Main description:

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.

Review quote:

“An admirable and literate debut novel.”

Review quote:

“An entertaining debut.”

Review quote:

“Charming.”

Review quote:

“Engagingly suspenseful and rich with period detail.”

Review quote:

“Fans of Anne Perry and Elizabeth Peters will welcome this debut novel.”

Review quote:

“Had Jane Austen written The Da Vinci Code, she may well have come up with this elegant novel.”

Review quote:

“The story spans genres, appealing to lovers of suspense, history and romance...historically correct and beautifully done.”

Review quote:

“The who-done-it is well designed and fun to follow. Tasha Alexander’s historical mystery is terrific.”