Tears of Pearl: A Novel of Suspense

Written by Tasha Alexander

Narrated by Justine Eyre

Set amid the beauty and decadence of the Ottoman Empire, Lady Emily's latest adventure is full of intrigue, treachery, and romance.

Looking forward to the joys of connubial bliss, newlyweds Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves, diplomats of the British Empire, set out toward Turkey for an exotic honeymoon. But on their first night in the city, a harem girl is found murdered, strangled in the courtyard of the Sultan's lavish Topkapi Palace. Sir Richard St. Clare, an Englishman who works at the embassy in Constantinople, is present and recognizes the girl as his own daughter who was kidnapped twenty years earlier. Emily and Colin promise the heartbroken father that they'll find her killer, but as the investigation gains speed, they find that appearance can be deceiving-especially within the confines of the seraglio.

As a woman, Emily is given access to the forbidden world of the harem and quickly discovers that its mysterious, sheltered walls offer no protection from a ruthless murderer. As the number of victims grows, Emily must rely on her own sharp wits in a heart-stopping finale if she is to stop a killer bend on exacting vengeance no matter how many innocent lives he leaves in his wake.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781541439665

Tasha Alexander

TASHA ALEXANDER is the author of the New York Times bestselling Lady Emily mystery series. The daughter of two philosophy professors, she studied English literature and medieval history at the University of Notre Dame. She and her husband, novelist Andrew Grant, live on a ranch in southeastern Wyoming.

Reviews for Tears of Pearl

[curvymommy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I started Tears of Pearl immediately after having read the 3 previous books in the series straight-through, one after another. While I enjoyed the first two books (particularly book 2, which I read in just under 2 days), the third was really boring for me. But I thought the exotic setting of book 4, with Lady Emily venturing into a sultan's harem, would make for an interesting story. Unfortunately, this book did not stand up to my expectations for it.The story didn't hold my attention, and I had to force myself to continue reading. There were just too many plot points that didn't seem realistic. As a previous reviewer stated, would Lady Emily really have had such open access to the sultan and the harem? I'm not sure whether I'll read a 5th book in the series, since the last two disappointed me so.

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

They are very bad at honeymooning, but their adventures are fascinating. Love the history, love the plain speaking on both sides of the Ottoman/British cultural divide. Continue to enjoy the series.

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Lady Emily has married her late husband's best friend, Colin Hargreaves. As the embark on their honeymoon to Constantinople via the Orient Express they meet Sir William, a British diplomat who lost his wife(murdered) & 5 year old daughter (kidnapped) to bandits on an archaeological expedition. While in the dining car w/ Colin and Emily he nearly succumbs to an overdose of chloral hydrate.Both Colin & Emily, along w/ Sir William are invited by the Sultan to attend a Verdi opera w/ a G&S ending . Afterwards while strolling through the Palace Gardens they come across a screaming concubine and the body of another, that turns out to be the lost daughter of Sir William.Things are kind of a mish-mash after that. Emily is allowed inside the harem to question the concubines and the two Valide Sultans (Mother of Sultan). Both Valides make things difficult for Emily & hamper her investigation. Also making things difficult for Emily, is the concubine Roxelana, a christian, who convinces Emily to help her escape.I really didn't warm to any of the characters, I had no empathy for any of them and I figured out who the bad guy was near the beginning.Although I usually like Lady Emily, I find Alexander's writing uneven and unstable from one adventure to the next.... This book had so much possibility & I found it fell short.

[bookhookgeek · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to like this book more, since I enjoyed the previous three in the series. But I just couldn't get into the mystery--it wasn't as personal to the characters as in the previous books. Hopefully in the next book, Emily will get back to England to do some detective work.

[needmoreshelves · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Tears of Pearl is the fourth in the Lady Emily series, in which we find Emily and Colin happily honeymooning in Constantinople. Of course, the couple immediately becomes involved in a murder mystery. I found the sequence of events that led to Emily's investigation and solving of the mystery somewhat implausible, but then this whole series tends to strain the bounds of reality. For readers looking for a cozy historical mystery, this pleasant but not terribly deep novel should do the trick.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves travel by the Oriental Express to Istanbul, they attend an opera in the Sultans court and afterwards one of his concubines is found dead. She's the long-lost daughter of one of the British Diplomats and this sets off a cascade that Emily and Colin have to investigate.Entertaining with great characters.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was tempted to give another 3.5 stars to this book, but I think personal bias might be getting in the way on this one, so I'll err on the side of optimism. The whole of this book takes place in Constantinople, during Lady Emily's honeymoon. They become embroiled in a murder investigation that involves the Sultan's harem and the son of an Englishman. I'm of two minds about the setting; I've never found sultans or harems romantic or intriguing or even interesting. But I've always been fascinated by the advanced learnings of the Arabian culture. So while I found the whole sultan/harem thing a giant yawn, I did enjoy the glimpses of beauty, culture and education - especially on the part of the Turkish women (although I was struggling to keep track of who belonged to which palace). The author writes a fair story: she doesn't deny the harems are at their base a form of slavery, but she is quick to point out that the English system wasn't a model of feminism either; I thought she did a very good job comparing each against the other. The murder mystery itself was again diabolical, but this time I knew the killer from the start. The motivation was a complete mystery until it's revealed to Lady Emily, so my sureness as to the villain didn't detract from my investment in the story. I love Lady Emily and Colin's relationship: it's the stuff of pure fantasy - the ideal relationship. Real life lacks enough of any ideal that I thoroughly enjoy it in my books, and it's this relationship as much as anything else that keeps drawing me back in. I've been wondering how, now that they are married, the author was going to keep real Victorian life at bay and I have to say she found a very clever, if not pleasant, way of doing so. Within the world she's created for Lady Emily and Colin it's an entirely plausible and realistic outcome. And yes, I'm being purposefully vague so as not to spoil anything for anyone. I'm definitely taking a break now; time to step back and return to the series at a later date, but I'm looking forward to enjoying the next book when I do.

[sarah_gruwell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ironically, after saying that one really needs to read this series from the beginning in my last review from this series, what’s the next book I grab to dive into?! Book 4! Really, Sarah, really?... Yes, OK, I did the big bad and completely did what I myself said not to do. But you know what? It actually wasn't as big an error as it could have been.I got a real feel for the characters and their relationships in this one, something that was sorely lacking in Book 9. The whole reason I grabbed this book, actually, was ‘cause I had heard it’s the “honeymoon” book between Colin and Emily, and I really wanted more of these two. And for the most part, I got it. I relished the real love connection between these two; it was a true treat to see Emily treasured for more than just her beauty and to see how much Colin really meant to Emily. I also got some quality time in Emily’s head, seeing her confidence in her investigative skills, her insecurities with her own body and place in society, and fears from her past that impact her in the present. I actually really enjoyed exploring Emily in this book, getting to know her so to speak, even if several of my co-reviewers weren't that thrilled about it. The world of late 19th century Constantinople and the world of the Ottoman court and harem life was also a treat. Tasha delivers again in her vivid descriptive passages and in her world-building. She transports her readers to this exotic and not often explored world with great skill. I especially treasured seeing how the inner politics of the harem were seen from the POV of an English lady and how different life in this part of world was different for women in general during this time period.Now the mystery portion of the book? Not such a great feature in this volume. Don’t get me wrong. I was intrigued to find out the whodunit, and the eventual culprit was a surprise to me as I was reading along. But there were instances where I was very surprised at the ease in which Emily was given access to the harem itself. Some of the coincidences of evidence appearing like magic and some of the logic leaps were also eyebrow raising for me.For me, the attractions and detraction for this volume versus book 9 were almost exact opposites. The time spent exploring the characters and their relationships were a treasure. Yet, the mystery portion was lackluster in areas and just downright audacious at times. I’m definitely glad I grabbed this book as it evens out the 9th volume very well. I got a feel for the characters even if the mystery part wasn't up to snuff. I’m going to be reading more of this series for sure; this volume just cemented my love for the characters and their relationships.

[dwwilkin_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What started as a interesting view of the later Victorian world has fallen. Not in this case Ms Alexander's research in the Sublime Porte and more specifically, the Harem of the Sultan. Just, WHY?So what if after 20 years the daughter of an english man is found to be a Harem Concubine. The Sultan has plenty of agents that investigate murders, ones that he trusts. Not an English female outsider who we find uncovers that many men seem to have access to the Harem as well as as a reader, knowing who the ultimate murderer is long before the sleuths of the story do.No, after four books, despite their being more, no longer can the suspension of disbelief be set aside so that Ms Alexander can explore improbable villainy and murder with untrained aides against world class adversaries always connected to the royalty and leaders of the world. That one person can get so involved in so many instances with royalty no 19th century daughter of Earl or not, would. It is an American fantasy to think that such gives entree into the world of the highest. Were she even a countess in her marriage alliance (which she isn't) nothing short of a Princess Royal would seem to make the connections this heroine has made, and then none even then would gain access to search for the guilty when their were others in each instance who those of royalty this heroine met could be called to do the work Lady Emily has been doing.A little bit of plausibility and Lady Emily could have proven to be a sleuth within her characters scope. Not this fantasy.

[riverwillow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emily and Colin are now married and on an extended honeymoon in Constantinople/Istanbul. I was concerned that this change in Emily’s circumstances might alter the tone of the books – in one series I read set in the same period when the author married off her main female protagonist the series switched from being centred around her to her husband – but Colin more or less treats Emily as an equal, although concerned about the risks she takes. Of course it helps that he needs a woman to aid in the investigations into the murder of a harem girl, who it seems is actually the daughter of a English diplomat kidnapped when she was just a young child.The plot was a little jumbled up – the sub-plot involving Roxelana was annoying and contrived – and I’m afraid I guessed the murderer, but not the motive, quite early in the book. Additionally there are the inevitable anachronisms. However, I found Emily’s anxieties surrounding childbirth, mainly her fears for herself but also those for Ivy, confined to bed and awaiting the imminent birth of her first child both convincing and touching.An interesting instalment in the series.

[nancyno5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lady Emily's 4th adventure with her new husband Colin Hargreaves. Tears of Pearl is set during the waning years of the Ottoman Empire of which I am, sad to say, totally ignorant!Tasha Alexander does her homework and is able to provide a story with lush detail and descriptive prose. I have not books #2 or #3 but this really is a standalone series. The author does provide snippets of information relating to the other two books.The character of Lady Emily has evolved, I can see that even without reading the other two stories. I have to say I was at times a bit disappointed in her choices and her attitude. Lady Emily has taken her 'independence' a bit too far to the point where she keeps critical news and information from her husband. She is portrayed as a woman who has become obsessed with being her own woman. Colin does indulge her but I wonder how long he would continue that indulgence if he knew that she was keeping secrets from him.Overall a pleasant story. Traditional who-dunnit in a historical setting. Enough characters to keep you guessing and a good tie-in at the end.

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lady Emily is now married and while honeymooning in Constantinople, falls into a case of murder, kidnapping, intrigue, and escape from the sultan's harem. Much like the other mysteries in this series, Emily sets off to solve the mysterious murder, although this time she does have a somewhat hazy official position through her husband. I enjoyed this installment of the Lady Emily series because of the setting, which gives a fascinating picture of the decaying Ottoman Empire and Emily's adventures are always fun as well.

[alana_leigh_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Let me say that the main reason I keep reading Tasha Alexander's books is that I feel she takes particular care with her main character's ability to have complicated emotions. What keeps me coming back for more, quite frankly, is not the mystery part of her plot (which is often a bit coincidental and is always quite complicated -- though that's not always a bad thing). It's only sometimes the historical setting (oddly, I preferred her ability to convey a sense of time and place in her earlier works, whereas here I kept having The Aviary Gate flashbacks with this one). The best part of her novels, as far as I'm concerned, is Lady Emily's ability to struggle with feelings that make her a unique heroine for this particular mystery/romance/historical fiction genre. (Okay, and sure, there's a bit of her hunky love interest, Colin, tossed in there, too.)The first book in the series, And Only to Deceive, opened on a young widow, Lady Emily Ashton, who barely knew her husband and came to fall in love with him only after his death and her investigation into the circumstances surrounding it. Not only did we have the fact that she was coming to care for him when they could no longer have a real romance, but she became aware of just how much he loved her and yet had never really expressed it. Alexander doesn't shy away from exploring the tangled (and often bittersweet) side of things in Emily's personal life. Thankfully, even though Emily has finally married Colin Hargreaves, things don't simply fade into happily ever after, though Colin himself does fade a bit into the background in this book, which is a bit of a disappointment. Sure, they're completely smitten with each other as they take off for their honeymoon and they repeatedly tumble in to bed, but there's also the fact that in a time without contraception, Emily's independence is somewhat in jeopardy should she become pregnant. Books don't often explore the potentially negative sides of this "blessed" event when it's in a stable and good relationship, but Alexander is aware that things are a bit more complicated than that in real life.Tears of Pearl is set in lush Constantinople, at the beginning of Emily and Colin's nice, long honeymoon... but the reader shouldn't be all that surprised when they're embroiled in a mystery right off the bat. The storyline is dumped into their laps on the train (a surprisingly abrupt and graceless introduction, which is rather uncharacteristic of Alexander, I thought) and involves a British diplomat with a tragic past and an even more tragic immediate future. He traveled the world with his family in tow until one horrific night when his Turkish wife was murdered and his young daughter kidnapped. He managed to protect his son, Benjamin, but then spent the rest of his life seeking leads in hopes that his daughter, Ceyden, might still be alive (as she was likely sold into slavery). This story comes out in a rush when Colin and Emily sit next to this man, Sir Richard, on the train to Constantinople... only to then have him collapse from an apparent overdose of medication. Unsurprisingly, Colin and Emily (especially Emily) take interest in his situation. He repays their kind attention by getting them invited to an opera performed at the sultan's palace and even though the ending of the opera itself is altered to create a happy ending, the event ends with the murder of a young woman from the harem. Have you guessed who she is? Yep. It's Ceyden, the long-lost daughter, and with harem politics the way they are, it's anybody's guess who did this.Emily, meanwhile, has actually gotten semi-official approval to work with Colin in situations when a feminine hand is required for his missions... like, say, when someone needs to do some interviews of harem-members. Emily gets wrapped up with several interesting characters (including the mother of the sultan, the sort-of-step-mother of the sultan, a young converted Christian desperate to escape the life of sin in the harem, and a very shifty eunuch) while Colin is off investigating other things that seem more official (read: boring), and so Emily wanders a lot of Constantinople on her own (though she's often accompanied by her honeymoon-crashing friend). During all this wandering, Emily notices that she's particularly prone to nausea while taking boats across the Bosporus. Hmm. Whatever could cause nausea in a woman who's been married a few months?Emily's lengthy and difficult musings on the possibility of having a child were fascinating, because she was willing to admit that she might not be ready for this. She already enjoys a remarkable amount of freedom for any woman of the time -- but with a baby on the way, surely life would change. It would start with being coddled as a pregnant lady by her friends, family and even her loving husband -- and then she'd most likely have to stay close to home to be with a child. So much for rambling all over the world and assisting Colin on investigations. It's not like Colin is putting this pressure on her (though she sees his suspicious and hopeful glances), but Emily starts panicking about what a baby would change. In short, even if she might eventually want a baby, she doesn't feel ready yet and while this depth might not be uncommon in other genres, it's a unique and humanizing detail here, for a heroine whose life has not been full of easy emotions. In the usual historical mystery series, women always seem so ready for that inevitable child and somehow he/she is integrated into her life and the life of her adventuring husband with ease... or a series ends. Hm.So even if every bit of the novel wasn't a delight for me, I am at least delighted that Tasha Alexander is one of the few writers these days who is staying true to her characters and allowing them the luxury of exploring complicated emotions. It means that I'll keep marking the paperback release of each of her books and I'll eagerly read to see how Emily grows as a character and tackles interesting issues (and mysteries, too).

[francescadefreitas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

How lovely to join Lady Emily on her honeymoon - of course someone drops dead early in the piece and mysteries ensue. Emily and Colin are still amusing characters after their marriage, and it was fun to see them in an exotic setting. This wasn't hugely twisty, and I was able to put it down and wash dishes, but it was satisfying. I hope there will be more books about Emily and Colin's travels.(spoiler)I am glad that we are likely to be spared stores about their progeny, as Amelia Peabody's Ramses gave me the horrors.

[philae_02 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in captivating Constantinople, this was the 4th installment of the Lady Emily Series, and having read the previous three books, I thought that Alexander did a fine job of capturing the notions of initial wedded bliss, along with fears of late 19th century childbirth. The running theme of this book focuses on the loss of people that one loves. The poem at the very beginning tells of how Dido, Queen of Carthage, begging Aeneas to stay – crying “Tears of Pearl.” The same sense of loss is a running theme of the book – as characters have lost great loves, and in a sense have cried their own “tears of pearl.” But of course, Lady Emily and Colin are on their honeymoon, and no sooner than they arrive, they are faced with the murder of a young concubine in the sultan’s harem named Ceyden. The murder of the half-English girl sparks a series of visits to the harem, where the reader is completely immersed in the culture and beauty of the Ottoman Empire. Emily meets extraordinary personages on her quest for the truth – the truth which she bets Colin she will discover before him.

[kimaoverstreet · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have recently read all 4 Lady Emily books in order, and Tears of Pearl is my favorite to date. The exotic locale, continued character development, and suspense are top notch. I recommend this series for a nice escape!

[lallybroch_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Tears of Pearl is the fourth book in the Lady Emily series. Usually I don't start series in the middle, but this one came for review from LT, and while it looked interesting I didn't feel compelled to read all the books. Tears of Pearl is a historical mystery with a cozy feel. I prefer my mysteries a little more hard core, so I'm glad I didn't start the series at the beginning.Lady Emily is an amateur sleuth. She is independent and determined, but beyond that, I can't actually say much about her. Maybe if I'd read the series from the beginning I'd know more about her, but even starting the series in the middle I still expect to know a little more about the main character once I've finished a book.The biggest failing for me in the this book though was that it didn't have the feeling I was looking for. When I read historical fiction I want to be transported to a time and place that I cannot visit, and I never got that feeling with Tears of Pearl. There wasn't anything specific that made this book feel modern, but I had to keep reminding myself that it was set in the 1800's. Maybe it was the fact that the women in the harem were so outspoken that threw off the feeling of the book.I think this series might be a little better suited to readers who enjoy cozies and historical fiction. It was a decent book, but this is one series I won't be continuing with.

[riofriotex · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program just before the holidays. Before I read it (post-holidays), I had no idea it was the fourth book in a series. To her credit, the author has written a story that stands on its own. The fact that the two main characters, Lady Emily Bromley Ashton Hargreaves and her husband Colin, are on their honeymoon in the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) was the first indicator that another book might have preceded this one. The book is also interspersed with various letters Emily receives from friends and family that didn't make a lot of sense to me until I read other reviews of this book and found they were from characters in previous books. I found the appearance of friend Margaret in the midst of the honeymoon to be rather unbelievable. But then, the whole idea of the couple working to solve a mystery while on this so-called honeymoon is rather far-fetched, as is the idea that a woman like Emily would have so much freedom in 1892, particularly while in the Ottoman Empire.The reason, of course, that Emily must solve this mystery is that it occurs in the sultan's harem, and her husband cannot go in to interview witnesses. The behavior of the sultan, his wives/concubines, and a eunuch did not seem realistic to me, particularly the fact that they could speak English (today, maybe yes; 1892, probably not), and that they would be willing to speak to an outsider at all.The descriptions were good and Alexander gave me a feel for what Constantinople (Istanbul today) looked like. The flirting between Emily and Colin was enjoyable. The ending, however, was disappointing. This was a fun beach-read type of book, but I'm not interested in reading the three prior books in the series nor any to follow.

[bookaliciouspam · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think this book could have been a lot more if the author had taken the time to dwell on the insight that characters could have given. I had completely figured out the mystery about 2/3 of the way through, I did finish the book and will not be reading the rest of the series.

[runaway84_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was halfway through this book and afraid of what my review was going to be, but the second half redeemed the story. There is only so much lovely dovey stuff I can take without upchucking my dinner, but eventually the action picked up. Admittingly, I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous two installments, especially A Poisoned Season.I missed Lady Emily's whole gang of friends. None of the new characters particularly grabbed me. I was happy when Margaret showed up, she quirked things up a bit. I didn't enjoy Colin as much as I usually do. I'm afraid the book lost something with Colin and Emily being married. There's no more tension. I liked the tension.I did figure out the murderer as soon as he/she entered the story. I'm not sure if that was a lucky guess or what.The descriptions were wonderful. The setting was Constantinople and this book makes me want to fly over there and visit. And this novel was no doubt excessively researched. It shows.Fans of the series will enjoy this, but it is a bit different than the previous three. I'm hoping the next installment will have all her friends back.

[bookgirljen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I started Tears of Pearl immediately after having read the 3 previous books in the series straight-through, one after another. While I enjoyed the first two books (particularly book 2, which I read in just under 2 days), the third was really boring for me. But I thought the exotic setting of book 4, with Lady Emily venturing into a sultan's harem, would make for an interesting story. Unfortunately, this book did not stand up to my expectations for it.The story didn't hold my attention, and I had to force myself to continue reading. There were just too many plot points that didn't seem realistic. As a previous reviewer stated, would Lady Emily really have had such open access to the sultan and the harem? I'm not sure whether I'll read a 5th book in the series, since the last two disappointed me so.

[kasthu_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lady Emily Ashton and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, are on their honeymoon to Constantinople, when a girl in the harem, the daughter of an Englishman dies. Lady Emily, at the behest of the English Crown, enters the harem to discover who murdered the girl.I enjoy reading about the Victorian time period, I really do. I read Tasha Alexander’s first book, And Only to Deceive, and liked it, in a way. The details of Victorian England were well-researched. But here, with the Ottoman Empire, I feel that the author skimped on historical accuracy in order to focus on the exoticness of the location. There was a lot that I found to be in-credible, mainly that Emily as a westerner would be able to come and go in the harem so easily—and that the women there would be so willing to talk to her. Or that a woman of the harem would be able to do what Roxelana tries to do, without any consequences! Also, Emily had free and easy access to the sultan, which wasn’t believable to me, either. I don’t know much about the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century, so I don’t know if my misgivings about the accuracy are correct or not (for all I know European women took baths frequently with women of the harem). However, I think the author should have at least have attempted a story that seemed realistic.For all that Emily prides herself on being forward-thinking, she’s still prevented from understanding the players in this particular game by her own narrow views on the Ottoman lifestyle (which she seems to have mostly gleaned from romance novels). And she exhibits no interest in understanding them, either. Even when common sense would dictate that helping Roxelana do what she does is a very, very stupid idea, Emily still assists her. Is it really stupidity on Emily’s part? Or ignorance? In any case, the way that Emily goes about solving the murder of the harem girl is, in her usual way, very single-minded. How can you solve a crime if you don’t even try to understand the people involved?Nonetheless, I enjoyed the sexual tension between Emily and Colin; they haven’t merely settled down into a life of marital complacency. Things between them are still intriguing and exciting. It’s too bad that the writing seems to have fallen down a bit, because there was a lot of potential here.

[dianaleez · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

To be honest, I'm having trouble going back to this one and finishing it. It just lies there.