The Peacock Throne

By Lisa Karon Richardson

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. However, they are not the only ones interested in the Peacock Throne. Marcus Wiltshire, agent of His Majesty's intelligence services, 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lion Fiction
• Release date: Oct 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781782641797

Lisa Karon Richardson

Lisa Karon Richardson is an award-winning author and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Lisa is the author of several novels including The Peacock Throne. Her novella, Impressed by Love, was a Carol Award Finalist. Lisa and her husband are currently planting a small home missions church in America, having previously been missionaries to the Seychelles and Gabon.

Reviews for The Peacock Throne

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.)

[lcjohnson1988_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: The Peacock ThroneAuthor: Lisa Karon RichardsonPages: 336Year: 2015Publisher: Lion FictionAnthony 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.”