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Zusatztext “Crisp writing and depth of characterization should please traditional mystery fans.”— Publishers Weekly “For readers who love Elizabeth Peters and Jacqueline Winspear and still hanker for Agatha Christie.... [Cleverly] demonstrates a knack for creating full-blown historical puzzlers with complicated plots and engaging characters in unusual settings.”— Library Journal ! starred review “Tucked into the wealth of archaeological and historical detail is a full-blown English houseparty murder.... With a spirited! intelligent heroine! a glorious exotic setting! a clever plot! loads of archaeological detail and a touch of romance there's nothing not to like in this crisply told first book of a new series.”— Denver Post Informationen zum Autor Barbara Cleverly is the author of five novels of historical suspense, including The Damascened Blade , winner of the CWA Historical Dagger Award, The Last Kashmiri Rose, Ragtime in Simla, The Palace Tiger, and The Bee’s Kiss . She lives in Cambridge, England where she is now at work on the second Laetitia Talbot mystery, which Delta will publish in 2008. Klappentext With the same flawless storytelling that earned her the CWA Historical Dagger Award, Barbara Cleverly delivers a dazzling new novel. Sweeping us to the exotic island of Crete in 1928, Cleverly introduces a marvelous new heroine: whip-smart and spirited Laetitia Talbot, an aspiring archaeologist with a passion for adventure-and for the mysteries that only the keenest eyes can see. Born into a background of British privilege, Laetitia Talbot has been raised to believe there is no field in which she may not excel. She has chosen a career in the male-dominated world of archaeology, but she approaches her first assignment in Crete the only way she knows how-with dash and enthusiasm. Until she enters the Villa Europa, where something is clearly utterly amiss... Her host, a charismatic archaeologist, is racing to dig up the fabled island's next great treasure-even, perhaps, the tomb of the King of the Gods, himself. But then a beautiful young woman is found hanged and a golden youth drives his Bugatti over a cliff. From out of the shadows come whispers of past loves, past jealousies, and ancient myths that sound an eerie discord with present events. Letty will need all her determination and knowledge to unravel the secrets beneath the Villa Europa's roof-and they will lead her into the darkest, most terrifying place of all.... Chapter One Herakleion, Crete. March 1928 Miss Talbot! Wait!" Laetitia Talbot staggered on. She didn't glance back to discover who was calling her name. An abrupt turn of the head would have aggravated the seasickness that racked her; would have made her lose her balance on the slippery deck—might even have provoked a further stomach-wrenching attack of the unproductive retching that had tormented her for a good six hours. There filtered, through her discomfort, the puzzling thought that she knew no one on the ferry. The only man on the boat who was aware of her existence was the Greek captain and he was unlikely to be chasing after a passenger, fully occupied as he was at the controls in this unexpected squall. She corrected herself: mad March gale. She corrected herself again: fully blown Greek storm, stirred up personally by Poseidon with his disgusting seaweed-dripping trident. So who would be calling out her name with such confidence? Perhaps she'd failed to notice an acquaintance in her circuits of the deck? She winced at the thought of holding up her end of the conversation that might ensue if she turned around: ". . . Three summers ago . . . at Binkie's coming-out do . . . surely you remember? You've been in Athens? But why? What on earth can you have been doing there, Letty?" "Laetitia Talbot?" The English voice came again. Less peremp...
