A Poisoned Season audiobook

I’ve decided I like Lady Emily after all! Reading the first book, I wasn’t sure - but that was because I couldn’t help comparing her to Lady Julia Grey, my favorite Victorian widow sleuth and my first love of the genre. But now I’ve had some time without a lot of new Lady Julia material to read, and was able to find some space in my heart for Emily. She’s another heroine who can’t quite live within the strictures of Victorian society, and finds freedom as a widow that she never could have had as a wife - although her scandalous habit of drinking port still makes her rather suspect to many, not to mention her newly discovered love of Ancient Greek and antiquities, and her reluctance to re-marry.In this second installment of the series, Emily discovers that being a widow is not a complete protection for her reputation now that she's out of mourning. She gets herself into some serious trouble with her social carelessness while investigating a murder. I have to say she won me over by the end, and I enjoyed the mystery as well - I didn't figure out what was going on right away.As far as the complementary leading male is concerned, I suppose I do like Colin too, even though so far he seems a bit too… good and honorable. Not even a whiff of the rogue on this one, and the only mysterious thing about him is the question of what exactly he does for the government. The fact that he’s most likely a spy does make him a bit interesting, but Lady Julia's Brisbane wins this contest for sure as one of my favorite male leads of all time.I enjoyed this for the many reasons that I love mysteries set in this time period - the social comedy, the relationships, the mishaps and scandals (or bluestocking tendencies) that shock high society, all mixed in with a bit of a mystery to make it more interesting and add a flare of danger and intrigue. The Lady Julia series is my first love of this genre, but that doesn't mean I can't learn to love others as well. Let's have some more Emily.

One of my favorite paintings, “Marie Antoinette with the Rose,” by Louise-Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (female prodigy and a favorite of the queen). The rose is the symbolic flower of Austria.★★★★ ½ Oh, I think I liked this one even more than the first in the Lady Emily Mysteries. It has plenty of intrigue, witty dialogue, and plot twists. There is a cat burglar stealing mementos of Marie Antoinette; there is a man claiming to be her heir; there is a ‘overzealous suitor’ stalking Lady Emily; and there is a murderer on the loose. Could it all be the same person?I got a little excited doing the Discussion Questions (DQs) for my “buddy read” of A Poisoned Season, as you can see by my rambling inquiry below:DQ#8. Lady Emily’s home is broken into twice. Was it the same person each time? Or was one home invasion by the Marie Antoinette Belongings Thief and the other by Lady Emily’s ‘overzealous suitor’? Are either of them Mr. Berry? Cécile doesn’t think he has it in him to be the thief? Could he be? If there were two different people that snuck in Lady Emily’s home, are they in league with one another? Is it a forgone conclusion that the person leaving the notes in Greek is the same one who left the rose and the note in her bed? Could two people be leaving her Greek notes? I hope this isn’t a dumb question, but are they love notes? Or something else altogether? See what I mean? Poor Sandy, my “buddy read” partner. Her response? “Dang, Lisa Kay.” LOL!

I loved this one so much more than the first in the Lady Emily series! After I read the first, I didn't think I would be too interested to continue but I was willing to give the series a second shot. I'm so glad that I did because I thought this was great. It had it all for me: the 1800's (one of my favorite era's), mystery, romance, witty dialogue, etc. Lady Emily and Colin are a wonderful couple, I can't wait to see their relationship flourish!

Where I got the book: purchased at an author event. Signed. I know the author.This is the second book in Alexander’s Lady Emily mystery series. I’m very slowly working my way through it, having enjoyed the first book enough that I was willling to give the second a try. I have three or four historical mystery series I dip into from time to time when I need some relaxation reading—I expect plausibility rather than painstaking historical accuracy, perhaps a little bit of a continuing romance story, and enough fun and fluff to keep me turning the page. I also like such books not to insult my intelligence, and they get higher points if they pique my interest in one or more aspect of history.And A Poisoned Season did well on all counts. It continues Lady Emily’s interest in all things Greek and her obsession with getting Greek artifacts out of private possession and into museums, although naturally she’s not progressive enough to insist they actually be returned to Greece. The Greek theme is worked into the plot via the messages (containing classical Greek quotations) that Emily receives from her stalker, but on the whole it’s downplayed as the main mystery plot involves artifacts belonging to Marie Antoinette and a Bourbon claimant who turns up in London. Yes, the Greek and the French do sit a little awkwardly together, which is the problem of giving your heroine a very specific interest early on in a series.The background for the mystery is the London Season, the marriage market for the aristocracy. This was the matter on which Alexander piqued my historical interest, as she has some interesting points to make about the whole love vs. strategy dilemma of Victorian aristocratic matchmaking and also develops Emily’s relationship with her mother. The post-dénouement ending (not spoiling it for you) came a bit too abruptly for me, but I’m hoping this will be one of those series where spanners will be thrown into the emotional works with satisfying regularity.My verdict is that I’m engaged in this series and will continue with it when the urge to relax with a historical mystery arises.

Another fantastic effort from Tasha Alexander.I love Lady Emily.I REALLY love Colin Hargreaves.Although I think this mid-to-late Victorian period in which the books are set would have been far too silly for me (I feel the same way about meetings, so it's possible that I need to adjust my standards), I enjoy seeing Emily romp all over it.This particular mystery has so many Georgette Heyer themes, but written by a contemporary author: the London season, arranged marriages, nobility, and a royal who-dun-it. Two thumbs way way up.*******SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT********And if you read this book and try to say you didn't instantly fall in love with Sebastian Capet, you're a dirty liar. ;-)

I really like the characters of these books but the main lady is kind of frustrating. I believe she is just trying too hard to be feminist and deny all things involving societal expectations, all well and good if she wasn't so judgemental of her friends and influencing them to be unhappy in the life they have. She has an annoying habit of not doing things just because someone asks her to do it. I'm still excited for the other book and I believe that her personality in that regard will calm down or evolve in a way that I can get more behind. This still felt more of just a historic fiction than a mystery.

4 stelle e mezza (questo mese sto dando i voti con lo stampino...)Un presunto pretendente al trono di Francia, un ladro che ruba oggetti appartenuti a Maria Antonietta, un misterioso spasimante e un'omicidio. Direi che la protagonista ha abbastanza sul piatto senza contare le attese, soprattutto della madre, affinché si risposi presto. Una bella storia e alla fine non avevo capito chi fosse l'assassino. Mi è piaciuto come l'autrice ha sviluppato l'idea che il figlio di Maria Antonietta possa essere scappato dalla prigione, anche se ora sappiamo con certezza che non è successo nella realtà. Devo decidermi a leggere più spesso questa serie, magari seguendo l'ordine dei libri perché finora ne ho letti uno qua e uno là.

This second installment in the Lady Emily Ashton mystery series definitely exceeded my expectations. I ended up rather underwhelmed by the first book. Nevertheless, I was willing to move forward, hoping things would pick up substantially in the second. And by "things" I mean plotline, character development, chemistry between principals...pretty much the whole shebang. Good news is--they did. Quite a bit, in fact. And I'm still trying to decide whether I adjusted to the world and writing style or if they gussied up a bit. Either way A POISONED SEASON was a very enjoyable read. Emily leaves her beloved Greece reluctantly, returning home to England for the dreaded Season. Now that she's a couple of years into her widowhood, Emily couldn't possibly care less about the endless winings and dinings, myriad marriage brokerings, and insipid social maneuverings that consume the London aristocracy for months on end. The string of cards and parties is spiced up a bit, however, by a series of burglaries--all of them items once owned by the late Marie Antoinette. When her friend Cecile's diamond earrings are stolen from Emily's own home, she becomes interested in investigating. Matters become a little more personal when the thief reveals a tendresse for Emily herself, stealing in and out of her home at will, leaving love letters and fragments of poems penned in ancient Greek. Meanwhile, Margaret has taken up with a duke, Colin is involved investigating a pretender to the defunct throne of France, and Emily's mother is determined to see Emily married again before the Season's end. I thought things came together much more seamlessly in this story than in the first. Emily is more sure of herself and less and less interested in what others think of her. It was a pleasure to watch her flaunt stuffy society matrons and their catty gossip in favor of learning Greek, investigating crime, and deepening her friendship with the ever-openminded agent of the crown--Colin Hargreaves. I like how Colin never once forces Emily to do anything. I like how Emily very sensibly waits to make any permanent changes to her life before she knows her own mind on the matter. Where And Only to Deceive made me want to pull out my copy of The Iliad and settle in, A POISONED SEASON sent me into a French Revolution phase, digging out my battered A Tale of Two Cities, as the mystery centers around the exiled French royal family, the life of Marie Antoinette, and the political machinations of the beleaguered Republic. This one had a delicious ending and left me eager for the next one.

In this second book of the series, Lady Emily Ashton finds herself embroiled in events surrounding a mysterious cat burgler and a pretender to the French throne. The theft of diamond earrings once belonging to Marie Antoinette and currently owned by her French friend, Cecile, while a guest in her home, alarms the entire household. Charles Berry, claiming to be a descendant of Louis XVI's son, the lost Dauphin, is charming London society and claiming that he will soon be installed as King of France as works are underway to restore the monarchy. These two events become connected when it is revealed that the cat burgler is only stealing items that once belonged to Marie Antoinette. When Lady Emily finds out gentleman David Francis has also been the victim of this burgler, she encourages him to report the theft of a large pink diamond to the police. Days later, Francis is found dead. Believing herself somehow responsible, Lady Emily is determined to find justice. And thus the game is afoot.Colin Hargreaves reappears as Emily's love interest, and their relationship advances as he supports her investigation while admonishing her to avoid risks. Since he has been employed by the British government to become close to and watch Berry, Colin and Emily find their paths crossing in this mystery. I really liked watching Emily and Colin become closer as they navigate the dictates of London society which is much opposed to Emily's streak of independence. Alexander also brings to light more about her ensemble cast of characters. There is the ever indomitable Lady Bromley, Emily's mother, constantly encouraging her to avoid scandal and remarry; Davis the astute and faithful butler; Cecile, Emily's French friend who is a houseguest and knowledgeable about French Royalty; American friend Margaret Seward, also an independent intellectual; and Ivy Brandon, Emily's friend from childhood, who is experiencing problems in her new married life. All play a part in the story as Lady Emily seeks to uncover a thief and murderer. I find Tasha Alexander's use of historical events intriguing, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

I'm a sucker for this genre: 19th Century England/high society/mystery/historical fiction/romance.Truth be told, it's not THAT great of a book, but like I said, I'm a sucker for the genre. The reason it is not THAT great is because I don't automatically find myself making the same leaps of judgement about some of the 'suspects' as the main character, Emily Ashton, does. So, I suppose that if the author made the motives more clear or the descriptions more detailed, I may make the same conclusions. Some things are left pretty vague to the reader, it seems, whereas the character, whom we are supposed to be journeying along with, seems to have more of the facts or back history. In any case, it entertained me.