Nothing is fair in love and war. . .
Europe's elite have gathered at the glittering Congress of Vienna--princes, ambassadors, the Russian tsar--a... read full description
reviews
May 03, 2011
Jill
rated it: 
"...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 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 More...
5 comments
like
(7 people liked it)
Mar 25, 2011
Catherine
rated it: 
The ostensible month of publication is April 2011, but all my databases (and the Kensington website) list the 29th of March. Which means, barring delays, there's less than a week to go until the release of Vienna Waltz! I feel like the only one more excited than me has to be Grant herself.
This was definitely a volume worth waiting for. Though Grant's Charles and Mélanie novels have always intertwined historical and fictional personages, in Vienna Waltz she takes her skills further and More...
This was definitely a volume worth waiting for. Though Grant's Charles and Mélanie novels have always intertwined historical and fictional personages, in Vienna Waltz she takes her skills further and More...
May 02, 2011
Misfit
rated it:
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...
17 comments
like
(7 people liked it)
Jul 19, 2011
Mely
rated it: 
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' family.
More...
Jul 05, 2011
Jenna
rated it:
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
More...
Jan 08, 2012
Laura
rated it:
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 mys
More...
May 11, 2011
Vpop
rated it:
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 tr 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 tr More...
Aug 22, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
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.
Wi 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.
Wi More...
Mar 29, 2011
Christy
rated it:
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 m 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 m More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jul 28, 2011
Janga
rated it:
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. Mal
More...
Dec 09, 2011
Jess
rated it:
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...
Apr 10, 2011
Alyssa
rated it:
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 diaboli More...
The descriptions were wonderful, the storyline intricately twisted, and the intrigue was diaboli More...
Aug 14, 2011
Kay Webb
rated it:
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.
Jun 07, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
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.
Jun 14, 2011
Krista
rated it:
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!
Apr 09, 2011
Sanna
rated it:
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.
May 18, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
Loved the setting, love the main characters; didn't love the portrayal of the historical characters. They just didn't come to life.
Apr 29, 2011
Joan
rated it:
Good historical fiction with engaging characters. But one major historical error---Last chapter---Silent Night was written in 1816.
Feb 13, 2012
Rochelle
rated it:
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!
Sep 23, 2011
Tabitha
rated it:
Excellent book! Plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested :)
Jul 06, 2011
Mary
rated it:
It was nicely written historical story. The characters were interesting and the setting brought the time period to life.
Jan 22, 2012
Janna
rated it:
Liked this book - I haven't read any others in the series. Hopefully they are all as good.
Apr 03, 2011
Hafiza
rated it:
Starts out strong with an Interesting mystery- who killed Princess Tatiana?
But then the plot becomes overly convoluted and theatrical. By the last 1/4, I just wanted to be done and find out whodunit. Could have been edited down, but author shows promise.
But then the plot becomes overly convoluted and theatrical. By the last 1/4, I just wanted to be done and find out whodunit. Could have been edited down, but author shows promise.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 07, 2011
Didn't hook me. Actually, annoyed me greatly at the start by spelling everything out in the prologue.
Aug 08, 2011
Brooke
rated it:
I'm always dubious when real historical characters are brought in (much less an entire cast as required by the Congress of Vienna setting), but this book wasn't too cheesy. After all the ground-shaking revelations throughout the story, the end was a bit disappointing, but the process of the mystery was enjoyable.
Oct 18, 2011
Tiff
rated it:
Loved this book! Loved it! If you want a great historical novel that has romance, intrigue, and mystery, don't look any further than this book.
