A deadly dance between two implacable enemies. At her friend Ivy's behest, Lady Emily Ashton reluctantly agrees to attend a house party at the country estate of Lord Fortescue, a man she finds as personally odious as he is politically powerful. But on arrival she finds him to be the least of her problems. Among the guests is Kristiana von Lange, an Austrian countess who had once been linked romantically with Emily's fiance, Colin Hargreaves, and she makes no secret of that fact, tormenting Emily for her own amusement. Annoying for Emily - but then matters turn deadly serious when Lord Fortescue is found murdered and his protege, Robert Brandon - Ivy's husband - is arrested for the crime. Emily's efforts to clear her friend's name take her to Vienna, a place of glittering balls, sordid back streets, chic cafes. and home to her nemesis, the Countess von Lange.

Tasha Alexander has created Victorian London's most colourful sleuth. -- Jacqueline Winspear A thoroughly enjoyable adventure with both historical texture and emotional depth -- Anne Perry Tasha Alexander is one to watch - and read. despite her cliffhanger climaxes and witty repartee, there's a depth of sensitivity that sets her apart The Huffington Post Enchanting. Alexander keeps readers guessing until the very end Publishers Weekly

Tasha Alexander attended the University of Notre Dame, where she majored in English and Medieval Studies. She and her husband, the novelist Andrew Grant, divide their time between Chicago and the UK. Visit her online at www.tashaalexander.com