Présentation de l'éditeur
Next in Fidelis Morgan's hugely entertaining series featuring the irrepressible Countess Ashby de la Zouche and her stupendously bosomed former maid, Alpiew The Countess Ashby de la Zouche would not be every parent's choice of chaperone for a beautiful teenager, and still fewer would entrust her with finding the girl a suitable husband - in France, of all places. The second Mrs Alderman Franklyn-Green, however, is willing to go to any lengths to get rid of her unwanted stepdaughter Virginia. And the promise of 100 guineas and a sojourn in the land of gay balls and all-night gambling is sufficient to secure the Countess's services, even if the girl is a complete shrew. Sadly, the exiled English Court at St Germain is far from the den of iniquity the Countess and her maidservant Alpiew were hoping for. Worse, any hopes of enjoying fine French cuisine are dashed when a fellow guest is poisoned. Once more the Countess and Alpiew are plunged into a dangerous investigation In addition to unravelling plots against three kings and negotiating the culinary eccentricities of the Court of Versailles, our sleuths encounter the Bastille's most mysterious prisoner, and discover - among other depravities - the peculiar employment Lord Whippingham has devised for young women with strong teeth.
Revue de presse
A third irrepressible outing for the ebullient Countess Ashby de la Zouche and her awesomely bosomed maid, Alpiew, a pair of Restoration detectives dubbed Cagney and Lacey in corsets, although I'd add a strong dash of Laurel and Hardy to the mix. ...Plots within plots, culinary eccentricities, the Bastille's most mysterious prisoner and the discovery of Lord Whippingham's favourite depravity, involving women with strong teeth, pepper the uproarious progress of our two unconventional heroines. Fun never came so lusty. --The Guardian
Hilarious 17th century romp, which combines an authentic slice of history with a tantalising storyline. An authority on the era, Morgan has created an inventive book which wears its learning lightly. Colourful turns of phrase and witty descriptions abound, leaving you with a keen sense of the period --Daily Mail
The Countess Ashby de la Zouche is an aristo down on her luck but determined to live in a manner befitting her title, despite the fact that she doesn't have two farthings to rub together. She and her maid, the bosomy Alpiew, turned detective in earlier books in this ribald late-17th century series, and here they are at it again. Described by one critic as 'Cagney and Lacey in corsets', and by another as 'tart noir in petticoats', they set off for France acting as unlikely chaperones to a beautiful teenager. Their mission is to preserve the girl's virginity, and at 100 guineas plus a sojourn in the country of all-night gambling, they think their boat has really come in. The Countess also sees a way of making some extra brass by writing of her travels for The Trumpet, one of the new newspapers springing up in England. But things start to go horribly wrong when she sits down to her first French feast and finds it is poisoned. The Countess and Alpiew are the very antithesis of what 17th-century women were supposed to be like. No demureness or modesty here, and nor is their relationship of the mistress-servile-servant type. They can curse along with the best, they eye up all the incredible hunks, and caustic witticisms come with almost every utterance. Their latest whodunnit combines mystery with farce and decadence, plunging them into a plot involving three Kings and a madcap set of circumstances at the Court of Versailles. Not least of the mind-boggling incidents is a run-in with a crowd of burly blokes whose hobby is embroidery. Following on from Unnatural Fire and The Rival Queens, actress and comedy writer Fidelis Morgan has another winner here. --Kirkus UK
Biographie de l'auteur
Fidelis Morgan is an actor and an expert in Restoration comedy. Acclaimed for her stag
