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68th out of 115 books
—
582 voters
Vienna Waltz (Charles & Mélanie Fraser #3)
by
Teresa Grant (Goodreads Author)
Nothing is fair in love and war. . .
Europe's elite have gathered at the glittering Congress of Vienna--princes, ambassadors, the Russian tsar--all negotiating the fate of the continent by day and pursuing pleasure by night. Until Princess Tatiana, the most beautiful and talked about woman in Vienna, is found murdered during an ill-timed rendezvous with three of her most po
...morePaperback, 436 pages
Published
March 29th 2011
by Kensington
(first published March 16th 2011)
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"...in this city where, every day, borders were redrawn and lovers changed partners as lightly as if they were dancing the waltz..."
In 1814 the Congress of Vienna was convened to redraw boundaries after the Napoleonic Wars and to redress the balance of power in Europe.
Malcolm Rannoch, diplomat and intelligence agent and member of the British delegation, is accompanied by his wife Suzanne and their 17 month-old baby Colin to Vienna. Suzanne has been sent a note by Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, rum...more
In 1814 the Congress of Vienna was convened to redraw boundaries after the Napoleonic Wars and to redress the balance of power in Europe.
Malcolm Rannoch, diplomat and intelligence agent and member of the British delegation, is accompanied by his wife Suzanne and their 17 month-old baby Colin to Vienna. Suzanne has been sent a note by Princess Tatiana Kirsanova, rum...more
The year is 1814 and Europe's leaders have gathered in Vienna to redefine the boundaries from Napoleon's now defunct empire. As the book opens, Princess Tatiana Kirsanova is found brutally murdered and the suspects are as numerous as her lovers - and that includes Malcolm Rannoch, attaché to the British ambassador - everyone in Vienna is convinced he's Tatiana's lover, including his wife Suzanne. Or did Tsar Alexander do Tatiana in? Prince Metternich, the Austrian foreign minister? Might the inf...more
This is a Charles & Melanie Fraser prequel, with both author and characters renamed, one presumes for marketing reasons. It's an okay historical mystery, but Malcolm and Suzanne are so repressed that their emotional arc is completely uninteresting -- and it suffers the same issue as Beneath a Silent Moon, which is that the secrets of Daughter of the Game are so explosive prequels seem besides the point. Also, I am a bit tired of how every single book involves some secret about Charles' famil...more
I'm giving this a 4 of 5 stars, which is a rare rating from me. The characters were all well-drawn, including the numerous secondary characters. Most characters were complexly drawn as well--they had redeeming points or aspects with which we could empathize, but they also could be self-serving or selfish or nasty or whatever. The setting (The Congress of Vienna) was a more unusual setting than many historical fiction novels, and the research seems quite solid, though I have trouble believing tha...more
I knew I would like this book when I saw reviews on the back by Lauren Willig, Tasha Alexander, and Deanna Raybourn, and I was right. Once I started reading, I couln't put this book down! What I liked most was that the relationship between the two main characters, Malcolm and Suzanne, was as multi-layered as the murder mytery they were solving together. They had been married for two years and had a son, but both had major secrets that they were keeping from each other. As they solved the mystery...more
This book was complicated for me. Every time I picked it up, I really got interested in what I was reading. But, for some reason, I didn't often want to pick it up. As a result, it took forever to read.
Another thing is that I felt like I was being dropped into things in medias res - like I was missing something. When I came onto Goodreads to figure out if I had missed some earlier books in the series, I found out that I had - but that this was a prequel. (For those of you interested, apparently...more
Another thing is that I felt like I was being dropped into things in medias res - like I was missing something. When I came onto Goodreads to figure out if I had missed some earlier books in the series, I found out that I had - but that this was a prequel. (For those of you interested, apparently...more
A prequel, of sorts, to Tracy Grant's earlier novels Secrets of a Lady and Beneath a Silent Moon. Set at the Congress of Vienna (fascinating) and full of mystery, intrigue and romance. Perfect vacation reading!
When I saw the authors who did the blurbs for Vienna Waltz, I knew I had to read it- I've read and enjoyed several of their books (particularly Lauren Willig's and Deanna Raybourn's) so I had high hopes going into it.
I was disappointed, but that's not to say it was a bad book. I just think my hopes were set too high. The story was interesting enough- I kept reading because I wanted to find out whodunit- but since I never felt a real connection to any of the characters, I never felt truly investe...more
I was disappointed, but that's not to say it was a bad book. I just think my hopes were set too high. The story was interesting enough- I kept reading because I wanted to find out whodunit- but since I never felt a real connection to any of the characters, I never felt truly investe...more
I absolutely loved this novel by new-to-me author Teresa Grant (aka Tracy Grant). Set in 1814 during the Congress of Vienna, where the leaders of Europe gather to decide the fate of the continent after Napoleon's abdication, it's awash with actual history, and the mysteries Ms. Grant manages to weave among the attendees, both real and imagined, are intriguing and realistic. It's been quite some time since I was so riveted by a story. Ms. Grant is a truly gifted author, and I have every intention...more
To say I enjoyed this book would do it and the author a great disservice. I usually have a lot of trouble expressing exactly how I feel/felt about a book but with this one, I'll give it my best shot. I love the books I can just fall into, enjoy it, and then flip the last page with a smile on my face and The Vienna Waltz was just that. It isn't a suspenseful "my goodness I'm going to stay up until 3am" type of read but more "Wow I really enjoy the characters and want the book to go on forever eve...more
Aug 22, 2011
Jennifer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
historical mystery fans
Shelves:
mystery,
historical
It's funny...I put off reading this book for awhile, because I was really bothered by the name changes of the two main characters. (They went from Charles and Mélanie Fraser to Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch.)
But once I got started reading, I quickly realized the only things that changed about these characters were their names. Everything else was the same. And truthfully, I still thought of them as Charles and Mélanie even as I was seeing Malcolm and Suzanne on the page.
With that out of the way.....more
But once I got started reading, I quickly realized the only things that changed about these characters were their names. Everything else was the same. And truthfully, I still thought of them as Charles and Mélanie even as I was seeing Malcolm and Suzanne on the page.
With that out of the way.....more
Last read 24 March to 2 April 2012
I have belatedly noticed that Malcolm Rannoch, Peter Wimsey and Jack Blakeney all went to Balliol College, Oxford. This pleases me.
If you have not yet read Tracy Grant's books, you are either new here or you just don't trust me. There's not much I can add about the plot and characters in a third review, so please have a look at my first and second.
I continue to enjoy re-reading Tracy's books, and this time going through Vienna Waltz, I was about to take a step...more
I have belatedly noticed that Malcolm Rannoch, Peter Wimsey and Jack Blakeney all went to Balliol College, Oxford. This pleases me.
If you have not yet read Tracy Grant's books, you are either new here or you just don't trust me. There's not much I can add about the plot and characters in a third review, so please have a look at my first and second.
I continue to enjoy re-reading Tracy's books, and this time going through Vienna Waltz, I was about to take a step...more
1814. Vienna. A beautiful Princess has been murdered. The murderer could be anyone, for representatives from around the continent have gathered for the Congress of Vienna.
Vienna Waltz opens right in on the action, no set-up here. We find out things as we go along, and I love books like that. The hero and heroine of our tale: Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch are thrust in the middle of the murder investigation, because on the night of the murder, Princess Tatiana had dispatched messages to meet her in...more
Vienna Waltz opens right in on the action, no set-up here. We find out things as we go along, and I love books like that. The hero and heroine of our tale: Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch are thrust in the middle of the murder investigation, because on the night of the murder, Princess Tatiana had dispatched messages to meet her in...more
A beautiful title, a beautiful princess, a horrid murder, A wife Suzanne Rannoch finds her husband, Malcolm examining a dead body --- what is not to like???
I reached page 89.
I AM BORED!!!!
With Napoleon banished to Elba, a congress of aristocrats, rulers, ambassadors, courtiers have descended upon Vienna to decide what is to be done with France and before that can happen, the most beautiful woman in the world is found murdered. Malcolm and Suzanne are not sure if each loves the other even though...more
I reached page 89.
I AM BORED!!!!
With Napoleon banished to Elba, a congress of aristocrats, rulers, ambassadors, courtiers have descended upon Vienna to decide what is to be done with France and before that can happen, the most beautiful woman in the world is found murdered. Malcolm and Suzanne are not sure if each loves the other even though...more
Although there is a change in the names of author and primary characters, Grant’s fans will find Vienna Waltz recognizable as Tracy Grant’s work and Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch as Charles and Mélanie Fraser. Set at the Congress of Vienna in 1814, this book chronologically comes earlier than the Fraser books. It opens with the murder of Titiana, a beautiful Russian princess whose numerous lovers include VIPs in attendance at the Congress, including Malcolm, attaché to the British delegation. Malc...more
I ended up enjoying this a great deal. It's sort of historical romantic suspense and yes, the central figures are British diplomats, but there is such scope to this book. Plus, it's set in Vienna which is not a typical historical setting and there are main characters from practically every nationality, including Russia which is a personal favorite of mine. The character name swapping is still weird and the only reason that I didn't give it five stars, but it's a pretty minor complaint and anyone...more
I used to read a lot of historical fiction, but I've recently gotten away from the genre. This book reminded me of what I LOVE about historical fiction: the opportunity for a glimpse at the world in another time. I particularly enjoyed how VIENNA WALTZ was seamlessly cast with both real and fictional characters. It gave the book the feel--almost--of a history text, but so much more fun!
The descriptions were wonderful, the storyline intricately twisted, and the intrigue was diabolical! It was a s...more
The descriptions were wonderful, the storyline intricately twisted, and the intrigue was diabolical! It was a s...more
Teresa Grant = Tracy Grant (the daughter of the team that wrote as Anthea Malcolm)
Set in 1814, at the Congress of Vienna
Malcolm Rannoch = Charles Frazer
Suzanne Rannoch = Melanie Frazer
Wonderful story, even though we who have read Daughter of the Game/Secrets of a Lady know what happens to the couple later.
Set in 1814, at the Congress of Vienna
Malcolm Rannoch = Charles Frazer
Suzanne Rannoch = Melanie Frazer
Wonderful story, even though we who have read Daughter of the Game/Secrets of a Lady know what happens to the couple later.
I loved the characters in this book, as well as the unfamiliar historical setting (Vienna. immediately post-Bonaparte). The mystery took lots of unexpected twists and turns. My only issue with this book is that it seemed unlikely for a commoner like Suzanne to be able to hobnob so effortlessly with royalty and the nobility.
Loved it. Only problem is with publisher [Kensington] wanting the names of the main character changed along with the author's name. Tracy Grant has written several other books about this couple and to have their names change abruptly [on the whim of an editor] is outrageous.
An intriguing historical fiction set during the Vienna Congress. Great scenes of the parties/night life of the Congress. I loved the husband/wife pairing in the book. It probably could have used some editing but Susanne and Malcolm kept me reading.
I enjoyed this book for the time period and the mystery story line. It was not a "predictable" plot line, and kept me guessing until close to the end. A great book to read while curled up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a roaring fire!
I thought that the story was good, and the characters were interesting, but it felt very much like being dropped into the middle of a series. I liked the use of "show not tell," but it didn't work for me.
This is exactly the kind of book I want to read-about the Congress of Vienna! I hope the author continues this as a series and gets better at it. And leaves Schubert out of it.
Loved the setting, love the main characters; didn't love the portrayal of the historical characters. They just didn't come to life.
Good historical fiction with engaging characters. But one major historical error---Last chapter---Silent Night was written in 1816.
it was a little slow, but one I got into it, I loved it! I can't wait for her next book to come out!
Apr 06, 2011
Staci
marked it as to-read
Regency-style Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Excellent historical veracity.
It was nicely written historical story. The characters were interesting and the setting brought the time period to life.
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Also known as Tracy Grant.
Teresa (Tracy) Grant studied British history at Stanford University and received the Firestone Award for Excellence in Research for her honors thesis on shifting conceptions of honor in late fifteenth century England. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is on the board of the Merola Opera Program, a training program for professional opera singers, coaches,...more
More about Teresa Grant...
Teresa (Tracy) Grant studied British history at Stanford University and received the Firestone Award for Excellence in Research for her honors thesis on shifting conceptions of honor in late fifteenth century England. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is on the board of the Merola Opera Program, a training program for professional opera singers, coaches,...more
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“When one has suspected a thing for weeks, why is being confronted with stark evidence so much worse?”
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3 people liked it
“I've learned to choose my allies carefully and believe in them once I've made my choice.”
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2 people liked it
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May 04, 2011 06:51pm
Thanks Sandi. I think this is my favourite of Tracy/Teresa Grant.
May 04, 2011 09:28pm