With a return to the Victorian era, Tasha Alexander has us enter the world of Lady Emily Ashton. A young widow just emerging from mourning, Emily has decided not to let society dictate her behavior any more. She married to get away from a managing mother. Her marriage ended abruptly with the unexpected death of her husband while on a safari in Africa. Emily is determined to spend the rest of her life as a widow.

Still in half mourning, Emily has spent her time learning Greek and earning a greater appreciation for the antiquities her husband collected. She spends time tracking down Greek and Roman artifacts and urging owners to donate them to the British Museun.

At the same time, she is attending what events are fitting to her state of mourning. When she meets the latest pretender to the French throne, Charles Berry, Emily will be drawn into the mystery surrounding his claims to be the last living descendant of Louis the XVI and Marie Antionette. The ton is rife with rumors about the boorish young man from America and the scandal of the burglar who is stealing artifacts that once belonged to Marie Antionette.

Mr. Colin Hargreaves, her husband's best friend, is working hard to undermine Emily's intention not to marry again.

Despite Emily's best intentions, she finds herself drawn into the investigation of these events upon the death of a quiet gentlemen who lived an unassuming life. Emily will find herself at the mercy of viperous tongues of society as she fends off the unwelcome attentions of Mr. Berry.

With the help of her friends and her suitor, Colin, Emily will identify the killer and discover a secret which has been kept for many years.

Be prepared to find yourself in a world of horse-drawn carriages and railroads as you pick up the sequel to Ms. Alexander's acclaimed debut novel, And Only to Deceive. You will struggle with Emily as she fights to overcome the strictures of society and maintain her interests and independence. The cast of characters is full of well-drawn personalities starting with Emily and Colin.

I delved into this book with great anticipation and my hopes were fulfilled as I followed the adventures of Emily and Colin. Ms. Alexander has brought the Victorian era to life without burdening us with too much history. Her language and characters increase the feeling that we are living in the 19th century. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

This review is from the hardcover edition.

Book Summary

London's social season is in full swing, and Victorian aristocracy can't stop whispering about a certain gentleman who claims to be the direct descendant of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. But he's not the only topic of wagging tongues. Drawing rooms, boudoirs, and ballrooms are abuzz with the latest news of an audacious cat burglar who has been systematically stealing valuable items that once belonged to the ill-fated queen.

Light gossip turns serious when the owner of one of the pilfered treasures is found murdered, and the mysterious thief develops a twisted obsession with Lady Emily Ashton. It will take all of Emily's wit and perseverance to unmask her stalker and ferret out the murderer, while faced with a brewing scandal that threatens both her reputation and her romance with her late husband's best friend, the dashing Colin Hargreaves.