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The Peacock Throne

Lisa Karon Richardson (Goodreads Author)

3.75 · Rating details · 48 ratings · 21 reviews

When Miss Lydia Garrett's guardian is murdered, and the authorities refuse to investigate the odd circumstances, she vows to catch the culprit. The same night the Earl of Danbury is murdered in his bed. Against all odds it appears that the murders are related - and Anthony Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, is bent on revenge. The clues point to the former Earl's first naval c ...more

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Paperback, 334 pages

Published November 27th 2015 by Lion Fiction

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Average rating 3.75 ·

Rating details

· 48 ratings · 21 reviews

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Jan 29, 2016 Hannah rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Those who love classic mystery and adventure

Shelves: owned-books, 2016-challenge, a-to-z-2016, around-the-world-2016, tbr-2016-mt-readmore, mystery-thriller, new-authors-2016, veterans-and-uniforms

4.5 stars
An excellent mystery-adventure set in England, the Seychelles, and India in the year 1802. Exotic locales, a legendary jeweled throne to discover, and a spy of Napoleon's to discover lend this story an air of adventure nearly reminiscent of an Indiana Jones tale.

Miss Lydia Garrett is the orphan of a vicar and a disowned earl's daughter, and had been given the training of a lady before her parents died in a carriage accident. Afterward, she is sent to her cousin's home for shelter, and ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 Karen R rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-reading-challenge, favorites

Wow, what a fantastic read! Part mystery, action, adventure, and a little romance, with never a dull moment, it clips along like the ship Legacy in full sail.
Set in 1802, the story begins in England with two murders found to be connected by an event 45 years before, bringing together 2 characters from seemingly opposite ends of the social strata. They are joined by a third who has a mutual interest in solving the puzzle, and together they set off on the adventure of a lifetime, sailing off to a ...more

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Jun 10, 2020 Chelsea Jones rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tlc-bingo

A wonderful historical mystery intertwined with romance. The heroine is tough and befitting of the title of heroine much more than many of the spoiled girls that are thrust upon us in many Historical romance novels.

Lydia acts as if she were written by Austen, her with and character lending more to her credibility than if she were of a higher station.

Lord Danbury and Marcus are two main character whom I'd love to see in further novels, especially if it were a series on Marcus' exploits as a spy. ...more

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Feb 16, 2018 Miriam rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries

What could be a better start to a mystery than a murder or two? That’s how this thrilling mystery draws you in. The Earl of Danbury is found murdered on the same night his friend Mr. Wolfe is stabbed to death. The lives of the earl and Wolfe’s charge, Miss Lydia Garrett become intertwined, much aided by spymaster and intelligence office Marcus Harting.

The romance line is thin but the mystery and drama are thick as thieves keeping this tale afloat until the very last word.

For a longer review, ch ...more

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Jan 01, 2020 Diana rated it liked it

Set in London, England in the early 1800s. Anthony’s father who was staying at Lord Danbury’s home and Lydia’s guardian are murdered the same night, but in different parts of London. Miss Garrett, part time sleuth, vows to get to the bottom of the murders and get justice for the victims. The Indian Peacock Throne is being transported to India and Lydia feels there is a connection with the murders.

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Oct 01, 2019 Melinda M rated it really liked it

Shelves: done, first-reads-done

The Peacock Throne by Lisa Karon Richardson is a historical mystery with some adventure and romance. It is well written. It has many twists and turns and keeps you guessing.Lisa Karon Richardson has done a great deal of research which makes for an interesting and accurate historical setting.

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Nov 02, 2020 Jan rated it it was amazing

I loved this book. Start to finish it held my attention. Great characters. I love books with a strong independent woman. It is also a great mystery. Well done.

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Aug 07, 2017 Patricia rated it it was ok

Shelves: tainfm2016

I did a lot of skim reading. That requires an automatic 2 stars. The author's writing style just seemed so wordy that I couldn't avoid the skim reading.

The story felt frustrating to me for some reason (it didn't seem to flow...) and I felt like giving up on reading it several times. There were times that something specific was mentioned and I would wait for it to become significant--why else would it be so specifically highlighted--then nothing would come of it.

The ending felt unsatisfactory, a ...more

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Jan 30, 2016 Victor Gentile rated it it was amazing

Lisa Karon Richardson in her new book, “The Peacock Throne” published by Kregel Publications introduces us to Miss Lydia Garrett.

From the back cover: A mysterious throne holds the key to two murders; an epic adventure steeped in treachery and romance

When Miss Lydia Garrett’s guardian is murdered, and the authorities refuse to investigate the odd circumstances, she vows to catch the culprit. The same night the Earl of Danbury is murdered in his bed. Against all odds it appears that the murders ar Lisa Karon Richardson in her new book, “The Peacock Throne” published by Kregel Publications introduces us to Miss Lydia Garrett.

From the back cover: A mysterious throne holds the key to two murders; an epic adventure steeped in treachery and romance

When Miss Lydia Garrett’s guardian is murdered, and the authorities refuse to investigate the odd circumstances, she vows to catch the culprit. The same night the Earl of Danbury is murdered in his bed. Against all odds it appears that the murders are related―and Anthony Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, is bent on revenge.

The clues point to the former earl’s first naval command. In 1758 the earl spirited away and hid the magnificent Peacock Throne at the behest of the Indian royal family. To draw out the murderer, Anthony and Lydia agree that they must locate the throne.

They are not the only ones interested in the Peacock Throne, however. Marcus Wiltshire, a British intelligence, has received hints that Bonaparte intends to return the throne to India and leverage its mystical significance to foment rebellion and cut England off from her most important trading partner.

When the amateur sleuths join forces with the professional agent, the quest for the throne leads them around the globe on an adventure steeped in danger, treachery, and romance.

The Peacock Throne was a famous jeweled throne that was the seat of the Mughal emperors that conquered Northern India. It was commissioned in the early 17th century by emperor Shah Jahan and was located in the Red Fort of Delhi. The original throne was subsequently captured and taken as a war trophy in 1737 by the Persian king Nadir Shah, and has been lost ever since. You would not think that such a trophy would cause such a commotion. Someone killed the Earl of Danbury and that is how the book begins. Somebody also murdered Miss Lydia Garrett’s guardian. Now Ms. Richardson gives us an adventure as the way to solve these murders and those that come later is to solve the mystery of the Throne. Plenty of suspects, plenty of motive, now Lydia and Anthony have to narrow down the field to just the one who did it. Not an easy task. This is a hard-boiled investigation filled with all kinds of twists and turns that will really keep you engrossed. Take the phone off the hook, go to the bathroom and make yourself a bowl of popcorn as reading this book is going to command all your attention. Lydia has a keen observant eye that catches all the little things that even I missed, and I was watching for them. Lisa Karon Richardson is an extremely talented writer who really knows how to tell a story that will grab you and keep you flipping pages until you reach the end. “The Peacock Throne” is a very exciting book. I am so looking forward to the next book from this very talented author.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ...more

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Feb 05, 2016 Beth rated it it was amazing

I received this book from Kregel Publications for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description:

When Miss Lydia Garrett's guardian is murdered, and the authorities refuse to investigate the odd circumstances, she vows to catch the culprit. The same night the Earl of Danbury is murdered in his bed. Against all odds it appears that the murders are related - and Anthony Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, is bent on revenge. The clues p ...more

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Jan 19, 2016 Joan rated it it was amazing

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is a great mystery, has lots of adventure and a suspenseful end.

The novel begins with murders in England. The first is Lydia Garrett's uncle and guardian. Then we find out the Earl of Danbury was murdered on the same night. The paths of Lydia and Anthony Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, cross. Perusing old documents long hidden, they find out the murdered men had been on the same ship, one commanded by the former earl. In 1758, the earl had been asked by the Ind I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is a great mystery, has lots of adventure and a suspenseful end.

The novel begins with murders in England. The first is Lydia Garrett's uncle and guardian. Then we find out the Earl of Danbury was murdered on the same night. The paths of Lydia and Anthony Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, cross. Perusing old documents long hidden, they find out the murdered men had been on the same ship, one commanded by the former earl. In 1758, the earl had been asked by the Indian royal family to take the magnificent Peacock Throne away from India and hide it. Danbury is convinced that going after the hidden throne will flush out the murderer.

Added to that major stream of the plot is a British intelligence operative, Marcus Harting. He is working for the former prime minister, William Pitt. It is suspected that there is a French operative working in London and Harting is to find him. Lord Danbury is at the top of his list.

The novel starts with a mystery. Who has murdered the two men, one from a shabby part of London and the other an earl? Then the novel turns to adventure as Danbury sets out to find the throne. Lydia and Harting manage to convince Danbury to take them along on the voyage. Then the novel barrels into suspense as all does not go well in the adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, even though I am not a fan of historical fiction. I really liked Lydia. She is not a wimpy woman. She is a woman of strong character who is very resourceful.

I appreciated that this novel is based on actual historical events. There really was a bejeweled Peacock Throne that disappeared from India in the 1700s. While some suppose it was captured in 1737 by Nadir Shah of Persia, Richardson disagrees. Her research showed that the throne spirited away from India did not match the description of the Peacock Throne in Delhi. That it might have been taken away on an English boat is not a new idea. It had one time been proposed that the throne had been on the Grosvenor, and English ship that crashed into southeastern Africa in 1792. (Caliban's Shore, p. 257)

I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy a well crafted story woven around a very possible historical event. The characters are well developed and the action is plentiful.

This was the first full novel Richardson wrote but remained unpublished. Now, as an award-winning author, she revisited her first story and introduced it to us. We are left waiting at the end for the sequel. I'll be watching for it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review. ...more

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Jan 28, 2016 Lisa Johnson rated it really liked it

Title: The Peacock Throne
Author: Lisa Karon Richardson
Pages: 336
Year: 2015
Publisher: Lion Fiction
Anthony Danbury receives a shock upon waking up one morning; his father has been murdered. A letter is found hidden in one of Anthony’s boots from his father with an almost unbelievable tale. Anthony vows justice for his father’s murder and will stop at nothing to accomplish it. The new Lord Danbury, Anthony upon the death of his father, decides on an elaborate plan to lure out his father’s killer. A Title: The Peacock Throne
Author: Lisa Karon Richardson
Pages: 336
Year: 2015
Publisher: Lion Fiction
Anthony Danbury receives a shock upon waking up one morning; his father has been murdered. A letter is found hidden in one of Anthony’s boots from his father with an almost unbelievable tale. Anthony vows justice for his father’s murder and will stop at nothing to accomplish it. The new Lord Danbury, Anthony upon the death of his father, decides on an elaborate plan to lure out his father’s killer. Along the way, he joins forces with Marcus Harting, a British spy, and Miss Lydia Garrett, an unacknowledged granddaughter of an earl.
Lydia Garrett is working in a rundown coffee house owned by her father’s cousin, who has been acting as her guardian. She discovers her cousin’s dead body. Her cousin served on the same ship as Anthony’s father about forty years ago. Is there a connection between the murders? What are the chances that both men would be murdered on the same day in the same manner? Lydia is no wallflower. She is determined to see justice accomplished for her cousin. She is smart, persistent and has a will of steel. She meets Lord Danbury and Mr. Harting and sees they just might be the only way for her to bring her cousin’s killer to trial.
I liked the setting of this story and the intrigue between the French and British at this time period. I also liked the writing style of this author. The story was interesting and ensnared me easily. There is a hint of romance, intrigue, murder, deception and more. The characters hopefully will be developed even more fully in future stories perhaps. The ending of the story certainly leaves an opening for a sequel or perhaps a series and I hope the author follows this story with others in this genre. I’ll be on the lookout for more stories from this author’s pen.
My rating is 4 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Jan 21, 2016 Beckie Burnham rated it really liked it

Lisa Karon Richardson has combined several genres — mystery, history and romance — to create a fast-paced novel. The Peacock Throne takes the reader on an adventure across the high seas to exotic locales filled with wonders and hidden dangers. In the midst is an indomitable heroine who can hold her own against would-be assassins, kidnappers and two very eligible men. At the heart is a treasure of inestimable value which could restore the fortunes of those who seek it. If you like a tale filled w Lisa Karon Richardson has combined several genres — mystery, history and romance — to create a fast-paced novel. The Peacock Throne takes the reader on an adventure across the high seas to exotic locales filled with wonders and hidden dangers. In the midst is an indomitable heroine who can hold her own against would-be assassins, kidnappers and two very eligible men. At the heart is a treasure of inestimable value which could restore the fortunes of those who seek it. If you like a tale filled with action and romance, you need to check out The Peacock Throne.

Two men with seemingly little connection have been murdered in London. Lydia Garrett is determined to see justice done, while the new Lord Danbury wants revenge. Foppish dandy Marcus Harting has motives of his own — he is really a spy. The three join forces as they endure storms and dodge the agents of Bonaparte to reclaim the legendary Peacock Throne.

The Peacock Throne is first and foremost a plot-driven novel. The reader is taken on an adventure through the seedy streets of London, to an untamed island in the Indian Ocean, to the bustling city of Calcutta as the characters seek to uncover the traitor who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The characters are likable, especially Lydia who wins the hearts of almost all she meets. Richardson adds a love triangle, and I have to say that I am still unsure who Lydia should pick. The mystery is solved at the end, but a new mission is introduced insuring more to come. The novel captures the essence of the Regency era in its language and cultural references and mixes in historical characters while it explores just what could have become to the real life Peacock Throne. As to the writing style, I could have done with fewer metaphors, some of which caused eye rolls, but it endeavored to capture the flavor of early 1800s England. All in all, though, I liked this book and would recommend it.

Recommended.

Audience: older teens and adults.

(Thanks to Kregel and Lion Hudson for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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Dec 31, 2015 Jalynn Patterson rated it it was amazing

About the Book:
When Miss Lydia Garrett's guardian is murdered, and the authorities refuse to investigate the odd circumstances, she vows to catch the culprit. The same night the Earl of Danbury is murdered in his bed. Against all odds it appears that the murders are related - and Anthony Douglas, the new Lord Danbury, is bent on revenge. The clues point to the former Earl's first naval command. In 1758 the Earl spirited away and hid the magnificent Peacock Throne at the behest of the Indian roya ...more

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Jan 18, 2016 Tamara Tilley rated it liked it

Shelves: richardson-lisa-karon

THE PEACOCK THRONE had its ebbs and flows. A fascinating story, but at times, it had a tendency to drag.

Lydia Garrett and Lord Anthony Danbury are an unlikely pair. She works at a coffee house, he is an aristocrat. But they do have one thing in common. To catch a murderer. Lydia’s guardian and Lord Danbury’s father have both been murdered, and it would seem their deaths are somehow linked. Lydia finds the link between the two men in a diary, and Lord Danbury learns that Lydia’s guardian had been ...more

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Jan 26, 2016 Meagan Myhren-bennett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adventure, death, drama, fiction, friendship, history, kidnapping, murder, mystery, regency

The Peacock Throne
By Lisa Karon Richardson

Lydia Garrett has just lost the most important person in her life - her cousin, her guardian, and Anthony Douglas, Earl of Danbury his father. Both men murdered the same night and distantly linked by their shared past in the Royal Navy. But why would anyone murder these two men in such a marked way?
Agreeing to join forces and bring a murderer to justice Lydia and Anthony quickly come to the attention of Marcus Wiltshire. But Marcus is more than he seems ...more

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Jan 15, 2016 Maureen Timerman rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016

Murders that happened on different sides of London end up connecting two people whom are unknown to one another at the time, end up forming a team to find the murderer.
This is how Lydia Garrett and The Earl of Danbury end up meeting; the third to join the team is Marcus Harting, an agent of His Majesty’s intelligence services. Marcus does not trust Anthony, The Earl of Danbury, and enlists Lydia to bring him information. Now while I didn’t like that he was making her spy on someone whom was kind ...more

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Jan 16, 2016 Sally rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian-fiction, historical-fiction, proverbial-reads-review

I always like finding a new author to read. While Lisa Karon Richardson is not new to Christian fiction, this is the first time I’ve come across her and The Peacock Throne is a great introduction. It’s a book that drew me in immediately and kept me interested until the very end.

It turns out that the Peacock Throne did exist at one point in time. It was commissioned by Shah Jahan, who’s better known for the Taj Mahal, and it supposedly cost more to construct than the magnificent mausoleum. It dis ...more

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Jan 26, 2016 Tammy G. rated it it was amazing

Lisa Karon Richardson is a brand new author for me. I believe that she has written several novels including this one, The Peacock Throne.
As I began reading this story I quickly found out that Lydia Garrett is a young woman who is not afraid of life. She is also bent on finding out the truth when a crime hits her own home.
Her guardian is murdered and, lo and behold, the police don't think this is a crime worthy of their attention. But on the same night Anthony Douglas, the new Lord of Danbury, i ...more

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May 24, 2016 Marji Laine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical, mystery, suspense

This intriguing historical mystery kept me coming back to it again and again. I finally surrendered and stayed up into the wee hours to enjoy the satisfying finish. The writing was exquisite, catapulting me into the 1800's of Great Britain and points beyond. I was amazed at how seamlessly she was able to leap from the viewpoint of a proper gentleman, to a not-so-simple scullery maid, to a unique individual (a sort of Victorian poser) who applies a face appropriate to his circumstances.

Highly rec ...more

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Dec 14, 2015 Rachel H rated it it was amazing

Set in the early 1800s, starting in England, this book is a wonderful read. Filled with mystery and traveling on the open seas, you fall in love with the story and the characters. Its easy to place yourself in Lydia's shoes and ride the story with her. With all the characters being very well developed, you get a sense that Lydia shouldn't be trusting one of them, but you can't seem to decide who. The ending takes a spin you don't expect, but once you finish the story and close the book, you can ...more

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About Lisa Karon Richardson

Lisa Karon Richardson

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Influenced by books like The Secret Garden and The Little Princess, Lisa Karon Richardson’s early stories were heavy on boarding schools and creepy houses. Now, even though she’s (mostly) grown-up she still loves a healthy dash of adventure in any story she creates, even her real-life story. She’s been a missionary to the Seychelles and Gabon and now that she and her husband are back in America, t ...more