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Table of Contents
About The Book
From the bestselling author of The Firebird, comes an exquisitely crafted novel of modern-day and historical intrigue.
For nearly 300 years, the mysterious journal of Jacobite exile Mary Dundas has lain unread—its secrets safe from prying eyes. Now, amateur codebreaker Sara Thomas has been hired by a once-famous historian to crack the journal's cipher. But when she arrives in Paris, Sara finds herself besieged by complications from all sides: the journal's reclusive owner, her charming Parisian neighbor, and Mary, whose journal doesn't hold the secrets Sara expects.
It turns out that Mary Dundas wasn’t keeping a record of everyday life, but a first-hand account of her part in a dangerous intrigue. In the first wintry months of 1732, with a scandal gaining steam in London, driving many into bankruptcy and ruin, the man accused of being at its center is concealed among the Jacobites in Paris, with Mary posing as his sister to aid his disguise. When their location is betrayed, they’re forced to put a desperate plan in action, heading south along the road to Rome, protected by the enigmatic Highlander Hugh MacPherson.
As Mary's tale grows more and more dire, Sara, too, must carefully choose which turning to take…to find the road that will lead her safely home.
For nearly 300 years, the mysterious journal of Jacobite exile Mary Dundas has lain unread—its secrets safe from prying eyes. Now, amateur codebreaker Sara Thomas has been hired by a once-famous historian to crack the journal's cipher. But when she arrives in Paris, Sara finds herself besieged by complications from all sides: the journal's reclusive owner, her charming Parisian neighbor, and Mary, whose journal doesn't hold the secrets Sara expects.
It turns out that Mary Dundas wasn’t keeping a record of everyday life, but a first-hand account of her part in a dangerous intrigue. In the first wintry months of 1732, with a scandal gaining steam in London, driving many into bankruptcy and ruin, the man accused of being at its center is concealed among the Jacobites in Paris, with Mary posing as his sister to aid his disguise. When their location is betrayed, they’re forced to put a desperate plan in action, heading south along the road to Rome, protected by the enigmatic Highlander Hugh MacPherson.
As Mary's tale grows more and more dire, Sara, too, must carefully choose which turning to take…to find the road that will lead her safely home.
About The Author
Photo by Wendy McAlpine
New York Times, USA TODAY, and Globe and Mail bestselling author Susanna Kearsley is a former museum curator who loves restoring the lost voices of real people to the page, often in twin-stranded stories that interweave present and past. Her award-winning novels are published in translation in more than twenty-five countries. She lives near Toronto. Visit her at SusannaKearsley.com or follow her on Twitter @SusannaKearsley.
Product Details
- Publisher: Touchstone (April 21, 2015)
- Length: 512 pages
- ISBN13: 9781451673852
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Raves and Reviews
Praise for A Desperate Fortune
“Fascinating, immersive and twisty—twists not only of plot, but of character and time. I love a novel that deals with codes and ciphers, and the other ways in which people keep their secrets.”
– Diana Gabaldon, New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series
“Within a few paragraphs, you realize you are in the hands of a master storyteller: Kearsley’s novels are accessible but challenging, narratively propulsive but thoughtful. . . . This is smart historical fiction which isn’t afraid to assume the best of its readers.”
– Toronto Star
“Educates as it entertains, and manages to be wonderfully romantic at the same time.”
– The Globe and Mail
“Her prose is beautifully crafted and evocative of character, time and place.”
– The Vancouver Sun
“Kearsley is a nothing less than a magician weaving together the past and the present in yet another marvelous, genre bending, romantic, mysterious, and utterly unputdownable novel. You’ll be captivated by the history, the secrets, the memorable heroines, and one of the cutest dogs to show up on the pages in a long time. Kearsley raises the bar book to book, and this is one of her most ambitious and successful ever. Bravo!”
– M.J. ROSE, New York Times bestseller
“Kearsley has conjured a story that will stay with you long after you put it down. Her deft touch with historical intrigue is matched only by her delivery of a contemporary heroine who is as unique as she is memorable.”
– DEANNA RAYBOURN
“A new Susanna Kearsley novel is always a cause for rejoicing—and for turning off the ringer on the phone and canceling all appointments.”
– LAUREN WILLIG
“Gorgeously romantic! One of the best books I’ve read this year!”
– KATE FORSYTH
Praise for The Firebird
“Kearsley brings historical figures and events to life in this artfully crafted, exquisitely detailed tale, laced with a heady mix of intrigue and romance.”
– Chatelaine
“Kearsley deftly interweaves a compelling contemporary romance with a sweeping historical drama, and the fantastic with the realistic, to create a richly nuanced, delicately balanced novel that will not only satisfy her regular readers but seems well-positioned to win new converts to her unique approach to fiction. . . . The Firebird is the sort of book one wants to curl up within and savour.”
– The Globe and Mail
“An enchanting story told with wit and dexterity . . . The Firebird has it all: love, intrigue, twists, betrayal, and unexpected outcomes. . . . This is a book to remember.”
– Toronto Star
“Compelling characters, an intricate plot, and just the right balance of intrigue, romance, and historical detail. . . . In a winning combination of historical treasure hunt and romantic tightrope, The Firebird is another page-turner for Kearsley.”
– Waterloo Region Record
“The latest historical romance from acclaimed Ontario author Susanna Kearsley crackles with imagination. . . . With intrigue and verve, Kearsley has penned what is sure to become another bestseller.”
– Winnipeg Free Press
Praise for Season Of Storms
“If you liked The French Lieutenant’s Woman, you’ll love this.”
– Romantic Times
Praise for The Shadowy Horses
“Susanna Kearsley’s best book…A brilliant book!”
– SARAH BROADHURST, The Bookseller
“[A] deft blending of romance and the Gothic. . . . lush with romantic and ghostly threads.”
– Kirkus
“Part ghost story and part romance . . . beautifully imaginative with a dream-like quality.”
– The Bookseller
Awards and Honors
- Paradies Lagardere Fiction Airlines Pick
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): A Desperate Fortune Canadian Origin eBook 9781451673852
- Author Photo (jpg): Susanna Kearsley Photo by Wendy McAlpine(0.1 MB)
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