‘A Poisoned Season’ by Tasha Alexander
Published by HarperCollins ISBN 978-0-06-117421-6

The first book about Lady Emily Ashton contained a very unusual love story and an exciting mystery.  This second adventure is equally challenging as the Victorian London season is enlivened by the activities of an audacious burglar who takes only items associated with the French Queen Marie Antoinette.  Emily becomes the target of gossip and her mother has to step in to protect her reputation thus enabling her to attempt to force her widowed daughter into the conventional path of action.  The presence in London of a man who claims to be the direct descendant of  Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette adds to the complexities of the situation.   Emily must unmask the thief when one of  the owners of a valuable item that once belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette is murdered. Since the mysterious thief has developed an obsession with her she must also unmask him as her stalker.

The story’s setting in high society shows the Victorian attitudes particularly towards women.  The mystery becomes very complicated with unexpected twists and turns but eventually the delectable Emily wins through!  The reappearance of characters from the first book is enjoyable but this book can easily be read by someone unfamiliar with the earlier tale.  Emily may seem, at first to be involved with a relatively minor mystery but it escalates into a series of serious matters indeed. This is a good read.

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Jennifer S. Palmer

And Not Only to Deceive was the first book about Lady Emily Ashton.  The third adventure A Fatal Waltz is also available and a fourth book will be published in September 2009 - Tears of Pearl.  Besides her Victorian stories about Emily, Tasha Alexander has also written Elizabeth: the Golden Age for the film.