Synopses & Reviews
Set amid the beauty and decadence of the Ottoman Empire, Lady Emilys latest adventure is full of intrigue, treachery, and romance.
Looking forward to the joys of connubial bliss, newlyweds Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves, diplomats of the British Empire, set out toward Turkey for an exotic honeymoon. But on their first night in the city, a harem girl is found murdered, strangled in the courtyard of the sultans lavish Yildiz Palace. Sir Richard St. Clare, an Englishman who works at the embassy in Constantinople, is present and recognizes the girl as his own daughter who was kidnapped twenty years earlier. Emily and Colin promise the heartbroken father that theyll find her killer, but as the investigation gains speed, they find that appearance can be deceiving—especially within the confines of the seraglio.
As a woman, Emily is given access to the forbidden world of the harem and quickly discovers that its mysterious, sheltered walls offer no protection from a ruthless murderer. As the number of victims grows, Emily must rely on her own sharp wit in a heart-stopping finale if she is to stop a killer bent on exacting vengeance no matter how many innocent lives he leaves in his wake.
Review
“Infused with wit and charm, with just the right amounts of danger, romance, and detection blended in.”—The Denver Post
“[Tears of Pearl] will please readers of Anne Perry, Laurie R. King, and Deanna Raybourn seeking a new fan-favorite author.”—Library Journal
“The forth book of Alexanders Victorian-era series has a lush setting and beautiful details. . . . The romance and lovely writing sweep the readers along. Emily is a most independent woman for her time. Her voice and the accurate historical details will keep the reader enthralled.”—Romantic Times (4 ½ stars)
“The author deftly handles the exotic setting and a subplot in which Emily worries she may be pregnant.”—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Jamie DeBroux's boss has called a special meeting for all key personnel at 9: 00 a.m. on a hot Saturday in August.
When Jamie arrives, the conference room is stocked with cookies and champagne. His boss smiles and tells his employees, We're a cover for a branch of the intelligence community. And we're being shut down. Jamie's boss then tells everyone to drink some champagne, and in a few seconds they'll fall asleep---for good. If they refuse, they'll be shot in the head.
Escape is not an option. Jamie's boss has shut down the elevators and rigged the fire towers with chemical bombs. Panic sets in, chaos erupts, and no one is sure whom to trust. Jamie quickly realizes that there's only one way he's ever going to see his family again: the hard way.
Synopsis
Newlyweds Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves set out toward Turkey for an exotic honeymoon. But on their first night in the city, a harem girl is found murdered in the courtyard of the Sultan's lavish Topkapi Palace.
About the Author
Tasha Alexander is the author of the Lady Emily novels, a series of historical suspense, including A Crimson Warning and Dangerous to Know. 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.
Reading Group Guide
Reading Group Questions
1. What did you know about the Ottoman Empire before reading Tears of Pearl?
2. Take a moment to discuss your perceptions about harems. How are they portrayed in popular film/television adaptations? In previous novels? In this novel? How, if at all, did this book inform you about harem culture and/or womens rights in Victorian-era Turkey?
3. As the author noted in the Conversation, Victorian women faced extreme danger in childbirth, and most lost at least one child. How do you think this affected their views on motherhood? How does it affect your own?
4. How do women, in the past and today, find ways to be independent in restrictive societies?
5. Compare the ways in which Bezime and Perestu handle their power. Do you think Perestu will maintain her influence once shes no longer valide?
6. Do you think the concubines would be better off outside the harem? Why or why not? Discuss the types of challenges they might face in the “real” world.
7. Why do you think modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself?
8. We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral.” Is there a moral to Tears of Pearl? What can we learn about our world—and ourselves—from Emilys adventure?