Lady Emily #18
I’ll freely admit that I love this series. Of course some of them are even yummier than others, and this latest one might be one of the most delicious. The books follow Lady Emily and her dishy husband, Colin, as they investigate crimes all over the globe, and although Colin has a mysterious secret arrangement with her majesty’s government, it’s often Lady Emily’s intuition and intelligence that solves the case. Another standard element in the books is a dual timeline, with events from the past connecting or relating to events in the present in some form or fashion, with part of the mystery consisting of figuring out how.
In this installment, present day (1906) Lady Emily and Colin are in a lovely home in Bavaria, visiting Ursula, a collector of all kinds of art. Lady Emily is fascinated by the way her hostess can put an impressionist painting next to a Greek vase and somehow make it work. Also present is their mutual friend Cecile; Ursula’s daughter and boorish son in law; a dashing man about town; a young, vapid beauty and Liesel, an art dealer there to present a few paintings to Ursula for possible purchase.
In the past timeline (1866), a certain young Niels, who loves opera and natural beauty, is wandering the wilds of his family home when he encounters the infamous “mad” King Ludwig. The two become fast friends, with Niels eventually going to live with Ludwig. Ludwig is known for building a number of lavish castles, including Neuschwanstein, thought to be the model for Disney’s Cinderella castle (they do look quite similar). He hated official duties and court and spent most of his time worshipping the music of Wagner, who he patronised, and creating his architectural wonders. As presented here, he seems moody and eccentric, certainly, but not actually crazy.
In 1906, Ursula’s house party devolves into something of a disaster. The son in law suffers continual potentially fatal or disabling “mishaps,” ultimately leading to a tragic death. The house is cut off by snowfall and the guests try skiing as an entertainment with varying degrees of success (Lady Emily is not a fan). Because the police cannot get to the castle when the fatality occurs, it’s Emily and Colin who must investigate.
As the book weaves past and present, one of the strengths of this type of narrative becomes apparent. Each storyline is so compelling that it’s a bit wrenching to leave one to return to the other, captivated by each in succession. a skilful narrative feat on the part of Alexander who keeps both strands equally vivid and compelling.
By this time, Emily and Colin may be familiar to readers, but the books remain fresh by varying the settings and the characters who inhabit them. The cast in this one are especially memorable, and I loved the Bavarian setting as well as learning a bit about King Ludwig. I was unfamiliar with him before cracking open the book and I am always a fan of not only armchair travel, but of the kind of armchair history that makes me want to investigate further.. I can only hope this installment is only the midpoint and this series will continue for at least eighteen more! — Robin Agnew