Vienna Waltz by Teresa Grant is a mesmerizing murder mystery set during the Congress of Vienna, and it will have you glued to your King Louis the XIV settee awaiting the revelation of “who dunnit.” I cannot say enough positive things about this novel. I would give it six out of five stars, if that were possible, but alas, I can only give it 5 stars.
In Vienna Waltz, many powerful men and women have descended upon Vienna in order to re-draw the European map after Napoleon’s abdication, but murder, gossip and intrigue are the most popular social activities. As part of the British delegation, Malcolm Rannoch is tasked to Lord Castlereagh as an attaché, but his real value is in espionage. Malcolm and his wife, Suzanne, are surreptitiously summoned by Princess Tatiana, former mistress to a few Congress attendees, to meet at her lodgings in the dead of night. Unfortunately, it is Princess Tatiana who is dead when they arrive, and Malcolm is the Austrian’s chief suspect, as well as Castlereagh’s chosen investigator. It seems as though every country and/or powerful person in Vienna has a motive for murder, even the women.
In order to find Princess Tatiana’s killer, Malcolm must accept his wife’s help and stay alive long enough to find out the real reason why the princess was killed. In the process, the foundation of Malcolm’s marriage is shaken, and he and Suzanne must trust each other at the most difficult times. Otherwise, the fragile European peace will deteriorate again into war.
I absolutely loved this book. This history is deliciously complex, but not so difficult as to prevent the reader from understanding the plotline. There is also a helpful list of characters in the beginning of the novel, which identifies who is who and which characters actually existed.
Aside from the fantastic historical parts, the characters are well developed and retain their individual integrity throughout the novel. The mystery is so well done that I could not guess who the murderer was. Until the very end, I was still guessing at who and why, with several different plausible theories. Needless to say that the pace was quick, and the reader is kept moving like the waltz itself.
Vienna Waltz is historical fiction at its spellbinding best, taking complicated historical events and weaving them through a fictional story so compelling you won’t be able to put it down. If you are even remotely a fan of history, you will love this book.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10565.
