My July read for Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Challenge was A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden.
In A Dangerous Legacy, Lucy Drake is a telegraph operator for the Associated Press in New York. She and her brother, Nick, have been involved in a family dispute their entire lives, and they have had enough. It’s not until Lucy befriends a supervisor of the Reuters’ office, Sir Colin Beckwith, that they begin to make some progress.
However, when Colin befriends the opposite side of the dispute in exchange for a significant amount of money, Lucy doubts where his true loyalties lie. Will they be able to mend their differences and stop the family dispute once and for all?
What I liked most
Mrs. Camden blends history with mystery to keep her novels running. She kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. The characters were well written. There were twists and turns throughout which made it that much more fun to read.
My Favorite Characters
Lucy Drake: I liked her strong sense of self-confidence. There were times when it wavered, which showed her vulnerable side. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed and fought hard for what she viewed as important.
Colin Beckwith: He’s really a likable fellow from the beginning, even though Lucy doesn’t want to see him as such. He cares about what’s going on with her and allows her to see more than others have about him in order to gain her trust.
Would I read it again?
Yes, I would. In fact, this was the second time I’ve read it. The fast pace is so much fun. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Gilded Age time period.