Blackstone and the Golden Egg

The theft of the fabulous Fabergé Golden Egg from a Russian country estate goes far beyond the bounds of mere robbery. The victim is the Prince of Wales, the egg itself a gift from the Russian Tsar - and if the Tsar takes offence at the Prince's carelessness in losing it, the delicate balance of power in Europe could be destroyed for ever. Yet if Blackstone is investigating a simple robbery, why is there an attempt on his life the moment he sets foot in Russia - an attempt which would have succeeded but for the intervention of mysterious masked figure? Why will no one talk about the closed coach which fled the scene after the theft? And what is the motive behind the murder of a young British officer staying at the house? The more Blackstone learns, the less he knows - but the surer he is that the robbery is merely masking a much deeper, darker, secret!

From Booklist:

When Victorian-era copper Sam Blackstone is informed by Assistant Police Commissioner Sir Roderick Todd that he is to accompany the AC to Russia to investigate the theft of a rare Fabergé egg, Sam is annoyed. Working with the arrogant, incompetent Todd is the last thing he wants to do. His first inkling that the case will prove anything but routine comes on the train to Russia, when he is attacked by two masked men and then mysteriously rescued by still another one. Arriving in Russia, Blackstone learns that the Fabergé egg purportedly was stolen from the Prince of Wales while he was a houseguest at the home of a wealthy Russian count. But, most confusingly, evidence suggests that, in fact, there was no egg and no theft, so what exactly is Blackstone investigating? Humorous, intriguing and perplexing, Rustage's book paints a vividly authentic picture of Victorian times and offers an appealingly down-to-earth hero and plenty of unexpected twists.
Emily Melton Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Order Blackstone and the Golden Egg (hardback) from Amazon.co.uk

Order Blackstone and the Golden Egg (hardcover) from Amazon.com

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