Unabridged Chick

Set in Restoration England, this is the first in a series of mystery novels involving Lady Anastasia Ashby de la Zouche, former mistress to King Charles II, and her long-lost personal maid, Alpiew. Abandoned years ago by her ner-do-well husband, Anastasia is in debtors prison, struggling to eke out a living selling gossip to newspapers. After a quick reunion with Alpiew, they begin working together to make ends meet, and are hired to follow a noblewoman's philandering husband. Unsurprisingly, things are more complicated than they first appear, and much intrigue develops as the two women delve into the world of alchemists and actors.I'm a lazy reader when it comes to thrillers and mysteries: I don't like to guess who the culprit is; because of that, I am terrible at evaluating how tight the plot twists are. I found the conclusion to be a bit outlandish, but it doesn't jar with the tenor of the entire novel: melodramatic Anastasia is constantly enthralled, bored, or in swoons while level-headed Alpiew is always a step away from doom.Overall, a quick and fun read. The second book in the series, The Rival Queens, waits on my nightstand for a suitably slow weekend.