Book Cover Excerpt:
The acclaimed author of the bestselling Jane Austen mysteries brings rich historical immediacy to an enthralling new suspense novel centered around Queen Victoria's troubled court...and a secret so dangerous, it could topple thrones.
Windsor Castle, 1861. For the second time in over twenty years, Irish barrister Patrick Fitzgerald has been summoned by the Queen. The first time, he'd been a zealous young legal clerk, investigating what appeared to be a muderous conspiracy against her. Now he is a distinguished gentleman at the top of his profession. And the Queen is a woman in the grip of fear. For on this chilly night, her beloved husband, Prince Albert, lies dying.
With her future clouded by grief, Fitzgerald can't help but notice the Queen is curiously preoccupied with the past. Yet why, and how he can help, is unclear. His bewilderment deepens when the royal coach is violently overturned, nearly killing him and his brilliant young ward, Dr. Georgiana Armistead, niece of the late Dr. Snow, a famed physician who'd attended none other than Her Majesty.
Fitzgerald is sure of one thing: the Queen's carriage was not attacked at random--it was a carefully chosen target. But was it because he rode in it? Fitzgerald won't risk dying in order to find out. He'll leave London and take Georgiana with him---if they can get out alive. For soon the pair find themselves hunted. Little do they know they each carry within their past hidden clues to a devastating royal secret...one they must untangle if they are to survive.
From the streets of London to the lush hills of Cannes, from the slums of St. Giles to the gilded halls of Windsor Castle, A Flaw in the Blood delivers a fascinating tale of pursuit, and the artful blend of period detail and electrifying intrigue that only the remarkable Stephanie Barron can devise.
I enjoyed this book, despite it being a "Queen Victoria" novel, LOL... I don't know, some topics I just avoid...if it were non-fiction, wouldn't be a problem, but sometimes fiction involving real people kinda irk me. There were points that did that for me in this book, but the "chase" kept me involved. I kinda hope that this turns into a series for the characters of Patrick Fitzgerald and Georgiana Armistead. Especially as they head to new destinations.
This novel touches on the royal families hemophilia and the possibilities of its origin. Ms. Barron has made Victoria a less than likable character...But I don't know that much of the Victorian reign, so don't know one way or another...
I do recommend this book, it is a good read, not as "easy" a read as some others I recommend, but definitely worth the time. And it did peak my curiosity to look up a few things. Especially pertaining to the Queen's attitude towards the Irish. And the English view of them in general. And you get the prevalent attitude thru the perspective of Fitzgerald, himself and Irishman. The slurs and disdain, and outright violence, aimed at him only due to his "race". Even his own son is disgusted by his heritage, and lets him (Fitzgerald) know it.
I never did figure out if the Queen was complicit in any of the deeds in this book...but that could just be my own overlook, someone else may pick up on it. But then the author could have deliberately left it vague, which is more my guess. Princess Alice seemed to be a rather likable character though. And so did Leopold, as a young boy in Cannes.
I have several of Ms. Barron's Jane Austen books, but have yet to read them (I keep getting them and putting them on the shelf and forgetting, shame me). I need to fill out the one's that have been released and I don't have, so that I don't skip a book--which I hate. And I tend to read all of a series at a time, and I REALLY HATE not reading a series in order. But will more than likely get to them in the near future.
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