Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander

Dangerous to Know

by Tasha Alexander 

Set in the lush countryside of Normandy, France, this new novel of suspense featuring Lady Emily Hargreaves is filled with intrigue, romance, mysterious deaths, and madness.

Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-law's beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out riding a horse, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girl's wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.
Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling chateau in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: she hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the child's wake. As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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This is the 5th book in the Lady Emily series of books. They have all been enjoyable mysteries with occasional light romance - in this one Lady Emily and Colin are adjusting to married life. I always appreciate it when an author allows a character to be traumatized by past events. Because I knew Emily's strength from previous books, I was patient with her lack of spirit in this one. I wouldn't advise new readers to begin with this book, however. I think you need to understand Emily better before you are able to in this book. But still, this book was better than the last one, which so far has been my least favorite in the series.

I was also frustrated with Colin - Colin! Chill out, you idiot! He gets all protective and annoying in this book. Hopefully he learns to trust himself and Emily better later on in the series. These books are pretty anachronistic - Lady Emily enjoys interests and freedoms that most women (or all women?) of her era didn't enjoy. This book was less anachronistic than the bast books, and I honestly missed it. Please bring back the Greek reading, criminal fighting, port drinking Lady Emily we all know and love. 

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is an adult book, but still follows YA strictures. Violence: yes, but mostly off stage. Profanity: none that I can recall. Sex: yes, but also mostly off stage and only between married couples.