Lady Emily shows the way again!

The Dark Heart of Florence (Lady Emily #15) by Tasha Alexander  

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Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves head to Florence to investigate robberies at his daughter’s palazzo in Florence. Just after they arrive a man falls to his death from the roof.

It’s 1903 and tensions are rising between Germany and England, Colin as an agent of the Crown has government affairs to distill particularly given the death. He’s assisted by his associate Darius Benton-Stone. Emily can’t be involved in affairs of state. (Have to love the relationship between Colin and Emily!)

Emily is decidedly put out, however her friend Cécile (who’s amazing!!) joins her in rather interesting methods of investigating the matter. What they run into is the widely held belief that there’s treasure hidden in the palazzo and that all treasure seekers will die. (Hence the obviousness of the death that’s just happened). Rather than deterring these two very clever women it spurs them on to not only get to the bottom of the murder but too solve the puzzle of the lost treasure.

Running alongside is the story of Florence and the residents of the palazzo in the latter days of the Medici. This was even more fascinating!

I loved the way these stories dovetailed as the search for the dealers of death  takes flight.

For me the interweaving of these stories worked fabulously and took the Lady Emily mysteries to a new high.

A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley