The 13th installment of Alexander's historical mystery series (Death in St. Petersburg) finds Emily and Colin facing the imminent death of Queen Victoria. The queen has tasked Colin with one last assignment, only he has no idea what she wants him to do. Meanwhile, Emily is caught up with a series of strange murders staged to mimic the famous deaths of kings. Scotland Yard wants her to stay away, but that won't stop her. Parallel to the main story is one set in 1415, featuring a young couple separated by war. William is fighting for the king in France, while Cecily prays for his safety. What these two narratives have in common is revealed at the very end of the novel. VERDICT The dual story lines are a clever idea that unfortunately doesn't work. The frequent flashbacks are a distraction that leads to a rather underwhelming plot twist. Still, faithful readers of the series will be forgiving and even more eager for the next entry. [See Prepub Alert, 6/10/18.]—Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib.

Queen Victoria has died, but Lady Emily and husband Colin, agent of the Crown, have little time to mourn. A man is found dead at the Tower of London, posed to resemble the murdered medieval king Henry VI, and in Berkley Square another corpse has taken up residence in the guise of violently dispatched Edward II. What's going on?