The Dark Heart of Florence

January 11, 2021
Alexander’s lively 15th Lady Emily mystery (after 2020’s In the Shadow of Vesuvius) takes Emily and her intelligence agent husband, Colin Hargreaves, in 1903 to Florence, Italy, to investigate a break-in at the Palazzo di Vieri, the home of Colin’s daughter, along with Emily’s friend Cécile du Lac, an elegant Parisian with a passion for champagne and bohemian sensibilities. Meanwhile, the body of an informant associated with Darius Benton-Stone, Colin’s fellow agent, has been discovered in the palazzo’s courtyard. While Colin and Darius investigate, Emily and Cécile keep themselves busy visiting the sights and doing some digging of their own into the dead man’s background. They also discover that the Palazzo di Vieri is believed to contain a secret treasure. Could the man have been searching for it? Flashbacks to late 15th-century Florence ratchet up the tension and provide answers to the present-day goings-on. Alexander effortlessly slips an enormous amount of Florentine history into a narrative that offers a loving portrait of the city and just the right amount of dashing derring-do. This series remains as fresh as ever. Agent: Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Assoc.

January 15, 2021
Lady Emily Hargreaves, Alexander's durable heroine, returns to Italy in 1903 in a tale of murder, espionage, and hidden treasure. Colin Hargreaves, Lady Emily's husband, recently discovered a daughter, Katharina von Lang, whose existence had been unknown to him. As tensions with Germany increase, Colin, an agent of the British crown, is assigned to a case in Florence, where Katharina owns a villa inherited from her mother. Visiting her provides cover for Colin as he, Emily, and her friend C�cile du Lac meet with Colin's colleague Darius Benton-Smith. The villa is well guarded by faithful servants, but its peace is shattered by the murder of one of Benton-Smith's sources. A maid reveals that the house holds secrets going back 400 years to the time of Savonarola, who railed against the rich and destroyed many artworks. Emily and C�cile are intrigued by both the murder and the many clues written on the walls of the villa, which purport to lead to a mysterious treasure. Even though Colin can't confide in her, Emily resolves to investigate. Her first step is to learn more about the villa and its former inhabitants. Alternating chapters explore the life of Mina Portinari, one of these tenants, whose grandfather exposed her to radical ideas and more education than most young women could dream of in 1480. Her story becomes deeply intertwined with the hidden treasure as Emily and C�cile put their lives in danger searching for clues. Historical background adds depth to a complex, exciting mystery.

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March 1, 2021
In 1903, Colin Hargreaves, agent for the British Crown, travels to Florence to investigate burglaries at his daughter's palazzo--crimes that may be more than they appear. Colin takes his wife, Lady Emily, and her friend C�cile du Lac along to make the trip appear to be a holiday. Almost immediately upon their arrival at the historic palazzo, a body falls from the roof into the courtyard. While Colin pursues the matter through his secretive channels, Lady Emily and C�cile look for more information about the man, learning that he might have died looking for the treasure believed to be hidden in the palazzo. The thrilling story of that quattrocento treasure and the family who owned the palazzo is told in parallel, as Emily uses Latin and Italian graffiti in the palazzo as clues to solving not only the old puzzle, but also the current spate of murders. Lady Emily and Colin continue to be formidable investigatory partners, and C�cile's flirtation with a local librarian adds a dash of romance. Alexander brings both early Renaissance and Edwardian-era Florence to life, with well-researched references to Florentine history, literature, and art.

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