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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780061148446
ISBN: 006114844X
Label: Harper Paperbacks
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 336
Publication Date: 2006-10-01
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Product Release Date: 2006-10-10
Studio: Harper Paperbacks

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.

Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Enjoyable
Review: I found And Only to Deceive to be a very good book, if you are determined to read it. The plot is an exciting one, with a very likable heroine and supporting characters. If you are wanting exposure to the mystery genre, I think that this book is a good place to start. It isn't straight mystery... it includes history, light hearted literature and a touch of romance. This book is also one that is probably better read if you are planning on finishing it in a few days or less. I think that it would be hard to keep interested if you were only going to read snippets at a time because there aren't always moments that would make you return to the book. So, if you want to broaden your horizon, or are looking for an intelligent read that is on the lighter side, I would recommend this book. If you aren't a fan of mystery novels, but like the historical aspect, I would still give this book a try.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: It was OK
Review: This book is not a page turner, but it is a light read, and it doesn't make you think too much. That can be good at times.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Enjoyable but slow going
Review: I enjoyed this book almost as much as Deanna Raybourne's "Silent in the Grave". Loved the mystery and trying to figure out "who done it", and the romantic tension was good without to much other "stuff"! As stated in my title, it did drag a bit here and there, but not enough to put the book down and not finish it. I will definitely read more of Ms. Alexander's works.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Whoever rated this book below a 4 star is insane!
Review: This is a remarkable book that delves deep into the Greek history, art, culture, and into the life style of the times. It is magnificently done! It is clean and easy to read! What a tremendous story!

Lady Emily Ashton, who married just to get away from her overbearing mother, lost her husband in her first 6 months of marriage, with him being gone most of that time. She didn't know him very well, but with the help of some dear friends, she discovers who her husband was and ends up falling deeply in love with him. However, a new love is beginning in the likeness of Colin Hargreaves, Emily's dearly departed's best friend.

After finding some journals and notes Emily is sent on a journey of discovery, all of which is not a good thing. Her life is threatened as she comes to realize that Phillip was murdered. She strives to uncover the mystery and end the end finds herself with new friends, new habits, and new love.

Super, super story! I immediately went out and bought the sequel, "A Poisoned Season", and eagerly awaited the newest sequel, "A Fatal Waltz", which I could not put down!

You will fall in love with her characters and hate some of them. They are very well built. I am looking forward to more!

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Deception and Intrigue
Review: When Lady Emily Ashton learns that her husband, Philip, has died while on safari in Africa, she wasn't devastated. Having only been married a few weeks, she didn't know him that well. But when his best friend, Colin Hargreaves, comes into Emily's life, she begins to learn more about - and fall in love with - the late Lord Ashton.

Philip had an interest in all things ancient Greek, and he was a wealthy collector and patron to the British Museum. Emily takes up his hobbies, enjoying the sculpture and literature that so fascinated her husband. But when she uncovers a series of forgeries at the museum, she begins to fear that Philip wasn't as perfect as she has imagined him to be. And when a letter arrives from Cairo bearing Philip's handwriting, she begins to doubt that Colin has told her the truth of Philip's death.

Set in Victorian England, Paris, and Greece, "And Only to Deceive" is more than a simple whodunit. The novel questions societal mores and the restrictions of women in the late nineteenth century. But more than this, it is a tale of deception and intrigue - one that you surely won't be able to put down.

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