The Dark Heart of Florence: A Lady Emily Mystery

Description

In the next Lady Emily Mystery The Dark Heart of Florence, critically acclaimed author Tasha Alexander transports readers to the legendary city of Florence, where Lady Emily and Colin must solve a murder with clues leading back to the time of the Medici. In 1903, tensions between Britain and Germany are starting to loom over Europe, something that has not gone unnoticed by Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves. An agent of the Crown, Colin carries the weight of the Empire, but his focus is drawn to Italy by a series of burglaries at his daughter's palazzo in Florence-burglaries that might have international ramifications. He and Emily travel to Tuscany where, soon after their arrival, a stranger is thrown to his death from the roof onto the marble palazzo floor. Colin's trusted colleague and fellow agent, Darius Benton-Smith, arrives to assist Colin, who insists their mission must remain top secret. Finding herself excluded from the investigation, Emily secretly launches her own clandestine inquiry into the murder, aided by her spirited and witty friend, Cecile. They soon discover that the palazzo may contain a hidden treasure dating back to the days of the Medici and the violent reign of the fanatic monk, Savonarola-days that resonate in the troubled early twentieth century, an uneasy time full of intrigue, duplicity, and warring ideologies. Emily and Cecile race to untangle the cryptic clues leading them through the Renaissance city, but an unimagined danger follows closely behind. And when another violent death puts Emily directly in the path of a killer, there's much more than treasure at stake.

TASHA ALEXANDER, the daughter of two philosophy professors, studied English literature and medieval history at the University of Notre Dame. She and her husband, novelist Andrew Grant, live on a ranch in southeastern Wyoming.

"Alexander brings both early Renaissance and Edwardian-era Florence to life, with well researched references to Florentine history, literature, and art." -Booklist "Lady Emily Hargreaves returns to Italy in 1903 in a tale of murder, espionage, and hidden treasure...Historical background adds depth to a complex, exciting mystery." -Kirkus Reviews "Lively...Alexander effortlessly slips an enormous amount of Florentine history into a narrative that offers a loving portrait of the city and just the right amount of dashing derring-do. This series remains as fresh as ever." --Publishers Weekly Praise for In the Shadow of Vesuvius: Alexander's precise attention to historical details invests her series about Lady Emily Hargreaves with an unshakeable background that she expertly weaves into solid plots...[her] skills shine in In the Shadow of Vesuvius...pitch-perfect. --Sun-Sentinel Tasha Alexander brings both eras to life through meticulous research, and the dual stories come together in a chilling finale. Scenes set among the ruins of Pompeii and in the city pre-disaster have such depth that it feels like we're walking directly into them. This is an urbane thriller with a big heart. --Bookpage "[Evokes] the setting's rich history...lovers of classical culture should be pleased." --Publishers Weekly "A captivating story of Pompeii... engaging." --Kirkus Reviews Praise for Uneasy Lies the Crown: "Readers are in the author's trustworthy hands, and the working out of the puzzle will delight mystery and history buffs alike." --Booklist Praise for Death in St. Petersburg: Alexander is at the top of her game...(her) impeccable research and smart storytelling keep readers on the edge of their seats...A gripping tale by a grand mistress of the genre.--RT Book Reviews (Top Pick) Praise for the Lady Emily Mysteries: "Tasha Alexander has created Victorian London's most colorful and delightfully eccentric sleuth." --Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs Series "Consistently witty, smart, and entertaining."--Booklist