Tears of Pearl (Lady Emily Mysteries)

This is just like her other mysteries. Maybe a little long, but found the plot okay. Maybe too much detail with other characters and didn't expect the red paint suspect. Getting a bit weary of the comments on her husband and his clothes etc. Granted she marred below her status, but it does get tiring to keep emphasing and her borrowing dresses from family that have a better life.

I really enjoyed the first three books. I discovered Alexander and Raybourn at the same time and was in Victorian romance heaven. I like my Victorian romantic mysteries with a strong female lead (like Amelia Peabody, or Charlotte Pitt), and Lady Emily fit the bill nicely.

I was excited with book 4, but once I started reading it, I found I did not like the changes over Lady Emily and Colin. All they seem interested in doing now is making out or indulging in heavy innuendo. I suppose that's nice and all, for a newlywed, but I wanted a good story, too, and all the "romance" got in the way. I ended up putting the book down after about four chapters out of sheer boredom. I don't think I will be picking it back up, and I will end the Lady Emily mysteries with book three.

Once again Tasha Alexander delivers a clever, well written suspense novel. What I love about her books is the fact that they are a wonderful read with no gore, no foul language and no explicit sex. She manages to tell a love story within a suspense novel that you don't feel dirty after reading. I like the fact that you can pick up this book and read it even if you haven't read the 4 previous books, but there isn't so much explaining who the characters are that you are bored.

Did not like ending where Emily lost her baby and might not have any children. Colin was not in story enough. Do not know if I want to continue reading these stories. Know on only 4th book, but are they both in stories more.?

Really loved the series before this one. Quite a letdown. I wish I'd waited until I could get it at the local library, instead of eagerly buying it upon release. Not a keeper. Felt she just phoned it in.

I have loved the previous three Lady Emily Ashton books by Tasha Alexander so I was excited about the fourth. I was very disappointed. It seemed like a copy of previous books with different characters and a new setting. I did like learning about Constantinople. I would have also liked to have read more about Emily and Colin's relationship. It seemed they had little time together even though this was supposed to be their honeymoon trip.

Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves are newly married and on their honeymoon in Constantinople. Soon after the couple's arrival, they become involved in a murder investigation of one of the sultan's concubines. The murder victim turns out to be the long-missing daughter of Sir Richard, a British Embassy official whom they have met on the Orient Express. Sir Richard implores Colin to investigate the murder of his daughter, but since men are not allowed inside the harem, Emily has now been recruited to investigate in an official capacity.

Tears of Pearl, Tasha Alexander's fourth Lady Emily mystery, was a book I looked forward to reading. Even though I found the third book (A Fatal Waltz) disappointing, I was still enamored enough of the first and second book in the series to pre-order this latest installment. Unfortunately, I found little that appealed to me when it came to the main character. Those who have read the third book may recall that Emily was often compared to that paragon of female beauty and intelligence: Countess von Lange, who was essentially a poisonous, adulterous, conceited woman with an air of supreme superiority ... and she was't even funny. If this was the author's way of telling readers what to expect of Emily's future character development, then I should have taken the author seriously and stopped with the third book.

Emily's character is not so far gone as to be completely intolerable in Tears of Pearl, but I found her grating nonetheless. And this starts immediately in the first chapter on the train: her presumptuousness in thinking that people not so much as WANT her help, but essentially NEED her help, this is what she thinks. Even when she tries to be sympathetic to someone, it comes across as condescending rather than compassionate.

Yes, characters can have faults, but the main character must also speak to the reader in a way that we care about them, that their flaws are just that, a flaw, usually redeemed through some of their better judgment and qualities. Why else should we care about them? Why should we be interested at all in their plight, misery, adventure, internal struggles?

Emily has that sense of self-entitlement that comes with being an upper-class woman, that her morals and judgment are superior to those outside her own class, and especially those whose culture are alien to her own. She walks about Constantinople with a degree of self-importance and ignorance. This is fine if it was any other Victorian upper-class woman, but isn't she supposed to be enlightened ... even just a little? Yet I found her to be a woman with little imagination and unwillingness to even TRY to understand how (in this case) women of a different culture do not think as she does. This kind of narrow thinking completely spoils the book.

Then there is her method of investigating and interviewing various persons-of-interest. Again, her ego gets in the way of things; her stubbornness cloud her judgment when she should be reasonable and rational (which is why she often misses the clue). It's the stereotypical female character who cannot control their emotions and revert all too quickly to self-pity. Emily can't seem to help herself; she must air her opinions to all and sundry, even to those inside the harem who are naturally inclined to be secretive and suspicious. Didn't she stop and think, even for a minute, that imposing her top-lofty ideals may get in the way of the greater good---namely solving a murder? I also found it hard to believe that she would approach the sultan (the sultan!) as if he were an equal! This is where her upbringing should come to the forefront: manners, but she lacks those, too. What has happened to this woman? She is about as subtle as a bull in a china shop.

A little sensitivity, a little common sense and---dare I say---a little humility, would go a long, long way, Lady Emily.

Once upon a time, the newly widowed Lady Emily was interesting. She was a scholarly fashionista from the British upper class with an eye for intrigue--oh and she was slightly scandalous. Now she is married to her love, Colin Hargreaves and has become a pale shadow of her former self. In fact Emily has lost all of her panache and instead of searching for it, she and Colin become embroiled in a convoluted tale of a diplomat, his long missing daughter and a Turkish seraglio. The story is predictable, convoluted and not very romantic. I wish I could say that there is some redeemable quality in this book but nothing comes to mind.

I adore Tasha Alexander's books. This one is the exception. The writing was very bland, almost Dick and Jane-esque, and devoid of the rich detail that usually is a hallmark of Alexander. This novel felt like it had been dashed off at the last minute. I can only hope that Alexander's next book is more like her previous works and much, much less like this one.

I adore Tasha Alexander's books. This one is the exception. The writing was very bland, almost Dick and Jane-esque, and devoid of the rich detail that usually is a hallmark of Alexander. This novel felt like it had been dashed off at the last minute. I can only hope that Alexander's next book is more like her previous works and much, much less like this one.

In the beginning, I really enjoyed this book. It seemed very exciting and intriguing. But the further I got along in the book, the more holes I saw in the plot. By the end of the book, the plot was literally a sieve.
1) Cordelia Dalton: Supposedly her parents and servants kept a sharp eye on her and her correspondence. A Scotland Yard officer was watching the house from the front. Yet she was able to receive 3 letters from the kidnappers and disappear into thin air over a tall garden wall! Ms. Alexander, although she revealed the culprit at the end, never explained how the kidnapping happened.
2) How did both the culprit and Winifrid find out all the secrets the noble and rich families had to hide? Even the supposedly well-connected Hargreaves didn't know the secrets! Plus the culprit was an outsider who was never truly accepted into the society of the upper classes.
3) Why didn't Dillman just put the important papers into a bank vault? The British Museum treasure hunt was a tiresome plot device. It reminded me of the treasure hunts I would devise for my daughter's birthday parties. It was a somewhat childish plot device on which too many pages were spent/wasted.
4) Emily sure was active despite her corsets, full long skirts, and heels. She was either running around London on her two well-heeled feet, jumping in and out of cabs, running around Hyde Park, jumping through windows, and climbing over chapels in Westminster Abbey. I seriously can't imagine a woman doing all that wearing a full Victorian costume.
At the end of the book, I had a picture of Emily tooling around London in a Mini Cooper, instead of a hansom cab. She was just too modern for Victorian times.

What started as a interesting view of the later Victorian world has fallen.

Not in this case Ms Alexander's research in the Sublime Porte and more specifically, the Harem of the Sultan. Just, WHY?

So what if after 20 years the daughter of an english man is found to be a Harem Concubine. The Sultan has plenty of agents that investigate murders, ones that he trusts. Not an English female outsider who we find uncovers that many men seem to have access to the Harem as well as as a reader, knowing who the ultimate murderer is long before the sleuths of the story do.

No, after four books, despite their being more, no longer can the suspension of disbelief be set aside so that Ms Alexander can explore improbable villainy and murder with untrained aides against world class adversaries always connected to the royalty and leaders of the world. That one person can get so involved in so many instances with royalty no 19th century daughter of Earl or not, would. It is an American fantasy to think that such gives entree into the world of the highest.

Were she even a countess in her marriage alliance (which she isn't) nothing short of a Princess Royal would seem to make the connections this heroine has made, and then none even then would gain access to search for the guilty when their were others in each instance who those of royalty this heroine met could be called to do the work Lady Emily has been doing.

A little bit of plausibility and Lady Emily could have proven to be a sleuth within her characters scope. Not this fantasy.

I have read with great pleasure all of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily mysteries. It is rare, in my experience, to find an author who manages to sustain a high standard of writing with compelling plot lines throughout a series of novels. Yet Ms. Alexander does precisely that. Her mysteries move from strength to strength. They are well-researched historical novels, peppered with sparkling dialog, rich and multi-layered characterizations, intricate plots, and page-turning excitement. A Crimson Warning is the latest offering in the series and it does not disappoint. Someone is vandalizing the homes of the upper crust of London society by splashing red paint across their doorsteps. Outrageous as this act seems to the inhabitants behind those posh doors, it is the terror that follows which does the greatest damage. Each victim, it is soon discovered, harbors a nasty secret -- some scandal or humiliation which, if it comes to light, will mean social and political doom. No one's privacy is safe, as one by one, the most personal of secrets become public knowledge, creating great devastation to those affected. Marriages and friendships are destroyed, reputations shattered, careers crushed and it is up to Colin Hargreaves, special agent to the Crown, and his clever and capable wife, Lady Emily, to find out who is creating such havoc and why. The investigative paths they follow take the reader throughout the glittering London Season; from the miles of legendary stacks in the British Library, to a squalid match factory in the East End; from political meetings to press for women's suffrage to the drawing rooms of the most notorious woman in London. It's a great ride. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I just love this series and this latest installment was no exception. Sometimes when the character's personal lives have resolution like now that Colin and Emily seem to have come to terms with their respective roles in their marriage, the story can get dull. But in this series that is not the case. Though they have agreed to mutual respect and trust, this story brings it out that they still have their own way of thinking and their own methods of resolving a case.

Colin and Emily are confronted by a very worthy opponent who does murder, but he/she also likes to toy with the victims who are all thought to be exceptional members of London high society until their dirtiest secrets are aired before all. A crimson painted front door is the warning and then the harmful secrets are made public. While the upheaval and secret telling makes this the hottest London season on record, the murders and kidnappings are what keep Colin and Emily hopping. The perpetrator is brilliant and he/she is difficult to track. All they have are clues left by the murdered man. There are a few suspects and a few motives.

This was a well-plotted and well-paced story that as usual with Tasha Alexander does not let up. There are so many teasing threads for Emily and Colin along with the faithful friends Ivy and Jeremy to pursue. I love the element of danger that is always present in their investigations and those intriguing side lines that may or may not lead to the solution.

The character develop is par excellence. As I said above, I love the way Colin and Emily have not stagnated or mellowed. They disagree and he must keep his work for the Crown confidential and at one point Emily's trust is put to the test. I enjoyed the inclusion of Ivy and Jeremy to act as Emily's sidekicks since she and Colin must work at the case from different approaches.

I was proud of myself to have figured part of it out by about half-way through, but there were still plenty of secrets to be revealed in the end. I eagerly look forward to the next installment.

Tasha Alexander can construct a good plot. That's her strong suit. in this case, the paint problem is a different approach, an intriguing idea, and allows for potential segues into varied subplots--which never materialize much. After that high note, she needs to hone her communication skills:
Word usage: "he said', "she said", "he answered", "she asked"...ad nauseum. "Good job Emily", and so forth. Need I cite more?
Character profiles: Shallow, simplistic, stereotypical and more of the same.
Entertainment value: For the literary type it might satisfy better than sudoku, but maybe more for your teenage daughter. On second thought, JK Rowling is better crafted. Maybe if you're really really desperately bored...well, it probably won't offend anybody. My advice would be--don't buy it. But if you can borrow it, or if it's in your hotel room, a brainless read poolside can never hurt.

Tears Of Pearl was written by Tasha Alexander and published September 1, 2009 by Minotaur Books.
Lady Emily and her new husband Colin Hargreaves have set out on an amazing honeymoon to exotic Turkey. While traveling there, they meet Sir Richard who tells the sorrowful story of his wife's brutal murder and the kidnapping of his daughter Ceyden, some twenty years prior. Upon their arrival in Constantinople, the newlyweds are immediately overwhelmed by the murder of a harem girl, who as it is discovered, happens to be the kidnapped daughter of Sir Richard. Lady Emily and Colin make a promise to help uncover the identity of her killer and give Ceyden justice. The two soon discover that the world of the Sultan and his harem are very different from that of any other. As the body count continues to rise, Lady Emily is confronted with the truths of harem life and the harsh reality of society's view of a woman's place in the world.
The passages in Tears Of Pearl are vivid and descriptive with language that flows with beauty indicative of the era. Tasha Alexander weaves the reader directly into the story and its surroundings while bringing the characters to life with her signature writing style. This book reads like a movie playing out in your mind as each page is turned and the excitement builds. I am giving Tears Of Pearl a 5-star rating and would gladly swim the Bosphorus to read the next 'Lady Emily' installment from Tasha Alexander.
WebbWeaver Reviews

Lady Emily Hargreaves has returned to London expecting to enjoy the season. Balls, dancing with her husband, museums, and happiness are what she wants, but a dead body and vandalism are what she is faced with. A businessman is murdered and the vandal is leaving red paint on the houses of London's elite. After the red paint is discovered, a crushing secret is revealed.
She and Colin, her husband and an investigator for the crown, investigate while the whole of London's elite hold their breath waiting to see who will be next to have their darkest secrets revealed. The crushing secrets bring about terrible results. Lady Emily's investigation differs from Colin's and he worries for her but has learned she is invaluable in investigations.
With no one's secrets safe, Colin and Lady Emily must hurry to find the vandal before more damage can be done. Why would someone want to destroy London's elite? What is the link between the murder and vandalism?
A wonderful mystery set in the Victorian era that will keep you riveted until the end. This is a wonderful addition to this series!

Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine

Lady Emily and her new husband, Colin, are on their honeymoon in Constantinople. While still on the train on their way to their destination, they meet Sir Richard and are told of the murder of his wife and his young daughter's kidnapping. Later, Emily, Colin, and Sir Richard discover the same daughter (20 yrs old now) murdered and Lady Emily insist they must do what they can to discover who is responsible.

I must point out immediately that I have not read any books by this author before, much less another Lady Emily novel. I did enjoy the setting. I thought it was described in great detail, but not so overly done that it would make the story drag. I also thought the characterization was well done. The characters were not flat, nor were they sterotypical.

On that note, I want to point out that, because I had not read previous novels, I was put off by the constant references of previous novel situations and plots. Characters that had no importance to this story line were interjected through letters or in first person dialogue. I had no idea who or why they were even mentioned and I don't believe it added to this story at all. It became more of a speed bump/hinderence to me and spoiled the story line since I had no background to draw on. I don't think anyone who has read the previous three novels would find a problem in this.

I was delighted when this fourth installment of the Lady Emily mysteries became an available book in the store Vine! I read it the moment it arrived in the mail and was quite taken by the setting: 19th century Constantinople (now Istanbul). Alexander describes the area so well that I felt like I was in the bazaars and the different palaces, could smell the spices and see the intricate tilework, and feel the chop of the Bosphorus. The setting was a definite advantage to the story.

Emily and her new husband, the dashing spy Colin Hargreaves, have no sooner arrived in their honeymoon setting when a young woman from the Sultan's harem is murdered. The girl turns out to be the long-lost daughter of Richard St. Clare, employee at the English embassy. St. Clare, who seems to have ruined his health, and perhaps his sanity, in searching for the girl all these years, is determined to find out who killed her. It becomes Emily's task then, since Colin cannot do so, to infiltrate the harem and see if she was under threat in any way. But she cannot know the political machinations she will need to circumvent and understand to finally solve the mystery.

I felt that the actual perpetrator of the crime was a little obvious and that, at least for me, Emily and Colin's cooing over each other got a bit much (but they were on their honeymoon, after all). I did find interesting the point of view of some of the women in the harem that their life contains more freedom than the constraints of society in Victorian England. However, I enjoyed the suspense and characters of the previous novel more. But the setting nicely overshadow these slight shortcomings. I will be interested to see where Alexander takes these characters in the future.

A young woman and her husband are aboard the Orient Express bound for Constantinople when they meet with a confused English diplomat who seems to be suffering from several life tragedies. A few nights later, while attending the opera at the sultan's palace, the diplomat's long-missing daughter turns up dead. Coincidence? The young couple thinks not, throwing them into an intriguing mystery.

Thus begins Tasha Alexander's fourth Lady Emily novel, "Tears of Pearl". This one picks up a few months after "A Fatal Waltz" left off. Emily and English spy Colin Hargreaves are newly married and looking forward to a quiet honeymoon in the Ottoman capital, exploring a unique city that sits on two continents. As seems to be the case, where Emily goes, murder inevitably follows. This time, she and Colin receive permission from the British government for her to formally investigate the crime. Colin looks at the diplomatic angle, while Emily begins questioning concubines inside the harem. Did the English diplomat know his long-lost daughter was a concubine in Constantinople? Is the man being poisoned? And what secrets are being hidden by his estranged son?

"Tears of Pearl" is decidedly different from the other Lady Emily mysteries in Alexander's series in that this one takes place entirely outside of England. It's a change I'm not sure I'm comfortable with. In addition, while I like the increased role Colin Hargreaves plays in the story, I miss some of her beloved supporting players. We briefly meet Margaret, hear a bit about Ivy, and Cecile isn't mentioned at all. While I love the character of Lady Emily, it was her friends and eccentricity that drew me to her. Without them, the story isn't nearly as good as it could be.

That being said, I did enjoy this one. Reading about the Ottoman empire shortly before its demise was interesting, and as usual, Tasha Alexander throws actual people into the story. But is it as good as "A Poisoned Season" or "And Only to Deceive"? I don't think so.

Part mystery, part romance, part historical novel, Tears of Pearl is a diverting but lightweight read. The main character is Lady Emily, a British noblewoman on her honeymoon in Constantinople. She and her husband -- who conveniently has a shadowy job as a spy and mystery-solver for the British government -- are entangled in the mystery of who has murdered a harem girl. It turns out that the harem girl is part English, and her father is currently a diplomat in Constantinople. The mystery isn't terribly difficult to figure out, but there's lots of interesting description of life in the Ottoman Empire, travelogue-like detail about the city of Constantinople & its architecture and culture, and of course, a rather tame look at life inside a harem. Although I hadn't read any of the earlier books in the Lady Emily series, there was enough explanatory material interspersed and the book is a stand-alone mystery so that I didn't have to have read earlier books to enjoy this one.

This is a very enjoyable read, perfect for the beach or any time when one is in the mood for escapism. It's not intended to be Serious Fiction, and if you adjust your expectatiosn accordingly, you'll have a good time reading it. If you're a fan of Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia series or Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness books, you'll want to give this series a try.

My local library, for some unaccountable reason, has the three most recent titles in this series, but none of the first five books. Sue to this, I was introduced to the series with A CRIMSON WARNING. I will definitely be getting a hold of all the other Lady Emily books. This book gripped my attention very early on, even jumping in this far into the series. There was enough backstory explanation without it becoming redundant, and I found the characters compelling and the mystery intriguing. The outcome was not terribly shocking, but it also was not a forgone conclusion for me. I was left guessing between a few characters for quite awhile. i really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. I would also suggest that fans of this series should check out the Dido Kent mysteries by Anna Dean, another great series.

In 1893 London at Lady Londonderry's ball, British intelligence agent Colin Hargreaves waltzes with his beloved wife Emily when he is forced to intercede between two men about to go to blows. Before he can finish what he started, the butler gives him a note. He informs Emily he must leave to look into a fire in Southwark. That night he comes home very late and tells his beloved spouse that exporter Michael Dillman died in the warehouse inferno.

Michael's grieving fiancée Cordelia tells Colin that an unknown vandal threw red paint on his door. The family of Polly Sanders, the latest scandalous lineage rumor of the Ton, also is a victim of the red paint scoundrel. Other aristocratic families face the same paint assault followed by a shocking disclosure. That humiliates the victims. Emily wants to help her husband with the cases, but fears the sadistic culprit will paint her with a scarlet letter.

The sixth Lady Emily late Victorian mystery (see Dangerous to Know) is a wonderful period piece as the Ton suddenly live in fear of an unknown predator who gleefully exposes skeletal secrets. The story line is fast-paced from the moment that Colin leaves the ball in Mayfair and never slows down as Tasha Alexander provides a profound exhilarating historical with contemporary implications in which the ends justify the means.

Harriet Klausner

If Jane Austen had written historical mysteries, I imagine they would have been a bit like Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily novels. Like the previous books in the series, the writing in Tears of Pearl is witty and clever and the outcome interesting, although in this case I easily guessed the culprit. The exotic location, Constantinople, adds texture and interest to the novel and you feel the author's love for Turkey. However, as with all Lady Emily stories, I am left feeling that the author kept me, as a reader, at arm's length from the characters, which is frustrating and leaves a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.

3.5 stars.

Enjoyed that Ivy and Jeremy were involved in helping Emily and Colin solve the mystery in this one. I have missed Emily's pals in some of the previous books.

Found the idea of the rather insular nobility being exposed of their secrets rather delicious. But thought the solution to finding the evidence all the numbers and puzzles etc. seemed unnecessarily complicated.

Still more fun than the previous series in the book

Although some readers found this novel sticky sweet I loved it for a completely different reason. If you've been to Istanbul then you'll love it. If you've seen Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and the Basilica Cistern then you'll love this book. When she goes into the Blue Mosque and is moved by its beauty you're right back in Istanbul. And not to give away plot points, but I have no idea how you'd find your way out of the cistern in the dark. The whole place looks and feels like a movie set. The upside down Medusa is even in it.

So, criticize if you must, but if you've been to Istanbul you'll enjoy the book!

Lady Emily and Colin are on their honeymoon in this historical mystery set in Constantinople, Turkey. On the Orient Express they meet an English diplomat who is missing Embassy papers. Arriving at their destination they are invites to watch an opera with the sultan. One of the harem girls is murder. The girl is English who was kidnapped as a child. Colin and Emily are the investigators for England. Emily is allowed in the harem to question the occupants. The story flows smoothly and the characters are developed so you are with them Harem detail show a whole new light on life there. I recommend this series.

To be perfectly frank, I was fully prepared to not like this book. I thought it would be one more "Nick and Nora do Constantinople". I was very pleasantly surprised.

This is an excellent murder mystery. Its location, Turkey in the late 19th Century, adds to the quality of the plot. Although the story doesn't go into the external politics of the time, it does give us a good picture of the type of corruption which finally brought the Ottoman Empire down twenty or so years later. Lady Emily Hargreaves and her new husband, Colin, decide to travel to Turkey for an extended honeymoon. Colin is an Ambassador Sans Portfolio; a special agent of sorts who is sent, by the Foreign Office, to stations in the British Empire to solve problems and troubles among the diplomats and embassies. Luckily for him, he has found, in Lady Emily, a soul mate. She is an intelligent, well read (she reads Greek and Latin) lady whose quest for independence foreshadows the new century, and its women's movement for enfranchisement and other freedoms.

During their first week in Turkey, the Hargreaves are invited to a performance of an opera at the Sultan's Palace, during which a woman from the Harem is murdered. She turns out to be the long lost daughter of one of the highly placed members of the British Ambassador's staff. The rest of the book follows the quest to find out which of the many characters committed the murder and why. During the story, we see life as it was lived in the upper reaches of royalty in the Ottoman Empire. We meet the Sultan, who, like Louis XVI is more at home in his home carpentry shop than at government meetings. He is a good example of how blood runs thin as generations of hereditary monarchs pass through the palaces of the world. We see how, in the end, it is the domestic diplomats, favored women and mistresses and top level servants, as well as foreign diplomats who really influence and make the decisions as to how a country is run.

I can't emphasize too much how well Ms Alexander fits descriptions of Constantinople and its people as well as the goings on at the palace into her story. She has done her research. One other subject which she addresses is the fear with which, even wealthy, independent women faced childbirth. Woven into the other themes are the letters from Emily's friend, Ivy, who is at home in England living through her own danger in the form of a difficult pregnancy and childbirth. It is hard for we, here, to imagine a time when so many women died while giving birth. Yet, we must remember that it was only in the 1930s that the medicines and treatments which stopped postpartum infections and bleeding in such women were developed. Emily, herself, is probably in the early stages of pregnancy, and, as her body starts sending the signals of this impending change in her life, she falls into a depression which is caused by memories of her favorite aunt who died in childbirth, her friend, Ivy, enduring bedrest and her own possible impending pregnancy and labor.

All right, I admit it. I am now a Tasha Alexander fan, and I have already checked with the store to get her earlier books. I recommend this writer and, especially her latest book. Please read it; it has a large amount of knowledge to impart in its pages.

I was intrigued by the premise that the daughter of an Earl could marry and still maintain some of her independence. Unfortunately, Lady Emily has transformed from a spirited widow into a mopey wife. Her American friend Margaret isn't even married yet and she has completely lost the fire and sense of adventure that made her such an interesting character.

The premise of this novel stretches the boundaries of plausibility, but I could even accept that if the dialogue was sparkling or the adventures made me want to rush to the next page. Instead we are treated to strange coincidences and honeymoon kisses. The intrigue was confusing and unsatisfying and rather than dropping hints Alexander practically provides STOP signs that say "Important clue, pay attention". The villain was obvious and the potential incest made no sense at all. Perhaps if the dead girl had been named Jane and been without a distinguishing tattoo I might found the plot a little more believable. All the foreshadowing about the ending made the outcome inevitable and devoid of surprise.

I will read the reviews carefully before I decide to continue with this series. Authors often have missteps but are able to get back on track. I hope this is the case with Ms. Alexander.

Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
Minotaur Books, 2009
307 pages
Mystery; Historical; Romance
3/5 stars

Source: Library

I've mostly enjoyed the Lady Emily series but this one fell a bit flat for me. It took me almost a week to read, which is a sure sign that I'm uninterested. I kept pushing because I really did like the first books but this was a definite disappointment for me.

First Emily and Colin are married! Now I love their relationship and I was rooting for them but I enjoyed their relationship more during the flirtation and without the references to them enjoying their honeymoon phase. Additionally Emily was incredibly unprepared for the possibility of a child despite frequent acts that lead to a child. The way she handled that seemed out of character for her; I thought she was more pragmatic.

Second the setting is Turkey, which is not my favorite place to read about. I missed England and my beloved butler Davis; I also missed Emily's best friend Ivy, who is on bedrest facing a difficult childbirth. The new characters did not grab my attention and while the murderer(s)'s motivation was clear, the way it unfolded seemed a bit unfocused and confused. I did not solve the mystery but I also wasn't paying close attention as I kept trying to figure out how many pages were left.

Overall: A bit of a disappointment

After reading "Tears of Pearl", I don't know which is more urgent: a ride on the Orient Express or a trip to Instanbul. Tasha Alexander brings the reader to both locales, starting with her catchy opening line. I felt as though I could hear the engines of the train, taste the gourmet dinners in the dining car, and relax in the closed confines of the train compartments. In Constantinople, I could smell the spices of the souks and soak in the colors of the tiles on the buildings.

Although I love Lady Emily and her down to earth persona, I immediately fell in love with Sir Richard, the bumbling foreign service officer headed back to work in Constantinople, and rooted for him to be innocent. I would love for Sir Richard to appear in a future Lady Emily mystery!

The plot of "Tears of Pearl" is complicated enough to keep the reader hooked, but not too convoluted as to utterly baffle the reader in the end, which I'm sad to say is how I often feel at the end of John Le Carre's novels (although I do love his books, too!). I hear that the next Lady Emily mystery takes place in France. With the time period that Alexander has chosen, the possibilities for setting are endless really. We fans have much to look forward to!

I enjoyed this book tremendously. It was different from the two immediately preceding. There was a bit of mental anxiety of course (mystery) but not as unnerving. I loved that society's evils were being put on public display. (of course I hate to think what a person could dig up on me) The red splashes of paint on people doorsteps etc was a nice touch. The first murder really sets the stage. So many possible suspects - it's great. I love the twist of the mysterious bottle and headless chickens. The hints just get better and better. Emily and Colin finally get to truly work together. What a team they are getting to be.

While I enjoyed this latest book of the Lady Emily mysteries, it felt like something was missing compared to previous installments. The plot felt rather contrived and far-fetched, and the relationship between Emily and Colin perfunctory. I found the amount of access she was granted to the harem rather unbelievable, especially for a western woman in this time period. While the conclusion to the mystery was ultimately satisfying, I didn't find the conclusion to the story as fulfilling. This book didn't turn me off the series completely, I just hope that the next story has Emily and Colin a bit less two-dimensional and more fully developed as adult characters.

Another great installment in the series. Emily and Colin are back in London and are needed by Scotland Yard to find out who killed a local businessman. Red paint begins appearing on doorsteps, leading to social disgrace and suicide. Emily has the help of Ivy and Jeremy to help unmask the villian, with Colin's help. I like that Emily faces less "danger" in this book compared to the last, as her psychological state is much improved. This book takes place approximately 1 year after the last one.
I can't wait for the newest installment!!!!

I actually started reading the Lady Emily Ashton series out of order and mistakenly started with the 2nd book. I loved it so much that I immediately looked up Ms. Alexander's other books so I could get set on the right track. :)

This fourth one was ... not as good as the second book but was definitely a good read. Parts of it felt like fan appreciation (Hooray! they're finally married! and honeymooning!) but the rest of the novel kept good pace and moved the Lady Emily Ashton series in a alightly different direction.

The exotic setting is well-articulated and gives this fourth novel a bit of additional flair.

I can't wait for the next one. :)

There's something fun about discovering an author for the very first time. When I finish the new find, I'm always happy to know that more is waiting for me. This is how I felt after reading A CRIMSON WARNING by Tasha Alexander. I enjoyed the book, and learning that it's part of a series made me happy to know that I would have more chances to peek in on Lady Emily Hargreaves's Victorian London.

Lady Emily is anticipating the delights of the season: the balls, her involvement in lobbying for the right to vote, and, of course, time with her favorite Greek books. At one of the season's first events, Lady Emily is happily dancing away the evening with her husband Colin, looking for an opportunity to sneak out so they can spend some time alone when a fight breaks out among two men. It turns out that an affair has been exposed, and they are arguing over ladies at the party. Suddenly, Colin, an agent of the crown, is called away on urgent business. Emily heads home with friends to discuss the eventful evening. When Colin arrives, it is with sad news: a well-known businessman has been murdered. His fiancée is devastated, but it's when she starts receiving threatening notes from the person who claims to have killed her soon-to-be husband that Emily and Colin start investigating.

Days later, red paint is found splashed on the homes of some of London's most well-to-do. The paint is a warning, and secrets are revealed shortly after, leaving some in London to revel in the disclosures, and others to fear for their lives and what will be revealed about them. When two of society's ladies are kidnapped, the season that held so much promise for fun is now filled with fear.

Lady Emily is far from the standard lady of the day. While she enjoys the pleasures of the season, it's her work lobbying for a woman's right to vote that riles her mother, a more straightforward Victorian lady, to no end. She's also smart and extremely well-educated, which keeps her highly active in her husband's affairs with the crown. And he's willing to keep her involved even when others think he's wrong to do so. Their relationship is certainly more open than most at the time, which is one of the reasons this novel is fun. There is also romance here, but it's not overwhelming and blends in nicely with the story. As a non-romance reader, I was slightly worried that it would overtake the plot, so I was happily surprised with the balance that was struck.

While I loved Colin and Lady Emily's investigation, what I enjoyed even more was the setting. Tasha Alexander does a wonderful job with the details, creating interesting ladies and a picture of Victorian England that is easy to be swept up in. I do wish Lady Emily's mother played a larger role here --- she was quite the interesting character and obviously one very different from Emily. It would have been fun to see more of their interactions.

As a reader of many historical fiction titles, this is one author I'll be returning to for a dose of fun mixed with a great historical setting. She does a fantastic job of weaving together interesting characters with a mystery to keep you wondering what secrets are buried deep in the closets of high society. If you like a little mystery mixed with your historical fiction, Tasha Alexander will not disappoint.

Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski

I have come to anticipate a new Lady Emily mystery like a kid looking forward to Christmas morn. In this latest adventure, Alexander does not disappoint. As in all of her books, the period comes alive, but it is the people I love the most. Lady Emily herself, of course, but also Colin, Jeremy and the always surprising Ivy. One of my favorite aspects of Alexander's books is the banter--playful and witty between Emily and her respected (or beloved) friends, subtly biting with those she holds in less regard. Once again, the mystery enthralls, the characters captivate. This is another fabulous offering from one of my favorite writers.

When I accidentally stumbled across the first Lady Emily book in 2008, I wasn't sure I would like it, but I was definitely in love with the characters and the story when I had finished it. I have since read all of the Lady Emily books and am eagerly awaiting the next one! This series is the best of Jane Austen romance and Sherlock Holmes mystery all combined into one.

This sixth book was a great edition to the series, though I must admit that I did feel the start to be a little slow as some of the other readers commented. Still, it was only a matter of time before I was completely enraptured and I was super disappointed that the next one wasn't out when I finished this one! October cannot come fast enough!

This fourth Lady Emily mystery was not up to Tasha Alexander's earlier books in the series. Yes, it is satisfying to have Colin and Emily married at last and enjoying their honeymoon. And the exotic locale of Constantinople adds a bit of spice. I've visited the city and enjoyed the memories the book brought back for me. But the mystery drags in spots and there is little excitement. As one of the publisher's reviews says, some aspects of the book are implausible. Still, this weak link wasn't enough to make me lose interest in the series. I hope the next installment gets back on track.

This is the fourth (after "A Fatal Waltz") in the Lady Emily cozy mystery series. This outing has Lady Emily newly married and in Constantinople on her honeymoon. However, a murder of one of the Sultan's concubines soon thoroughly engrosses Lady Emily and her husband as they try to figure out who murdered the woman.

The setting, while not new in the annals of historical mysteries (see Jason Goodwin's excellent Yashim Togalu series), evoked a Constantinople full of intrigue and exotic people. The author has clearly done her research on the period, but her descriptions of, for instance, the bazaar and the sights, sounds, and smells there could have been stronger.

Alexander also does a very nice job of cluing readers who are reading her for the first time into the background of her characters without spending an inordinate amount of time rehashing her previous books.

I agree with other reviewers who have said that Alexander's choice of words was sometimes jarring. For instance, the use of the word "stalking" was unfortunate considering how often we see it in the news today. Another word would have better served to keep the reader engrossed in her story rather than wondering if the word was used in that context in this setting. I also have difficulties believing that any woman would be allowed the freedom of movement that Lady Emily enjoys in this era never mind in Constantinople.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next.

I'm always looking around for good novels that combine both suspense and a historical setting, so I was very happy to discover the Lady Emily books. I've just been reading them one after another, but I had to stop and write of review of the third one, Tears of Pearl, because it is by far my favorite.

I was a history major, and I had a particular interest in the Ottoman Empire. I always want to read books set in that locale, but they usually disappoint because they are historically inaccurate. So it was indeed a pleasure to read this book.

One of the hallmarks of Tasha Alexander's work is that she is a stickler for historical detail. I have a hard time reading some of the other authors who write in this genre, but in each of Alexander's books, I'm captivated by the characters and story, without being jarred out of the mood by reading things that just don't fit.

This is the first book I've read lately that covers the intrigues of harem life in a way that is genuinely plausible. Ms. Alexander must have spent a lot of time researching-- the way she describes the scenery is so incredibly evocative that I'm sure she must have visited the locales herself.

It is a breath of fresh air to see an author who so skillfully combines the three elements I'm looking for-- great characters, a great setting, and a story that sweeps you along.

I'm about to start the next book, and I'm putting this author on my "must always read" list.

Tasha Alexander once again brings Lady Emily to life in a beautifully plotted mystery that kept me hooked. I will confess that I was never a fan of historical novels until I read the first Lady Emily adventure, and Alexander not only opened up a new world of reading pleasure for me, she hasn't disappointed me since. She brings us a Victorian England that pulses with life and characters that we find ourselves not only rooting for, but falling in love with.

This is the fourth Lady Emily mystery novel that Ms. Alexander has written. It is not necessary for the reader to have knowledge of the previous cases or Lady Emily's history, sufficient cross-references in the book clue in the novice reader. The plot is simply told: Ms. Emily and her dashing new husband come to Constantinople for their honeymoon, when on the first evening in the city a harem girl is murdered. Emily and her husband begin to investigate and Emily immerses herself in the mysterious world of the harem - where she soon finds things are not as they seem and it is even harder to get to the bottom of what is going on. While we follow her sleuthing, we are treated to a colorful picture of Constantinople towards the end of the Ottoman empire. Ms. Alexander's writing is tight, the characters are generally well developed, maybe a bit overdrawn, and she successfully creates the Victorian cosy ambience necessary for a novel like this. To the trained mystery reader the plot is transparent and the bad guy stands out quite easily, but nevertheless this is a fun ready on a long autumn afternoon.

Tears of Pearl follows Lady Emily Hargreaves and her new husband Colin as they embark on their honeymoon in 1890's Turkey. In Istanbul, while attending an opera held by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, a concubine from the Harem is murdered. The concubine is discovered to be the long lost daughter of Sir Richard, an English diplomat in service of the British crown. Lady Emily, along with her husband, seeks out the murderer. As she investigates, her probing plunges her into the mysterious world of the Turkish harem and 19th century Turkey, hobnobbing with concubines and eunuchs alike.

Review:
The historical fiction Lady Emily Mysteries are a series that I had not encountered before this book. Apparently this is the fourth in the series by Tasha Alexander. The book is narrated in the first person and Emily fills in a little bit of her back story as the novel begins. Emily is now married to Colin Hargreaves, a man she met in one of the previous books while investigating the murder of her first husband. The heroine is something of an anachronism for the time period in which she is set. Very much the liberated woman, she is both independent and willing to buck Victorian social norms to some degree. Her husband is accepting of her manner and while protective of her, tends to treat her as an equal. It's not completely far fetched as there were women like her in the time period. It's interesting to see how the author weaves Victorian norms with Emily's liberated attitude.

This book focuses quite a bit on Emily's relationship with her husband, including references to intimacy (nothing explicit) and lovey dovey silliness between two newlyweds. There's almost a giddy sense about the two characters. Ms. Alexander did a pretty good job with that part of it, though it's definitely going to make some male readers roll their eyes and lose patience. The cover art makes it seem like it's a romance novel type book so perhaps a lot of men would pass it by anyway.

As mysteries go, Tears of Pearl is not deep or intricately plotted. I had a pretty good idea of who the murderer was by halfway through the book, and while I love mysteries and read a lot of them, I can't say I'm usually observant enough to peg the bad guy in most of them till the end. This book was an exception. Most of the characters are not very deep and the mystery itself telegraphs the murderer pretty early on. Added to that are some rather implausible parts to the plot that were just a bit silly. For readers looking for deep intricately plotted mystery this is not it.

Still, it was a fun read for the most part. Lady Emily's exuberance and attitude are fun, and the author is a good writer. She clearly tried quite hard to pull in the historical Ottoman Empire into the book. Her characterization of the Harem world, along with the intricate politics involved was interesting and will be new to a lot of western readers. The fact that the mystery is predictable hurts the book, as does the shallowness of the supporting characters.

That said, I enjoyed it, and may check out further offerings as Ms. Alexander matures as a writer. This book is good for the casual read. It's probably not going to satisfy the serious mystery reader, but the average reader will find plenty to enjoy.

I read "A Poisoned Season" first, and loved it. "And Only To Deceive" wasn't bad, either. "A Fatal Waltz was somewhere between good and mediocre, but "Tears of Pearl" was quite a disappointment.

Personally, I love mysteries, I love history, and I love strong, intellectual female leads. Combining the three should make for a wonderful novel, correct? False, at least in this story. Lady Emily seems to have waned a bit...Alexander hasn't given her the usual spunk and fire that can be found in her three previous installments. I agree with what another reader said, that Colin is very much a prop in this book. This book lacks excitement and intrigue, and Alexander continually tangles up her plot points to the extent that it gets confusing. This book didn't have the flow and consistency that the other installments did, to varying effects.

I had hoped for an improvement after "A Fatal Waltz," but unfortunately, this book did not deliver. I encourage readers to read the series in order, and make your own judgment calls. Will I read "Dangerous To Know?" Probably, but with the hope that Ms. Alexander puts a little more life into Lady Emily this time.

Another solid entry in the Lady Emily series, this time set during her honeymoon with Colin in Constantinople. As with some of the previous ones, I quickly figured out whodunnit (since there was no other reason for the character to be introduced) and even figured out a few other things before Lady Emily herself did, but the whys, wherefores, and how everything was connected remained a mystery up until all the information was brought to light. And, as with the other ones, that makes this book almost impossible to put down, because I just can't wait to figure out how it all adds up.