Deadly Engagement [Tapa blanda]

Thoroughly enjoyable introduction to this type of historical fiction. Brant has a deft palette of Regency detail and which contributes to a strong backbone for the narrative. The characters are larger than life and its not hard to read with a visual image in mind. I like the way Brant herself describes the book as crimance... a perfect genre description. The plot twisted and turned beautifully and I can honestly say I had no idea 'whodunnit' until it was revealed. I loved and hated certain characters... and look forward to the end of the year when the sequel is released. Brant's writing is filled with freshness and wit and Deadly Engagement is highly recommended.

A truly intriguing one. A real page turner. It's Part I of a two-part mystery series set in the Georgian Era, in England. If you dream of a book with a gorgeous hero, thrilling emotions, romance and intrigue, wit and elegance, silk and powdered wigs, you won't be disappointed, you'll find it in Lucinda Brant's DEADLY ENGAGEMENT.

1763. Alec Halsey, being a second son is not going to inherit his father's title. nor his properties. His boasting, wicked brother, Edward, is the heir to the title, Earl of Delvin, and to the family patrimony. But it seems Alec will have to renounce even more in favour of his brother: his dream to marry young beautiful Emily, his godmother's grand-daughter.

Coming back from his service as a diplomat in Paris, he discovers she is betrothed to Edward. who has also just killed one of Alec's friends, Jack, in a duel. The rivalry between the two brothers - or better the Earl of Delvin's jealousy and hatred towards his younger brother - is the driving force behind many of the events of the gripping plot. Edward and Emily are going to announce their intention to marry soon to friends and family during a grand party at St. Neots House . The party will be ravaged by unexpected events, bloody ones. During the engagement celebration the guests will be greatly shocked by a lady's maid's murder, an attack to the bride-to-be , and a guest shot dead.

Alec will have to face revelations about his own family, to cope with meeting again his first great love, Selina Jamison-Lewis, now a widow and an even more attractive woman, and he will uncover the connection between those mysterious sinister events , his friend's Jack's killing in a duel and a recently raided male brothel.
Will he find a way to conquer Emily's heart before she marries his elder brother? Will he, instead, woo his old flame, Selina, now she is a widow? What did his own mother write about his birth in a crucial letter to Selina's aunt, Lady Margaret, one of her best friends? In his investigations Alec will be helped by his bizarre republican uncle, a MP, Plantagenet Halsey, and by his loyal friend, Lord Cosmo.

You can't miss Lucinda Brant's two-part Alec Halsey Mystery series, Deadly Engagement + Deadly Affair , a perfect blend of history, romance and mystery. The first novel is now available as an e-book at all the ebook stores (Apple ibooks, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, etc). Here's a direct link to the Kindle edition on Amazon( http://amzn.to/dIbAmY ). [...]

A reviewer recommended this novel if the reader was a fan of Sebastian St. Cyr or Julian Krestel. Those two names were all I needed to purchase this book and I am so glad I did! Having read all of the Sebastian St. Cyr series and searching for Julian Krestel novels until they are published in Kindle format, I have been searching for similar works and happily stumbled across this wonderful novel after doing a "historical mystery" search.

Twist and turns abound in this historial mystery set in the late 1700's. Alec Halsey, second son has returned after performing diplomatic work overseas only to discover that his elder brother has become betrothed to his intended. To say that his elder brother despises him is an understatement and it appear early on that that Lord Delvin will do whatever it takes to discredit, ruin and run his brother out of town. Murder abounds at a house party to celebrate Lord Delvin and Emily's engagement, where no one seems to be as they appear. Wonderful mystery, attention to detail and lush descriptions take the reader back in time. I will definately check out this author's other works. If you are looking for something new to read until the next Sebastian St. Cyr or Lady Julia Grey book is published. Take a chance and add this to your wish list. You will be glad to find another series to become enamored with. I know I am.