Synopses & Reviews
After escaping death at the hands of a ruthless murderer while honeymooning in Constantinople (
Tears of Pearl), Lady Emily is recuperating from her wounds at her mother-in-laws estate in Normandy when, while out horseback riding in the countryside, she comes across the body of a young woman who has been horribly murdered. Her wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who is wreaking havoc across the channel in London. Lady Emily and Colin learn that the victim is the daughter of a high born family of French aristocrats who had been committed to an asylum for the insane. While there, she had given birth to an illegitimate child who was spirited away and may be dead.
As Lady Emily pursues a trail of clues (and bodies) to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling chateau in the country, she begins to worry about her own sanity: she hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the childs wake. Emily is on the verge of solving the mystery, when she is suddenly taken captive by the killer and held in an isolated tower where she once again hears the eerie cries of the lost child. She has to muster all her courage in a terrifying game of wits against a cold and brilliant murderer or she will be his next victim.
Review
“Engaging . . . its quite creepy (in a good way) and suspenseful.”—RT Book Reviews
“Author Tasha Alexander is one to watch -- and read. The continuing adventures of her Victorian heroine and increasingly intrepid sleuth Lady Emily Ashton commenced in 2005 with And Only to Deceive, and they defy convenient categorization. They're historical thrillers, yes, and thrilling romances, and romantic mysteries. Mix in generous amounts of Victorian cozy, travelogue, epistolary puzzle, adventure yarn, societal exposé and impeccably-detailed period drama, and you're getting close. . . . Lady Emily's evolution is fascinating, bookended by restrictive mores and worldly ambitions, filled with dashing suitors, amusing scoundrels and diabolical fiends, plus ladies dear and trustworthy (and alarmingly otherwise) . . . [Alexander] knows how to construct a compelling plot; but despite her cliffhanger climaxes and witty repartee, there's a depth of sensitivity which sets her apart.”—The Huffington Post
"Inside this suspenseful, gothic mystery, Alexander paints a perfectly poetic Victorian landscape and takes readers into an old world re-imagined. . . . Alexanders love for the Victorian era elevates a captivating mystery into an unforgettable tale. Her extensive research of the era, combined with compelling characters, an irresistible heroine and a clever love story will translate effortlessly into minds of readers in the modern world. With wisps of darkness, shadows of a ghost story and embers of heightened Freudian themes, Dangerous to Know is the perfect novel to curl up with and chase away the world.”—Examiner.com
“Beautiful, headstrong and romantic Lady Emily is back. . . . Tasha Alexanders clever dialogue, along with her convincing period detail, brings life to her story and showcases the breathtaking beauty of the Normandy countryside. Considering its incomparable setting and irresistible characters, Lady Emilys fan club is sure to grow by leaps and bounds with Dangerous to Know.”—Bookreporter.com
Review
“Author Tasha Alexander is one to watch -- and read. The continuing adventures of her Victorian heroine and increasingly intrepid sleuth Lady Emily Ashton commenced in 2005 with And Only to Deceive, and they defy convenient categorization. They're historical thrillers, yes, and thrilling romances, and romantic mysteries. Mix in generous amounts of Victorian cozy, travelogue, epistolary puzzle, adventure yarn, societal exposé and impeccably-detailed period drama, and you're getting close. . . . Lady Emily's evolution is fascinating, bookended by restrictive mores and worldly ambitions, filled with dashing suitors, amusing scoundrels and diabolical fiends, plus ladies dear and trustworthy (and alarmingly otherwise) . . . [Alexander] knows how to construct a compelling plot; but despite her cliffhanger climaxes and witty repartee, there's a depth of sensitivity which sets her apart.”—The Huffington Post
"Inside this suspenseful, gothic mystery, Alexander paints a perfectly poetic Victorian landscape and takes readers into an old world re-imagined. . . . Alexanders love for the Victorian era elevates a captivating mystery into an unforgettable tale. Her extensive research of the era, combined with compelling characters, an irresistible heroine and a clever love story will translate effortlessly into minds of readers in the modern world. With wisps of darkness, shadows of a ghost story and embers of heightened Freudian themes, Dangerous to Know is the perfect novel to curl up with and chase away the world.”—Examiner.com
“Beautiful, headstrong and romantic Lady Emily is back. . . . Tasha Alexanders clever dialogue, along with her convincing period detail, brings life to her story and showcases the breathtaking beauty of the Normandy countryside. Considering its incomparable setting and irresistible characters, Lady Emilys fan club is sure to grow by leaps and bounds with Dangerous to Know.”—Bookreporter.com“Engaging . . . its quite creepy (in a good way) and suspenseful.”—RT Book Reviews
Synopsis
Set in the lush countryside of Normandy, France, this new novel of suspense featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves is filled with intrigue, romance, mysterious deaths, and madness.
Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-law's beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out riding a horse, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girl's wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.
Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling chateau in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: she hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the child's wake. As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim.
Synopsis
Set in the lush countryside of Normandy, France, this new novel of suspense featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves is filled with intrigue, romance, mysterious deaths, and madness.
Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-laws beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out riding a horse, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girls wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.
Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling château in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: She hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the childs wake. As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts, and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim.
About the Author
Tasha Alexander is the author of the Lady Emily novels, a series of historical suspense, including Tears of Pearl and A Crimson Warning. She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she signed on as an English major in order to have a legitimate excuse for spending all her time reading. She and her husband, novelist Andrew Grant, divide their time between Chicago and the UK.Please visit her website at www.tashaalexander.com.
Reading Group Guide
1. What did you know about the treatment of madness in the nineteenth century before you started to read
Dangerous to Know?
2. How does insanity affect families? Do they still deal with a sense of shame because of madness?
3. Are we, as a society, more enlightened today when it comes to how we judge individuals with mental disorders?
4. Are there some forms of madness that are more socially acceptable than others? If so, why is this?
5. Is there a touch of madness in everyone?
6. Mrs. Hargreavess journal entries mark the first time in the series when we see someone elses view of Emily. Did her observations about her daughter-in-law change your view of Emily?
7. Do you believe its possible to drive someone mad?
8. Who was your favorite character in the book, and why?
9. How is Lady Emily different from other woman of her era? Do you think she was “ahead of her time?” What do you see as her most and least admirable qualities? Take a moment to talk about women and their place in Victorian society.
10. How do women, in the past and today, find ways to be independent in restrictive societies?
11. To what extent do you think Tasha Alexander took artistic liberties with this work? What does it take for a novelist to bring a “real” period to life?