Review: Imperial Scandal by Teresa Grant

‘Amid the treachery of war and the whirl of revelry, no one is what they seem…

Nights filled with lavish balls…lush, bucolic afternoons…Removed to glamorous Brussels in the wake of Napoleon’s escape from Elba, Intelligence Agent Malcolm Rannoch and his wife, Suzanne, warily partake in the country’s pleasures. But with the Congress of Vienna in chaos and the Duke of Wellington preparing for battle, the festivities are cut short when Malcolm is sent on a perilous mission that unravels a murderous world of espionage…

No one knows what the demure and respectable Lady Julia Ashton was doing at the chateau where Malcolm and a fellow British spy were ambushed. But now her enigmatic life has been ended by an equally mysterious death. And as the conflict with Napoleon marches toward Waterloo, and Brussels surrenders to bedlam, Suzanne and Malcolm will be plunged into the search for truth–revealing an intricate labyrinth of sinister secrets and betrayal within which no one can be trusted…’

I read Vienna Waltz a couple of years ago and I was intrigued and captivated by the stories of the main characters, Suzanne and Malcolm Rannoch. They are the ultimate spy couple, who fight off danger at every turn and still manage to have a little romance mixed in amongst things. Who wouldn’t love a little bit of romance with a side of danger and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Having enjoyed Vienna Waltz so much I decided to pick up the second installment in this series and wow what a thrill ride it was.

I rarely get excited about the book I am reading to the point where all I want to do is forget about life and read. This was one of those books for me. I was actually anticipating getting to spend time with this book. I was literally on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns and the never-ending murder investigation and the battle scenes were so vivid and imaginative that I actually felt like I was sitting on the sidelines. Grant weaves a fantastic tale with characters that the reader cannot help but love. I loved learning about the Battle of Waterloo as I’ve always have known that the battle there is the one that defeated Napoleon and gave the Duke of Wellington his military fame, but I really didn’t know all that much about the circumstances and the actual battle. It was nice to learn about something new.

I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and I was so sad to see it end. That’s how I know that a book is unforgettable for me, when I don’t want it to end. So, with that in mind, I decided the next book I was going to read was the third and latest release in this series, The Paris Affair. I have a feeling that this new book will be just as good as this one and I can’t wait to return back to Suzanne and Malcolm’s world of espionage and adventure.