• And Only to Deceive

  • Lady Emily, Book 1
  • By: Tasha Alexander
  • Narrated by: Kate Reading
  • Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (578 ratings)

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And Only to Deceive  By  cover art

And Only to Deceive

By: Tasha Alexander
Narrated by: Kate Reading
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Publisher's summary

For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife.

Emily's intellectual pursuits and her desire to learn more about Philip take her to the quiet corridors of the British Museum, one of her husband's favorite places. There she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret involving stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries. And to complicate matters, she's juggling two very prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond the marrying kind.

As she sets out to solve the crime, her search leads to more surprises about Philip and causes her to question the role in Victorian society to which she, as a woman, is relegated.

©2005 Tasha Tyska (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"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)

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What listeners say about And Only to Deceive

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Tiresome

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. Tiresome heroine spends far too much time rationalizing her willful blindness. We are told that the hero worshiped her peerless beauty, intelligence and spirit, but Lady Emily shows herself to be narcissistic, stubborn, and not open to reason.

What could Tasha Alexander have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

See above.

What does Kate Reading bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice is easy on the ears.

Could you see And Only to Deceive being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, but I do hope not.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Narration through syrup

What did you like best about And Only to Deceive? What did you like least?

Interesting period in British history relating to the role of women in society. Again, it helps to be very wealthy for physical comfort, but hell for individual right to achieve. But the naiveté of the main character was annoying. Things easily explained if folks just talked to each other.

Would you be willing to try another book from Tasha Alexander? Why or why not?

No, not really. Not interesting enough in terms of the development of the characters.

Would you be willing to try another one of Kate Reading’s performances?

Absolutely not. Sounded like she was reading to three year olds who needed time to absorb each word - narrating through syrup. This is the second book from Audible I've had this problem with. I wonder if they are actually asking their narrators to slow down instead or reading at a more natural speaking speed.

Do you think And Only to Deceive needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Not that intersted in the characters. Too shallow.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Editor, oh editor, where art thou?!

Could have been so much shorter and nuanced. Seemed at the beginning to have an interesting premise, but then it seemed the author didn't know what to do with the storyline and had no guidance from her editor. Long, drawn out ending that lost what little interest I had to start with in these characters.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Don't listen to the haters, this is a great series

I'm kinda surprised by the number of negative reviews. This is clearly a cozy detective series, and if that's a genre you like, you'll find everything you seek: exquisite historical detail, an intelligent and honest heroine who bends social norms, an intriguing mystery, and sparks of romance. There isn't any graphic violence, but it isn't a boring story. The details are lovely. You feel like you're in the libraries and parlours of Victorian aristocracy. I am rooting for Emily and I'm interested in her story. I really enjoyed this debut, and the rest of the series I've listened to so far. The narrators change a bit in the beginning; book three is done by an aussie and her accents are cringe, and book two has a little more vocal fry than I'd like... But as a picky listener who has returned books for shrill, obnoxious, or odd narrators - this series has been listenable for sure!

The mysteries get better, the romance gets ratcheted up, and the series as a whole really comes into its own around the 4th or 5th book.

If you like historical romance and cozy detective series, you'll love this! Fans of Lady Darby will enjoy!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

padded with uninteresting dialog and detail

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Kate Reading did her best to enliven this soggy novel, but the story and characters are unoriginal and ultimately uninteresting.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good mystery

This could be a really good movie. I was able to find myself laughing at some of the ludicrous moves of the Victorian culture. What a tedious time to have lived in!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty good but frustrating characters

What made the experience of listening to And Only to Deceive the most enjoyable?

The narrator is pretty good. SO much better than the next two narrators in books 2 and 3, which I had to return b/c I could barely listen to them. This series is actually much better when read, if you have that option.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Just a boring book

Had a hard time to get through this book - very boring and dragged on and on.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Shorten the first 22 chapters, please

This book was boring for the first 22 chapters, then it got interesting. it took me 6 weeks to get to the chapter 23, then I finished it in 3 days. The narrator was much to haughty and made the listening difficult at best.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful bit of suspense

This book was recommended to me by a friend. I enjoy mysteries, but can't handle a lot of violence. This book is tame enough to play with children in the room, but intriguing enough to keep an adult hooked. While there is a murder and some crimes, it is not ugly-descriptive, and therefore not fodder for nightmares. There is not any bad language or sex, Thoroughly enjoyed the story, the narrator and the series. Have already downloaded and listened to the next two books of the series.

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3 people found this helpful