And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander Published by Harper Collins on October 10, 2006
Genres: Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Pages: 336
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From gifted new writer Tasha Alexander comes a stunning novel of historical suspense set in Victorian England, meticulously researched and with a twisty plot that involves stolen antiquities, betrayal, and murder
And Only to Deceive
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 she 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. And to complicate matters, she's juggling two very 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.
A historical spy/adventure/romance. And it’s fantastic.
Tasha Alexander presents an independent, naive widow that through her journey to discover more about her deceased husband uncovers intrigue, forgery and the criminal underbelly of antiquities. She also discovers a lot about herself in the process.
Is it really hist-ro? Granted, the romance is not the center of the plot, but rather subjugated to minor scenes. But then again, aren’t all hist-ros really about more than the romance?
I like to think about media as a layer of an onion. Take Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sure, it’s about a chick who hunts down vampires with her buddies. But the subtext is really about the sorts of trials and tribulations teenager face and how friendship, integrity and truth can beat almost anything.
Same thing with romance. While I may sink my teeth into a juicy Regency romp, relishing in the romance, I also know sub-consciously that the books are usually about the fine line women walk between virgin/whore in Western culture…and how all women battle with wanting a fulfilling life but need to figure out how to balance that with family too.
So, I definitely categorize And Only to Deceive as historical romance (or maybe her prettier stepsister).
It was hard to put down, engaging, and filled with wonderful independent feminine spirit. It also had one of the staples of the hist-ro genre: strong sisterhood.
I love the foil of the mother character, who is truly one of the best, most realistic villains I have read in a long time. I also love that Lady Ashton is fairly indifferent to her suitors (well, with the exception of one). There is something nice about a female character who has little use for dandies and rakes.
I highly recommend this one as a break from the norm, and look forward to reading the sequel A Poisoned Season. Fans of Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series will also thoroughly enjoy Alexander’s dive into Victorian underworld.
