In the Shadow of Vesuvius: A Lady Emily Mystery

Description

Some corpses lie undisturbed longer than others. But when Emily discovers a body hidden in plain sight amongst the ruins of Pompeii, she sets in motion a deadly chain of events that ties her future to the fate of a woman whose story had been lost for nearly two thousand years. Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, have accompanied her dear friend Ivy Brandon on a trip to Pompeii. When they uncover a corpse and the police dismiss the murder as the work of local gangsters, Emily launches an investigation of her own. She seems to be aided by the archaeologists excavating the ruins, including a moody painter, the enigmatic site director, and a free-thinking American capable of sparring with even the Duke of Bainbridge. But each of them has secrets hiding among the ruins. The sudden appearance of a beautiful young woman who claims a shocking relationship to the Hargreaves family throws Emily's investigation off-course. And as she struggles to face an unsettling truth about Colin's past, it becomes clear that someone else wants her off the case-for good. Emily's resolve to unearth the facts is unshakable. But how far below the surface can she dig before she risks burying herself along with the truth?

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.

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...an urbane thriller with a big heart. --Bookpage 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 "A captivating story of Pompeii... engaging." --Kirkus Reviews "[Evokes] the setting's rich history...lovers of classical culture should be pleased." --Publishers Weekly Praise for Uneasy Lies the Crown: "Engrossing...English history lovers will be enthralled."--Publishers Weekly "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