The Craigsmuir Affair
Daisy Charlton is a young woman of artistic talent who dreams of furthering her art studies in London. In the meantime, she is helping her uncle catalogue his art collection, and when one of the paintings goes missing, some people suspect she might have had a hand. Well, not some people, rather a someone: Mr Adam Grey, who offers to take on the investigation into the disappearing paintings.
This theft is the first of many, and soon enough Adam finds himself working with Daisy, though he worries she is too young and vulnerable to take part in a crime investigation. But he is attracted to the pretty young woman and is therefore more than happy to spend time in her company.
Daisy does not know what to make of Adam. Rumour has him pegged as a cruel employer who fires people over misdemeanours; other rumours describe him as quite the womaniser. Daisy is initially too innocent to sort the truth from the lies in these sweeping statements – but she is undeniably attracted to this man with silver eyes.
Ms Black delivers an excellently executed classic romance firmly rooted in a beautifully depicted historical setting. The last few years of the 19th century come vividly alive, and both Daisy and Adam rise above the clichéd cut-outs to become characters it is easy to relate to and care for. The plot is well-constructed, the dialogue is enjoyable, the villains are agreeably villainous, and all in all this is a book warmly recommended for those who enjoy a well-written historical romance.
