Description (from cover):
‘A ruined abbey on a beautiful estate in Derbyshire, a murdered peer, and a most unlikely romance make New York Times bestseller Tasha Alexander’s new novel absolutely irresistible.
Anglemore Park is the ancestral home of Lady Emily Hargreave’s husband Colin. But the stately calm of country life is destroyed when their neighbor, the Marquess of Montagu, bursts through the French doors from the garden and falls down dead in front of the shocked gathering. But who has a motive for murdering the young aristocrat? The lovely cousin who was threatened by his engagement, the Oxford friend he falsely accused of cheating, the scheming vicar’s daughter he shamelessly seduced or the the relative no one knew existed who appears to claim the Montagu title? Who is the mysterious woman seen walking with him moments before he was brutally attacked?
The trail takes readers into the gilded world of a British manor house and below stairs to the servants who know all the secrets. One family’s hidden past and a forbidden passion are the clues to a puzzle only Lady Emily can solve.’
My thoughts:
This is the absolutely perfect book for fans of Downton Abbey that are waiting anxiously for the next season. This book takes us through the glitz and glamor of the upper class and through the servant quarters of a fine English country house. Throw a murder mystery into the mix and it was enough to keep me entertained. I have always enjoyed this series because of Lady Emily’s spunk and intelligence and I really like how the author portrayed the servants and their lives in this book. Normally in this series, the reader doesn’t really get to see the insight into the servant’s lives and it was fresh approach to a well established series.
Lady Emily is loving living in the countryside in her husband’s ancestral home, Anglemore Park. She is content enjoying life with her family, just relaxing in the calm atmosphere that differs so vastly from London. All is just perfect until the neighbor dies in their house unexpectedly and uninvited. Of course, curious Lady Emily can’t leave well enough alone and sets out on her own investigation into the life of the late Marquess of Montagu. She learns that he wasn’t what he appeared on the surface and that many people had motive to want him dead. She must decipher the clues to solve a mystery or find herself and her family at the mercy of a ruthless killer.
I really enjoyed this book as it took the series back to the beginning. A lot of the latest books in this series have dealt with traveling to other countries and this book reminded me of the classic English murder mystery that made me fall in love with this series. I will say that it was a little predictable in areas and a little far-fetched at times, but it still was an enjoyable read. I think that this was a nice addition to an already stellar series.
Overall Rating: 3.5
Title: Behind the Shattered Glass
Author: Tasha Alexander
Series: Lady Emily Ashton Mystery #8
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: October 15, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Historical Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through Library Thing Early Reviewers, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
Girl Lost In a Book 
Behind The Shattered Glass sounds captivating and unique. A great historical mystery. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
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I've just seen this series with this book, but I have all the books on my nook wishlist and will hopefully start buying and reading them after the holidays!
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Thanks for the giveaway! I am happy to hear that this book is reminiscent of the first. I think what drew me to the series was her pouring over her husbands books; the image of her library in my head is quite something lol.
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I love English mysteries–toss in a little romance and this book should be perfect.suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
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i have yet to read this series, tho i do have some of Tasha's book in my TBR pile…..the fact that it's a historical mystery is what intrigues me!!thank you for the giveaway!!
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