Synopsis
Set in the lush countryside of Normandy, France, this new novel of suspense featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves is filled with intrigue, romance, mysterious deaths, and madness.
Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-law's beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out riding a horse, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girl's wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.
Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling chateau in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: she hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the child's wake. As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim.
Library Journal
After losing their unborn child and nearly losing her life as well in Tears of Pearl, Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are visiting his mother in Normandy. It's meant to provide Emily time to regain her mental and physical strength, but a somewhat unfriendly mother-in-law and a ghost story she can't dismiss as untrue leave Emily feeling tense. Finding the horribly mutilated body of a young woman and working to discover how the victim made it so far from anyone or anyplace familiar bring new dangers and return old friends to Emily's life. Will this investigation offer a fresh start or a tragic end for the Hargreaveses? The novel begins slowly, effectively mimicking Emily's mind-set with its slower pace and meandering progression. As Emily begins to reengage with the world around her, the story also flows better, and the ending provides great satisfaction for the protagonists and readers. VERDICT This is still a strong series for fans of historical mysteries featuring independent young ladies. However, Alexander's latest entry doesn't stand as well on its own; newbies should start with the earlier books (And Only To Deceive; A Fatal Waltz).—Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH