Friday, May 2, 2014

A Dangerous Affair by Caro Peacock



Neither of us knew the rate of bribing a goaler at the Old Baily. My friend Daniel Suter was two steps below me on the way down to cells. He'd fought his way through the crowd to get there, pushing aside men twice his weight with bruiser's faces, ignoring jeers and curses. In those two steps he'd crossed the boundary of civilized modern building of the Central Criminal Court and the centuries-old misery of the passageway connecting it to Newgate prison next door. Freshly plastered walls gave way to damp brick and a smell of choked drains. 
  "I want to see her." Daniel said to the goaler's broad back.
  He looked terribly out of place there, a slim and elegant hat in hand. That was one of the reasons they were jeering at him.
 "How much?" said the goaler, half turning.

A Dangerous Affair by Caro Peacock

Our heroine Liberty Lane is all alone save for a brother who is serving in India. He gives his blessings to her to marry Daniel Suter, who is a very good friend of hers. She likes him but marriage is not in her agenda. She barely makes through by giving music lessons. 

A well known dancer, Columbine is murdered by poison. A young dancer is arrested for the crime. Daneil is heart broken as he has fallen for that girl. Liberty takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of the crime. Now, a young politician, Benjamin Disraeli had asked Liberty to find out all about Columbine before she was murdered. Columbine was a notorious woman, with many liaisons. She had more enemies than friends.

Liberty is hot on trail and in the way she finds the murky way the royalty works. The novel has rich imaginative settings and a likeable protagonist and a good plot. All these elevate the novel.

8 comments:

Harvee said...

I'd read it for the rich,imaginative settings and for the suspense!
Harvee
Book Dilettante

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Oh, this does sound like a page-turner. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

JC Jones said...

Sounds exiting.

Sheri said...

Wow, it definitely makes me want to know more about the story. Thanks for sharing and for visiting Shut Up & Read!

Jo @ Booklover Book Reviews said...

An evocative beginning.

Tea said...

I would definitely read this one. Damp brick and choked drains...yuck!

guiltlessreader said...

LOVE it, sounds like a good historical fiction piece! And who the heck knows about the niceties of bribing anyway?

Elizabeth said...

Love the cover. The storyline sounds amazing.

ENJOY!!! I know I would. :)

Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings