Death in the Floating City

Good entry in this series. Quite successfully wove the thread of an ancient mystery with the warp of a recent murder. Excellent main protagonists supported by an appropriately Venetian local cast. Stirred the social undercurrents of the good life of the rich and the difficult existence of those who serve them into a compelling mystery. Also, cast the strong light of more modern and appropriate mores on the bondage like role of women, even those from wealthy families, who were controlled absolutely by fathers and husbands.

Lady Emily Hargreaves, accompanied by her husband Colin, is on her way to Venice to help a childhood friend named Emma Callum. A better description would be a childhood nemesis --- Emily and Emma were not exactly the best of friends as children and Emily did her best to distance herself from Emma whenever possible. However, Emma has asked for her help and Emily can’t turn down a plea for help, even when that plea comes from Emma Callum. Years ago, Emma ran off with an Italian Count and caused a bit of a scandal at home, but is now in desperate need of Emily’s detective skills. Her father-in-law has been murdered in the home she shares with her husband, and her husband, who is a suspect in his father’s murder, has disappeared show more making the case against him look even more telling. She needs Emily to find the murderer and clear her husband.

Weary of her Emma’s motives but still willing to help, Emily and Colin begin their investigation and Emily soon finds herself fascinated by Venice, a city she’s never visited before. With few clues besides an old ring to go on, Emily enlists the help of a Venetian historian and his daughter, Donata, to help her navigate the city and open a few palazzo doors for her to ask questions. With the help of Donata, Emily stumbles upon a centuries old love story that tore two individuals, and their families, apart. The same feud is still going strong which doesn’t help Emily when she needs questions answered. She begins searching frantically through libraries and family trees for any clue that will help solve the case while Colin begins a search for Emma’s missing husband.

This is my second Lady Emily mystery and I’m becoming addicted. I need to plan some reading time to go back and start this series from the beginning. Even though this is a series, these books do stand on their own but the characters and settings are so good I want to go back and spend more time in this world. Emily and Colin are incredibly likable characters and the settings, especially this particular book’s setting of Venice, are so lovely you want to step into the pages. Alexander does a fantastic job with the crumbling palazzos, dusty old books, and gondolas gliding along the canals.

Let’s talk about the mystery for a moment because there is one here. What I liked most about the mystery was the way it was wrapped up in a love story a la Romeo and Juliet style. Told through letters interspersed throughout the story, the centuries-old love story starts to show up in Emily’s mystery in unexpected ways. In the end, Alexander wraps this one up nicely with a little sneak peek of what’s ahead for Emily and Colin.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the way I was able to fall into the story and get lost in the mystery, the romance, and the city of Venice. I was pulled into the story very early and I didn’t want to leave. There’s just enough of everything in this book to make me a happy reader. Obviously, I’m waiting for Emily’s next adventure. show less

When Emily receives an urgent call from one of her former rivals, she and Colin go to Italy to assist. Emma's father-in-law has been mrudered and her husband has disappeared, making his a prime suspect. Following clues leading back to a multi-generational feud and love story, Emily and Colin search for a murder in both ancient texts and the present day.
I enjoy this series which has strong cozy/historical mystery and travel elements, but I found some of the dialogue stilted in this particular installment.

Oooooh, this one really gelled for me -- the combination of Venice's potent and beautiful setting and the medieval romance that unfolds against the backdrop of an unexpected death. I'm intrigued to see what happens after this, given the fallout from this installation in Lady's Emily's life.

I'm giving this 4 stars but really, it's probably closer to 3.5 but it held my interest in a way few books have recently.

The story takes place in Venice and the author did a fantastic job with setting the scene, but still, for some reason, I was missing something that gave me that sense that I was there. Lady Emily is feeling rather self-important about her role as an investigator in this one too and that rather got on my nerves.

The book used a dual time-line plot between "present" day (Victorian era) and the 1600's, with alternating chapters; I normally detest these and I started reading with a certain amount of hostility about it. By the middle I was reading it with dread but completely immersed in the story and by the end I was show more looking up at the ceiling blinking rapidly and trying to get the tears to go back where they came from. The Victorian era plot was only just so-so and the big reveal about the murderer relied on hidden knowledge not shared with the reader. It's truly the 17th century story that elevates this book an extra star. show less

Well dang: I knew this was familiar.... I recognized a good portion of the story, but I'm not sorry that I read it again.

Lady Emily & Colin are called to Venice by an childhood enemy of Emily's to help solve the murder of her father-in-law & find her missing husband.

There is a tale of forbidden unrequited love and an ancient family feud, along with the story of ancient manuscripts that have been written over.

I liked the story, but needless to say, I didn't like Emily's childhood enemy or the fact that Emily was helpful to her when the woman continued to be a btch to Emily....

Emily and Colin are in Venice, investigating the murder of Emily’s ‘friend’ and nemesis, Emma’s father-in-law, who was discovered stabbed to death and clutching a fifteenth century ring. Emma’s husband has disappeared, leading local police to believe that he is responsible for his father’s murder, Emma is not convinced and wants Emily and Colin to clear his name.

This is a complicated plot as Alexander threads the story of the owner of the fifteenth century ring into the main story, but she holds it altogether well.

The book ends with an intriguing development.