Status
Available
Series
Genres
Publication
Minotaur Books (2023), 304 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: "The entwined stories and Amato's passionate narration will remain in listeners' minds long after the mysteries are solved." �??AudioFile on In the Shadow of Vesuvius In this new installment of Tasha Alexander's acclaimed Lady Emily series set in the wild Scottish highlands, an ancient story of witchcraft may hold the key to solving a murder centuries later. Lady Emily, husband Colin Hargreaves, and their three sons eagerly embark on a family vacation at Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of their dear friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. But a high-spirited celebration at the beginning of their stay comes to a grisly end when the duke's gamekeeper is found murdered on the banks of the loch. Handsome Angus Sinclair had a host of enemies: the fiancée he abandoned in Edinburgh, the young woman who had fallen hopelessly in love with him, and the rough farmer who saw him as a rival for her affections. But what is the meaning of the curious runic stone left on Sinclair's forehead? Clues may be found in the story of Lady MacAllister, wife of the Laird of Cairnfarn Castle, who in 1676 suddenly found herself widowed and thrown out of her home. Her sole companion was a Moorish slave girl who helped her secretly spirit her most prized possessions�??a collection of strange books�??out of the castle. When her neighbors, wary of a woman living on her own, found a poppet�??a doll used to cast spells�??and a daisy wheel in her isolated cottage, Lady MacAllister was accused of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death. Hundreds of years later, Lady Emily searches for the link between Lady MacAllister's harrowing witchcraft trial and the brutal death of Sinclair. She must follow a trail of hidden motives, an illicit affair, and a mysterious stranger to reveal the dark side of a seemingly idyllic Highland village. A Macmillan Audio production from Minotau… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member KateBaxter
This seventeenth addition to author Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily Mystery series sweeps the reader off to the Highlands of Scotland as our plucky heroine and her family visit their dear friend Jeremy Sheffield, Duke of Bainbridge. Among his holdings is Cairnfarn Castle, deep in the Scottish
Author Tasha Alexander writes an exquisite narrative capturing two stories set two centuries apart, with a narrow thread which connects them. Both are centered in the Highland village of Cairnfarn and the respective dukes' castle. The author has captured well the fear and shenanigans centered on suspected 17th century witches - accusations made against women just because they're different. Conversely, she captures well the social landscape of a small village where everyone knows everybody's business. Gossip and eavesdropping are common activities. Again, small people are just that. Aside from the solving of the murder mystery, I personally found the chaste interactions with the young sons absolutely delightful. Their minds are open to myths, legends, nature and storytelling and their hearts remain pure. Eventually, the two stories are connected across the two hundred and twenty nine year divide and the stories draw to a satisfactory conclusion.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
ISBN: 978-1250872333
No. of pages: 304
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Highlands and with it, a history wrought with subterfuge and witch trials. It is the making for wonderful adventures for the three young Hargreaves sons. All is well until the body of Bainbridge's gamekeeper is found by the loch after a folicksome ceilidh at the castle. Knowing that Hargreaves and Lady Emily have experience with investigations, Jeremy seek their assistance in finding out what happened to gamekeeper Angus Sinclair. And so the story begins.Author Tasha Alexander writes an exquisite narrative capturing two stories set two centuries apart, with a narrow thread which connects them. Both are centered in the Highland village of Cairnfarn and the respective dukes' castle. The author has captured well the fear and shenanigans centered on suspected 17th century witches - accusations made against women just because they're different. Conversely, she captures well the social landscape of a small village where everyone knows everybody's business. Gossip and eavesdropping are common activities. Again, small people are just that. Aside from the solving of the murder mystery, I personally found the chaste interactions with the young sons absolutely delightful. Their minds are open to myths, legends, nature and storytelling and their hearts remain pure. Eventually, the two stories are connected across the two hundred and twenty nine year divide and the stories draw to a satisfactory conclusion.
I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
ISBN: 978-1250872333
No. of pages: 304
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LibraryThing member sue222
I read and loved the first several books of the Lady Emily series, but skipped quite a few to pick up this book. I’m glad I did, and will be going back to fill in those that I’ve missed. It was good to see Lady Emily and Colin, and her children now big boys of ten! The mystery was well done,
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
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but I really enjoyed the Scottish setting and the dual timeline tying in the witch trials of the 17th century. Very enjoyable and I look forward to gong back to complete the series.Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
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LibraryThing member ang709
I was happy to read the latest adventures of Lady Emily and her family, this time taking place in Scotland. The mystery was engaging, there were a lot of suspects, and I was surprised by who the murderer turned out to be.
The parallel story, set in the 1600s was also interesting, though personally
Although this is part of a series and enjoyment is heightened by knowledge gained of the characters in previous books, it could definitely work as a standalone as well.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read.
The parallel story, set in the 1600s was also interesting, though personally
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I would have liked a little more closure to that storyline.Although this is part of a series and enjoyment is heightened by knowledge gained of the characters in previous books, it could definitely work as a standalone as well.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read.
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
This seventeenth book in the Lady Emily Mysteries takes place in Scotland. Emily, her husband and three sons are visiting Emily's friend Jeremy who is the Duke of Bainbridge. When the body of Jeremy's gamekeepers is discovered near the loch after a party, Emily and Colin are on the case.
I enjoyed
With a variety of suspects including a number of women who were romantically interested in the gamekeeper, there was a lot of investigating to do. Throw in that the gamekeeper wasn't who he said he was, and a nice mystery develops.
I will admit that I wasn't very happy with the resolution of the mystery but can see that it was appropriate to the time and place. I was a little confused about the flashbacks to 1676 and really don't see how they were relevant to the 1905 story.
Fans of the series and of historical mysteries will enjoy this story.
I enjoyed
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the Highland setting. I also liked the way the personalities of their three sons are developing and I enjoyed watching Emily and Colin as they interacted with their children and fought for some private time of their own. With a variety of suspects including a number of women who were romantically interested in the gamekeeper, there was a lot of investigating to do. Throw in that the gamekeeper wasn't who he said he was, and a nice mystery develops.
I will admit that I wasn't very happy with the resolution of the mystery but can see that it was appropriate to the time and place. I was a little confused about the flashbacks to 1676 and really don't see how they were relevant to the 1905 story.
Fans of the series and of historical mysteries will enjoy this story.
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LibraryThing member BarbaraRogers
This book is basically two novellas totally unrelated in everything except place. The book blurb makes it sound as if something in the story from the past helped solve the mystery from 1905. That isn’t the case. The two storylines are alternated throughout the book – one chapter from 1905, the
1676 – Tasnim (Tansy) was the daughter of well-to-do Moors. She spoke several languages and was well-educated. Then, she was kidnapped and made a slave to a sea captain who used her for his own pleasure – then gave her away. She was finally given as a wedding present to the wife of a Highland Laird. This is an excellent story of slavery, selfishness, betrayal – and witch hunts which were rampant in Scotland at that time. However, I was left wondering – Did Tansy ever actually make it home to reunite with her family? Did she get the life she so richly deserved? I sort of felt as if that was left hanging.
1905 – Lady Emily along with her husband Colin, their three children, and a crocodile have traveled to the Highlands for a family vacation with Emily’s lifelong friend, Jeremy Sheffield, the Duke of Bainbridge. Not long after their arrival, the brutally murdered body of Jeremy’s gamekeeper was discovered by the loch. He was a well-liked man and much admired by all of the ladies, though he didn’t encourage them – so, who murdered him? With a close-knit and tight-lipped community, it was really hard for Emily and Colin to get the information they needed to solve the crime. But goodness, when they did – what a crime and resolution it was! There are lots of red herrings for you to analyze and discard – or keep – and there are many very likable characters to keep you smiling.
One thing that took away from my enjoyment – though I’m sure it was supposed to add a lighter touch – was the ten-year-old boy walking around with a crocodile on a leash. I cringed every time I read that. I loved having the boys along as more than just afterthoughts in the story, but the crocodile. No, just no. I grew up in a state filled with alligators, and there is no way I would have let a grown-up, much less a child anywhere near one. Yet, this story had ten-year-olds walking an alligator’s older, meaner brother on a leash.
So, I enjoyed both stories – other than the crocodile – but the way it was delivered was just annoying. Having two stories included seems to be a hallmark of this series, and I’m just tired of the flipping back and forth between storylines. While I enjoyed the mystery, I would not read it again, and I think it will be a good while before I read another book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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next chapter from 1676, etc. I read it that way for a while, but it really got annoying and detracted from the enjoyment of each story. So, I just went through and read all of the chapters from 1676 and then I read all of the chapters from 1905. I honestly saw no point in including the 1676 story other than to fill pages so it would be a ‘book’ rather than a ‘novella’. Both stories were excellent and I enjoyed both, but I didn’t care for the delivery method.1676 – Tasnim (Tansy) was the daughter of well-to-do Moors. She spoke several languages and was well-educated. Then, she was kidnapped and made a slave to a sea captain who used her for his own pleasure – then gave her away. She was finally given as a wedding present to the wife of a Highland Laird. This is an excellent story of slavery, selfishness, betrayal – and witch hunts which were rampant in Scotland at that time. However, I was left wondering – Did Tansy ever actually make it home to reunite with her family? Did she get the life she so richly deserved? I sort of felt as if that was left hanging.
1905 – Lady Emily along with her husband Colin, their three children, and a crocodile have traveled to the Highlands for a family vacation with Emily’s lifelong friend, Jeremy Sheffield, the Duke of Bainbridge. Not long after their arrival, the brutally murdered body of Jeremy’s gamekeeper was discovered by the loch. He was a well-liked man and much admired by all of the ladies, though he didn’t encourage them – so, who murdered him? With a close-knit and tight-lipped community, it was really hard for Emily and Colin to get the information they needed to solve the crime. But goodness, when they did – what a crime and resolution it was! There are lots of red herrings for you to analyze and discard – or keep – and there are many very likable characters to keep you smiling.
One thing that took away from my enjoyment – though I’m sure it was supposed to add a lighter touch – was the ten-year-old boy walking around with a crocodile on a leash. I cringed every time I read that. I loved having the boys along as more than just afterthoughts in the story, but the crocodile. No, just no. I grew up in a state filled with alligators, and there is no way I would have let a grown-up, much less a child anywhere near one. Yet, this story had ten-year-olds walking an alligator’s older, meaner brother on a leash.
So, I enjoyed both stories – other than the crocodile – but the way it was delivered was just annoying. Having two stories included seems to be a hallmark of this series, and I’m just tired of the flipping back and forth between storylines. While I enjoyed the mystery, I would not read it again, and I think it will be a good while before I read another book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member eyes.2c
Scottish murder!
It’s 1905, Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are holidaying at Castle Cairnfarn in the Scottish Highlands along with their gorgeous and wickedly precocious sons, twins Henry and Richard, and their beloved adopted son Tom. They’re guests of Emily’s childhood friend, Jeremy
As always there’s another story running in tandem, set in Cairnfarn in 1676. The tale of Tansy, a young moorish girl sold into slavery and eventually passed on to Rossalyn, Lady MacAllister, mistress of Castle Cairnfarn. Rosalyn frees her, but as Tansy often soliloquises, what good will that do her if she can’t return to her family and homeland in Tunisia. This part of the story turns into a tale of women dispossessed, of women accused of witchcraft, and of artefacts from that date.
Meanwhile back in 1905 the boys upsettingly discover the body of the gamekeeper, murdered rather nastily. Emily and Colin, find themselves pressed into investigating. What follows is a rather convoluted exploration of who kew what when.
I laughed at how the boys kept interrupting their parents at inappropriate moments!
The boys are just so earnest and funny in their moves to do their own thing. As we close Jeremy is trying to talk one of them (any one!) into being pronounced his heir. The Duke can’t be bothered with marriage.
Another winning and solid addition to the Lady Emily Mysteries.
(I do love the cover BTW)
A St Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
It’s 1905, Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are holidaying at Castle Cairnfarn in the Scottish Highlands along with their gorgeous and wickedly precocious sons, twins Henry and Richard, and their beloved adopted son Tom. They’re guests of Emily’s childhood friend, Jeremy
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Sheffield, the Duke of Bainbridge. Jeremy is a bumbling delight with two madcap great aunties who keeps every one on their toes. The boys particularly enjoy the aunties, for reasons that become quite clear. Mind you the boys do insist on walking Cedric the crocodile. I would not be so blasé. Crocodiles as pets! Hmmm! Recipe for disaster!As always there’s another story running in tandem, set in Cairnfarn in 1676. The tale of Tansy, a young moorish girl sold into slavery and eventually passed on to Rossalyn, Lady MacAllister, mistress of Castle Cairnfarn. Rosalyn frees her, but as Tansy often soliloquises, what good will that do her if she can’t return to her family and homeland in Tunisia. This part of the story turns into a tale of women dispossessed, of women accused of witchcraft, and of artefacts from that date.
Meanwhile back in 1905 the boys upsettingly discover the body of the gamekeeper, murdered rather nastily. Emily and Colin, find themselves pressed into investigating. What follows is a rather convoluted exploration of who kew what when.
I laughed at how the boys kept interrupting their parents at inappropriate moments!
The boys are just so earnest and funny in their moves to do their own thing. As we close Jeremy is trying to talk one of them (any one!) into being pronounced his heir. The Duke can’t be bothered with marriage.
Another winning and solid addition to the Lady Emily Mysteries.
(I do love the cover BTW)
A St Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
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LibraryThing member fredreeca
Lady Emily, her husband, Colin and their children are off on their family vacation to Cairfarn Castle. Not long after they arrive a body is discovered. It is the gameskeeper of the castle. He has been found murdered on the banks of the loch. But clues to his death go all the way back to the 1600s
I love anything set in Scotland. And this is a good read, just not the best. It just felt a bit disjointed in places. It flashes back to the 1600s and sometimes that is a bit confusing…NOW! This could have been me. It comes out in the end, but I just had issues with it during the book.
I did enjoy the history thrown into this tale…add in the hidden motives and all the secrets and you have a pretty good tale…Lots of intrigue and puzzles to decipher!
The narrator, Bianca Amato did a wonderful job, especially pronouncing Loch correctly! Kudos! (I practiced every time she said it…still can’t do it right!)
Need a unique mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.
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and the accused witch, Lady MacallisterI love anything set in Scotland. And this is a good read, just not the best. It just felt a bit disjointed in places. It flashes back to the 1600s and sometimes that is a bit confusing…NOW! This could have been me. It comes out in the end, but I just had issues with it during the book.
I did enjoy the history thrown into this tale…add in the hidden motives and all the secrets and you have a pretty good tale…Lots of intrigue and puzzles to decipher!
The narrator, Bianca Amato did a wonderful job, especially pronouncing Loch correctly! Kudos! (I practiced every time she said it…still can’t do it right!)
Need a unique mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
A good entry in this always enjoyable series. Off to the Highlands with the boys plus a pet crocodile to visit. The Duke and Laird is an excellent host and all is bucolic and well until his gameskeeper is stoned to death. There are many tales and legends to unravel before the culprit is revealed.
LibraryThing member LadyoftheLodge
This historical mystery actually contains two parallel mysteries and the chapters alternate between the two. The Scotland setting adds to the brooding nature of the storyline. During a visit, Lady Emily,her husband Colin, and their sons become embroiled in helping to investigate the death of a
I have read many of the Lady Emily mysteries, and I did not like this one as well as some of the previous offerings. I found the alternating narratives to be confusing, even though they were tied together at the end of the novel. I would have preferred to read these as two separate stories, as I felt the alternating viewpoints detracted from the overall storyline. There was just too much going on.
I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
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gamekeeper. However, this man is not who he claimed to be, which complicates their investigations. Now they are not only seeking to uncover his killer, but also to find out his true identity. The best part of the story for me was the antics and comments of her three sons. The book includes author notes and a bibliography at the end.I have read many of the Lady Emily mysteries, and I did not like this one as well as some of the previous offerings. I found the alternating narratives to be confusing, even though they were tied together at the end of the novel. I would have preferred to read these as two separate stories, as I felt the alternating viewpoints detracted from the overall storyline. There was just too much going on.
I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2023-10-03
Physical description
304 p.; 9.25 inches
ISBN
1250872332 / 9781250872333