In this historical novel, Clemency is a young woman who has read the works of Miss Taylor, a feminist writer along the lines of Wollstonecraft. Clemency has taken to heart Taylor’s words about marriage being a trap for women. And yet, Lord Boyle has broken through her defenses and has gotten her to agree to marriage. Almost instantaneously he becomes cold and uninterested in her. She is puzzled but in despair: she cannot break the engagement to the well-to-do Lord Boyle because of the negative financial effects it will have on her family. Fortuitously, into the picture walks Audric in a quiet rage and hunting Lord Boyle It takes little to get Clemency to join in his revenge. He starts out small, revealing just some of Boyle’s sins yet it takes little to open her eyes and to join him in his vengeful plot. Audric at first plans to use her as a pawn in his project but as they both investigate they begin to develop feelings for one another. With her and her family’s safety on the line will Clemency be able help bring Boyle to justice and to become Audric’s real and romantic partner not pawn?

This is a lovely and mildly suspenseful novel. In a quirky twist, we learn that the omniscient narrator is the ghost of the anti-marriage, proto-feminist ghost, Miss Taylor. She speaks through end notes that are engaging and charming asides to the reader. Happily, they are sparse enough not to be annoying yet frequent enough to keep things going.

The only weakness for me was that Clemency and Audric fell in love - from strangers and adversaries to completely in love - rather abruptly without the literary support that is found throughout the rest of the book. Once they do, however, the progression of their romance is credible and real, totally supported by the actions and thoughts of each other.

There are so many layers to this book: pathos, anguish, love, amusement and revenge are all mixed together to form a beautiful cohesive and very entertaining novel. I’m sure this will be a lasting favorite. I look forward to promoting it to my patrons.