The Counterfeit Guest
Number 2 in series
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4.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Spring 1797. The war with France deepens, the Channel Fleet has mutinied . . . and a ruthless traitor lurks within fashionable London society.
Such matters should not concern young Mary Finch, who has recently inherited an unexpected fortune. But her new status brings her little pleasure, and she longs for freedom and adventure.
Mary's restless spirit leads her to a meeting with an elusive spymaster, who offers her an intriguing proposal. With England's security and a friend's safety at risk, Mary arrives at the exotic Champian Hall, determined to uncover its dark secrets. But the
knowledge that she seeks is deadly, especially when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Brimming with suspense and drama, The Counterfeit Guest is an irresistible historical mystery from the author of the acclaimed The Blackstone Key.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in England in 1796, Melikan's sprightly sequel to The Blackstone Key (2008) finds Mary Finch, once a poor teacher, now a wealthy heiress. At a ball given in London by Mary's friend Susannah and Susannah's new husband, Colonel Crosby-Nash, Mary witnesses Crosby-Nash meeting with a disguised stranger. Mysterious espionage expert Cuthbert Shy guesses that Crosby-Nash is involved in sedition and encourages Mary to travel with the couple to their Kent estate to gather more information. Mary's researches are aided, yet also complicated, by Capt. Robert Holland, an artillery officer whose headquarters in Woolwich is one of the plotters' targets and whose romance with Mary is stymied by her new fortune. Overdoses of conversation and coincidence weaken the middle chapters, but the novel's confident voice, quirky characters and sparkling period detail should keep fans of light historical thrillers turning the pages.
