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A Poisoned Season (Lady Emily Mysteries) Hardcover – April 10, 2007

by Tasha Alexander (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,615 ratings
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Stolen jewels, secret identities, and death abound in this sparkling tale of suspense set in Victorian England, from New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander.

London's social season is in full swing, and Victorian aristocracy can't stop whispering about a certain gentleman who claims to be the direct descendant of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. But he's not the only topic of wagging tongues. Drawing rooms, boudoirs, and ballrooms are abuzz with the latest news of an audacious cat burglar who has been systematically stealing valuable items that once belonged to the ill-fated queen.

Light gossip turns serious when the owner of one of the pilfered treasures is found murdered, and the mysterious thief develops a twisted obsession with Lady Emily Ashton. It will take all of Lady Emily's wit and perseverance to unmask her stalker and ferret out the murderer, while faced with a brewing scandal that threatens both her reputation and her romance with her late husband's best friend, the dashing Colin Hargreaves.

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  1. Book 2 of 18
    Lady Emily Mysteries
  2. Print length
    320 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    William Morrow
  5. Publication date
    April 10, 2007
  6. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0061174149
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0061174148
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Lady Emily Ashton, an unconventional young widow, comes to London for the social season at the start of Alexander's highly enjoyable late Victorian novel of suspense (the sequel to And Only to Deceive), a presumptive heir to the French throne and a slew of robberies by a thief obsessed with Marie Antoinette soon become the talk of the town. The stakes rise after the murder of one of the thief's victims. As Emily risks her reputation to solve the crimes, she must contend with a mysterious beau, who woos her in Greek. The author deftly works in background material pertinent to Emily's life as well as period detail that never slows the narrative. Emily sometimes behaves in unlikely ways (e.g., visiting a man at his bachelor residence, getting on a first-name basis with a woman after a brief acquaintance), but readers looking for a lighter version of Anne Perry will be well rewarded. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Blending romance and historical mystery, Alexander has delightful fun with both genres. Rich, young widow Lady Emily Ashton occasionally has tea with the queen, but she isn't exactly a perfect Victorian lady. Pretty and poised though she may be, her preference for port and cigars, her devotion to both "popular" novels and classic Greek literature (which she reads in Greek), and her involvement in solving the mystery of her husband's death (And Only to Deceive, 2005) have made her the subject of plenty of gossip. Her forthright opinions stir up chitchat once again when she becomes curious about the theft of several items once owned by Marie Antoinette and about a new gentleman on the social scene, who claims to be an heir to the throne of France. Alexander's witty treatment of the trivial pursuits of the aristocracy, coupled with an engaging mystery and a deliciously flirtatious romance between Emily and handsome Colin Hargreaves, makes for entertaining reading for those who like historical mysteries that don't take themselves all that seriously. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow (April 10, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061174149
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061174148
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,615 ratings

About the author

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Tasha Alexander

Tasha Alexander

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The daughter of two philosophy professors, I grew up surrounded by books. I was convinced from an early age that I was born in the wrong century and spent much of my childhood under the dining room table pretending it was a covered wagon. Even there, I was never without a book in hand and loved reading and history more than anything. I studied English Literature and Medieval History at the University of Notre Dame. Writing is a natural offshoot of reading, and my first novel, And Only to Deceive, was published in 2005. I'm the author of the long-running Lady Emily Series as well as the novel Elizabeth: The Golden Age. One of the best parts of being an author is seeing your books translated, and I'm currently in love with the Japanese editions of the Emily books.

I played nomad for a long time, living in Indiana, Amsterdam, London, Wyoming, Vermont, Connecticut, and Tennessee before settling down. My husband, the brilliant British novelist Andrew Grant (I may be biased but that doesn't mean I'm wrong) and I now divide our time between Chicago and Wyoming. He makes sure I get my English characters right, and I make sure his American ones sound American.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,615 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

mrsMaxK
5.0 out of 5 stars This has everything you could want in a story!
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2008
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I picked this book up on a whim, once I realized how much I enjoy Victorian mysteries. I'm picky though, and I wanted something that wasn't so sugary romantic, yet not so mystery that it lacked a fun element to it. Tasha Alexander's A Poisened Season is a perfect balance and she is now all-time my favorite mystery writer. She writes a very smart victorian mystery that blends the perfect mix of romance, without you wanting to gag that it's too cheesy romantic, and history, where you actually learn something new that isn't too dull to bore you, like as if you were in a very boring history class. The pace is great as well, which makes it a perfect thriller, and as soon as you start it, you want to read it to the end. I read this at about 9pm at night and finished at about 4am, because I couldn't put it down. After the adrenaline of needing to finish it, I went back to read it again, but slowly, just to savor the terrific writing. I cannot wait for her next book! I don't like books where it dumbs you down, and this is a wonderfully smart mystery. Give it a try!
2 people found this helpful
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Jana L.Perskie
4.0 out of 5 stars Murder During the London Season, A Cat Burglar, A Presumptive Heir to Marie Antoinette = An Exciting Victorian Mystery.
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2009
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"A Poisoned Season" is Tasha Alexander's second foray into the life and sleuthing hobby of Lady Emily Ashton, a young, widowed English aristocrat. Readers met her for the first time in "And Only To Deceive." Lady Emily is a most unusual and independent heroine, especially for the time period in which she lives - Victorian England. She is just out of mourning and faces a tiresome "London Season."

The author writes that in English society there are "the bores and the bored." This certainly meets with Emily's point of view. She would rather be studying classic Greek, and acquiring ancient artifacts, which she usually donates to the British Museum. Making meaningless small talk at social events is an anathema to her, especially since she is definitely not looking for a husband, the point of this particular social custom. It is a Marriage Market. Young ladies come from all over England to spend chaperoned time with eligible bachelors in hope of snagging a rich and titled spouse.

It is during this period that Emily meets Charles Berry, who has just arrived in England and claims to be the direct descendant of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. Soon after their meeting Mr. Berry, presumptive heir to the French throne, makes it clear to Emily that he is interested in her either as a wife or a mistress. Needless to say, she is repulsed by the man and his offer.

The excitement really begins with the appearance of a mysterious cat burglar who is stealing precious gems, letters and antiques that once belonged to the French queen. After two murders, seemingly related to the burglaries, Emily realizes that the thief is stalking her. She actually wakes in the night to find him in her bedroom, escaping through her broken window. He leaves behind a rose and a love note written in classic Greek. As this is a historical mystery, the lady is determined to solve the murders and uncover the cat burglar's identity.

Colin Hargreaves, her deceased husband's best friend who we met in the first novel, is deeply in love with Emily and continues to pursue her with marriage in mind. Emily shares his feelings but is anxious that the married state will curtail her independence.

There is a large cast of characters in this novel which the author manages deftly. However I find the pace to be slower than the first book & the writing is not as tight. Also, I liked Lady Emily more in "And Only To Deceive." In "A Poisoned Season" the author seems obsessed to proclaim the Lady's independence, strength of character, her difference from other society women, her strong attachment to the single state, her scholarly behavior, etc. Once or twice would be sufficient to grasp the concept of Emily's ideas and the rationale for her behavior, but the narrative repeats this over and over again. I found this repetition to be extremely tiresome.

In spite of this I did enjoy the book and do recommend it, although I would suggest reading the prequel first.
Jana Perskie
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5.0 out of 5 stars Is the heir to the French throne in England?
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
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Lady Emily Ashton is out of mourning and ready to face London society. Colin Hargreaves, in between duties for the Queen, is actively courting Emily, who is afraid to give up her freedom as a widow, and once again finds herself embroiled in a murder case. To add to the mix, a man declares himself to be the heir of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, and he's ready to set the monarchy back up in France. Is the murder connected to the thefts of French royal artifacts, or the pretender to the throne, or the man who keeps breaking into Emily's house to leave her flowers?
This book gives the reader insight into Emily's growth into a woman who is learning who she is, both in and out of London society in 1897. Well done!
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Michelle Boytim
5.0 out of 5 stars A pretender to the throne, Marie Antoinette and a mysterious suitor
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2010
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This is the second book in the Lady Emily Ashton series. Emily has returned to London for the Season and is looking forward to participating on her terms. The talk of the town is a young pretender to the French throne, Charles Berry, and a series of thefts surrounding possessions of Marie Antoinette. Things become personal when Emily's bedroom is broken into and her friend's earrings are stolen. Colin is still wooing her and is also involved with the investigation and the pretender. Emily finds Charles to be quite annoying in his arrogance as he offers her a place in his court. Thrown into the mix is a mysterious suitor who send Emily love notes in Greek. Emily seeks to solve 2 mysteries while running the gauntlet of her mother and society. There remains the light touch of humor and Emily continues to be an intelligent and delightful character and the mysteries keep the story moving well. I look forward to her further adventures.
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Top reviews from other countries

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DeeDee
5.0 out of 5 stars Light and very readable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2017
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This is a lovely series set in Victorian times - one which I have been looking forward to for a long time having got part way through the Lady Julia series by Deanna Raebourn before it was brought out on Kindle only or very highly priced paperback, and I hope one day that it will be brought back in paperback so I can continue with that lovely series also. This series I can highly recommend for light and interesting reading as Lady Emily sets about solving crimes with such interesting characters alongside her - never a dull moment.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a fan of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series - ...
Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2016
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I'm a fan of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series - It's my guilty pleasure! A Poisoned Season is the second book in the series and as of 2016, I think there are about 8 books in the series, all of which I collected.

Lady Emily is a woman beyond her time, whose interests including Greek antiquities, language, and the Arts makes her an "outsider" to the London society who views her as being strange. That said, after resolving the murder of her husband in Book 1, she uses her skills, and logical thinking to resolve strange happenings that were occurring in London after the return of a supposed descendant of Marie Antoinette.

This book/series has everything you want from history, romance, and wanderlust-inducing capitals of the ancient world.
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Brenda wallwork
4.0 out of 5 stars BrenW
Reviewed in Australia on September 19, 2016
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Another great read in the Lady Emily series.
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Fuchs Joan
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabelhaft
Reviewed in Germany on November 9, 2008
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Dieser 2. Band der Serie knüpft fast nahtlos an den Ersten an und behält dabei die hohe Qualität des Erstlings. Man ist gleich mitten drin in der Geschichte. Die Helden sind nun bekannt, deshalb wird auf ihre Geschichte nicht mehr eingegangen, doch das stört nicht. Die Geschichte ist glaubhaft und wunderbar komplex, mit einer tollen Authentizität. Ich konnte das Buch kaum nieder legen und habe es in einem Zug gelesen! Band 3 komme so schnell wie möglich!
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Veronika
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2015
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Every bit as good as the first book in the series, 'And Only to Deceive'. The characters were well-portrayed, mostly believable and likeable. The plot stretched my credibility a bit, but moved at such a pace that I got carried along and didn't think 'could that really have happened then?' until I was considering the plot as a whole after I'd finished reading the book. I was happy to suspend disbelief because Lady Emily is such an engaging character. The novel gives a good sense of how stultifying marriage must have been for women who found the social whirl unsatisfying and longed to stretch themselves intellectually. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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