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Loading... And Only to Deceiveby Tasha Alexander
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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. This was okay, but I was disappointed in the ending. Don't remember much of it now... (  )kayceel | Jul 2, 2009 |   A nice book, in the same style as Stealing Athena in the ambiance of Victorian period. (  )Lnatal | Jun 23, 2009 | I very much enjoyed And Only to Deceive not because it was an extremely strong mystery or suspence but for the characters. Althought the women do not follow any norms in society for the victorian era, that is what I loved so much about them. Lady Ashton first is not interested in getting married, then doesn't fall for her husband until after she is widowed only then to be convinced that he may not have died after all. Lady Ashton with the help of her equally unconvential girlfriends must solve the mystery of her husbands life leading up to his dealth to discover if her he is alive or dead. (  )deep220 | Jun 19, 2009 | I enjoy Anne Perry's Victorian era mysteries, and I see many similarities in Tasha Alexander's writing style. This novel is the debut of Lady Emily Ashton, a Victorian young lady with attitudes that are far too unconventional for conservative 19th century sensibilities. While she does really nothing that would shock a modern day reader, for her time she pushes the envelope too far. Shortly after her marriage of convenience to Philip, the Viscount Ashton, Lady Emily is widowed after her husband apparently succumbs to an illness during an African hunt. Since her husband was virtually a stranger to her and they were newlywed, Emily feels no real grief for his death and seems to enjoy her newfound "freedom." Widowhood allows her to pursue her intellectual interests such as critically analyzing the writings of Homer, studying antiquities in the British museum, and learning Greek. After finding Philip's personal journals, Emily embarks on a journey to learn more about the husband she never knew; she also discovers the existence of forgeries in the British Museum's antiquities collection and fears there is a connection with her late husband. She is also pursued for courtship by two gentlemen -- one or both may be putting her life in danger. While I found the pace slow at times and the mystery not that compelling, I found the writing to be charming and elegant. I would not classify this novel as a "suspense thriller," -- it is strong on period detail and short on suspense. (  )joannesliceoflife | Jun 7, 2009 | 1  And Only to Deceive is the first Lady Emily Ashton novel; there are three out right now and a fourth, I believe, coming out in the fall. Emily, also known as “Kallista,” has been widowed for over a year, when she decides to study what her late husband was passionate about: Greek antiquities. She inadvertently stumbles into an investigation into what may have been murder. I admit I’ve been spoiled by Deanna Raybourn’s novels. Raybourn really knows how to create a great historical setting, intriguing characters, and a believable mystery. And Only to Deceive, I think, is a lighter version of the Lady Julia Grey mysteries. I noticed, though, that in several places, especially the proposal scenes, the author lifts lines directly from Jane Austen! I enjoyed the story—it’s fast-paced and fun—but I think the author sometimes sacrificed historical accuracy for the mystery. Would a single woman, even a widow, have addressed a member of the opposite by his first name (even if he really was courting her)? Would a woman, even one as forward-thinking as Emily, have walked around at night, in public, in her nightgown? And that leads me to another point—Emily’s sensibilities were a little too modern at times. But as I said, the story moves at a brisk pace, and the mystery is an interesting one. A bit predictable, at the end, but good nonetheless. This is a good novel if you’re in the mood for something not too brain-taxing. Still, I’d recommend Deanna Raybourn’s books over this one. ( )Kasthu | May 28, 2009 | 1 0.038 seconds to build listing  no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 006114844X, Paperback)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 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. (retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:11 -0400) The first test round has been closed. Visit the Open Shelves Classification group for details. |
LibraryThing AuthorTasha Alexander is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
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