Fine mystery especially if you like the theme of Russia and that time period. Overall it was an enjoyable read even if not a first choice for me.

I really enjoy Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series and not just because I loved following her and Colin's love story. This was good historical mystery.

Emily is a little put out that her husband Colin keeps getting to go to Russia. Yes, it's for his work, yes, it's for the crown, but she longs to travel there herself. To stroll along Nevsky Prospekt, to gaze across the Neva, to attend a performance of the Imperial Ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre, these are Emily's dreams. Luckily life has a way of working out. Just after Colin is called once again to St. Petersburg Emily's dear friend Cecile asks if Emily would like to accompany her to that same city to visit her dear friend Masha and take in the New Year's festivities. At first Emily is worried her harried husband will be displeased she has followed him to Russia, thankfully the warm welcome she receives on arriving makes her concerns disappear like a snowflake in front of a roaring blaze. Colin's busy schedule means he can only occasionally accompany his wife, but Emily and Cecile take in the sites of the city and are charmed by it's beauty until the night of the ballet. For the first time ever the prima ballerina assoluta Legnani isn't staring in Swan Lake and has chosen Irina Semenova Nemetseva as her successor. Only Nemetseva never finished her performance.

Ekaterina Petrovna, Nemetseva's understudy, finished the show and made everyone forget about the original ballerina, until they exited the theater and found Nemetseva's body face down in the snow. The blood spatter looked like rose petals around her corpse. Emily being Emily wants to get to the bottom of the crime but it's only when Prince Vasilii Ruslanovich approaches her that she is given a sanction to do so. Prince Vasilii was Nemetseva's secret lover. He doesn't want to draw any attention to this and therefore asks Emily to discreetly make inquiries. What Emily discovers is friends and lovers that admired Nemetseva. Ever her understudy, Ekaterina Petrovna, loved her like a sister and at one time hoped Nemetseva would marry her brother Lev so they would indeed be sisters. Lev though has some radical tendencies. Could the murder be politically motivated? One thing is sure, St. Petersburg loves to gossip and soon there is a development in Nemetseva's murder that has everyone talking. A ballerina keeps appearing throughout the city with a red silk scarf who disappears whenever anyone gets near. Could this be Nemetseva's ghost seeking justice? Emily doesn't believe in ghosts but she does believe in finding justice for the slain ballerina no matter what the cost.

Russia! Finally! I was almost as excited as Emily to find that we'd finally be going to St. Petersburg. Tasha had dropped enough hints in the previous volumes, even going so far as to have Emily state that were she to run away from all the chaos in her life during the events of A Terrible Beauty that she would go to St. Petersburg. Thankfully Colin was aware of this and would have followed her north. Now I know that Russia might not be everyone's cup of tea, or podstakannik as the case may be, but I was born and bred with a love of Russia in my bones thus making this book a perfect read for a long winter's night. My mother was actually a Russian major in college, a rather questionable major during the height of the cold war as evidenced by the fact the government kept tabs on her; but she adored Russian literature, in particular Pushkin, even if Tolstoy's War and Peace wins out as her favorite book. My parent's first date was going to see Doctor Zhivago at the Hilldale Theater, and the rest is history. From rather creepy Imperial Ballet paper dolls to oversized art books showing the treasures of the Hermitage to watching Gorbachev step down, my upbringing had Russia always present. I don't even know how young I was when I was sat down and forced to watch Doctor Zhivago, but I'm sure my parents didn't appreciate me rooting for Geraldine Chaplin as Tonya.

But for all my love of Russia I am very lukewarm on the whole Imperial Ballet. The truth is ballet is one of those things that you have to fall for very young. There are the horse girls, the ballet girls, the sporty girls, and then there was me. I didn't really fit or want to fit in any category. I have a vivid memory of going to the mall once with my mom and asking if I could buy some ballet shoes, because I thought they would be cool to wear. She said unless I took ballet that wasn't happening. My love of the shoes wasn't that great. But she also painted a very bleak picture of ballet, I'm not sure if that was from her Russian studies or from the fact she didn't want to drive me to lessons, but if I hadn't given up the dream of the shoes so easily I'm sure there would have been an even longer lecture. Ballet continues to be one of those artistic mediums I just don't connect to. It's not that I don't get what they are going for, for my theater degree we had to watch the Imperial Ballet to see the groundbreaking work they did in costume and stage design, but it never drew me in. I'm just not a fan of dance in any form. No matter how many shows I've seen I just don't get it.

Perhaps if I was lucky enough to have a mentor like Tasha did I wouldn't be indifferent. But I can't go back in time and change what happened. Thankfully Death in St. Petersburg works on many levels. I'm sure if you're a devotee of the ballet there is even more for you than if you're just in it for the human drama surrounding the ballerinas. Personally I was very glad for the drama surrounding the ballerinas. It's not just their friendships and allegiances that drew me in, but the level of intrigue surrounding the patronage system. Patronage isn't something unheard of in the arts, in fact I often lament that the days of individual patronage are over because I could do with some money to make art for a wealthy robber baron. Yet in the physical art world you give them art for their patronage. In the visual art world, particularity women, have other things to give... This is just another way you can sleep your way to the top. By aligning yourself as the mistress of a well-to-do noble, you get a better life and a better career. But at the same time this patronage system is creepy. You're being pimped out by the ballet to the richest bidder. I feel that this perfectly underscores why the revolution in Russia eventually happened. The rich used their influence to get the best mistresses, whether they wanted to be despoiled or not.

While the Russian Revolutions didn't start until 1905 with them culminating with the abdication of the Tsar in 1917 and the execution of the royal family in 1918 Death in St. Petersburg really felt like it was on the cusp of this big historical event. Tasha clearly depicts the disparity between the poor and the rich ending with the whiff of revolution in the air. While the other books with Lady Emily don't shy away from politics or historical events for some reason this book just felt more specific. This book made history more alive with Emily in the center of it. Therefore I couldn't help thinking of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Seriously, people stop doubting me about the show's genius, which are many of my friends. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles was a formative show for me for many reasons and is probably why I love historical fiction so much. The series was created by George Lucas as an offshoot from the Indiana Jones film franchise as a way to engage children with history. I myself was very much engaged, and not just because of Sean Patrick Flanery, though he didn't hurt. The episode "Petrograd, July 1917" made the Russian Revolution more real to me than anything had before until now. To my mind there is a direct link from that episode to this book in making this era of Russian history more alive and vibrant than anything else I've ever read or watched. Therefore if Russian history is your podstakannik of tea don't miss this book.

With revolution in the air and the dawning of a new century, Emily is really coming into her own. While Emily thinks that the Russians not questioning a female's capability of being an investigator as societal progress I think that is only half the story. If you look to the ballerinas she is interviewing as part of her inquiries she is operating in a female dominated field. To these women, who many be forced to work within the patronage system, they still see that it's their own skill and drive that makes them succeed in the end. No matter how wealthy or high up their patron without the skill they could never succeed. So why can't a woman succeed in another field if she sets her mind to it? Ekaterina Petrovna and her love Mitya both shock Emily with their easy acceptance of her investigative role. While this does signify the bigger sea change I think it is also specific to the mindset in Russia. Revolutionaries didn't distinguish between male and female, they were all comrades, where women could effect as much change as men. I know it's odd to think of Russia as more progressive, but the revolution that was coming forever changed world history so it makes sense that they would be willing to see Emily as what she is and not dismiss her. That isn't to say her investigation was completely smooth sailing, but that there were less bumps in the road, less explanations than previously, and for this series going forward, it will be wonderful to see Emily embrace all the changes that are in store.

Another great entry in this Regency-era mystery series. This book takes us to Russia in the winter, and as usual, there's a murder to solve. Great background, great atmosphere.

Tasha Alexander's historical mystery series is at least fourteen books strong and yet, this is the first novel that I have read in the Lady Emily series. How did I miss them? I truly enjoyed this historical puzzler that was set in the wonderful worlds of ballet and 1900 St. Petersburg. The story is told from the perspective of a dancer and Lady Emily. The world of the book comes to life, the characters are engaging and the mystery was intriguing. I highly recommend this one for those who like their mysteries without too much gore. I am certain that I will now read the author's earlier books.

Tasha Alexander never disappoints! This is another Awesome book, by a Great Author. Intrigue, mystery, death, love, all the makings of a great book, wish it were a movie! I absolutely love this, and everything else she has written! You must read!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

This series has always been one of my favorites but the last couple books have not grabbed me as much and this installment was no different. I love St Petersburg and really enjoyed the setting and felt the author did a great job researching her material. However, I found the story a little disjointed and the ending was a bit unbelievable. But the most important thing lacking was that special spark between Emily and Collin and watching them work as a team - I guess the honeymoon is over for them. 3 stars but was really hoping for more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Tasha Alexander who's also very interested in Russia. I haven't visited St Petersburg so I especially enjoyed learning about both the city and the history of its ballet pre-revolution. The main reason I didn't give this title five stars was that Lady Emily and her husband didn't have nearly as many exciting adventures as usual. I always enjoy their romance, but this time it seemed to replace intrigue as a focus of the plot. However, I look forward to seeing what their next adventure involves!!

I usually really enjoy the Lady Emily mysteries but this one was a little uneven for me. I think it was because I guessed the murderer very early in the story and that spoiled my enjoyment. That being said, this is still an enjoyable murder mystery series. I often laugh at the antics of Emily and her friends. They are so proper and dignified but will stop at nothing to investigate a murder.

Death in St. Petersburg by Tasha Alexander is the latest A Lady Emily Mystery. Lady Emily Hargreaves is in St. Petersburg, Russian enjoying the season thanks to an invitation from Cecile du Lac. Lady Emily and her husband, Colin enjoyed watching Swan Lake at the Marinsky Theater and exit to discover body of ballerina Irina Nemetseva outside in the snow. A gold Faberge egg is found underneath her body. Did Irina steal the egg or has Sebastian Capet stroke again? Irina had disappeared halfway through the performance and was replaced by Ekaterina Petrovna. The next day, Prince Vasilii meets with Lady Emily asking her to find Irina’s killer. Her investigation will take her across St. Petersburg from the Winter Palace to modest apartments belonging to the dancers. Join Lady Emily on her latest case in Death in St. Petersburg.

Death in St. Petersburg can be read alone. I had not read the previous eleven books in the series (did not know it was part of a series until I started reading the book) and I had no trouble. I did, though, have difficulty with all the various Russian names. Each person went by more than one name which makes it confusing. The author did a wonderful job at describing St. Petersburg and the world of ballet. You can tell that she did her research on the era, city, and is knowledgeable about ballet. The mystery was simple and can easily be solved long before the reveal. There is a lack of action regarding the investigation. It is mostly questioning and speculation. There are flashbacks into the early years of the two ballerinas that help readers understand their characters. Death in St. Petersburg is a slower paced story as Tasha Alexander sets the stage (very descriptive writer). I did like Lady Emily who is a woman ahead of her time in many ways. If you are looking for a light historical mystery, pick up a copy of Death in St. Petersburg.

Set in the backdrop of the Russian ballet, this murder mystery is an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, the denouement is a little weak (the spontaneous confession quite unbelievable).

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Tasha Alexander brings all of the glamour of Russia in the waning years of the Tsar and the allure of the ballet to this twelfth installment in the Lady Emily mystery series. Death in St. Petersburg is a worthy addition to one of my favorite historical mystery series.

Death in St. Petersburg finds our intrepid amateur sleuth on holiday for New Years 1900. Winter in Russia is both beautiful and brutal, something Lady Emily quickly finds when she leaves a stunning ballet performance to find the prima ballerina assoluta, still dressed in her Swan Queen costume, stabbed to death outside the theater. Lady Emily is quickly drawn into the investigation when the ballerina’s lover asks her to look into Nemetseva’s untimely death. This takes Lady Emily behind the scenes of the most prestigious ballet company at the time to the heart of revolutionaries and back to the Winter Palace and the Tsar, all the while weaving a complex multi-pronged puzzle of life and death.

I feel totally transported to St. Petersburg while reading, completely engrossed in the period and place. Alexander’s love for the city and the ballet is palpable through every description and detail. I like that real historical figures are intertwined in the fictional murder mystery; it really gives a feeling of authenticity to the tale. Of course, Alexander’s fabulous research shines through, too. The story is told from alternating points of view, and it works well here. Interspersed with the “current day” investigation are short chapters told from the ballerinas point of view, giving readers an insider’s look into their world and providing necessary background for the mystery. Not being much of a dancer myself, this behind the scenes look at the insular world of the ballerinas is fascinating.

The characters are all intriguing. At times I find Lady Emily to be too modern for her time, but she is still an intelligent and astute investigator. Colin is, as always, rather enigmatic, mostly because his work for the Queen and country is so cloak and dagger. I am so happy to see Sebastian Capet again. He provides much needed comedic relief throughout the book. The steady pace of the story serves the complicated mystery well. Layer by layer the truth is revealed with a few surprises thrown in to keep it all interesting.

I greatly enjoyed my time with Lady Emily in Russia and highly recommend Death in St. Petersburg to fans of the series and those looking for a strong female sleuth in an exotic historical setting.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I've become a hug fan of the Lady Emily series- it's got everything in a fun, quick read that anyone could want!

3.5 This is a series that I dip into now and then, depending on where and what the story line takes place, and if it sounds interesting. The draw for me with this one is that it takes place in Tsarist Russia and concerns ballet, which I love. After Lady Emily and her husband attend the ballet, they find the body of a primary ballerina, lying dead in the snow. Lady Emily, as she does finds herself involved in finding the murderer.

There is a mix of political intrigue, love, and the insular works of the ballerina. Found it very interesting, the world of Tsarist Russia was a hotbed of political manuveuring, with many factions unhappy and those wanting change by violent means and those wanting to give peace a chance. Just had to throw that in there. This is a rather tame series as far as action, more of a mind type of mystery, than one of blood and gore. There is a supposed ghost though and that addition adds a little spice to the story.

Well researched though, the author knows the ballet works well, and as detailed in her authors note, many of the places and players were actual people. Some interesting side characters as well, and the Lady Emily is fearless in the pursuit of justice.

ARC from Netgalley.

The Lady Emily series has been an engaging historical mystery story, romance, but also a feast for the senses. I’ve adored each time the series takes the reader to a Victorian era foreign setting with its lush descriptions of place, culture, society, historical backdrop and more. This latest installment was no exception.

I found myself enjoying it in a bittersweet way since I knew what events would follow this time in the lives of the Romanovs and the Russian people. This is the waning years of Czarist Russia. The cracks in Russian Society are apparent in this story and the extreme ends of ideology are growing louder. But set against this was a tale from the world of Russian Ballet. It didn’t delve into the details of the dance so much as the life of the dancers, particularly two dancers, Katenka and her best friend, the great Nemetseva.

Emily and Cecilie have accepted an invitation from Masha one of Cecilie’s friends to enjoy the Russian social season which also gives Emily the chance to join her husband Colin after the holidays with their family. Colin is on secret work for the British Crown and can’t share with Emily what he is doing no matter how much she wheedles. But the death of Nemetseva and the request of her lover give Emily a case to keep her busy.

A little side note/niggle. Over the last few books, I’ve slowly grown irritated with Emily while still enjoying everything and everyone else about the stories. This one, it really struck me that she takes a ‘you owe me all your secrets’ attitude and gets really pushy with people in her quest for the truth. She runs rough shod over sensibilities with little provocation or proof the person deserves it. She happened to be right sometimes, but other times, there are valid reasons why people aren’t forthcoming with all their personal thoughts. This is really a mild niggle though I suppose I’ve made it a big deal as a result of my own personal preference when it comes to that sort of thing.

As to the case, this one came along slowly with lots of racing back and forth between the suspects and witnesses between times of social activity. It is also told in a split plot line of the past for the two ballerinas and the present with Emily solving the murder. While it wasn’t exciting until near the end, the slow pace of detecting and of the story lines were engaging. I enjoyed the immersion into that historic world while turning my mind to the investigation. I got an early suspicion and it turned out my instinct for the solution was correct though I can’t take credit since I had no real reason for my suspicion.

All in all, it was another solid book in the Lady Emily series and left me with a thirst to find more books on this period in Russian history. I can recommend this series for those who enjoy lady amateur detectives in a historical setting and some interesting detecting adventures.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

"Death in St. Petersburg" is a mystery set in 1900 in St. Petersburg. It's the twelfth in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil previous whodunits.

The author wove nice detail about the lives of ballet dancers and the political unrest in Russia into the story. The story switched between Emily investigating the death of a dancer in 1900 and events that happened to two dancers and their close friends in 1889 until the present time. Emily asked questions, followed up clues, and considered possible scenarios until she figured out what was going on and whodunit. She was intelligent, competent, and likable. The other characters were also interesting.

There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.

This time Lady Emily has managed to join her husband Colin while he is on assignment. This leads to a book that tells a tail of mystery as well as highlighting the city of St. Petersburg. Set at the turn of the century there is unrest but the Tsar is still in power and the rich and mighty fill the halls of the city. What starts as a magical night at the ballet turns into a tale of murder when the principal ballerina is found dead outside of the theater. Lady Emily is asked to find the killer and she accepts. I was fun to see the city through her eyes and to watch her eliminate one suspect after another. There is a hint of the coming unrest before she realizes who the killer is. At the same time Colin is looking into the situation for England and the Queen. A very nice addition to the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Not having read read any of the Lady Emily mystery books before I did not know what to expect but what a find.

The historical content is researched in depth and it is extremely evident that her knowledge of the world of ballet comes from a personal background.

The description of St Petersburg at the turn of the last century and the combination of the followers of the Romanov court and the world of ballet magically transports the reader there. Combine this with the horrendous murder of a prima ballerina during the interval of Swan Lake and one is set for an amazing read with lots of twists and turns until the conclusion which was definitely not what I expected.
This may be the first Lady Emily mystery that I have read but it certainly won't be the last , amazing.

A sparkling historical mystery!

St Petersburg in January 1900 before the Russian Revolution. Alexander's walk through this fabulous city is charged, exciting and wonderfully descriptive.
Lady Emily Hargreaves is once again up to her fur hat in a murder. And no ordinary murder. Right after her sensational debut of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake the soloist, Irusya (Irina Semenova Nemetseva), is found outside the stage door, face down in the snow dead, bejewelled in her own blood.
Then there's the mysterious, ghostly dancer who appears dressed as the dead ballerina flaunting a silken red scarf symbolic of the death Nemetseva met, captivating the populace and muddying the waters of Lady Emily's investigations. Because, of course Emily is right in the thick of things, murder, Revolution, threats to Tsar Alexander, all grist for the mill.
And then there's the delectable Hargraves himself who quite turns my head, let alone Emily's.
The story wends from events prior to murder and then after. Including the story of Katenka (Ekaterina Petrovna Sokolova) and her brother Lev, an activist, Irusya's relationship to both of them, and others beyond this circle who might have cause to dispose of Irusya.
What a treat! A walk through a charged time in history, accompanying Lady Emily on her investigation of a particularly poignant murder.

A NetGalley ARC
(October 2017)

One of the best in the Lady Emily series, in my opinion! Great setting, subject, & characters.

This is book #12 in the Lady Emily historical mystery series. Overall, it’s been a great series to follow. There have definitely been highs and lows with the entries, but this one didn’t disappoint. I loved it! As a forever fan of ballet, it was poised to be a favorite, I guess.

Lady Emily and her husband Colin are in St Petersburg, Russia along with their longtime friend Cecile. The city was described beautifully, and I could visualize it all! They are in attendance at a performance of Swan Lake in the Mariinsky Theatre, when the prima ballerina doesn’t reappear after a break between acts. Her understudy steps in, but the crowd is left wondering what happened. Unfortunately it becomes clear when they all leave. Emily is enlisted to find out what happened and who the murderer is while Colin is working his own assignment.
The chapters alternate between current day and the past, and through this we learn a lot about day to day life as a ballerina at turn of the century Russia. Political unrest is rife and abundant. The writing is superb and so descriptive. The mystery is done well, and will keep you reading and guessing until the end. A must read for Lady Emily fans!!

*Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an ARC to read and review. I was thrilled!*