And Only to Deceive (31 page)

T
ASHA
A
LEXANDER
is a graduate of Notre Dame, where she signed on as an English major in order to have a legitimate excuse for spending all her time reading. Following graduation, she played nomad for several years, eventually settling with her family in Tennessee. When not reading, she can be found hard at work on her next book featuring Lady Emily Ashton.

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“Newcomer Tasha Alexander almost immediately demonstrates her ability to walk the fine line between history and mystery, throwing her protagonist into a cauldron of intrigue, scandal, and danger.”

—
Baltimore Sun

“The story spans genres, appealing to lovers of suspense, history, and romance…historically correct and beautifully done.”

—
South Bend Tribune

“Engagingly suspenseful and rich with period detail…provides a fascinating look at the repressive social mores…in Victorian high society.”

—
BookPage

“Charming…. The archaeological background will lure readers who like to dig for their clues.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“If you like an intelligently written historical mystery with just a touch of romance, this will fill the bill nicely.”

—
Deadly Pleasures
magazine

“Sophisticated, intelligent, and above all, fun,
And Only to Deceive
will appeal to fans of Anne Perry, Elizabeth Peters, and anyone who can’t get enough of Victorian England…. Not to be missed.”

—Elizabeth Letts, author of
Quality of Care

“An entertaining debut…. Emily Ashton is such an appealing character that readers will want to follow her to new mysteries as she discovers new loves, and herself.”

—
Nashville Scene

“Alexander’s writing made me remember why I became an English major in the first place. It’s for the books.
And Only to Deceive
could easily become one of the classics.”

—ReviewingtheEvidence.com

“Captivating, enchanting, and delightful! With
And Only to Deceive
, Alexander has created a compelling mélange of murder, intrigue, romance, and sleuthing in nineteenth-century British society.”

—J. A. Konrath, author of
Bloody Mary

“Had Jane Austen written
The Da Vinci Code
, she may well have come up with this elegant novel.”

—Martha O’Connor, author of
The Bitch Posse

“More spellbinding intrigue and romance than a Jane Austen novel, Tasha Alexander’s
And Only to Deceive
transports readers to a magical time in England and Paris, and it’s a ride no one will want to step off of.”

—Robert W. Walker, author of
Absolute Instinct
and
City for Ransom

“This engaging, witty mix of Victorian cozy and suspense thriller draws its dramatic spark from the endearingly headstrong heroine’s growth in life and love. A memorable debut.”

—
Booklist

“An admirable and literate debut novel.”

—
Nashville Tennessean

“A delightful debut novel by a talented author. The narrator is reminiscent of one of those strong female characters that enliven the novels of Trollope, the historical settings are handled deftly, the plot is intricate and captivating, and all kinds of lore and learning are effortlessly conveyed. Above all, it is a good read. So let’s hear it for Tasha Alexander, one of the brightest new stars on the literary horizon.”

—Ralph McInerny, author of
Requiem for a Realtor: A Father Dowling Mystery

“Fans of Anne Perry and Elizabeth Peters will welcome this debut novel.”

—
Denver Post

“Charming…. Tasha Alexander makes Emily a studious and stubborn heroine. And the author’s knowledge of the social conventions and etiquette of the Victorian period is impressive.”

—
Dallas Morning News

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

AND ONLY TO DECEIVE
. Copyright © 2005 by Tasha Tyska. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

ePub edition January 2007 ISBN 9780061739231

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