Helpful Score: 1
Mrs. Caroline Fordyce has a secret to keep. She lives with her two aunts and makes her living writing thrilling serial novels for one of the London newspapers. Unfortunately, while doing research into for her next novel about spiritualists which are all the rage in Victorian London, the medium with whom she has consulted is murdered ... and the man looking into the murder thinks that Mrs. Fordyce is a suspect. While she knows that she didn't kill the medium, she is afraid that her secret will come out during the investigation, so she decides to do some investigating of her own. This was a good beach read!
Helpful Score: 1
Amanda Quick at her best... a murder mystery to be solved, a dangerous man (is he the villain or the hero?) and the lady herself, a lovely rose waiting to be plucked (once you look past her advanced age of 27 and her spectacles). Great Read!!
Helpful Score: 1
Very good. Murder and chaos. Nice twist ending.
Helpful Score: 1
A delightful book, psychics, murder, mystery and love all tied up in a great afternoon read:)
Helpful Score: 1
Strong, sassy women...unconventional and flawed...
powerful, determined men... can't help but fall for the women
the usual (and much loved) theme of Amanda Quick's books! One of my favorite authors since the 80's...I have everyone of her books and wait eagerly for her new releases!
powerful, determined men... can't help but fall for the women
the usual (and much loved) theme of Amanda Quick's books! One of my favorite authors since the 80's...I have everyone of her books and wait eagerly for her new releases!
Helpful Score: 1
darkness & desire in victorian england.......another great "quick" book.
Another great book from Quick(JAK). If you love your romance with a little mystery then this is the book for you.
Very easy romantic mystery, although a bit light on both fronts.
A Victorian psychic gets involved in a murder mystery to show she had nothing to do with it...
As always a great Amanda Quick novel.
Victorian setting for light mystery. Heroine is secret novelist. enjoyable and typical Quick style
A little slow to start. But an excellent read.
From the acclaimed author of "The Paid Companion", a thrilling new novel of the darkness and desires hidden beneath the orderly surface of Victorian England...
Excellent historical thriller, with a comedy twist. Definately a good read!!!
Thrown together in searching for a murderer Carolyn Fordyce and Adam Hardesty find themselves drawn to each other. Carolyn fashions the villian in her novel after Adam only to decide perhaps he is not the villian she had intended him to be.
A fun book to read!
Another great romance book by Quick. This one is set in Victorian England - good suspense in this romance.
I really like her books for the fact that the women are strong,independant thinkers and do as they please. Great storylines and intrique.
loved this book Caroline and Adam is a great couple
Historical Romance Suspense. Good
A slow starter, different from her other books I've read. There wasn't the usual tension and electricity between the hero and heroine, although the book did get more interesting as read past the first few chapters. l did enjoy the subject material, on psychic experiences.
It could have been a scene from one of my novels. As a rule respectable ladies do not accept calls from Mysterious Gentlemen on business of the most grave importance, but I confess that I was possessed of a lively curiosity. The past three years had been so determinedly dull, I hoped Mr. Adam Hardesty would off a tiny respite from it. Indeed upon first glance he had such a formidable, thrilling prsence, he quickly became the model for the villain in the sesation novel I was currently writing. Imagine my shock when Mr. Hardesty accused me of bing party to a plot of murder, balckmail and general villainy. I know nothing of such occurrences and am innocence.
Definitely a great read - love her books!
Lots of great adventure and suspense in this story. A great afternoon read.
Amanda Quick novels are the work of Jayne Ann Krentz. This story is a historical romance taking place in Victorian England. I don't read much by Krentz or her alter-ego, Amanda Quick, because I don't find her novels accurate regarding the social mores of the times. The author may have her characters sipping tea correctly, but she never hesitates to have the characters jump into bed -- with the slightest provocation.
However, I had several hours of paper shuffling and a copy of this book on audiotape. It was an opportunity to listen to a lightweight story while engaged in mindless sorting.
Caroline Fordyce is an author of sensational novels (serialized in British newspapers). Mrs. Fordyce is researching mediums and the whole world of seances for her latest story. While at one, she crosses paths with Adam Hardesty. He is a wealthy man who is looking into blackmail and possibly murder. Caroline has a checkered past (through no fault of her own), and she decides to look into the matter of a famous medium's death. Unfortunately, Hardesty might uncover her complicated past and destroy her livelihood and respectable reputation.
Hardesty also has reason to investigate the murder of the Victorian medium, Elizabeth Delmont. Hardesty and his siblings originally came from poor beginnings. He finds out that there is a diary loose with details that could threaten his family. He must find it before London's society becomes aware. By the second medium's murder, Caroline and Hardesty are working together.
Frankly, this is the same type of story as most of the books I've read by Krentz/Quick: interesting while reading but soon forgotten. This story seemed to be a bit south of believable
However, I had several hours of paper shuffling and a copy of this book on audiotape. It was an opportunity to listen to a lightweight story while engaged in mindless sorting.
Caroline Fordyce is an author of sensational novels (serialized in British newspapers). Mrs. Fordyce is researching mediums and the whole world of seances for her latest story. While at one, she crosses paths with Adam Hardesty. He is a wealthy man who is looking into blackmail and possibly murder. Caroline has a checkered past (through no fault of her own), and she decides to look into the matter of a famous medium's death. Unfortunately, Hardesty might uncover her complicated past and destroy her livelihood and respectable reputation.
Hardesty also has reason to investigate the murder of the Victorian medium, Elizabeth Delmont. Hardesty and his siblings originally came from poor beginnings. He finds out that there is a diary loose with details that could threaten his family. He must find it before London's society becomes aware. By the second medium's murder, Caroline and Hardesty are working together.
Frankly, this is the same type of story as most of the books I've read by Krentz/Quick: interesting while reading but soon forgotten. This story seemed to be a bit south of believable
Great read.
Unique and interesting characters make this an enjoyable read! Amanda Quick has a style all her own.
Always love Amanda Quick's historicals.
Book Description
The sins of Adam Hardesty's past have been discovered. And if he does not hunt down his blackmailer quickly, his secrets will be revealed to all...
But there is an obstacle in his way: sensation novelist Caroline Fordyce. She knows that Adam's quest for justice could shatter her own reputation - and mire her family in lethal scandal. And she fears what he may find.
Together, they will navigate the shadow side of London, venturing into an underworld of cutthroats, connivers, and illusionists. And as the mystery grows ever deeper and the danger circles ever closer, they must guard not only their secrets but their lives...
The sins of Adam Hardesty's past have been discovered. And if he does not hunt down his blackmailer quickly, his secrets will be revealed to all...
But there is an obstacle in his way: sensation novelist Caroline Fordyce. She knows that Adam's quest for justice could shatter her own reputation - and mire her family in lethal scandal. And she fears what he may find.
Together, they will navigate the shadow side of London, venturing into an underworld of cutthroats, connivers, and illusionists. And as the mystery grows ever deeper and the danger circles ever closer, they must guard not only their secrets but their lives...
Regency romance that combines murder, passion and suspense. I really enjoyed this one!
great book. worth the read!
Good read. Entertaining and kept my interest.
Good, I like all of Amanda Quicks books
She unlocked her hands and seized her pen again. "This is very interesting, Mr. Grove. Indeed, it is riveting." She wrote Determined and relentless on the sheet of paper. "Let me see if I have got the facts in the correct order. You are conducting an inquiry into Mrs. Delmont's death, and you came here to ask me if I had any information concerning her murder."
I think this is truly one of her best.
From the back cover...
Gentle Reader,
It could have been a scene from one of my novels. As a rule, respectable ladies do not accept calls from Mysterious Gentleman on business of the most grave importance-but I confess that I was possessed by a lively curiosity. The past three years had been so determinedly dull, I hoped Mr. Adam Hardesty would offer a tiny respite from it. Indeed, upon first glance, Mr. Hardesty had such a formidable, thrilling presence, he quickly became the model for the villain in the sensation novel I was currently writing.
Imagine my shock and distress then, when, Mr. Hardesty accused me of being party to a plot of murder, blackmail, ad general villainy! I knew nothing of such occurrences, and proclaimed my innocence. Unfortunately, Mr. Hardesty left unconvinced, and I had an uneasy feeling over what his search would uncover. You see, Gentle Reader, though I live a most uneventful life now, my past contained a Great Scandal that would be ruinous if resurrected. To protect my secrets from Mr. Hardesty's investigation, I concluded that I would need to conduct an inquiry of my own, and if that meant sharing my findings with Mr. Hardesty, so be it. And my course of action had nothing whatsoever to do with the illicit, passionate feelings that he aroused in me-feelings that propriety would definitely frown upon...
Yours most sincerely,
Caroline Fordyce
Gentle Reader,
It could have been a scene from one of my novels. As a rule, respectable ladies do not accept calls from Mysterious Gentleman on business of the most grave importance-but I confess that I was possessed by a lively curiosity. The past three years had been so determinedly dull, I hoped Mr. Adam Hardesty would offer a tiny respite from it. Indeed, upon first glance, Mr. Hardesty had such a formidable, thrilling presence, he quickly became the model for the villain in the sensation novel I was currently writing.
Imagine my shock and distress then, when, Mr. Hardesty accused me of being party to a plot of murder, blackmail, ad general villainy! I knew nothing of such occurrences, and proclaimed my innocence. Unfortunately, Mr. Hardesty left unconvinced, and I had an uneasy feeling over what his search would uncover. You see, Gentle Reader, though I live a most uneventful life now, my past contained a Great Scandal that would be ruinous if resurrected. To protect my secrets from Mr. Hardesty's investigation, I concluded that I would need to conduct an inquiry of my own, and if that meant sharing my findings with Mr. Hardesty, so be it. And my course of action had nothing whatsoever to do with the illicit, passionate feelings that he aroused in me-feelings that propriety would definitely frown upon...
Yours most sincerely,
Caroline Fordyce
From the acclaimed author of The Paid Companion, a thrilling new novel of the darkness and desires hidden beneath the orderly surface of Victorian England....
Great read, fun victorian mystery. Hard to put down.
Great read, fun victorian mystery. Hard to put down.
A novel of the darkness and desires hidden beneath the surface of Victorian England.
mystery/romance
An interesting piece of fluff.
A writer, with a secret that MUST be kept, is investigated by a mysterious stranger. He accuses her of murder and blackmail.
Although frightened of the scandal that would ruin her career, she is having illicit, passionate feelings for this man.
Although frightened of the scandal that would ruin her career, she is having illicit, passionate feelings for this man.
I really enjoyed this novel. It had the perfect mix of romance, Victorian England atmosphere and murder! A man is killing "mediums", a strange grudge he has against psychics. Why is he doing this, why at midnight and why does he leave such odd things behind? It is up to a novelist who writes weekly stories for a newspaper and a mysterious man who walks into her life just in time, to find out who, what, where, how and why! Give this a read!! A great mystery!
"from the acclaimed author of The Paid Companion, a thrilling new novel of the darkness and desires hidden beneath the orderly surface of Victorian England".
