Listened to the audiobook. Very good narrator.
The first half of the book was the best, as the suspense over what was going on with Lady Emily's first husband was well done. The resolution of that plot line felt a bit too pat.
Entertaining light read.
Although, is it weird that I like a secondary character better than the main ones? Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge, is amusing, and solidly good though he tries to play the useless idler. But Emily is a bit too smug and her husband Colin is wooden. ( )

"In this thrilling new novel in the New York Times bestselling series, Lady Emily travels to Greece where a ghost from her past returns to haunt her amid the ruins.

Lady Emily retreats to her villa on the island of Santorini for a brief respite from London. But when she arrives, the housekeeper informs her that the master of the house has returned—Emily’s first husband who died a decade earlier..."

A Terrible Beauty by Tasha Alexander

This is my first read by Tasha Alexander and I will read more. This book was #11 of the Lady Emily Ashton Mystery series but I had no problem reading it as a stand alone read.

Emily and her now husband, Colin Hargreaves, have arrived in Santorini and is informed her first husband was also there. Lord Philip Ashton was declared dead a decade ago in Africa while on a safari. This person has knowledge of his and Emily's past as well as having a scar on his leg to prove he is indeed who he says he is.

A Terrible Beauty has mystery, relics, murder, supense, archaeology, friendship as well as descriptions of Santorini. I have been to Santorini and after reading this book, would like to return.

I gave it a 5 star rating.
Tasha Alexander www.tashaalexander.com ( )

First I want to say how refreshing it is with a blurb that doesn't give away half the book or some key events. Instead, it just intrigues ones mind with the question: what if Philip didn't die all those years ago? What happened to him, and why would he reveal himself to Emily now?

I have to confess that I struggled with the first book in this series when I read it a little while ago. I wanted to read the first book before I read this book and since I had it on my bookshelf for over one year did I find it was perhaps time for it now. My problem with the first book was that I didn't find the characters nor the story engrossing and I hoped this one would appeal to me a bit more. And, yes in a way it did, but in a way, I still struggled with the characters. Lady Emily isn't really a bad character, she just does not interest me so much. I have nothing against her, she just feels a bit lackluster as an individual. But, I don't mind reading about her. However, I found Colin boring as hell. Sorry, he's just not a person that I like especially much, not in this book nor in the first book. I was actually quite dejected when I read the first book and realized that Emily and Colin were getting cozy. And, now, here in book eleven are married with children. *sigh* Sorry, sometimes some characters just doesn't appeal to me for some reason...

However, I was interested in finding out how it all would turn out. Was this really Philip back from the dead? And, I have to admit, I did like Philip more than Colin (probably the only reader who does). But, then I did like Philip quite a lot in the first book, despite him being "dead".

The mystery of Philip and if he is really Philip, and where he had been was the highlight of the book and the one thing that really made this book interesting to read. I was curious to see how it all would end, and I did not expect that ending. Perhaps it was a bit over the top. But, still, it was surprising...

I want to thank St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley! ( )

Lady Emily, Colin, Margaret, & Jeremy are on their way to her home in Greece (Santorini) in order to distract Jeremy from his ill fated engagement.

As of late lady Emily keeps seeing a man who looks like, Philip Ashton, her previous (now dead) husband.

When they arrive at her Santorini home; Philip is already there (it was originally his home) and things become tense and dangerous...

There are doubts about Philip being who he claims to be, his stories, of love & friendship, while being true, seem to be lacking. Also someone is after Philip for a piece of bronze he has stolen from a dig.

Not only was this story far-fetched, I thought the back-from-the-dead Philip not a particularly endearing character and selfish. I also found most of the archaeological references boring.

Alexander is either hit-or-miss with her writing... maybe she should take more time between books! ( )

Off to Santorini for an archaeological dig and vacation. Many views of the idyllic scenery and lifestyles of the effete British aristocracy serve as good background for a visit by a voice from the past. Some local thugs and well-meaning seekers of history clash over a rare artifact from the time of Achilles. The main characters stay interesting and the storyline lively enough to make this a valid entry in this good series. ( )