Donna Fletcher Crow has always loved the Victorians. "I love their energy, their confidence, their optimism. Victorians are often criticized as being repressed and are blamed for the injustices in their society; but I see them as people who sincerely worked for good. There were many difficulties in Victorian society, but when they identified a problem they set about with enormous vigor to correct it. I hope I have portrayed those achievements in some of the novels I have set in that period." Crow is a lifelong Anglophile, a former English teacher, and the author of 50 books, mostly novels of British history, including the award-winning Arthurian epic Glastonbury, The Novel of Christian England. She currently authors three mystery series: Lord Danvers Investigates, The Monastery Murders, and The Elizabeth and Richard Literary Mysteries. You can see all her books and pictures from her research trips at www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
Product details
ASIN
:
B07C2MD17S
Publisher
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Verity Press; 1st edition (9 April 2018)
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A stirring mystery that exposes the horror of the opium trade out of India, woven with a metaphysical depiction of the terrors of the Cawnpore massacres during the India uprising of the 1870s, through Tonia’s dreams of her dearest friend in Cawnpore. Such a pleasure that such a terrific book is so well written and edited.
In this very well researched mystery set in London and the India of the Indian Mutiny, history comes to vibrant life with a great story, with good characters and fascinating details of clothes, customs and conditions. Great stuff!
4.0 out of 5 starsLethargie Specter gibt einen spannenden Blick ins 19th Jahrhundert England.
Reviewed in Germany on 5 June 2020
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Die lebendige Darstellung des damaligen England mit den Klassenunterschieden in der Gesellschaft verbunden mit einem Kriminalfall der gelöst werden muss, machen dieses Buch zu einer lohnenden Lektüre.
There is a mystical thread to this story as Antonia dreams the experiences of her childhood friend, now caught in a brutal uprising in India. It’s an effective way of showing simultaneous events on opposite sides of the world--the disintegration of the rule of the British East India Company on the subcontinent and events in London where Antonia is helping Aunt Aethelbert to sponsor her friend’s daughter in society. The contrast of conditions is powerful, events in India horrific. The mystery that Charles and Antonia must solve is the death of an Indian gentleman in London known to friends of theirs, tying the two sides of the plot together. London plot involves the horrors of opium dens where Charles’ clergyman brother Freddy, a character readers will remember from a previous book, is ministering. I have been recently following the PBS series Victoria, so I enjoyed visualizing the scene of presenting Sarah to the young queen and her handsome new husband.
The descriptions of the country side and historical events makes you feel like you are there in the middle of the story. Lord Charles and Lady Antonia are invited to Charles Aunt Aelfridas to meet Sophia the daughter of Emilia the close friend of Antonia. Discussions among the guests is about the up rising in India and Emilia is working in the middle of the attack.. Antonia keeps having dreams about Emilia being in trouble that effects her health and Charles fears will harm their unborn child. Two murders connected to India take place in London and there is a lot of suspense and mystery as Charles and Antonia get involved.