Absorbing adventure/mystery mixed with a developing relationship, based in part on historical events, and written in a style which reflects the flavor of the period without getting all twee and quaint about it. In this, Mary Finch's second adventure, she has come into money but the man she loves, Robert Holland, an army officer, is broke and has told her that that because of the disparity in their situations it's all over between them -- but when Mary goes to work for spymaster Cuthbert Shy gathering intelligence on Colonel Crosby-Nash, who is married to Holland's somewhat dim cousin Susannah, the couple are brought back into contact again. Crosby-Nash is up to his elbows in terrorist plots by French agents, and a good part of Woolwich and the Thames may go blooie if the good guys can't thwart his plans. Rose Melikan is one of my favorite authors and I would recommend this series to anyone who likes history, adventure and romance with a true-to-the-era feeling.

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