Four mysterious words prompt antiques dealer Precious Rafferty to embark on a quest across Europe to uncover their meaning. Preshy, at age 38, loves her American-in-Paris life, but thinks that she'll never be swept off her feet--until she meets Bennett James. As their whirlwind courtship progresses, though, she realizes that there is much about his business life in Shanghai she doesn't know. Then she receives an urgent message from Lily Song, a cousin she's never met. Lily lives in Shanghai and knows the antiques underworld there--and she has a secret important enough to draw her to Venice to meet Preshy for the first time, face-to-face. In Venice, Preshy will have to weave through a maze of betrayers to discover who she can trust with her heart...and with her life.
Featuring an international and interfamilial jewel heist, Adler's novel pulls at various plot strands simultaneously. Although the adventures of the main character, who is Chinese, are compelling and are told with passion by narrator Carrington MacDuffie, the other story line, set in Paris and composed of lackluster exposition, comes across as flat. The wrangle over an ancient pearl necklace is most interesting when MacDuffie infuses suspense between an antique collector and her scheming assistant, a jewel thief. The rest of the scenes drag, partly because the plot buildup takes considerable time and the slow pace of the action slows down the narration, leaving the listener hoping for a return to the more exciting sections. M.R. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
AudioFile on Sailing to Capri...
Carrington MacDuffie's name on any audiobook guarantees a skilled, sophisticated performance, and Adler's novel is a prime example of MacDuffie's expertise...MacDuffie breathes life into all the roles and demonstrates her vocal skill with panache. This well-paced audiobook will keep listeners intrigued as the plot unfolds.
About the Author
Elizabeth Adler is the internationally acclaimed author of fifteen novels. Her previous two books, The Hotel Riviera and Invitation to Provence, are available as Sound Library® audiobooks. She lives in Palm Springs, California.
