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Emmeline Kirby/Gregory Longdon Mysteries #4
A Checkered Past
A looted Nazi painting…A former IRA commander…The tie that binds is murder
Emmeline Kirby is back in London determined to make a success of her new job as editorial director of investigative features at The Clarion. Three months have passed since her trip to Torquay and the devastating revelations that surfaced about her fiancé Gregory Longdon. The whole interlude has left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she is keeping him at arm’s length. But a suave and dashing jewel thief like Gregory is not easily daunted. After all, faint heart never won fair lady. It doesn’t hurt that Emmeline’s grandmother and her best friend, Maggie, are on his side. Only his shadowy past could ruin his chances.
All of these relationships are threatened as Emmeline stubbornly pursues a story about looted Nazi art and an IRA collaborator. When a stolen Constable painting belonging to Maggie’s family turns up in the collection of Max Sanborn, the chairman of the company that owns The Clarion, her personal crusade brings danger close to home. To find the truth, Emmeline and Gregory must untangle a web of deception, betrayal, and dark deeds. But will they learn too late that justice can be cold comfort if you’re dead?
Emmeline Kirby is back in London determined to make a success of her new job as editorial director of investigative features at The Clarion. Three months have passed since her trip to Torquay and the devastating revelations that surfaced about her fiancé Gregory Longdon. The whole interlude has left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she is keeping him at arm’s length. But a suave and dashing jewel thief like Gregory is not easily daunted. After all, faint heart never won fair lady. It doesn’t hurt that Emmeline’s grandmother and her best friend, Maggie, are on his side. Only his shadowy past could ruin his chances.
All of these relationships are threatened as Emmeline stubbornly pursues a story about looted Nazi art and an IRA collaborator. When a stolen Constable painting belonging to Maggie’s family turns up in the collection of Max Sanborn, the chairman of the company that owns The Clarion, her personal crusade brings danger close to home. To find the truth, Emmeline and Gregory must untangle a web of deception, betrayal, and dark deeds. But will they learn too late that justice can be cold comfort if you’re dead?
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2018
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Daniella Bernett
16 books135 followersDaniella Bernett is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Mystery Writers of America, where she is a board member of the New York Chapter. She also is a member of the Crime Writers Association. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Journalism from St. John’s University. She is the author of the Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series. LEAD ME INTO DANGER, DEADLY LEGACY, FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, A CHECKERED PAST, WHEN BLOOD RUNS COLD, OLD SINS NEVER DIE, VIPER'S NEST OF LIES, A MIND TO MURDER and BETRAYED BY THE TRUTH are the books in the series. SECRETS LIE IN WAIT will be released December 6, 2025. Additionally, she is the author of two poetry collections, TIMELESS ALLURE and SILKEN REFLECTIONS. Daniella is currently working on Emmeline and Gregory’s next adventure. Visit http://www.daniellabernett.com/ or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... or on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4....
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2019
A Checkered Past is #4 in the Emmeline Kirby/Gregory Longdon Series—I have not read the first three but that did not in any way lessen the fun!
The book takes us to London. Emmeline Kirby, editorial director at The Clarion, is pursuing a story which involves a missing painting that was looted by the Nazis in WWII. Question is, how did it end up hanging in the office of the chairman of The Clarion? Who is to be trusted, and who isn’t? Emmeline keeps digging, and it doesn't take long before people start dying...
This book was a fast ride, and an intense one. All the characters are well put together, with intelligent and often witty dialogues. Even though I had not met the characters before, it didn’t take long before I was completely invested in their outcome. The plot was sound. Very enjoyable read!
The book takes us to London. Emmeline Kirby, editorial director at The Clarion, is pursuing a story which involves a missing painting that was looted by the Nazis in WWII. Question is, how did it end up hanging in the office of the chairman of The Clarion? Who is to be trusted, and who isn’t? Emmeline keeps digging, and it doesn't take long before people start dying...
This book was a fast ride, and an intense one. All the characters are well put together, with intelligent and often witty dialogues. Even though I had not met the characters before, it didn’t take long before I was completely invested in their outcome. The plot was sound. Very enjoyable read!
August 29, 2021
Daniella Bernett’s well-written plot and complex characters carry this entertaining read. Fans of journalist, Emmeline Kirby; compassionate jewel thief, Gregory Longdon; and my particular favorite, sharp-witted, over-worked, and especially likable Chief Inspector Oliver Burnell will be delighted with this new mystery.
March 29, 2019
A Checkered Past is the fourth book in Daniella Bernett’s thriller series featuring journalist Emmeline Kirby and her fiancé alleged jewel thief and all round mystery man Gregory Longdon. Emmeline has started her new job of editorial director at the Clarion newspaper and is investigating art that was stolen by the Nazi’s during World War II, part inspired by her best friend, whose aunt was victim to this. What Emmeline doesn’t realise is that the art collection of Clarion owner, the chauvinistic Max Sanborn will be brought into question as links are made between the Nazi looted art, the IRA and Max Sanborn. With Emmeline, Gregory and MI5 on the case, there are thrills aplenty in this fast paced, gripping crime thriller.
I haven’t read all the books in this series, just this one and it’s predecessor From Beyond the Grave that I reviewed last year. You don’t need to read them all to enjoy the story but I found that having read the previous book, it did help fill in some of the gaps. The one thing I enjoy about reading a series is getting reacquainted with old friends and seeing where their lives have taken them. This is definitely the case with the charming, charismatic, and dashing Gregory Longdon. Obviously being an accused jewel thief should not be celebrated as it is a crime, but rather like Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with him. His air of mystery, however, is not appreciated by all, especially his fiancé Emmeline. She is a real pocket rocket, dogged in her determination to get a story and unfortunately or Gregory to try and uncover his secrets. She is a woman who stands by her principles and always being objective about a story even when it concerns her boss and best friend. Together they make a formidable team, both paying to their strengths and taking risks in their quest for the truth.
Daniella Bernett creates wonderful and memorable characters and a fabulous plot. From the first page I was gripped, the combination of Nazi’s, MI5 and plundered art makes for an interesting and complex thriller that twists and turns in more ways than the river Thames. The suspense and tension was broken up by many humorous episodes normally including Gregory Longdon and Superintendent Burnell who he does like to wind up.
I loved reading A Checkered Past and being back in the company of Emmeline and Gregory; I love the familiarity it brought. The combination of espionage, murder, stolen art, a touch of romance and humour make this such a compelling and exciting read; highly recommended from me!
I haven’t read all the books in this series, just this one and it’s predecessor From Beyond the Grave that I reviewed last year. You don’t need to read them all to enjoy the story but I found that having read the previous book, it did help fill in some of the gaps. The one thing I enjoy about reading a series is getting reacquainted with old friends and seeing where their lives have taken them. This is definitely the case with the charming, charismatic, and dashing Gregory Longdon. Obviously being an accused jewel thief should not be celebrated as it is a crime, but rather like Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with him. His air of mystery, however, is not appreciated by all, especially his fiancé Emmeline. She is a real pocket rocket, dogged in her determination to get a story and unfortunately or Gregory to try and uncover his secrets. She is a woman who stands by her principles and always being objective about a story even when it concerns her boss and best friend. Together they make a formidable team, both paying to their strengths and taking risks in their quest for the truth.
Daniella Bernett creates wonderful and memorable characters and a fabulous plot. From the first page I was gripped, the combination of Nazi’s, MI5 and plundered art makes for an interesting and complex thriller that twists and turns in more ways than the river Thames. The suspense and tension was broken up by many humorous episodes normally including Gregory Longdon and Superintendent Burnell who he does like to wind up.
I loved reading A Checkered Past and being back in the company of Emmeline and Gregory; I love the familiarity it brought. The combination of espionage, murder, stolen art, a touch of romance and humour make this such a compelling and exciting read; highly recommended from me!
October 2, 2018
In her latest Emmeline Kirby/Gregory Longdon mystery, Daniella Bernett brings a new twist to the relationship between the two principals. In the wake of a disturbing revelation about Gregory’s past, Emmeline is wary about the prospect of marriage to a man she’s not sure she actually knows. However, with a new job as an editorial director at The Clarion, things are generally looking up for Emmeline.
However, Gregory isn’t the only one in this story hiding something. This novel is suffused with dark secrets that date back to World War II. Among them is the shameful heritage of art theft by the Nazis. When Emmeline’s best friend Maggie Roth learns that The Clarion’s owner is trying to pass off one of her family’s Nazi-looted artworks as his own, this places Emmeline in a tough position. Especially since the man isn’t likely to win prizes for having a winning personality.
Given the set-up, it’s not hard to guess who’s going to end up dead. Or that Maggie will come under suspicion. The real suspense comes in watching Emmeline navigate the perilous path of her investigation into how Maggie’s painting ended up in her late boss’ hands. Her journalistic plunge into the matter has her crossing paths with a high-level intelligence official, who puts pressure on Maggie’s husband (a supremely-secretive MI5 agent with problems of his own) and a foreign diplomat (who comes across a bit like a British version of “Deep Throat”). Emmeline risks life and limb to expose a traitor with IRA connections, while trying to pry more information from Gregory about his own past.
While this novel is rife with suspense, it also manages to bring its well-defined characters together in ways that are always interesting and often amusing. Gregory, as always, comes off as a charming rogue—maybe. His relationship with Emmeline provides the heart of the story, while his clashes and (very occasional) alliances with police authorities, keep you enthralled in, not only the murder mystery, but the mystery of Gregory Longdon. A puzzle that this book teases out even further at the end.
If you enjoy romantic suspense with a healthy serving of history and social conscience, you’ll love this book.
However, Gregory isn’t the only one in this story hiding something. This novel is suffused with dark secrets that date back to World War II. Among them is the shameful heritage of art theft by the Nazis. When Emmeline’s best friend Maggie Roth learns that The Clarion’s owner is trying to pass off one of her family’s Nazi-looted artworks as his own, this places Emmeline in a tough position. Especially since the man isn’t likely to win prizes for having a winning personality.
Given the set-up, it’s not hard to guess who’s going to end up dead. Or that Maggie will come under suspicion. The real suspense comes in watching Emmeline navigate the perilous path of her investigation into how Maggie’s painting ended up in her late boss’ hands. Her journalistic plunge into the matter has her crossing paths with a high-level intelligence official, who puts pressure on Maggie’s husband (a supremely-secretive MI5 agent with problems of his own) and a foreign diplomat (who comes across a bit like a British version of “Deep Throat”). Emmeline risks life and limb to expose a traitor with IRA connections, while trying to pry more information from Gregory about his own past.
While this novel is rife with suspense, it also manages to bring its well-defined characters together in ways that are always interesting and often amusing. Gregory, as always, comes off as a charming rogue—maybe. His relationship with Emmeline provides the heart of the story, while his clashes and (very occasional) alliances with police authorities, keep you enthralled in, not only the murder mystery, but the mystery of Gregory Longdon. A puzzle that this book teases out even further at the end.
If you enjoy romantic suspense with a healthy serving of history and social conscience, you’ll love this book.
October 30, 2018
The quest for justice of a decades-old Nazi theft during WWII sets Emmeline on her latest investigation. Little does she know that it will once again lead to betrayals and murder. A Checkered Past, Daniella Bernett's latest installment in the Emmeline Kirby/Gregory Longdon series, is another exciting and fast-paced page-turner with an unexpected climax that will leave the reader breathless. I was captivated by the story from the beginning and I highly recommend it to all mystery fans.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews