The past does not give its secrets up easily . . .

Years ago, Emily's childhood nemesis, Emma Callum, scandalised polite society when she eloped with an Italian count. Now her father-in-law lies murdered, and her husband has fled, making him the prime suspect. Alone in her empty palazzo, Emma realises there's no one she can turn to for help but Emily, who leaves at once for Venice, with her husband.

When a fifteenth-century ring is found in the hand of the slain man, the mysteries of past and present become entwined, and in order to find the murderer, Emily must first unravel the secret of a centuries-old love affair.

Her investigations take her through the canals of the ancient city, from opulent palazzi to licentious bordellos, but the past does not give up its secrets easily . . . especially when these revelations might threaten the interests of some very powerful people, and Emily finds herself stalked by an ominous masked figure, determined to keep her from solving the case at any cost.

Praise for Tasha Alexander

'Fun to read, fast paced, and delightfully suspenseful . . . the perfect entertainment for Elizabeth Peters fans' Booklist

'The story glides along as smoothly as a gondola . . . Lady Emily travels well' Kirkus Reviews

'An exceptionally good bet for readers who appreciate historical mysteries and the combination of past and present voices' Library Journal

'Enchanting... Alexander keeps readers guessing to the very end' Publishers Weekly

'With an appealing flair for historical detail and compassion for her characters, the author adds another well-crafted title to her popular series' Historical Novel Society

Tasha Alexander does a fantastic job here with the crumbling palazzos, dusty old books, and gondolas gliding along the canals... I love that I was able to fall into the novel and get lost in the mystery, the romance, and the city of Venice . . . Obviously, I cannot wait for Emily's next adventure' Bookreporter

'Another completely enjoyable entry in what has become one of my favorite historical mystery series' Aunt Agatha's