In this book, Lady Emily tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her husband's death on safari in Africa. Ms. Alexander writes that she was interested in portraying the intellectual awakening of a Victorian gentlewoman, while creating characters who were true to their times. Unfortunately, Lady Emily's intellectual excursions stall the narrative and prevent it from developing much suspense. For a woman who is supposed to be clever, Lady Emily often behaves in ways that are tiresomely stupid. And the experienced reader can tell from the first pages which of Lady Emily's gentlemen friends should be trusted and which are trying to deceive her. Even as a romance novel, this book fails to create a romantic hero who truly seems capable of engaging the heroine's heart -- he is just a pretty face.