This was a delightful mix of intrigue, romantic angst, looking back, wishing things had been different, finding oneself, deciding what is most important in your life, and history. Quite a mixture, huh? And, I didn't even mention that murder is involved. Actually, let me back up. It begins with a mysterious invite to attend a ballet in Salzburg. It's to honor both an 18th birthday celebration and anniversary of a jewel heist of a sapphire necklace at the same location. The invitation is sent to Atalanta's late grandfather, Clarence Ashford, but she is intrigued enough by the wording to be determined to attend in his place.
Just as she might be wavering, handsome, flirtatious Raoul appears and agrees to go with her. I'm not going to detail the plot other than to say that initially much of it seems focused on Atalanta's romantic yearnings for Raoul, a famous race car driver. We get a peek into his childhood this go-round, one that helps explain his determination not to become seriously involved with Atalanta. In any case, who murdered the man just released from prison for the theft of the sapphire necklace. It's all wrapped up in the past, of course, meaning Atalanta has two cases to solve to her satisfaction. There are also a host of potential suspects for the murder Alalanta stumbles across while chasing after....oh, I think I'll leave that for you to find out. It's all part of the overall mixed bag of themes mentioned. Alalanta, whose name means "huntress", is caught between yearning for a dance with Raoul and finding a murderer, not to mention protecting her late grandfather's reputation. An impulsive young ballerina eloping with her somewhat older beau complicates things.
Bottom line, I liked Atalanta and despite her frustration with Raoul, came away with more respect for him than in the past. Respect and a sense of sadness at his personal baggage. His comment about how a passion become an obsession was telling of his own parent's relationship. Even the stuffy upper crust characters largely came across sympathetically. Renard, who was her grandfather's butler, while admitting even he doesn't know the full truth of the stolen sapphire case her grandfather investigated, plays a vital role this go-round. I've barely touched the surface here but if you like stories set in fabulous setting that are quite character driven, you'll like this once you settle into the slower pace. Thanks #HarperCollinsUK - #OneMoreChapter for allowing me to take a virtual time travel trip back to November 1930 to catch up early with the complicated, intriguing Atalanta.
No comments:
Post a Comment