Unnatural Fire --Signed-- - Softcover
"Fans of light historical mysteries are sure to be amused." PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY Anastasia Ashby de la Zouch, Baroness Penge, Countess of Clapham and former mistress to Charles ll, has fallen on hard times. Forced to turn to journalism, the Countess and her maidservant, Alpiew, gather salacious tit-bits for a scandal sheet. But they encounter more than they had bargained for when a mysterious woman hires them to follow her husband, Beau, whom she suspects of adultery. Their pursuit leads them to playhouses and lecture halls, only to end abruptly in a Covent Garden churchyard. The pair find themselves implicated in murder and to establish the identity of the real killer they must penetrate the mysteries of alchemy. UNNATURAL FIRE is a wonderfully funny, audacious romp with a vivid cast of characters.
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Review:
A boisterous, bawdy romp through Restoration England, Unnatural Fire introduces a pair of unlikely heroines and sets them on a merry chase through London just before the dawn of the 18th century. The Countess Ashby de la Zouche has lost her place in society with the death of Charles II, her former paramour, and the subsequent disappearance of her husband, a swindler who's gone to America to seek his fortune. Languishing in debtor's prison, she's soon rediscovered by her erstwhile maid Alpiew, whose circumstances aren't much better than her former employer's. But the two women swiftly discover how to turn their shared fondness for gossip into a tidy livelihood as stringers for an infamous scandal sheet. Hired by a wealthy matron to get the goods on her philandering husband, they stumble on a murder that sets this fast-paced, funny story in motion. The mystery mixes royal intrigue, theatrical shenanigans, cross-dressing strangers, and secret formulas into a delicious potion brewed by an actor and playwright who specializes in Restoration comedy. Author Fidelis Morgan's thorough familiarity with the period informs every paragraph of this delightful historical romp. --Jane Adams
About the Author:
Fidelis Morgan is an actor and an expert in Restoration comedy. Acclaimed for her stage plays, Pamela and Hangover Square, she also collaborated with Lynda la Plante on England's Channel 4's tense pschological thriller Killer Net. She has written nonfiction studies of charismatic female figures from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and contributed to the bestselling Virago anthology Wicked. In her first novel, Unnatural Fire, she combined historical interest with her life-long passion for crime fiction.
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- PublisherCollins Crime
- Publication date2000
- ISBN 10 0002326957
- ISBN 13 9780002326957
- BindingPaperback
- Edition number1
- Number of pages356
- Rating
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Unnatural Fire
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ISBN 10: 0002326957
ISBN 13: 9780002326957
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Book Description Hardback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR003427443
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Unnatural Fire
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Book Description Hardback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR002732741
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Unnatural Fire
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Book Description Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780002326957
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Unnatural Fire
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The first in a hugely entertaining, vivid, colourful and fascinating crime series featuring a down-at-heel countess and her maid on the loose in late Restoration London. London 1699. Anastasia Ashby de la Zouche, Baroness Penge, Countess of Clapham, former mistress to Charles II, is an aristocrat on her uppers. Cast into the notorious Fleet Prison by the bum-bailiffs, she is forced to turn to journalism: ferreting out scurrilous tit-bits for a scandal sheet. But the Countess and her maidservant Alpiew encounter more intrigue than they bargained for when a mysterious woman hires them to follow her husband, Beau, whom she suspects of adultery. Their pursuit of Beau leads them to playhouses, scientific lectures, coffee houses, the half-constructed St Paul's Cathedral and dives of Alsatia, only to end abruptly in a Covent Garden churchyard -- leaving the Countess and Alpiew implicated in a murder. And worse is to follow, for to unravel their only clue they must penetrate the mysteries of alchemy. Unnatural Fire is a wonderfully funny, lively, audacious novel with a cast of characters that leap off the page. But underlying the vivacity and humour is a riveting mystery which perfectly captures the darker side of London at the turn of the 18th century. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003012400
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Unnatural Fire --Signed--
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages. Seller Inventory # CHL9424429
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Book Description Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780002326957
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Pages are yellowing. A trade paperback in excellent condition, clean with a tight binding and an unmarked text.Signature of the author on the title page.From a private smoke free collection.Shipping within 24 hours, with a tracking number and delivery confirmation. Seller Inventory # NathStonebox10-37f
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Softcover. Clean text. Tight binding. Free of any markings and no writings inside. For any additional information or pictures, please inquire. Seller Inventory # 210408006
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Unnatural Fire
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. ***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. Seller Inventory # 1119257
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