Uneasy lies the crown

Plot strands tangle and threaten to unravel in this thirteenth episode of the Lady Emily Ashton and Colin Hargreaves series. But readers are in the author's trustworthy hands, and the working out of the puzzle will delight mystery and history buffs alike. Someone is staging murders that mirror the deaths of kings; Colin is sent on a seemingly meaningless scavenger hunt by the dying Queen Victoria; and the King's Boys gang wreaks havoc on London's East End. Intermittently woven among those seemingly unrelated elements is the tale of a certain William Hargrave, fighting in France with King Henry V. With a few cheeky references to a certain umbrella-wielding archaeologist (Amelia Peabody) and to Lady Emily's breathtakingly handsome swain, Emily and Colin do straighten the strands and explain a whopper of strange connections. Readers may also enjoy Matthew Pearl's The Dante Club (2003) and Jennifer Lee Carrell's Interred with Their Bones (2007) for their creepy "staged" murders, and Bernard Cornwell's historical novel Agincourt (2009) for its evocation of the era.--Jen Baker Copyright 2018 Booklist

Bestseller Alexander's engrossing 13th Lady Emily mystery (after 2017's Death in St. Petersburg) opens in 1901 when the dying Queen Victoria hands Colin Hargreaves, Lady Emily's diplomat husband, a cryptic note: "One and no more. Dare to know." The queen's funeral is barely over when Colin and Emily learn of a murder in the Tower of London. The corpse has been posed to resemble Henry VI. Meanwhile, someone is sending Colin on a scavenger hunt with a series of notes left in locations that recall Henry V. When three more bodies show up, all killed in ways that mimic the deaths of English kings, Colin is convinced that it's a warning to the new sovereign, Edward VII, that even a king can be killed. But Emily uncovers a connection between the dead men that suggests the murders are more about vengeance. Providing counterpoint are flashbacks to the 15th century, when Colin's ancestor William fought with Henry V at Agincourt. The two seemingly unrelated plots centuries apart come together in the end in a neat twist. English history lovers will be enthralled. Agent: Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Assoc. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

The 13th installment of Alexander's historical mystery series (Death in St. Petersburg) finds Emily and Colin facing the imminent death of Queen Victoria. The queen has tasked Colin with one last assignment, only he has no idea what she wants him to do. Meanwhile, Emily is caught up with a series of strange murders staged to mimic the famous deaths of kings. Scotland Yard wants her to stay away, but that won't stop her. Parallel to the main story is one set in 1415, featuring a young couple separated by war. William is fighting for the king in France, while Cecily prays for his safety. What these two narratives have in common is revealed at the very end of the novel. VERDICT The dual story lines are a clever idea that unfortunately doesn't work. The frequent flashbacks are a distraction that leads to a rather underwhelming plot twist. Still, faithful readers of the series will be forgiving and even more eager for the next entry. [See Prepub Alert, 6/10/18.]-Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib. © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

What do the years 1415 and 1901 have in common? It's up to a married pair of sleuths to discover the answer.On her deathbed, Queen Victoria hands Colin Hargreaves, her favorite agent of the crown, an envelope with a cryptic message and tells him, "Take this and do as it says." Soon thereafter, he's called to London for a strange murder, accompanied of course by his wife, Lady Emily, who's no stranger to all manner of violent crime (Death in St. Petersburg, 2017, etc.). In the Tower of London they find a dead man costumed and posed as Henry VI. Inspector Gale of Scotland Yard promptly banishes Emily and jumps to the conclusion that the death is meant as a threat to Edward VII. A label in the clothing of the next victim, who's posed as Edward II, leads them to a costume supplier who's sold two more costumes to a Mr. SmithRichard II and Harold Godwinson, suggesting more deaths to come. While they wait on future events, Colin and Emily each follow their own leads in an attempt to link the dead men. Neither was a nice person, but no enemies stand out. More cryptic clues in the same hand as the first message continue to turn up without illuminating crimes that are linked to historical deaths yet very contemporary. Although Colin still worries about the threat to the king, Emily, who's certain that the deaths have nothing to do with him, hunts for clues in some of the poorest and most dangerous areas of London. More deaths follow as the sleuths desperately try to uncover the vital clue that will help them catch a killer.Alexander, who's adept at mixing historical facts with mysteries, includes chapters featuring a tale from 1415 that's easily as interesting as the convoluted mystery that finally brings past and present together. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.