Book Review: Lie By Moonlight

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Lie By Moonlight     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Amanda Quick
Class/Genre:   Romance   Mystery   Historical
Putnam, June 2005, $24.95, 400 pp.

In the latter part of Queen Victoria’s reign, Miss Concordia Glade accepts a position at Aldwick Castle as headmistress to four teenaged orphan girls. She gradually becomes aware that her employers are up to no good especially when she overhears them talk about auctioning off the girls. The place is well guarded making it almost impossible to get away but Concordia and her wards build and set off explosives that cause a diversion so that they can get to the stables.

Once there they are caught by one of the guards but inquiry agent Ambrose Wells appears in the stables and helps them flee to his townhouse in London. He was hired to find out who killed Nellie Taylor. His investigation leads him to crime lord Alexander Larkin who is behind the auction that will soon take place. Ambrose intends to keep Concordia and her teenagers safe while he also seeks evidence that he can take to the police. Concordia, who believes she is the equal of any man, helps him until one of the perpetrators concludes she knows too much and must be gotten out of the way.

Amanda Quick can always be counted on for quirky characters that don’t fit into society and as a result are freer than most of their peers, but also find ways to get in trouble. While working together the two protagonists realize they are attracted to one another while the teen quartet play matchmaker nudging them along until one of them proposes marriage. LIE BY MOONLIGHT is one of MS. Quick’s most charming and entertaining historical romantic investigative novels that she has ever written.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner