2014. When skeletal remains are discovered in a bathtub concealed in a secret chamber in a London mansion, Quinn’s only clue is a Fabergé necklace that may have belonged to the victim. As she delves into the life of Valentina, a young Russian refugee who came to live in the house after the Russian Revolution, she’s reminded once again that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. 1917. Wealthy, … Wealthy, beautiful, and titled, Valentina has enjoyed a gilded existence, but the winds of change blow across Russia, forever sweeping away the life she knew and bringing unspeakable pain and loss. Thrust into the role of head of the family, Valentina quickly learns that not everyone can be trusted, and sometimes true love can be found in the most unexpected places.
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This series just gets better with each book in the series. I love how Quinn is able to get past obsticles in her own life as well. As do what she does for her work. The Narrator does an astounding job at the voices and personalities. The Author does a fantastic job at bringing to worlds into this read. I am loving this series. I would love to see it on netflix. This is a fantastic audiobook. A definite must listen.
Shauna Joesten
A couple finds a hidden bathroom complete with a skeleton in the tub that is over 100 years old on the outskirts of London. Quinn is asked to investigate and research the history of the building and the skeleton to find the story. Meanwhile, her dealings with her newly found biological relatives is having a few problems. One half-brother is fine, while the other is chemically addicted, and her biological mum is a prevaricator. She manipulates the truth to her benefit, which angers Quinn greatly. This death was probably the least sympathetic of the lot, so far.
In 2014 Quinn is settling into a routine, trying to juggle her work as an archeologist, being a mother two two children, one of whom is a newborn, being a wife, having a social life, and still using the past to investigate murders from long ago. When she’s brought to a London flat, she finds it frozen in the Edwardian ages, but that’s not the strangest part. There’s a skeleton in a clawfoot tub, hidden behind a secret door. Now Quinn is left to use her special talents to find out who the person was, how they died, and who killed them.
In 1917 aristocratic young lady Valentina narrowly escaped Russia with her life, as being well-born was a death sentence in the Revolution. She makes it to London with her mother and younger siblings without the wealth and prestige she once enjoyed. When a relative named Dmitry offers his help, Valentina’s family accepts without considering the secret cost. Who was once to be their savior soon becomes Valentina’s worst nightmare as the family fights for survival in a new land.
Armed with a Fabergè egg necklace, Quinn dives into the past to solve the mystery of the body left to rot in a London flat for a hundred years. But that’s not the one on her mind. The whereabouts of her long lost twin still haunt her and she’s left to wonder who she will find first, the killer or her sister.
I really identified with Quinn in this book as she tried to find a balance in life with a new baby. It’s nice to see a normal character who doesn’t immediately fall into the role of picture perfect mom who has it all without a care. She puts in the work, as all parents do, and it was lovely to see her overcome different challenges. Although most challenges she’s faced so far like a plot to murder her, the reveal of her birth family, and the fact she can see through time are some many people will ever go through.
Valentina’s story was an interesting one. When we think about the Russian Revolution, we usually think about the lost princess Anastasia and the rest of the Romanov family or the wild death of Rasputin. We don’t see much about the aristocrats that managed to hop trains, flee their homes on horseback, or buy their way to a different land, dressed as a peasant. Her struggle to grieve the loss of her former life and her father and fiancé while trying to keep her remaining family afloat was something I can assume many faced when in a supposed safe place. From page one, I worried what would happen to poor Valentina.
Shapiro did a fantastic job weaving in Russian history and facts into a thrilling drama of betrayal and loss. I suppose that shouldn’t be surprising since Shapiro herself was born in Moscow. Still, many authors forgo historical facts to focus more on just the story. She does neither, perfectly pairing the past and present to create a book that doesn’t sacrifice a thing.
I don’t think there will ever be enough praise for this series, which is perfect for lovers of women’s fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, time travel, romance, or just plain good books.
Irina Shapiro has enthralled me with the Echoes from the Past series along with the Wendy Wolfson narrator who tells the story.
Quinn Allenby and her unique abilities to read someone’s past from an object is fascinating, each draws you in and takes you into there life, there joys, sorrows, and the tragedy or misfortune the caused Quinn to be called into the circumstance to begin with.
I also enjoy hearing about Quinn’s life while she is trying to solve a case you see the joys and the sorrows she experiences.
I was given this audible book for a fair and honest review by the author thank you.
I love this series. I was hooked from the first book, and they keep getting better. Keep them coming. 🙂