) takes Emily and her intelligence agent husband, Colin Hargreaves, in 1903 to Florence, Italy, to investigate a break-in at the Palazzo di Vieri, the home of Colin’s daughter, along with Emily’s friend Cécile du Lac, an elegant Parisian with a passion for champagne and bohemian sensibilities. Meanwhile, the body of an informant associated with Darius Benton-Stone, Colin’s fellow agent, has been discovered in the palazzo’s courtyard. While Colin and Darius investigate, Emily and Cécile keep themselves busy visiting the sights and doing some digging of their own into the dead man’s background. They also discover that the Palazzo di Vieri is believed to contain a secret treasure. Could the man have been searching for it? Flashbacks to late 15th-century Florence ratchet up the tension and provide answers to the present-day goings-on. Alexander effortlessly slips an enormous amount of Florentine history into a narrative that offers a loving portrait of the city and just the right amount of dashing derring-do. This series remains as fresh as ever. Agent: Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Assoc. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
Alexander brings both early Renaissance and Edwardian-era Florence to life, with well researched references to Florentine history, literature, and art.” –Booklist
“Lady Emily Hargreaves returns to Italy in 1903 in a tale of murder, espionage, and hidden treasure…Historical background adds depth to a complex, exciting mystery.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Lively…Alexander effortlessly slips an enormous amount of Florentine history into a narrative that offers a loving portrait of the city and just the right amount of dashing derring-do. This series remains as fresh as ever.” —Publishers Weekly
Praise for In the Shadow of Vesuvius:
"Alexander’s precise attention to historical details invests her series about Lady Emily Hargreaves with an unshakeable background that she expertly weaves into solid plots…[her] skills shine in In the Shadow of Vesuvius…pitch-perfect." —Sun-Sentinel
"Tasha Alexander brings both eras to life through meticulous research, and the dual stories come together in a chilling finale. Scenes set among the ruins of Pompeii and in the city pre-disaster have such depth that it feels like we’re walking directly into them. This is an urbane thriller with a big heart." —Bookpage
“[Evokes] the setting’s rich history…lovers of classical culture should be pleased.” —Publishers Weekly
“A captivating story of Pompeii... engaging.” —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Uneasy Lies the Crown:
“Readers are in the author’s trustworthy hands, and the working out of the puzzle will delight mystery and history buffs alike.” —Booklist
Praise for Death in St. Petersburg:
"Alexander is at the top of her game...(her) impeccable research and smart storytelling keep readers on the edge of their seats...A gripping tale by a grand mistress of the genre."—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)
Praise for the Lady Emily Mysteries:
“Tasha Alexander has created Victorian London's most colorful and delightfully eccentric sleuth.” —Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs Series
“Consistently witty, smart, and entertaining.”—Booklist
Library Journal
10/01/2020
In 1903, Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, an agent of the Crown, travel to Florence to follow up burglaries at his daughter's palazzo. Upon arrival, they are greeted by a violent death—and soon dig up dark secrets dating back to the Medicis that have bearing on contemporary politics. With a 40,000-copy first printing.
Kirkus Reviews
2020-12-26
Lady Emily Hargreaves, Alexander’s durable heroine, returns to Italy in 1903 in a tale of murder, espionage, and hidden treasure.
Colin Hargreaves, Lady Emily’s husband, recently discovered a daughter, Katharina von Lang, whose existence had been unknown to him. As tensions with Germany increase, Colin, an agent of the British crown, is assigned to a case in Florence, where Katharina owns a villa inherited from her mother. Visiting her provides cover for Colin as he, Emily, and her friend Cécile du Lac meet with Colin’s colleague Darius Benton-Smith. The villa is well guarded by faithful servants, but its peace is shattered by the murder of one of Benton-Smith’s sources. A maid reveals that the house holds secrets going back 400 years to the time of Savonarola, who railed against the rich and destroyed many artworks. Emily and Cécile are intrigued by both the murder and the many clues written on the walls of the villa, which purport to lead to a mysterious treasure. Even though Colin can’t confide in her, Emily resolves to investigate. Her first step is to learn more about the villa and its former inhabitants. Alternating chapters explore the life of Mina Portinari, one of these tenants, whose grandfather exposed her to radical ideas and more education than most young women could dream of in 1480. Her story becomes deeply intertwined with the hidden treasure as Emily and Cécile put their lives in danger searching for clues.
Historical background adds depth to a complex, exciting mystery.
