"And Only to Deceive" by Tasha Alexander follows the story of Lady Emily Ashton, a young widow who embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her late husband's life and death. Through exploring her husband's interests in Greek antiquities and his mysterious past, Lady Emily finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and secrets. Set in Victorian England, the novel combines elements of mystery, romance, and historical fiction, offering readers a glimpse into upper-class society and the struggles faced by independent women during that era. The plot unfolds as Lady Emily navigates through societal expectations, uncovers art forgeries, and grapples with the complexities of love and loss.
The writing style of Tasha Alexander in "And Only to Deceive" is described as engaging, light, and entertaining by readers. features a strong and complex heroine, Lady Emily, who evolves from a seemingly shallow character to a determined investigator, challenging the norms of her time. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers engaged as Lady Emily delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding her husband's life, ultimately leading to unexpected revelations and discoveries.
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Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance in the story, primarily revolving around Emily's changing feelings for her late husband and interactions with potential suitors.
From The Publisher:
From New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander, a stunning novel of historical suspense set in Victorian England, meticulously researched and with a twisty plot that involves stolen antiquities, betrayal, and murder
For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. Emily becomes fascinated with this new image of her dead husband and immerses herself in all things ancient and begins to study Greek.
Emily's intellectual pursuits and her desire to learn more about Philip take her to the quiet corridors of the British Museum, one of her husband's favorite places. There, amid priceless ancient statues, she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret involving stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries. To complicate matters, she's juggling two prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond the marrying kind. As she sets out to solve the crime, her search leads to more surprises about Philip and causes her to question the role in Victorian society to which she, as a woman, is relegated.
Ratings (13)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (18):
Read It (15) | |
Want To Read (2) | |
Not Interested (1) |
3 comment(s)
The fact that I liked this book so much caused me to have an existential crisis about whether or not I actually have good taste in books or if my dedication this year to the historical-slow-burn romance-mystery genre has ruined any semblance of taste I may have left.
As a person who has read many books of this kind, what I enjoyed most was its departure from the formula of such a series. I've always found the idea of falling in love with someone after they've died compelling, and I think it was beautifully executed here. The mystery might have been a little tedious, but it picked up towards the novel's latter half.
I mostly liked the book because it precipitated a level of reflection. In the reviews I've read, there is a lot of criticism over Emily's behavior-- her flagrant rejection of social norms and society and how this differs greatly from her character before her marriage. How anti-nineteenth century she is, etc. However, I believe the people who see her this way have not had the great misfortune of being raised by an overbearing mother who has saddled them with unbearable expectations in an environment where propriety and roles are still very much present, if extremely lax in comparison with Victorian England. I also enjoyed how she considered if she would have loved her husband if he had lived. She wouldn't have been inspired to discover this new passion of hers had he not died. I don't know. It was a lot to consider.
Anyway, this is better than many other books of the same type. I said what I said.
Wasn't what I was expecting. Writing style was just ok, and it ended in a cliff hanger, which is lame.
Good easy read with a refreshingly complicated main character. Plot is easy to follow, characters are well rounded
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And Only to Deceive?
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