A Dragon statue. An ancient sword. What treasure is worth killing for?It’s 1927 in Victoria, Australia. A hedonistic time after the Great War when young people knew they could enjoy life without the threat of war hanging over them. A time when women have more options opened to them.Alexandra Thornton was born in to a wealthy pastoralist family, who made their money on the land, the Victorian … the land, the Victorian goldfields and in antiques. Alexandra decides to break the news to her father that she wants to be an antiques dealer, like him, her grandfather and great-grandfather before her.
There is a weekend house party at Thornton Park and Alexandra thinks it will be a good time to speak to her father.
Only a small number of people are invited. Amongst the guests is Zhang Huo, the Chinese antiques dealer who, with his son, has brought a Ming dragon statue from China for Thomas Thornton.
Benedict Archer, who is manager of Thornton Antiques in Melbourne and who has been secretly helping Alexandra learn more about her family business, is also invited. Alexandra asks Benedict and Edith Blackburn, her friend since childhood, to be with her when she approaches her father.
When Edith claims that Benedict is in love with her, Alexandra can’t believe it. In all the time they’d been at Thornton Antiques together, he’d never said a word. Can it be true?
The first evening starts well with the unveiling of the Ming dragon statue. Love blossoms when, dancing after dinner to the melody of Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust, Alexandra looks at Benedict in a new light.
The next day, Thomas Thornton shows Mr Zhang the items that his grandfather, Thomas Senior, brought from Hong Kong. The Antiques Dealer’s interest focuses on a sword and he insists it should be on display. It has a dragon’s open mouth on the hilt as if it’s about to swallow the blade. Mr Zhang claims the sword is Yazi, the dragon who likes to kill.
Then a body is found in the orchard, the Ming dragon has blood on its claw and, before the weekend is over, a priceless artefact is stolen.
Alexandra is determined to discover how the Ming dragon is connected to the antiques her great-grandfather brought with him from Hong Kong so many years ago.
As layers of the mystery are peeled away, Alexandra uncovers an eighty-year-old secret but it is soon apparent that her life is in danger.
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Alexandra Thornton comes from a successful family who deals in antiques. Women hadn’t been given many opportunities previously in this period of time, but Alexandra is smart and determined that she wants to actually work in her family’s antique business. The Manager of their Thornton Antiques business, Benedict Archer, has been secretly teaching her everything she needs to know. She finally decides that she will break the news to her father, at the planned weekend house party at Thornton Park, that she is ready to become an antiques dealer and work for him.
The shocking discovery of a body hidden in the orchard, and a priceless artifact being stolen from her family, spurs Alexandra’s determination to find whether there is a connection between these incidents. Why would there be blood on the claws of a Ming dragon statue her father was recently given? Apparently there has been a secret kept in the darkness at Thornton Park – and Alexandra intends to find out what it is!
Grab your copy and join the exciting action-packed mystery that Alexandra will attempt to solve! Will it put her in danger? Or will she prove herself as she races along in the story line that will keep the reader guessing!
Wow, I felt like I’d been placed in the hands of a masterful storyteller with Ellen Read! In The Dragon Sleeps, the author gives us an expert view into 1920s Australia, which I personally found fascinating. Alexandra is the daughter of a wealthy antiques dealer. She greatly admires her father and grandfather and desires to be a part of the business—not an acceptable job for a woman during this time period. Unbeknownst to her father, Alexandra has convinced their new young employee to teach her about their antique business. Not surprisingly, there just might be a romance blooming between Alexandra and Benedict.
The story begins at the Thornton family home. They are hosting several couples who carry more than a passing interest in some of the antiques stored at their residence. It is here we are introduced to Alexandra and her best friend Edie, and we also learn Alexandra might be developing strong feelings for Benedict. But the budding romance is only a small part of this story, one full of deceit, greed and murder. The hot topic is a brass dragon an antiques dealer named Mr. Zhang sold to Thomas Thornton. When one of the Thornton’s employees is brutally murdered, claw marks visible on his body, some believe the dragon may have come to life. This is especially puzzling when they find blood on the dragon’s claws.
I quite enjoyed the mystery involved in this story, both with the antiques themselves and the murders taking place around them. The author kept me guessing as to the true murderer (and their motive) right up until the end. Never once did I question the authority about the time period Ellen Read dropped us in, nor her expert knowledge of Ming Dynasty antiques. For those who enjoy murder mystery, detective types, you can’t go wrong with The Dragon Sleeps. I’m looking forward to the next adventure in this series.
I recieved a copy through voracious readers in exchange for a free review.
I love mystery novels. This is a ‘Cozy Mystery’ like Agartha Christy.
It takes you back into 1920’s Australia. It is a very well written book.
It has mystery and suspense that will keep you gripped from start till finish
The Dragon Sleeps is a wonderfully written novel about romance/mystery. I used to read murder mysteries and suspense novels and reading this story reminded me why.
From Sherlock Holmes to Agatha Christie, the glorious, old-fashioned crime scene unravels, as Alexandra and her admirer team up to discover the truth behind the murders hiding in Thornton Park.
Alexandra, an independent heroine explores not only clues toward the truth, but also her feelings about Benedict Archer!
But wait, any novel needs a best friend to banter and gossip with, right? Read doesn’t fall short, the relationship between Alexandra and Edith is delightfully charming and witty; love them!
Dining in elegance, on the edge of your seat suspense, unraveling, twisting; a must read.
No spoilers here (I hate that!)
Enjoyable and worthy of 5 stars! Get your copy now! I have two, kindle/hardback!
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Priceless treasures, a mangled body, and a mystery dating back to her ancestor drives Alexandra to find the truth, even though it may put her best friend, her mentor and her in grave danger. The Dragon Sleeps was an intriguing novel that I enjoyed and recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Dragon Sleeps is the first book in The Thornton Mysteries series. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one in the series!
The author has obviously done her research into the 1920s era in Australia and the descriptions are wonderfully evocative. The characters are well developed, intelligent, and likable. The storyline is well written and captured my attention from the beginning, with murder, art, antiquities, a Ming dragon, suspense, intrigue, and some romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A family with a number of Antique and collectible stores. Ancestors who have lingering presence in their home.
This historical adventure has mystery, relic thefts, mild paranormal and romantic elements and strong, daring women un afraid to fight.
Awesome historical adventure and romance
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.