Praise for And Only to Deceive

“...charming...Alexander makes Emily light but sympathetic, and conveys period flavor without being ponderous. Her knowledge of the ethical dilemmas posed by Victorian etiquette is considerable; sexual chemistry in particular is handled with exquisite delicacy. The archaeological back-ground will lure readers who like to dig for their clues.”

--Publishers Weekly

"This engaging, witty mix of Victorian cozy and suspense thriller draws its dramatic spark from the endearingly headstrong heroine’s growth in life and love. A memorable debut."

--Booklist 

"Engagingly suspenseful and rich with period detail, And Only to Deceive provides a fascinating look at the repressive social mores and painstaking rules of etiquette in Victorian high society. Barrier-breaking sleuth Nancy Drew has nothing on Alexander's fearless and tenacious Lady Emily, and readers will be glad to discover that there's an encore performance in the works for this unconventional heroine."

--BookPage

"Alexander’s expertly crafted first mystery is a subtly suspenseful tale with a wonderfully stubborn, clever protagonist, who finds her own way of quietly rebelling against traditional Victorian society in the late nineteenth century."

--voya magazine

"Elevates historical suspense genre...an admirable and literate debut novel..."

--The Tennessean

"Newcomer Tasha Alexander almost immediately demonstrates her ability to walk the fine line between history and mystery, throwing her protagonist into a cauldron of intrigue, scandal and danger - not to mention Victorian English society...Alexander excels in depicting the social mores of a society uncomfortable with the independence of women, and deftly allows the plot to develop in tandem with Emily's growth."

--The Baltimore Sun

"Fans of Anne Perry and Elizabeth Peters will welcome this debut novel."

--The Denver Post

"The story spans genres, appealing to lovers of suspense, history and romance. And facts about Greek art and artifacts are blended smoothly into the story to add to its intrigue...Alexander does a fine job of supporting Emily's challenges with accurate portrayals of societal roles in the 1890s...and does not ignore the societal roles of men. In fact, the author's loyalty to it is what sustains the intrigue...(She) does not fall into the often-seen rut of making all men evil and underhanded. Instead their characteristics are fully developed. Along with Emily, the reader gets to know them as layers are revealed, a piece at a time...Dialogue and descriptions of Greek antiquity collections in Paris and Greece are historically correct and beautifully done."

-- South Bend Tribune

"And Only to Deceive is an entertaining debut...The ending...hints that this may be the beginning of a new series, and it would be a welcome addition to the subgenre of the Victorian mystery. Alexander has clearly done exhaustive research about the Victorian period, but she doesn’t overwhelm readers with details that detract from the plot or the characters. And Emily Bromley is such an appealing character that readers will want to follow her to new mysteries as she discovers new loves, and herself."

--Nashville Scene

"I was pleasantly surprised with my reading experience. Despite the romantic overtones of the story (there is certainly nothing comparable to Barbara Cartland here), there was much to praise in Tasha Alexander's narrative...If you like an intelligently written historical mystery with just a touch of romance, this will fill the bill nicely."

--Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

"...offers both an unusual mystery and an atypical romance...Alexander makes a very successful debut, never revealing more to the reader than her protagonist discovers, depicting the world as Emily sees it and as she discovers it and herself. It's quite an interesting world, one which the reader will be eager to see again."

--Mystery News

"The book reads quickly, the writing sharp and witty, the story entertaining. I didn't want to put it down, and when I finished, I had to pull out copies of PRIDE and PREJUDICE and THE ILIAD; Alexander's writing made me remember why I became an English major in the first place. It's for the books. AND ONLY TO DECEIVE could easily become one of the classics."

--reviewingtheevidence

"Alexander's debut title is tightly plotted, with a large cast of well-defined characters. The narrative is strong and unrelentingly draws the reader into Emily's world, which, despite its constrictions and perils, seems a fine place to spend time."

--Romantic Times Book Club

"Our Oct. History/Mystery Pick, a sparkling debut blending Greek antiquities, museumology, forgery, and a heroine in a truly unusual position: having married for convenience, is she now falling in love with her dead husband? Unsparing and not at all sentimental, it's a probe into the Victorian age and is a novel going to make a stir."

--The Poisoned Pen Bookstore

"If you are a fan of Victorian mysteries, this is a tale you will certainly enjoy...A great cast of well done characters propel the story forward.  This tale is a great blending of romance and mystery by talented Tasha Alexander.  You'll be looking for other books by her."

-- New Mystery Reader

"Tasha Alexander creates a world and character for fans of Georgette Heyer and Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody."

-- BookBitch

"Tasha Alexander’s historical mystery is terrific."

-- I Love a Mystery Newsletter

"I highly recommend this book."

-- Spinetingler Magazine

"Tasha Alexander’s And Only to Deceive is a delightful debut novel by a talented author.  The narrator is reminiscent of one of those strong female characters that enliven the novels of Trollope; the historical settings are handled deftly; the plot is intricate and captivating; all kinds of lore and learning are effortlessly conveyed. Above all, it is a good read. So let’s hear it for Tasha Alexander, one of the brightest new stars on the literary horizon."

--Ralph McInerny, author of the Father Dowling mysteries

“Sophisticated, intelligent, and above all, fun, And Only to Deceive will appeal to fans of Anne Perry, Elizabeth Peters, and anyone who can’t get enough of Victorian England. . . Not to be missed.”

--Elizabeth Letts, author of Quality of Care and Family Planning

“Captivating, enchanting, and delightful! With And Only to Deceive, Alexander has created a compelling melange of murder, intrigue, romance, and sleuthing in 19th century British society.”

--JA Konrath, author of Bloody Mary

“Had Jane Austen written The Da Vinci Code, she may well have come up with this elegant novel.”

--Martha O'Connor, author of The Bitch Posse

“More spellbinding intrigue and romance than a Jane Austen novel, Tasha Alexander’s And Only to Deceive transports readers to a magical time in England and Paris, and it’s a ride no one will want to step off of.”

--Robert W. Walker, author of Absolute Instinct and City for Ransom

All content copyright Tasha Alexander 2008