Praise

“Compelling . . . vintage Perry: a grand, sweeping mystery.”—Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“Fast moving and utterly engrossing . . . Perry’s Victorian novels attain the societal sweep of Trollope or Thackeray; she has absolute command over both political history and the small fascinating details of everyday life.”—Booklist (starred review)

“A mystery—a very good one . . . Status, rights, love, and duty are hallmarks of Perry’s narratives. Here, they are brought into finer focus, allowing their inherent drama to carry the story forward.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Perry skillfully explores the gap between the Victorians’ love of knowledge and their deepening suspicion that their way of life cannot continue.”—The Boston Globe
 
“Delicious political treachery . . . [Perry’s] grasp of the economic and social forces of the period is masterly.”—Chicago Sun-Times