The Berkeley Square Affair

The Berkeley Square Affair (2014) Teresa Grant

Set in London in 1817.

Interestingly, this is a re-writing of her first book, Secrets of a Lady, so I was slightly confused for awhile, until I realized what was going on.

I actually like this better than the original book, partially because she didn’t take the “easy” way of having a child in jeopardy to bring the main characters back together after secrets were exposed.

And there is quite a bit of awfulness.

“(T)that applies to your father as well.”
“Perhaps. Save that I long since came to terms with the fact that Alistair didn’t love me.”
“You can’t know— I mean at times everyone thinks their parents—”
“Quite. Save that in my case Alistair admitted it flat out.” Crispin stared at him.

The relationships between members of the nobility were also somewhat horrifying.

I told him I’d been Alistair’s mistress first, so even though I thought exclusive rights were something claimed by colonial powers, not mature adults, if he was going to get in a huff about betrayal he’d have to get in line behind Alistair and my husband, to name only two with a prior claim.” She took a sip of whisky and coffee. “I’m afraid that didn’t improve the situation.”

Though in so many ways, that makes sense, since these were arranged marriages from which there was no divorce.

The mystery was better than in the original version, and the characters were (of course) more developed, since they’ve had several books to grow their relationships.

I also found the start of the mystery–a lost early version of Hamlet quite interesting as well.
Rating: 8/10

Published by Kensington Books

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