Book Review And Giveaway - A Fatal Waltz

A Fatal Waltz

Author: Tasha Alexander
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (May 20, 2008)

Book Description :

At her friend Ivy's behest, Emily reluctantly agrees to attend a party at the sprawling English country estate of Lord Fortescue, a man she finds as odious as he is powerful. But if Emily is expecting Lord Fortescue to be the greatest of her problems, she is wrong. Her host has also invited Kristiana von Lange, an Austrian countess who was once linked romantically with Emily's fiancé, the debonair Colin Hargreaves. What Emily believes will be a tedious evening turns deadly when Fortescue is found murdered, and his protégé, Robert Brandon—Ivy's husband—is arrested for the crime.


Determined to right this terrible wrong and clear Robert's name, Emily begins to dig for answers, a quest that will lead her from London's glittering ballrooms to Vienna's sordid backstreets. Not until she engages a notorious anarchist in a game of wits does the shocking truth begin to emerge: the price of exonerating Robert can be paid only by placing Colin in deadly peril. To save her fiancé, Emily must do the unthinkable: bargain with her nemesis, the Countess von Lange.

Review

Filled with history and intrigue, this entertaining book introduced me to one plucky amateur sleuth, Lady Emily Ashton, in a time when such things were not only forbidden to ladies of noble breeding but also grounds for social stigma. This is not the first of Emily’s adventures, but it’s the first one I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The suspense begins from the first chapter where Emily is shocked to realize the weekend party she’s been invited to also counts among its guests one of her fiancé Colin’s former lovers, invited especially by their conniving host, Lord Fortescue, to cause friction between them. At once curious, suspicious, irritated and despondent, Emily has her work cut out for her even as events show every sign of going from bad to worse. And they do.

While the *whodunit* part of the mystery is easily solved, the intrigue produced by characterizations, settings and authentic events woven expertly into this fictional setting, last the span of the novel. From London to Austria, the events take Emily from one dangerous setting to another. The author is in her element when describing Vienna, a city with two faces. One is all charm and fun with artists, poets and musicians flocking its cafes, even as fairyland-like balls keep the denizens giddy with constant delight, all in a setting of winter wonderland. And then there is the contrasting dark side - a deadly epidemic of so-called suicides have become the city’s shameful hallmark, having even claimed the life of an Austrian prince, the Empress’ favorite son. Together with poverty, anarchists, spies and traitorous plots, Vienna is probably also the deadliest place for Emily to be.

The two major characters besides Emily are her fiancé Colin Hargreaves, a spy, and his former lover, Countess von Lange. The resulting love triangle adds an intriguing facet to the story, particularly when contrasted between the smoldering sexuality and worldliness of the foreign Countess against Emily’s more sedate ‘English-ness’, naivety and scholarliness. But there’s also no denying the blazing sexual tension between Emily and Colin that threatens to overpower them at times. The situation is conveniently resolved towards the end. Too conveniently it seemed to me, but the author manages to make it work by giving the characters a chance to experience catharsis through it.

Side characters are many and play small but significant roles. I particularly enjoyed reading the romance unfolding between Emily’s bluestocking friend Margaret and Oxford don, Mr. Michaels, told almost entirely through letters. I fully feel this couple deserves a story of their own.

In short

A must-read, if you like historical romantic suspense

Here's the GIVEAWAY!

- Two lucky winners will walk away with a copy of this book.
- US and Canada only
(sorry, international readers. However, my other book giveaway is open worldwide! ends May 31)
- Ends 5 am CST, June 15

I thought I'd make it a fun thing to enter, an idea borrowed from The Page Flipper.

1.) Leave comment with the name of a book and it's author (of any genre or age group) and here's the catch - the title HAS to have the words 'dance' or 'fatal' or 'waltz' in it. It just has to be in the title. And it must be something other than the book I'm giving away :)

2.) Comment as many times as you like. But you can only comment again AFTER at least one other person has commented. (So, keep checking back. The more you comment, the more your chances of winning)

3) DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDY WITH at least one of your comments.

It's not necessary, but I'd highly appreciate it if entrants spread the word about this giveaway either by blogging it or emailing other bookworms about it. I'll send a lot of virtual blessings your way, if you do :)

Good luck!


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