An Inheritance of Lies
In 1915, Alexandra Benson, orphaned after her parents are killed in an apparent accident, learns that her father’s will gives his brother control over her bountiful inheritance. If she fails to marry, all will go to Uncle Nigel. She’s disoriented by this betrayal from the father who encouraged her independence—if in fact he wrote that provision. The lawyer assures her that the will stands. All Alix can think to do is fake engagement and marriage to a charming man who was kind to her. For a generous fee, Cameron Asher agrees to play along for a year or two until she secures her inheritance. Her uncle intends to take her to England, so Cameron must come along. So begins a mystery as WWI is building. Along with Alix’s maid and Uncle Nigel’s assistant, they’re scheduled to sail on the Lusitania despite warnings that German U-boats are patrolling British shores. As the story unfolds, risk and danger compound, intensified by suspicion and espionage. Though raised to be strong and self-reliant, Alix no longer knows who to trust, nor can she be sure of her own feelings.
An Inheritance of Lies is intrinsically suspenseful: most readers know the Lusitania was sunk, and out of almost 2,000 passengers, fewer than 800 survived. How will Alix and Cameron experience this disaster? Rebecca Carter’s plotting intensifies the suspense as Alix keeps discovering that nothing is as it seems. Her childhood memories are unreliable, Cameron is an enigma, and more than one character is driven by murderous intent. This book is fast-paced with Alix drawn into a puzzling romance amidst perils of war and duplicity. The final chapters are so action-packed and vividly described that the novel feels like a movie.
