The Counterfeit Guest

by Rose Melikan

Book Overview

In this rousing sequel to The Blackstone Key, Rose Melikan's heroine returns to the world of espionage for an intelligent, thrilling adventure in Georgian England. When the story begins Mary is a wealthy heiress. Young ladies in her situation ought to marry well--as her friend Susannah Armitage has. But is Susannah's marriage to Colonel Crosby-Nash all that it seems? Mary thinks not, and when her suspicions lead to a meeting with the elusive spymaster,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416560874
• ISBN13: 9781416560876
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Mary, the counterfeit guest..

Her friend, Susannah, has a new husband, Colonel Crosbys-Nash. Mary doesn't know much about him but when at a ball at their home, sees some suspicious peoples. Then upon Sir John Scott's recommendation, she visits a gentleman named Shy who wants her to spy on Colonel Crosbys-Nash, since she is friend's with his wife, wouldn't that make sense to go with them to the country and keep Susannah company? Mary also likes Susannah's cousin, Holland, otherwise known as Bobs. Holland is an officer in the Army, and is also enlisted in spying on the Colonel. The Colonel starts to suspect Mary, and maybe Mary is in over her head. Being out in the country, one of her contacts found murdered, what will Mary do. This was a very intriguing book, held me captive for many hours. I loved the relationship between Holland and Mary, but I wish there had been more contact between the two ladies. I know there was a previous book, but I don't think you have to read the first one before reading this one. It stood on it's own. Although, having a little previous history between Mary and Holland might have been a little more juicy! Overall a very good book. I want to read the first one now and I hope she comes up with more Adventures for Mary Finch and Holland!!!!

Wonderful sequel to The Blackstone Key

Now a year later in 1796, Mary Finch has inherited the estate of White Ladies. A school teacher before this change in her fortune, Mary now turns her attention from her own predicament to her friend Susannah and her marriage to Colonel Crosby-Nash. Is she truly happy in her new marriage? Adventure seems to find Mary Finch wherever she goes, and her trip to the Crosby-Nash estate is no exception. With the revelation from spymaster Cuthbert Shy that her friend's husband is a traitor, Mary sets out to discover the truth. Danger mounts as her contact to Shy is suddenly disrupted and she draws suspicion to herself. Meanwhile, Captain Robert Holland seeks to uncover a mutinous plot that might endanger the realm. Troubled by Mary's change in financial position, Captain Holland breaks off contact with her. As danger mounts on all sides, each longing for the other, will adventure and espionage bring the two together? Will they be able to stop the plans that threaten friend and realm? Following the previous novel THE BLACKSTONE KEY chronologically, THE COUNTERFEIT GUEST revisits the delightful world of Mary Finch and Captain Robert Holland. Like her previous novel, Rose Melikan's THE COUNTERFEIT GUEST has a delightful combination of period dialogue, manners and mores as well as suspenseful action that hinges on an intriguing historical detail. Rose Melikan does an excellent job at detailing the political and social atmosphere in England as the French Revolution haunts the imagination beyond France. The details of the mystery bring to light a lesser known but fascinating aspect of English history. Best of all, history itself is at the center of the plot denouement. Mary Finch's character is true to the times and yet, her spirited, daring nature reaches beyond the typical position of women, thus making her a delightful character for today's historical fiction lover. Intelligent, practical, gutsy, and above all filled with an imagination, Mary is also an adventuress. Her character leads the story, and yet in this, the second novel, Rose Melikan integrates Captain Holland more fully into the focus as she shifts scenes between the two. Seeing him through his own internal thoughts is a wonderful development in this series. Fans of the series will find a delightful continuation and development in the series in this the second book. Whereas THE BLACKSTONE KEY focuses more on Mary Finch and her thoughts, creating the setting through characterization and historical detail, THE COUNTERFEIT GUEST is rightfully more action and plot focused. Readers familiar with the series will feel right at home and appreciate being able to jump right into the world without slow, cumbersome rehashings of the first striking, memorable novel. The first book is still so memorable a year later that fans simply do not need a long refreshment of details. Although THE COUNTERFEIT GUEST can be read as a stand-alone, this reader recommends reading both and reading the se

Delightful Historical Novel

The adventures of Mary Finch continue in this sequel to The Blackstone Key, captured in the author's restrained, evocative prose. Much of this novel follows the compelling separate narratives of Ms. Finch and Captain Robert Holland, as they each in their own way provide service to their country in a time of war and domestic intrigue. Both are courageous but constrained individuals--Ms. Finch severely limited by the mores of the time, Captain Holland equally handicapped by family history and his response to it. The author makes exceptional use of these constraints in developing the relationships between these two. When the narratives of Finch and Holland intertwine, the quiet storms of human emotion are brilliantly portrayed. As with The Blackstone Key, there is a wealth of highly accurate historical detail in this novel, not surprising since the author is a professional historian. The reader gets a wonderful sense of the times, whether it be matters of culture, cuisine, dress, horsemanship, or gunpowder. Highly recommended.

Wonderful voice

I won't go over the plotting since that has been effectvely covered by the synopsis and other reviewers, but I would like to express how impressed I am with the narrative voice of this wonderful new(to me) writer. I have not come across such an authentic tone in a very long time. I admit being put off by the drap cover art which, by the way, does not do justice to the fine story telling within. I am glad I bit the bullet and set aside such supercial reservations. I liked how the writer let the characters play out the mores of the day. Many writer fall pray to too much telling and not enought showing. Not Rose Melikan. While reading this book, I felt like a fly on the wall listening to real people having real, interesting conversations and experiencing genuine emotions. Very well done.

Even Better Than the First

I loved The Blackstone Key: A Novel, so I had high expectation for the second installment, and I was not disappointed. Although this is suppose to be the second book in a trilogy, I would love to see Miss Finch have her own series of adventures. The book begins with references to the first, so, while it is not necessary to have read it, it would help with understanding the relationship between Captain "Bobs" Holland and Miss Mary Finch. She has remodeled the White Ladies to her liking, but Holland has abruptly ended their friendship instead of letting it blossom into romance...all because of money - his lack of it, and Mary's new inheritance. Regardless, Mary has befriended the Armitage sisters, only to find out that Susannah's new husband may be a traitor to the country. Soon enough, Mary is recruited to be a spy, which is kept secret from everyone, even Bobs. Unknowingly, Captain Holland's mission to prevent mutinies among the solider is related to Mary's mission. Mary is so different from other women of that time period, it is sometimes hard to understand why she is so reluctant to pursue a romantic relationship with Captain Holland, and I had the same slight disappointment with the ending, as I did with the first book. However, not only is this an exciting historical fiction novel, but it is filled with drama, suspense and mystery. Spies, plots, and attempted murder are just a few of the events that involve Miss Finch. I am looking forward to the third installment with great anticipation!