A Lady Emily Mystery (Lady Emily Mysteries) - Behind the Shattered Glass

This book was mildly interesting aside from the fact that at times Lady Emily just irks me with her perfect world and ability to fix everything which can be annoying. The second issue I had with the book is that the mysteries solution is just not believable spoiler.......

It is just hard to believe that a person who had just killed someone even if in self defense would be going about life so happily and singing etc. The individual who ended up being the one who killed the guy showed no signs of stress till the last minute when they are found out. Not at all believable. This book was just not well written. I am glad I was able to borrow it from my library as it is not worth owning. The lady Darby mysteries are far better than this. Ms. Alexander wanted to hide the killer to the end but when it is done at the risk of the book even making logical sense it is just ridiculous.

I found Behind the Shattered Glass at my local library in the new fiction section. This is the most recent Lady Emily mystery. I am an avid reader, but I am not familiar with Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series. I enjoyed this book, and I am very pleased to have discovered the series.

Behind the Shattered Glass begins, I suppose, as many mysteries do, with the discovery of a body. Or, in this case, with the arrival of a body. Lady Emily is at her country home, entertaining a small party of guests, when her neighbor the Marquis of Montagu enters the home and immediately expires. It is murder, most foul! But who could have committed the crime? It becomes apparent that the Marquis had a long list of people whom he had wronged, and Lady Emily takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. The reader is introduced to a variety of colorful Victorian characters, many of whom had motive to want to harm the Marquis.

The chapters alternate between Lady Emily, and that of her household staff; more specifically, a housemaid named Lily. Shows like Downton Abbey have taught us that what is going on belowstairs in grand English mansions is almost as interesting- if not more interesting- than what is going on in the salons and ballrooms. Lily has attracted the attention of one of Lady Emily’s guests, and although Lord Flyte is the epitome of propriety, the friendship is extremely unconventional. This does not go unnoticed by the kitchen girl Pru, who sulks and skulks and tries to find ways to ruin Lily’s reputation. I enjoyed the Downstairs chapters, but I thought that Alexander was a little too heavy handed with the mentions of Lady Emily being a kind and gracious employer.

I enjoyed Behind the Shattered Glass quite a bit. Alexander is gifted with characterization, and the reader is introduced to quite the eclectic group. My favorite character had to be Lady Emily’s overbearing mother, who always had something to say- whether it was childrearing or bloodstains on the carpet! Alexander’s style is light and engaging. I found myself laughing frequently.
As the murder investigation grew more complicated with every step, I found myself drawn into the mystery. What could have happened?

This novel also touches upon topical issues from the Victorian era. Class and social station seem to be of particular importance to Lady Emily and her husband. Naturally, this horrifies Lady Emily’s mother, who thinks that a title is the most important thing that one can have.

I would recommend Behind the Shattered Glass. As I have mentioned, this was my first exposure to the Lady Emily series, and I will definitely seek out the other books. This was a satisfying mystery in one of my favorite historical periods, and the fact that the book was infused with humor made it so much more enjoyable.

The Lady Emily historical mystery series are comfort reading for me and pretty much an autobuy. I was delighted to pick up this latest one because I knew there would be babies in the picture and it was set in Colin's ancestral home. While I truly enjoyed reading this one, I will admit to wanting a little more.

The mystery was challenging in that it wasn't obvious, but it lacked some of the immanency of the earlier books. What I mean to say is that I didn't have that bit of fear that the murderer was lurking and could jump out at any time or that there was much riding on them getting to the bottom of things. It felt a bit like a cold case in ways. Now that being said, it wasn't simple. Frankly, it felt like everyone was lying at some point. There were all sorts of clues and motives once the truth started coming out.

This one had a few other plot lines going too. There was was that additional narrative of an Upstairs-Downstairs bit that the author began in the last book where there was a story tucked inside the story that eventually joins up into one cohesive story. There are a few minor romances going on that added as both cute and humorous at times storyline, but also one of the many distractions that keep the reader guessing about the mystery.

I was somewhat disappointed that more was not made of the fact that it was Collin's ancestral home instead of all the emphasis on his politics. I expected some scenes where Collin spoke to Emily of his home or growing up there. He didn't even seem to know the neighbors from the neighboring estate which struck me odd. But this was a minor niggle really.

So while it was enjoyable, it wasn't riveting. I had a good time with this latest Lady Emily story and look forward to what comes next. Historical Mystery lovers who like husband and wife detective teams should definitely try this series.

After the somewhat-lackluster "Death in the Floating City," Tasha Alexander has returned with her latest Lady Emily mystery, "Behind the Shattered Glass". For the first time since "A Crimson Warning", the action takes place in England, though this time, it is at Emily's home.

One evening, after dinner, a neighbor, the Marquess of Montagu, enters the house, only to drop dead on the floor. He has been murdered at some point and stumbled over to the Hargreaves' home at Anglemore, but what he was doing so near, or how he came to be injured, are mysteries to be solved. When Emily's husband, Colin, begins to investigate, he finds no shortage of suspects. The Marquess's cousin stands to inherit the entire fortune and estate in the event of his death, and she is devoted to the house. He had an American fiancée whom no one really liked, and there was a local girl he was seeing as well. At university, he had accused a former friend of cheating and the man was thrown out. And then there is the new "heir", a man just-returned from the American West. Could he be the killer?

Unlike other Lady Emily mysteries, this one alternates the action between the upstairs characters and a maid named Lily. Given that she carries her own storyline, she is obviously going to be integral to the plot, but it isn't initially revealed in what capacity, so the reader keeps guessing.

For those who are wanting a direct continuation of the previous story, you'll be disappointed. Emily and Colin are the proud parents of twin sons, but they don't feature heavily in the story (and, to be honest, this is a Victorian murder; it would be unlikely for the children to play any role whatsoever). And, while you certainly don't have to read the previous books to understand this one, I would recommend it, if only to see how the characters have grown and developed.

"Behind the Shattered Glass" is a big improvement over the last installment, and though it is lacking in the zing featured in early novels, it is by no means a bad one. Fans of this series (or Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia series) should be satisfied, and I, for one, can't wait to read the next.

What a disappointment. Having become accustomed to the high quality of historical tales of mystery and intrigue from Tasha Alexander, it is difficult to accept this pallid offering as work by the same author. She has developed all her characters in past works to such a degree that the reader anticipates more of the same here. Sadly, that is not the case. Each character falls short of the richness and depth we have been lead to expect from Alexander. Not only that, but a lame premise for the mystery further disappoints and frustrates. Lacking the rich historical detail, the balance of intrigue and evil, and the warmth and familiarity of her heretofore elaborately constructed characters, the reader is left with a highly awaited book that is just average. Such a disappointment might be forgiven of an author of lesser quality, but we have become accustomed to so much more from Tasha Alexander that this 'effort' seemed to not even be her work. I will look forward to the next book only because the previous seven were so good that this one must be forgiven as an aberration. All that said, even Alexander's mediocre offering is worthy of 4 stars, especially in comparison of so much of what is available in historical mystery fiction.

Tasha Alexander's historical mysteries are so very well written. This one has a Downton Abbey vibe with short mini-chapters from the servants' hall appended to each regular chapter. Tasha Alexander has a depth in her writing that seems to be absent in most genre novels. Not that all characters and plotlines are completely unique and there are no cliches or well-worn tropes (Emily's mother, for example), but they still feel substantial and three dimensional. There were a few particularly familiar echoes to "Heirs and Graces" by Rhys Bowen, which I just finished prior to picking up this novel, but when dealing with a relatively small scope like titled British people in historical mysteries, that is not unexpected on the whole.

I won this book in exchange for an honest review.

#8 in the Lady Emily series of historical cozy murder mysteries. I have only read two other books in this series and of the three I found this one to be rather flat and rushed.

I felt Ms. Alexander is trying to jump on the Downton Abbey bandwagon and wrote a novel with an upstairs and downstairs point of view. It could have worked but there just wasn't enough substance to the two plots.

Cons:
-Lady Emily's investigation into the murder of the Marquess of Montagu was confusing and I'm still not quite sure how she figured out who was the murderer.
-Colin makes an appearance here and there but it seems all he wants to do is have sex.
-The secondary plot of Lily the maid and Sir Flyte pushes the boundaries of belief to a breaking point. These two characters were totally devoid of any depth although I do see how the author was using the proper Sir --Flyte as a comparison to the beastly Marquess.
-Rodney & Matilde were another couple that had not been fully developed.

Pros:
-A fast read.
-Lady Bromley.
-Love the cover of the book.

Not my favorite Lady Emily novel.

I love a good mystery and Behind the Shattered Glass has one. The Marquess of Montagu comes into Anglemore Park (Colin and Emily's country home) and drops dead at their feet. He seems to be the perfect gentleman but much happens to show he is not. Someone killed him and there are so many false trails the actual killer was a real surprise. A great addition to the Lady Emily series.

Lady Emily Hargreaves is gathered with her husband, Colin, and her mother, Lady Catherine Bromley, for what she hopes will be a quiet evening at her husband's ancestral home, Anglemore, situated in the Derbyshire countryside. Unfortunately, the evening takes a sudden turn toward the eventful when an injured man staggers into the library and drops dead, leaving the trio to wonder what events preceded this tragedy.

While the man is unknown to Emily and Colin, Lady Bromley quickly identifies him as Archibald Scolfield, the new Marquess of Montagu. Having arrived from London the previous day, he should have been in attendance at a party in his honor at a neighboring estate instead of dead on the floor at Anglemore. Fortunately, Colin is an agent of the Crown and experienced at delving into nefarious situations. He quickly summons the appropriate authorities and begins an investigation into the death of the Marquess. Not to be left on the sidelines, Lady Emily is eager to be of assistance to her husband as she has been several times in the past.

It doesn't take long for the pair to discover that the Marquess was hardly the paragon of virtue that he appeared to be. As the investigation progresses, it's obvious that there are several suspects who would benefit from Archibald’s demise, his cousin Matilda among them. Upon the Marquess' death, Matilda would inherit the title to become the Marchioness of Montagu and the home that she so dearly loves and is loathe to leave.

Along with Matilda, there are two women who were romantically involved with the Marquess, each under the impression that he intended to marry her. The vicar's daughter, Cora Fitzgerald, has written a packet of steamy love letters, all of which the Marquess retained possession. As far as she was concerned, their marriage was imminent. The other woman in question, an American heiress, also believed herself to be the one and only love of the Marquess. In addition to cousin Matilda and the Marquess' lovers, Rodney Scolfield stood to gain from the Marquess' death. Appearing suddenly on the scene, Rodney puts forth a claim as the inheritor of the title of Marquess of Montagu. Matilda immediately sets out to prove him a fraud and oust him from the home she thought was hers at long last.

As the investigation progresses, a multitude of lies and cover-ups emerge until it's hard to tell who did what to whom. Clues lead to dead ends while new ones emerge. Lord and Lady Hargreaves know that unless they capture the murderer quickly, there could be more victims in his or her wake.

Tasha Alexander continues her historical mystery series with this eighth installment --- and what a winner it is! With alternating chapters that focus on the aristocracy and the servants in turn, two separate storylines eventually converge into one exciting climax. Fans of historical fiction, particularly of books set in England, will adore the Lady Emily series. I read BEHIND THE SHATTERED GLASS as a newcomer to Alexander’s work, and as I was turning the pages, I knew I would be eager to take a look at Lady Emily’s previous adventures. How can I possibly resist?

Reviewed by Amie Taylor

Like most other Lady Emily fans I was waiting all year to get this, since I finished the last one twenty-four hours after my pre-ordered copy arrived in the mail.

What I truly love about this series is that on the one hand, the books are really consistent-- it's great to find a series where the characters ring true and you always know what you're going to get. On the other hand, Alexander avoids the problem that I get with some series, where they start to feel a little stale. Each book has some new and interesting twist while still staying true to character.

In the last of the series, which I loved, there were two mysteries intertwined, one from the past. In this entry, there is an upstairs/downstairs plot that had me hooked right from the get-go.

I always say that I loved the newest one the most (aside from the first one, which got me hooked in the first place) but in this case, I really have to say that I just adored it and it's my new favorite. Maybe it's because I can't get enough of Downton Abbey, but this book is fun, detailed, and a quick great romantic read. Also, I did not guess the end at all! Highly recommended both for fans of Lady Emily and for people new to the series.

Excellent entry into one of my favorite mystery series. Emily is an intelligent, likable and fascinating character. I've enjoyed spending time with her since reading "And only to deceive" in 2005.

Behind the Shattered Glass is engrossing for both its mystery and the relationships among all the characters. The setting adds to the history and depth of Emily and Colin and their families.

I will miss spending my time with Emily. The next book in the series cannot be published soon enough.

Thank you Tasha Alexander!

This is my first Lady Emily mystery....not much of a mystery. The characters are stereotypes, the plot was predictable and the conclusion without much interest. I managed to wade through it. Hence two stars.

Like most other Lady Emily fans I was waiting all year to get this, since I finished the last one twenty-four hours after my pre-ordered copy arrived in the mail.

What I truly love about this series is that on the one hand, the books are really consistent-- it's great to find a series where the characters ring true and you always know what you're going to get. On the other hand, Alexander avoids the problem that I get with some series, where they start to feel a little stale. Each book has some new and interesting twist while still staying true to character.

In the last of the series, which I loved, there were two mysteries intertwined, one from the past. In this entry, there is an upstairs/downstairs plot that had me hooked right from the get-go.

I always say that I loved the newest one the most (aside from the first one, which got me hooked in the first place) but in this case, I really have to say that I just adored it and it's my new favorite. Maybe it's because I can't get enough of Downton Abbey, but this book is fun, detailed, and a quick great romantic read. Also, I did not guess the end at all! Highly recommended both for fans of Lady Emily and for people new to the series.

Excellent entry into one of my favorite mystery series. Emily is an intelligent, likable and fascinating character. I've enjoyed spending time with her since reading "And only to deceive" in 2005.

Behind the Shattered Glass is engrossing for both its mystery and the relationships among all the characters. The setting adds to the history and depth of Emily and Colin and their families.

I will miss spending my time with Emily. The next book in the series cannot be published soon enough.

Thank you Tasha Alexander!

This is my first Lady Emily mystery....not much of a mystery. The characters are stereotypes, the plot was predictable and the conclusion without much interest. I managed to wade through it. Hence two stars.

Fans of Alexander's Lady Emily Mystery Series are in for another treat with her latest, Behind The Shattered Glass. With meticulous research and a true command of her characters, once again this author has woven a page-turning mystery that is both charming and memorable. It's easy to see why with each book, her readers fall more and more in love with Lady Emily and Colin.

Tasha Alexander doesn't disappoint with her latest in the Lady Emily series. I couldn't put it down! She has, yet again, weaved another wonderful story of Lady Emily and I found myself imagining how the next book in the series might start...oh please, let there be another book to the series!