Reviewed By: David Biemann
![[Book Cover graphic]](http://www.booksnbytes.com/book_covers/morgan_rivalqueens.jpg)
The Rival Queens
Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Fidelis Morgan
Class/Genre: Mystery
Series: Countess Ashby De La Zouche # 2
Sept 2002 Morrow 340 pages $23.95
The Tower of London is a tourist trap. The idle rich get away with murder. Actors and actresses are pretentious egotists. The news is little more than puff pieces. If the 1700 London of Countess Ashby de la Zouche and her maid servant Alpiew, first met in Unnatural Fire, sounds familiar it's because Fidelis Morgan's characters are well drawn and conceived with the knowledge that emotions and human values haven't changed over 300 years. Nor have the reasons for murder. This leaves the city and the times to be enjoyed for the color they add to the story and Mz. Morgan paints a nice picture.
The Rival Queens is a traditional mystery. One sure to be enjoyed by those who read "historical" works as well. The Countess and Alpiew play off of each other very well. They also play fair with readers who are hoping to solve the mystery ahead of them.
Ms Morgan knows the ins and outs of theatric production and takes advantage of that knowledge to construct in The Rival Queens a lighter, likable mystery.
David Biemann
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, David Biemann
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