From gifted new writer Tasha Alexander comes a stunning novel of historical suspense set in Victorian England, meticulously researched and with a twisty plot that involves stolen antiquities, betrayal, and murder
And Only to Deceive
For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when … grand society match. So when Emily’s dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. Emily becomes fascinated with this new image of her dead husband and she immerses herself in all things ancient and begins to study Greek.
Emily’s intellectual pursuits and her desire to learn more about Philip take her to the quiet corridors of the British Museum, one of her husband’s favorite places. There, amid priceless ancient statues, she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret involving stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries. And to complicate matters, she’s juggling two very prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond the marrying kind. As she sets out to solve the crime, her search leads to more surprises about Philip and causes her to question the role in Victorian society to which she, as a woman, is relegated.
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A historical romance (‘behind closed doors’ heat scale) with a wonderful mystery thrown in. A great series, one after another. A wonderful example of a woman who’s more than just arm-candy in the 1800’s. She’s smart too! And the hero? Yum.
I really enjoyed this debut novel in the Lady Emily series! Tasha Alexander uses beautiful prose and imagery to create a world I loved getting lost in. In particular, I loved the way that Lady Emily discovered her deceased husband’s true feelings about her through reading the journals he left behind. Likewise, the mystery is well-done and kept …
This book kicks off Tasha Alexander’s endlessly entertaining series of Lady Emily mysteries, and it sets the tone: both witty and suspenseful, full of characters you’ll want to follow anywhere. Highly recommended.
I love Tasha Alexander’s books. And Only to Deceive is part of a wonderful series that includes a beautiful, smart, strong, wealthy woman as the lead character, an equally competent and interesting man and a whole host of good guys, bad guys, exquisite houses and fashions and an interesting plot. I’m now reading them for the second time.
As always, well-written and clever with engaging characters, mystery , and humor. I’ll read anything she writes.
This was a good book. The setting is the 1800s Victorian England, and Emily is paraded around by her mother to eligible young suitors and some not-so-young, all the time but she turns them down. Until Philip Ashton asks for her hand in marriage. Emily considers this and thinks of her overbearing mother when she says yes to Philip without …
I have read the complete series. This is a well written engaging book. I have definitely fallen in love with the characters and now can’t wait for the next book to become available. So worth your time.
I don’t really care for mysteries I find them mundane but I absolutely love The Lady Emily books. Very good read.
I love this series. This is the first in the series. The books get even better as they continue on to interesting locations as the series progresses.
I really enjoyed this book I am going to read the series!! Off to book two! Have found some of the books in audio!
This book drew me in from the very beginning. Lady Emily felt very much like a kindred spirit, and I know I would have chafed under the rules of the society she lived. I admired her spirit in making the most of her newly widowed state and the reluctance she felt when her period of mourning was up. But it was the delving into the life and death of …
This is a guilty pleasure. The story takes many book to tell. This is just the latest installment.
Appreciate the strong female characters. Plot was believable and entertaining.
Author is overrated.
Love the whole series!
Great read. Good mystery with interesting historical setting.
Love it, love it, love it!!!
I discovered this series recently and I am quickly working my way through all the books. Great characters.
Very good 19th-c historical romance series with a feisty heroine who is into sleuthing – loses one husband and gains another. Fun adventures in different European countries as the series progresses.
This book, And Only to Deceive written by Tasha Alexander, is entertaining and well written with wonderful character that are also very entertaining and it is a page-turner that is action-packed. Lady Emily’s mother is push, domineering and verbally abusive towards her daughter, the father is a doormat towards his wife. The other characters …