Eager to explore an ancient site, Lady Emily is delighted to accompany her friend Ivy Brandon to Italy. However, trouble is never far off and when they find a corpse, Lady Emily and her husband Colin begin to investigate.

Once again Lady Emily is pursuing a mystery surrounded by ghosts of the past. This time, the story is balanced between the beginning of the Edwardian era and the time of Pompeii. While the story in Pompeii didn't hold my interest or really relate to the majority of the story, it did play a role at the end of the story.

As always, Lady Emily is a fun character to follow through her investigations. There is the added drama of Colin's past affecting their future. This was also something I didn't much enjoy.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. For readers looking for a historical novel mixed with ancient history and mystery, this is would be a good choice.

I always enjoy the next installment of the Lady Emily books. The author has created interesting characters in Colin, Emily and Jeremy , and in this one, the controversial appearance of Kat. There is obviously a lot of research done as well. I loved reading about Pompeii and Herculaneum, especially as I was able to visit both of these fantastic places.

This was a good story that I enjoyed reading. It had some slow parts but overall had a good plot and characters.

I usually enjoy this author's books. However, this time it took me a while to get into the book. This was simply because it jumped from 79 AD to 1902 then back to 79 AD. I have never been able to get into books that jump years. The mystery was entertaining, and I enjoy the characters. I also like how they travel around the world so that there is not a ton of murders in one small town. New character has been added that will probably be increasing the drama.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the shadow of Vesuvius is an intricate murder mystery with immensely interesting characters. I was a bit worried as this is the 14th (!) in a series I wasn’t familiar with. But, the discovery of the body in the first chapter hooked me right in. There are a lot of characters initially which is overwhelming without the backstories but I was very quickly settled into their world. What I loved more than anything was the dual story with the two POVs in the two timelines. That’s always a risk, but author does a great job of engaging the reader in both. It wasn’t clear how they related until the very end but the payoff is perfect.

I also loved the setting, having been to Pompeii, it was easy to place myself right in the setting with the characters. But even if I hadn’t been, the settings are described so vividly I’m sure anyone can easily visualize it. I learned so many historical tidbits and really enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery along the way.

The story also features strong women challenging the patriarchy in two historical time points where that was not common which is fun to see.

This is the third disappointment in a row from Tasha Alexander. Perhaps the pressure of pumping out a new book every year is too much. The first half dozen were so engaging and well written. At times, this book felt like it was written by committee.

Tasha Alexander's historical mysteries take place early in the 20th century. In this entry, Lady Emily and her husband Colin are visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum where they become entangled in murder and chaos. The book also includes a novel within a novel that tells the story of a (freed) slave, a young woman poet and her fate.

The strengths of this book include the settings and the characters with whom I wanted to spend time. The author has done significant research and her description of the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum are filled with atmosphere, historical terms, and objects. Similarly, the world of the poet, Kassandra, comes vividly to life with its taverns, food stalls and homes both ostentatious and simple.

I enjoyed the relationship of Emily with her husband, Colin, and close friend, a lord. Kassandra, Lepida (her former owner), Lepida's husband and Melas, a painter are all well drawn. Also, readers of the series will be interested to get to know Kat, but no spoilers here. I found the murder mystery itself to be less compelling and felt that the story could have been edited just a bit.

Nonetheless, if you are curious about archaeology and enjoy historical mysteries, you might want to pick up this latest in the series. I also recommend this author's earlier title, A Death in St. Petersburg.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of my favorite historical fiction series and this latest offering did not disappoint! I loved the storyline and was pleased to see this, as well as the last few in the series, not drag or feel formulaic as many series are wont to do. Definitely pick this one up.

Another good addition to this series taking place in Pompeii. The goes back in time to Pompeiijust before the eruption and that part of the story is almost more interesting than the story current storyline. There is an addition of a new family member that makes for an interesting new dynamic and should open up new story possibilities in the future.

I really enjoyed this one. As a classicist, I love the Lady Emily series. I wish there had been a little more connection between the historical story and the main plot, but all in all a delight.

This is my first Tasha Alexander book to read, and I enjoyed it! It was nice reading a "clean" read with an element of murder mystery without being gruesome. Plus, the historical fiction aspect was fun too, and the cover is gorgeous. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!

I was really torn on the rating for this book. While I have had Tasha Alexander's books on my TBR list this is the first book I have read. I received it as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, which is why I started with book 14 of the series. I know by starting with this one I missed the history and building of the characters and I'm hoping this is why I felt they fell a little flat, the book just didn't flow well for me. On a positive note, it is clear that Ms. Alexander really researches her subjects, even traveling to locations in her books.

Lady Emily and her husband Colin are touring the ruins at Pompeii when they discover a body. One that doesn't belong, it isn't as old as the ones left after the eruption of Vesuvius. Someone is trying to warn them off the trail, but who is it, and why? There is also a surprise new character that promises to really add to future books.

Yet another wonderful addition to the Lady Emily mystery series! This book deftly balances two narratives of Pompeii in alternating chapters - one of a 79 AD slave poetess and the other from 1902 AD of Lady Emily.

Our plucky protagonost, Lady Emily Hargreaves, has headed off to Pompeii accompanying her dearest friend Ivy Brandon as Ivy participates on an archeological dig at the Pompeii ruins. Emily's husband, Colin, takes a break from English Court security and travels along with the ladies to guard against treachery. All seems rather academic until they notice a plaster body casting similar to those from the 1860s of archeologist, Giuseppe Fiorelli. This particular casting presents itself on the excavation grounds but it has strange features in comparison to folks of Pompeii's final days. Sure enough, a recently murdered man is found in the casting. Who was this man? Who on the excavation team knew him and who had it in for him? In light of the local police not wanting to lock horns with the powerful Camorra crime syndicate, they pretty much ignore the death, leaving Sir Colin and Lady Emily to do their own clandestine sleuthing. All is not as it seems and a sudden knock on the door presents a whole new juicy twist to the success of the sleuthing duo.

I'll be honest, I had a bit of a struggle keeping tabs on all the various characters throughout the book. Frankly, a chart of characters would be a lovely addition as there are no fewer than 28 characters named within these pages. Only a small handfull of these people appears in prior installments of this series. Regardless, the book is a fascinating read about the final days of Pompeii in 79 AD and of the early 20th century excavations of the ancient city. The amount of historic research which author Tasha Alexander puts into this book is Herculean and provides a wonderful glimpse into the lives of folks from both time periods. It is especially noteworty how well she portrays the lives of women of these periods and the ways in which they navigate around men and societal norms of their day. The writing is excellent and the mise en scène superbly crafted. If historical fiction mystery with a minor touch of romance appeals to you, then this is certainly a book you too would enjoy.

I am grateful to author Tasha Alexander and St. Martin's Publishing Group for having provided a free uncorrected digital galley of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.

The tragedy of Pompeii has always fascinated me. To just be going about your life and the BOOM! you're running for your life knowing you will not escape. I'm a huge fan of Tasha Alexander and have read all the Lady Emily books and have enjoyed them. This one is no exceptions. It combines mystery and history, two things I love. The author does a great job of connecting Lady Emily's story to Cassandra and gives us a glimpse into the life of someone living in Pompeii at the time of the eruption. I love her characters and feel like they are old friends. I do hope there will be more Lady Emily books in the future.

early-20th-century, first-century-ad, murder, murder-investigation, sleuth, lies, family-dynamics, friendship, archaeology, Italy, historical-research, historical-places-events, historical-fiction, historical-setting

Two and a half stories in one! The main thread is in 1902 when the Hargreaves accompany a friend to an archeological dig at Pompeii, discover a murder covered up to appear as another of the plaster casts from the older eruption and investigate. The half thread regards the unexpected appearance of a previously unknown to them daughter from an affair long before their marriage, and she decidedly resents the stepmother. The other major thread is set immediately prior to the eruption that buried Pompeii. All of the characters are well done and I was not aware that there are so many earlier books. I loved it! At the end the author credits fact and acknowledges any adjustments for the sake of the story.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was a great book that skipped from ancient times to the 1920’s effortlessly. I really enjoyed that storyline. I loved the chapters of the ancient times especially and the way that the story connected both places in time. Really a testament how human nature has changed very little in over 2,000 years. It encompasses many genres! I look forward to reading more from this author!

The action begins with a shocking discovery almost at page one in this latest entry in the Lady Emily series. The setting this time is Pompeii, the city ruined by a catastrophic volcano eruption in 79 AD. Lady Emily, her husband, and her best friend are on hand to play tourist, but when they find a body that met a much more recent demise, it's time to start investigating.
Many new characters are introduced in this book, some that are probably intended to stick around and become part of Lady Emily's extended family and friends. Not all of them feel quite fleshed out, and I found myself feeling less than invested in the latest Jeremy (Duke of Bainbridge) romance. The other major addition to the family party was a bit more intriguing, and had me feeling distrustful, then ambivalent, then cautiously accepting. It will be interesting to see how that one develops moving forward.
As with many of Tasha Alexander's other works in this series, pacing is really helped by chapters that alternate between Lady Emily's time and antiquity. In this case, the story is of a young Greek slave girl living in Pompeii with a talent for poetry and a problematic infatuation.
The sense of place is well developed, and the wrap-up scenes in a subterranean library in Herculaneum is particularly evocative. The details of that library sent me on a quick detour to the Internet to find out more about the real story. I really enjoyed how well the setting was researched and used in this novel.

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Lady Emily is an interesting character who is surrounded by lots of suspects and clues. The story is set in Pompeii and I especially enjoyed the historical detail about the town and the way of life. Each character has a little back story that makes them intriguing and keeps the story moving. Sometimes when reading a mystery I get caught up in figuring out "who do it" and forget to enjoy the story. This book was just an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This mystery is set in Pompeii where archaeologists Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves finds a day old body.They set out to solve the murder because the police don’t want to.Thrown into the mix is a snarly daughter that Colin never knew he had.This mystery has a parallel storyline and I’ll be honest..I almost started skipping it because it didn’t really tie in till the end.Classic Tasha Alexander book.Loved it.
Thankyou Netgalley for the ARC

Continuing the stellar Lady Emily series, this evocative novel is sited in Pompeii, where Lady Emily and her dashing husband, Colin Hargreaves, discover a body amongst the ruins. Coated with plaster to mimic the grisly plaster casts of the victims of Vesuvius's cataclysmic 79AD explosion, Emily's sharp eye sees the difference. The victim is an archeologist, murdered only a day or so ago.
Pompeii then, as it is today, was a working excavation site, with archeologists and artists from many nations coming together to learn the area's secrets. One such pair, brother and sister - he the volatile artist, she the barely-tolerated female interloper archeologist of talent and determination - seem to be likely suspects.
But there is no shortage of suspects and at times no shortage of clues, either. As Colin and Lady Emily sift through the clues as carefully as the archeologists sift the volcanic debris, neither sleuth realizes that the killer is in their midst, a trusted colleague.
Anyone contemplating a visit to modern Pompeii or Herculaneum, where Lady Emily does her sleuthing, would benefit from the insights in this meticulously-researched novel. As always, the social milieu is spot-on, and the attraction between Lady Emily and her husband is charming and subtle. A worthy addition to the series!