"A Must-read Mesmerizing Historical Suspense"

It's the year 1817. Napoleon has been routed and there are celebrations everywhere in London. There is gaiety galore at the party at Glenister House too, but of an artificial variety. Charles Fraser, former spy and current Member of Parliament, and his beautiful, exotic wife Mélanie are the subject of much gossip due to their hurried and unconventional marriage. When the Marquis of Glenister announces the engagement of his niece Honoria to Charles' father Kenneth that night, no one is more shocked than Charles, who shares a mysterious past with Honoria.

Soon a troubled Charles and somewhat jealous Mélanie are forced to put aside their personal conflicts when an old spy-friend is killed, but not before he gasps out a few dying words about a sinister organization called the Elsinore League. The couple are dumbfounded when they discover that the league is somehow connected to Honoria. When the house party held at the Fraser estate of Dunmykel to celebrate the recent engagement culminates with a gruesome death, Charles is asked to investigate. The more this intrepid couple discover, the more baffled they are. With no solution in sight, the house party is ripped apart as shocking secrets come to light, and the body count mounts.

Author Tracy Grant has created a spectacular mystery within a mystery in this wonderful book. But that's not the only highlight of this complex book. The authentic period details are integrated seamlessly into the fabric of the story and add luster to an already immaculate narrative. A large, well-developed character cast provides plenty of red herrings and motivations galore. The continuing difficult relationship between Charles and Mélanie is but one of many interpersonal conflicts which form the crux of the novel. Adventure, suspense, romance, passion, tragedy -- Tracy Grant combines them all beautifully to form a compelling and expertly crafted story.

Some loose ends aren't tied up tidily towards the end of the story, giving rise to the hope that yet another Charles and Mélanie Fraser mystery will soon be in the offing.

Reviewed by Rashmi Srinivas
Posted March 27, 2004

Summary

The task had taken shape thanks to the end of a war and the inconvenient way secrets had of bubbling to the surface. It went without saying that it was going to be difficult. But then murder always was . . .