I like the settings and the historical elements to the book, like visiting the prison cell of The Man in the Iron Mask, and some Roman ruins... those things are fun and atmospheric. But I believe some of the characters will always grate on me to some degree, such as Lady Emily. It's clear that the author takes a lot of inspiration from the Amelia Peabody series, but I just don't like Lady Emily as much as I like Amelia! Emily comes across too modern and too satisfied with herself. ( )

Meh. Very lightweight. Why can’t I give it only two stars? Maybe because I’m still having trouble getting real books (not electronic) so what I get I read. It did distract me from the failure of the gov to authorize more vaccine, it what the hell. ( )

This tenth book in the Lady Emily mystery series was a fine historical fiction mystery set in the French Riviera of the 1890s. At one point I was a bit frustrated with Lady Emily and her husband Colin as the implication of the evidence which appeared plain as day to me, took five more chapters to formulate in Emily's mind. That was a brief hiccup in the overall enjoyment of the story.

Ms. Alexander's writing is excellent; the character development quite good and the setting of scene - superb. Having visited Cannes some years back, it was a delight revisiting the favored tourists sites and seeing them through the eyes of these 19th century characters. All in all - a most enjoyable read. ( )

SMASHING!

I have never (to my recollection) read a "Lady Emily" mystery prior to this... and I know there was a reason, but for the life of me, I am unable to remember why!

Lady Emily's childhood friend Jeremy is engaged to a wild American Heiress, Amity Wells.... Lady Emily, her husband Colin, & friends do their best to support Jeremy by attending a lavish engagement party in Cannes, but things seen to go terribly wrong.

Jeremy's best friend is found dead in Jeremy's hotel room, Jeremy stumbles while on an outing at the top of a castle, and then he is goaded into jumping into icy water & swimming to a far shore in order to prove his love to Aminty.

Things are going equally as poorly for Lady Emily; she is locked in the prison of the Man of the Iron Mask, she is accused of sending Amity a much desired hat in a destroyed condition, she is led on a wild goose chase in the pouring rain, sent an invitation to a dinner arriving an hour late, and is finally coshed on the head & forced to defend herself and Jeremy....

I liked most of the characters & the story...

But what I did not like and Never Ceases to Confuse me in these English mysteries is the interchanging of names & titles from chapter to chapter: the use of the familiar first name, then the alternate use of the formal title.... other than that, a very clever story! ( )

Ugh! I don't know what has happened but it is becoming apparent that Tasha Alexander needs to wrap up this series. I thought the last book was just a random fluke but this book was worse. In fact, the author notes at the back of the book are better written than the novel itself. Two strikes...will I give her three before I'm done? I honestly don't know.

The "action" veers all over the place and the interactions between characters either stops well before a logical finish or continues down into absurdity. The conversations ramble, many times without much sense, and are out of character for everyone except Colin and maybe Cecilé. So many times throughout the book, I had to lay it down and say "What in the world? Why did he/she/they do/say that?" Emily is portrayed alternately as idiotic and stupid and then vapid and desperate. She "threw" herself at Amity "begging" for forgiveness or understanding so many times that I almost put the book down on that alone. Yet, ultimately I wanted it confirmed that it was indeed Amity behind the attempts on Jeremy. Now I'm unsure if that was wise

Speaking of Amity, she is absolutely the stupidest character ever. You can not make me believe that that many London society types (including Jeremy!!) wouldn't have seen through that act in a heartbeat. Yet Jeremy pants after her like a dog in heat. I liked Jeremy and Ms. Alexander appeared to like him too. But come on, Jeremy, you deserve better than that manipulative whining, childish, and spoiled she-dog

All in all, a very disappointing read and 4 hours that I won't get back. To think I could have had a Sunday nap instead. ( )