
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Fourth in Fidelis Morgan's hugely entertaining series featuring the irrepressible Countess Ashby de la Zouche and her stupendously bosomed former maid, Alpiew Unlikely as it may seem, the Countess finds herself with cash to spare. Unlikelier still, she decides to do the sensible thing and invest it, caught up in London society's new craze for stocks and shares. Overnight, fortunes are being made, wealth amassed from nothing in a frenzy of speculation. And with these new-found riches anything can be bought: commodities, monkeys!even people. But as the Countess and Alpiew learn to their cost, investments can go down as well as up -- helped along by a little embezzlement from those bastions of respectability, bankers and brokers. Soon banking leads to begging, burglary, and strange bedfellows -- including an aspiring novelist with a grievance and a hirsute dwarf of astounding agility.
When the Countess Ashby de la Zouche enters the volatile world of London stock speculation, she inadvertently triggers a cascade of financial ruin and criminal intrigue. The Countess and her former maid, Alpiew, navigate the treacherous social and economic landscape of the era, attempting to recover from a disastrous investment. They face opposition from corrupt bankers, opportunistic brokers, and a cast of eccentric characters who threaten their remaining stability. The narrative maintains a brisk, comedic pace, utilizing a third-person perspective to highlight the absurdity of the Countess's social ambitions and the resulting chaos.
This work is characterized by its lighthearted approach to the historical mystery genre, focusing on the comedic friction between the Countess and her maid. The narrative style emphasizes wit and social satire, drawing on the tropes of the Restoration period to frame the Countess's financial misadventures. Readers likely appreciate the series for its consistent tone and the chemistry between the two leads as they navigate increasingly absurd situations. The book functions as a period-specific romp that prioritizes character-driven humor over traditional procedural mystery elements.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
2005-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
ISBN-10:
0007134282
ISBN-13:
9780007134281
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!