Amid the beauty and decadence of the Ottoman Empire, Lady Emily uncovers intrigue, treachery, and forbidden romance…

Amid the beauty and decadence of the Ottoman Empire, Lady Emily uncovers intrigue, treachery and forbidden romance . . .

Looking forward to the joys of married life newlyweds Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves, diplomats of the British Empire, set out towards Turkey for an exotic honeymoon. But on their first night in Constantinople a harem girl is found murdered, strangled in the courtyard of the sultan’s lavish Yildiz Palace.

Sir Richard St Clare, an Englishman who works at the embassy in the city, identifies the girl as his own daughter who was kidnapped twenty years earlier. Emily and Colin promise the heartbroken father they’ll find her killer. But as the investigation gathers momentum they find appearances can be deceiving – especially within the confines of the seraglio . . .

Praise for Tasha Alexander

‘Tasha Alexander has created Victorian London’s most colourful sleuth.’ Jacqueline Winspear

‘A thoroughly enjoyable adventure with both historical texture and emotional depth.’ Anne Perry

‘Tasha Alexander is one to watch – and read . . . despite her cliffhanger climaxes and witty repartee, there’s a depth of sensitivity that sets her apart.’ The Huffington Post

‘Enchanting . . . Alexander keeps readers guessing until the very end.’ Publishers Weekly