Andrea here, finding it hard to believe it’s August! The summer seems to have whizzed by like a Congreve rocket . . .
Now, speaking of Sir William Congreve’s rockets, I’ve decided to start the countdown to the September 27th release of MURDER ON THE SERPENTINE BRIDGE, my new Wrexford & Sloane mystery, by giving you a teaser of the circumstances in which the mystery takes place. Now, there are times when an author gets extraordinarily lucky and history provides a setting for a mystery more perfect than any writer would dare to imagine!
During June of 1814, Britain threw a grand party in London to celebrate the end of nearly twenty years of war against France. It brought together a host of royals and dignitaries from the Allied victors—including Tsar Alexander I, King Frederick William III of Prussia. Prince Metternich and Field Marshal Blücher—for a spectacular fortnight of sumptuous parties, gala outdoor entertainments, horses races at Royal Ascot and a sojourn to Oxford for a banquet and a special awards ceremony, all to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon and his exile to the isle of Elba.
There were real-life kerfuffles going on. Jealous that the British public liked the handsome and charismatic Tsar of Russia better than they did him, the Prince of Wales made a point needling Alexander I with a number small snubs. The Tsar in turn made a point of being late to a number of receptions, so that he stole the show when he entered. Throw into a few more kings, emperors, and military general, and it was a rather volatile mix of personalities rubbing shoulders with each other. It’s a wonder the dueling was only verbal!
It was quite an international gathering, full of drama and spectacle . . . and for me, provided perfect “color and flash” for a twisty mystery. I wish I could I could have been there to experience some of the fun. Have you ever attended any gala public celebrations? Any there huge celebrations in history that you would have loved to attend. (I wish I had been in London this past June for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.)