A Fatal Waltz

It's hard to resist a heroine who reads novels by writers like Mary Elizabeth Braddon.  Novels not fit for ladies.  I should say that this is a Victorian heroine and an unconventional one at that.  Not only does she read the 'wrong' sorts of books, but she also drinks port with the gentlemen after dinner and solves the occasional mystery.  Just so you won't raise your eyebrows too much, however, Lady Emily Ashton is from an aristocratic family and a widow, giving her entrée into Society and the excuse to get away with her somewhat unusual behavior.  She's also elegant and clever and extremely likable.  All in all Tasha Alexander's A Fatal Waltz, the third installment in this series (following And Only to Deceive and A Poisoned Season), was a satisfying and entertaining read complete with an appealing setting, an interesting mystery and a dash of romance.  Just the sort of book for a rainy afternoon.

The year is 1891 and Emily is attending a country house party with her fiancé, Colin Hargreaves.  The host of the party, Lord Fortescue, a mover and a shaker in Her Majesty's government, is an unbearably annoying man.  When he's murdered I can't say I was surprised or disappointed.  The man arrested for his murder, however, happens to be Lord Fortescue's protégé and also the husband of Emily's best friend.  Although Colin happens to be an agent of the crown and used to these kinds of situations, he's already mixed up in other political intrigues and is unable to come to his assistance.  It will be Emily that Robert and Ivy turn to, to help discover the truth of the matter.  Emily has only one clue to work with and it will take her to Vienna. 

Although I love Emily and Colin and the tension between them, part of what I like about these books are the secondary characters.  It might be enough to only read about Emily and Colin and their adventures, but there's added depth to the story by incorporating Emily's family and friends in as well.  Emily's mother is slightly exasperating, a terrible gossip and one of Society's proper matrons.  You have to wonder how she ended up with a daughter like Emily (much to her chagrin at times, no doubt).  Her friend Margaret, nearly as unconventional as Emily, is an American of the nouveau riche class and shares Emily's love of learning (yes, she does read more than just sensationalist literature).  Once again Margaret has to miss the fun as she stays behind with Ivy in England.  Emily talks her French friend, Cécile, and her childhood friend, Jeremy (the Duke of Bainbridge), into traveling with her to Vienna.

Vienna at Christmastime is lovely, and the mood is captured quite nicely.  Alexander peppers the story with cultural references and even such notable figures as the Empress herself and Gustav Klimt make appearances.  At first I wasn't sure if this would work, but considering that Emily and her friends move in the upper echelons of society, it wasn't really surprising.  The lovely seasonal mood is marred only by Emily's investigation, which will take her to the unsavory parts of Vienna as she tries to piece together clues.  Emily must deal with thugs and anarchists, and what she discovers will have significance to Colin's work for the Queen, which has also brought him to Vienna. 

It's not all murderers and anarchists, though.  Emily will find time to waltz with Colin (they're in Vienna after all--home of Strauss and the Waltz) and finds that her longtime friend Jeremy is harboring his own romantic feelings for her.  Emily also must deal with her feelings of inadequacy as Colin's work brings him into contact with an old flame who's intelligent, sophisticated and very sexy.  The subplots are almost more entertaining than the mystery.  There's a traditional mystery in the book, but there's also political intrigue woven in.  I wasn't particularly surprised by the solution to the mystery (though I hadn't worked out the motivation until the end), but I enjoy these novels as much for the setting and interactions between the characters as for the mystery aspect.

Each installment gets a little better I think.  Colin and Emily's relationship continues to grow (are they really going to get married?), and they find that they work very well together.  I won't be surprised if Emily goes beyond dabbling in the odd murder to more international sorts of crime considering the work her fiancé does.  Of course now I'll have to wait until the next book to find these things out.  Perhaps I'll have to go back and read the first two books again while I'm waiting.  You can read my thoughts on those here and here.  Check out the author's website here.  A Fatal Waltz is due out in May.   

Comments

[Kay]

I must read these. I think I have the first two here somewhere. You've voiced what I love so much about so many mystery series, namely, the recurring characters. It is what keeps me reading some authors even when the mysteries are not terribly exciting. I know that I will enjoy these when I get around to them.

Have you read Stephanie Barron's A FLAW IN THE BLOOD. Jenclair wrote about it recently and I picked up my copy of it and am really enjoying it. You might like it too.

[Danielle]

Kay--I think the mysteries in this series are getting a little more sophisticated each time around, but really that aspect of the story is sort of secondary for me. I think these are actually called "novels of suspense" and are listed as fiction (though usually they are found in mystery sections of bookstores). It's the ongoing plot that keeps drawing me back and the mystery is a bonus. I do have the Barron book at home, but it's a library book and I'm not sure I'll get it read before it's due back. I will have to get back in line. I was glad to see that Jenclair liked it, as now I'll definitely read it!

[Margaret Powling]

I have resisted reading the whole of today's post, Danielle, as I'm currently reading the first in the series, And Only to Deceive. I'm enjoying it very much but, as I've said in an email to Tasha Alexander, if she's writing from the viewpoint of Lady Emily, an English aristocrat, then she should not use American terms and phrases. Yes, the book is primarily for an American market, I do understand that, but when she speaks of a "vest" for a man, she should actually have said "waistcost" for a vest to an English person is an undergarment made of light wool or cotton. Similarly, "pants" are undergarments, these should of course be "trousers." Neither would an Englishwoman eat a "cookie", it would be a "biscuit." Nor would she speak of the "fall", that would be "autumn." Nor would she "go see" anyone, but "go to see" or "go and see." Nor would she travel by "railroad" but go "by train" or travel "by rail" or speak of "the railway." If she were an American, then it would be quite right and proper for her to speak of "railroad." There is also an instance "the queen" (sic) is mentioned, but when the definite article is used, it should be "the Queen." I guess (Americanism!) I'm being just a little pedantic, but these 'nits' needed picking, I think. Other than that, a great story and, what is more, I've not allowed these nits to prevent me from ordering the next in the series!

[Danielle]

Margaret--How interesting. Since I'm American I didn't pick up on these differences. You are right, though, getting the right terminology can really make the book feel much more authentic. There've been occasions where I've read a book not written by an American but that's had American characters and words they use sometimes feel off to my own ears, so I understand how strange these things do sound! These differences in language are really fascinating! I wonder if I do read the books again if I can pick up on them.

[Jaimie]

I can't wait to get this book! And I just read a novel not fit for ladies not too long ago!:)

[Margaret Powling]

Lovely to read your response to my comment, Danielle! And now you won't be able to read another Lady Emily novel without looking for Americanisms! I hope I've not spoilt the fun of the read for you!
As I don't have a blog of my own (I'd never get anything else done if I had!) I was wondering whether yourself and other readers are as daft as I am insofar as I choose a bookmark or postcard specially for the current book I'm reading, therefore I have chosen a postcard of a model wearing a Victorian gown in crimson silk for my bookmark for And Only to Deceive. Furthermore, if I read something about an author or his/her book etc in the paper, I cut it out and place it in his/her appropriate book so that few books can be removed from the shelves without pieces of paper falling out!

[Danielle]

Jaimie--I'm going to be reading that exact novel (not fit for a lady!) myself very soon!!
Margaret--No, the fun hasn't been spoilt at all! :) Though I might look a little harder next time I'm reading an American writer doing a British setting. I think what will bother me more is when an author tries to be too British--using 'jolly goods' and words that sound like they're trying too hard. I'm never sure if that's real British or only an American's perception of what it should sound like?! How funny you mention bookmarks--I have a tin full to overflowing with them and when I pick up a new book I actually do grab a bookmark that fits the tone of the book! I thought I was the only one who did that, but glad to hear I'm not. I'm not so good at cutting things out (so much of what I read article-wise is online these days and I don't always print things out), but it would be fun to pick up a book you've not read in a while and see what other papers are with it. And I'm glad you are enjoying the Lady Emily Ashton stories enough to continue on. It will be interesting to see if the language gets more accurate as she goes.

[tara]

I've really got to try this series someday. I really enjoyed your review.

[Margaret Powling]

re novels not fit for a lady, I have found Mary Elizabeth Brandon on www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
My goodness (that's my equivalent of "jolly good!") she certainly wrote a lot of books, including Lady Audley's Secret (mentioned in Tasha Alexander's And Only to Deceive.) It says in the biog. of her that "In September 1860 she moved to London and the following year the novels which were to make her famous, Lady Audley's Secret and Aurora Floyd, began to be serialised in two magazines belonging to the publisher John Maxwell." The biog closes with:
"From controversial beginnings as a purveyor of immoral sensation fiction, she became a respected writer."

[Claire]

Oooh - this series is going straight on my Goodreads to-read list.

[iliana]

I still haven't read the first one! Oh so many good series that are waiting on my bookshelf. I hope to at least read the first one this year - sounds like it's a fun one!

[Dorothy W.]

This reminds me -- I'd really like to read Mary Elizabeth Braddon! I've got two unread novels of hers on my shelves. A Fatal Waltz sounds like great fun.

[Danielle]

Tara--These are really nice, entertaining reads! Great to curl up with them.
Margaret--I wonder if she wrote under her own name. It must have been something for a woman to write such immoral books! :) It's nice that her work became more respected later, though. I guess it wouldn't still be in print if it wasn't considered worthy in its own way. I'm planning on reading Lady Audley's Secret as soon as I finish Washington Square!
Claire--I hope you enjoy the books. This is one of my favorite mystery series (along with Jacqueline Winspear and Deanna Raybourn's books!).
Iliana--It is a quick read, really, so hopefully you'll be able to fit it in.
Dorothy--I've got two or three of her books as well. I didn't even realize one was hers as it's packaged in a new more modern cover by Vintage Crime. I was surprised when I read the author bio to see who wrote it. I'll have to start with Lady A, first, though.

[Lana]

I loved the Viennese setting! I'm always on the lookout for novels set in Vienna, and they're remarkably hard to find if you don't care for Freud...

I love all of Alexander's secondary characters as well, particularly Margaret. I enjoyed watching her romance; I'm hoping for something lovely to happen for Jeremy, and I love the not-so-subtle romance between Emily's butler and Cecile's maid!

I enjoyed your review, so I've linked to you here.

[Danielle]

Lana--I really like Tasha Alexander. This is a series I've really enjoyed reading and I still have her newest one on my TBR pile waiting for me. I love anything set in Vienna, too, but I imagine it is hard finding books that don't in some way mention Freud. The Tallis mysteries are great, but they are very much dependent on Freud, so maybe not your cup of tea. Reading your comment makes me want to pick up her last one right now! :) Thanks very much for linking to me by the way!