A Fatal Waltz
Tasha Alexander
Morrow, Jun 2008, $23.95
ISBN 9780061174223
At the request of her friend Ivy Brandon, Lady Emily Ashton attends a party at the country manor of odious advisor to the Queen Lord Basil Fortescue, a toad Emily loathes. Making what would be an evening of torturous boredom worse is Austrian Countess Kristiana von Lange who is also attending. She allegedly has had her moments with Emily’s fiancé, royal investigator of potential embarrassing situations Colin Hargreaves.
However, ennui is the last thing that occurs that night as someone kills the host. Ivy’s spouse Robert is the prime suspect as he had motive, means and opportunity being the repulsive Basil’s political follower. For Ivy’s sake and believing Robert is innocent though an aristocratic traditionalist throwback, Emily invesigates the homicide. Her only potential clue is a letter describing an assassination in Austria. Emily leaves London for Vienna, where Colin is stationed. In Vienna, Emily and Colin enjoy their reunion, but she places both of them in danger as spies and anarchists without conscience are everywhere and eliminating a nosy English lady is fine as far as all these agents are concerned.
This is an exciting late Victorian amateur sleuth tale that uses famous Austrians like Klim to anchor time and place. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of twists especially since double agents abound; one spin in particular is wonderful as Emily teams up with her rival the Countess. Although thoroughly modern Emily seems more twenty first century than late nienteenth, fans will enjoy her spunk and courage as she investigates in Austria, an English country murder (see AND ONLY TO DECEIVE and THE POISONED SEASON for her previous sleuthing).
Harriet Klausner
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