Brought to you by Penguin. A witty and enthralling Regency romance by one of the best-known and most beloved historical novelists. The legend of the Headless Horseman and a proposed marriage de convenance both have their impact on the mystery of a golden talisman ring and Lord Lavenham's young heir, Ludovic. Neither Sir Tristram Shield nor Eustacie, his young French cousin, share the slightest inclination to marry one another, yet it is Lord Lavenham's dying wish. For there is no one else to provide for the old man's ...
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Brought to you by Penguin. A witty and enthralling Regency romance by one of the best-known and most beloved historical novelists. The legend of the Headless Horseman and a proposed marriage de convenance both have their impact on the mystery of a golden talisman ring and Lord Lavenham's young heir, Ludovic. Neither Sir Tristram Shield nor Eustacie, his young French cousin, share the slightest inclination to marry one another, yet it is Lord Lavenham's dying wish. For there is no one else to provide for the old man's granddaughter while Ludovic remains a fugitive from justice ... Yet again Georgette Heyer shows the qualities that made her one of the most successful and best-loved romantic novelists of her age, and why her popularity endures to this day. ??? Georgette Heyer 1936 (P) Penguin Audio 2021
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A period read by a gifted story teller that combines mystery, romance, and a great deal of humor. It's one of her better books. She writes about the period with the same sense of the ridiculous you find in Jane Austin.
Lesley123
Jun 10, 2009
Romance at its best
If you like Georgette Heyer you'll love this and if you've never read her, this is a good one to start with.
Totally improbable plot, delightful characters, hilarious situations, witty dialogue. Great light reading but, unlike a lot of romantic/historical fiction, very well written and spot on period detail.
Enjoy.
Grace2133
May 26, 2009
Great Romance/Mystery Hybrid
This is one of the few Heyer novels I managed to skip over when I bought the rest of her works. Don't ask me why I skipped it, I don't know. I do things that surprise me at times.
I really loved this novel. It had it all...comedy, mystery and romance. It was as perfect as perfect can get without becoming obnoxious. The characters were awesome. I especially loved Sir Tristram Shield and Miss Sarah Thane. I had such a crush on Tristram. Tristram was so much smarter than everyone else. He was always at least ten steps ahead of all the other characters. If I was Eustacie, I would have married him in a split second. I also really liked Sarah. She was so smart. She had her head firmly on her shoulders. I really love strong, intelligent female characters. The dialogue was sharp and witty. Without giving anything away, the proposal scene at the end was hilarious. This was a great hybrid... regency romance mixed with mystery mixed with comedy. I found that those three elements really worked together well.
I did find, however, that the story got a bit weak at times. Not often but enough that I noticed it and only for a chapter or two. I found that this generally happened when Ludovic and Eustacie were the main focus. I couldn't stand Eustacie. She was so flighty and insipid. Definitely not my sort of character. I didn't like Ludovic either but I didn't want to bash my head into a wall when he was around. This couple did not have the charm or grace that Tristram and Sarah had.
The Talisman Ring would be a great for a Heyer fan that has already exhausted the other Heyer Regency romances and is looking for something a bit different. This might not be the best intro to Heyer but for a veteran, it's a great read.
Sourcebooks also does a great job of re-issuing these Heyer books. The cover design is really pretty and reflects the novel perfectly.
bevshep
Mar 19, 2009
enjoyable read
One of Heyer's better books but not her best! I t is one of her better mysteries.
GoluxGirl
Mar 12, 2009
Funny and delightful
The Talisman Ring may be one of La Georgette's most light-hearted and genuinely funny Regencies. The two heroines boast almost whimsically over-developed romantical natures, exhibiting them to all they meet (though Sarah has a knowing twinkle in her eye at Eugenie's earnestness).
The plot has enough mystery and action, though the puzzle isn't terribly difficult to figure for any savvvy reader. The fun lies in watching the various nutty characters interact with one another (Sarah's brother, Hugh, is particularly entertaining).
Truly delightful.
