In this new installment in Tasha Alexander's bestselling Victorian series, Lady Emily Hargreaves uncovers a mystery in the ancient city of Pompeii. ·

Some corpses lie undisturbed longer than others. But when Emily discovers a body hidden in plain sight amongst the ruins of Pompeii, she sets in motion a deadly chain of events that ties her future to the fate of a woman whose body had lain undisturbed for nearly two thousand years.

Skillfully intertwining storylines from the dawn of the twentieth century and the heyday of the Roman Empire – each rich in historical detail and vividly brought to life by Alexander’s meticulous research–Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, accompany her dear friend Ivy Brandon to Italy. When they uncover a corpse and the police dismiss the murder as the work of local gangsters, Emily launches an investigation of her own. She seems to be aided by the archaeologists at the dig, including a moody painter, an enigmatic site director, and a free-thinking American capable of sparring with even the Duke of Bainbridge. But each of them have their own secrets hiding among the ruins.

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The sudden appearance of a beautiful young woman who claims a shocking relationship to the Hargreaves family throws Emily’s investigation off-course. And as she struggles to face an unsettling truth about Colin’s past, it becomes clear that someone else wants her off the case—for good. Emily’s resolve to unearth the facts is unshakable. How far below the surface can she dig before she risks burying herself along with the truth?

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"Alexander brings both eras to life through meticulous research, and the dual stories come together in a chilling finale. Scenes set among the ruins of Pompeii and in the city pre-disaster have such depth that it feels like we’re walking directly into them. This is an urbane thriller with a big heart." -Bookpage

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"Alexander’s precise attention to historical details invests her series about Lady Emily Hargreaves with an unshakeable background that she expertly weaves into solid plots…[her] skills shine in In the Shadow of Vesuvius…pitch-perfect." —Sun-Sentinel

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"Emily navigates … manipulations…while unraveling the thoroughly involving archaeological mystery. In tandem with (the) 1902 narrative, the ancient story of Kassandra, a legendary poet, complements themes of self-determination and gender equality raised by Emily’s skilled, but often underestimated, detection." -Booklist

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"...lovers of classical culture should be pleased." -Publishers Weekly

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"A captivating story of Pompeii...engaging." -Kirkus

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"Readers will not only love this book and be thrilled to see their favorite characters once more, but they will also dive right into the beautiful scenery that goes from Pompeii to Naples, and from modern to ancient days. Lady Emily is still one of those strong women who never fails to take risks in order to see that justice is done." -Suspense Magazine

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"Alexander has done meticulous research and makes both ancient Pompeii and the more recent one vividly real and fun to visit. In that context, she also makes a strong point about the rights of women (or lack thereof) through portrayed actions and reactions and by casting brave, intelligent women as the main players in the dramas. But while women's rights may often be top-of-mind for both Emily and Kassandra, that, along with the various relationships (romantic and otherwise) are a subtext to the overarching historical murder mystery, simply adding layers of interest to a well-plotted page-turner of a novel filled with likable characters and plenty of twists and turns."

-Reviewing the Evidence