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elemar's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
For this and other reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
It’s not just American or British history that I’m interested in, I also dabble a bit in Russian history, especially during the Russian Revolution of 1917 that led to the capture and killing of Tsar Nicholas and his family. So when I saw The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose being offered on NetGalley and Blue Box Press for my honest review, I took a chance. The Last Tiara will be released to the general public February 2, 2021.
From the publisher: “Sophia Moon had always been reticent about her life in Russia and when she dies, suspiciously, on a wintry New York evening, Isobelle despairs that her mother’s secrets have died with her. But while renovating the apartment they shared, Isobelle discovers something among her mother’s effects—a stunning silver tiara, stripped of its jewels.
Isobelle’s research into the tiara’s provenance draws her closer to her mother’s past—including the story of what became of her father back in Russia, a man she has never known. The facts elude her until she meets a young jeweler, who wants to help her but is conflicted by his loyalty to the Midas Society, a covert international organization whose mission is to return lost and stolen antiques, jewels, and artwork to their original owners.
Told in alternating points of view, the stories of the two young women unfurl as each struggles to find their way during two separate wars. In 1915, young Sofiya Petrovitch, favorite of the royal household and best friend of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, tends to wounded soldiers in a makeshift hospital within the grounds of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and finds the love of her life. In 1948 New York, Isobelle Moon works to break through the rampant sexism of the age as one of very few women working in a male-dominated profession and discovers far more about love and family than she ever hoped for.”
I had a hard time putting down The Last Tiara. From the beginning of Sofiya and Isobelle’s journeys, I wondered how they would end. Of course, we find out how Sofiya came to have the tiara (a gift from Grand Duchess Olga), but Isobelle doesn’t. And we don’t know how Sofiya met Isobelle’s father until the story progresses. Isobelle is in the dark about her mother’s past, and slowly uncovers clues that lead to more questions than answers.
In 1948 New York, when Isobelle finds the tiara with two receipts from a jeweler dated 1930, she sets off on a journey of discovery of her mother’s past, including information about her father. With the help of the jeweler’s grandson, Jules, Isobelle slowly peels back the layers of Sofiya’s life. Jules and his grandfather reveal that the tiara was part of the Romanov collection, so how did Sofiya end up with it? But soon Isobelle learns that Jules has an ulterior motive: he’s a member of a secret society that vows to return stolen art and jewels to their rightful owners. Isobelle knows her mother wasn’t a thief, but proving that is another matter.
Going back and forth in narratives, M.J. Rose weaves a tale that compels the reader to continue on to find out all the secrets. Of course, the reader knows the provenance of the tiara from reading Sofiya’s story, but Isobelle doesn’t, and that’s what makes the journey so interesting. The secrets of the tiara are more than Sofiya even knows. When a man from Sofiya’s past in Russia turns up, claiming to be Isobelle’s father, long thought dead in a Siberian prison, the mystery gets more tangled.
I did not see the ending unravelling the way it did. What started out as a historical novel with a mystery and two love stories ends up like a Dan Brown novel, with intrigue and adventure thrown in. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending, although I found the very last entry unnecessary and out-of-place for the plot.
I can imagine future books for Jules and his Midas Society and would gladly read them.
It’s not just American or British history that I’m interested in, I also dabble a bit in Russian history, especially during the Russian Revolution of 1917 that led to the capture and killing of Tsar Nicholas and his family. So when I saw The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose being offered on NetGalley and Blue Box Press for my honest review, I took a chance. The Last Tiara will be released to the general public February 2, 2021.
From the publisher: “Sophia Moon had always been reticent about her life in Russia and when she dies, suspiciously, on a wintry New York evening, Isobelle despairs that her mother’s secrets have died with her. But while renovating the apartment they shared, Isobelle discovers something among her mother’s effects—a stunning silver tiara, stripped of its jewels.
Isobelle’s research into the tiara’s provenance draws her closer to her mother’s past—including the story of what became of her father back in Russia, a man she has never known. The facts elude her until she meets a young jeweler, who wants to help her but is conflicted by his loyalty to the Midas Society, a covert international organization whose mission is to return lost and stolen antiques, jewels, and artwork to their original owners.
Told in alternating points of view, the stories of the two young women unfurl as each struggles to find their way during two separate wars. In 1915, young Sofiya Petrovitch, favorite of the royal household and best friend of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, tends to wounded soldiers in a makeshift hospital within the grounds of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and finds the love of her life. In 1948 New York, Isobelle Moon works to break through the rampant sexism of the age as one of very few women working in a male-dominated profession and discovers far more about love and family than she ever hoped for.”
I had a hard time putting down The Last Tiara. From the beginning of Sofiya and Isobelle’s journeys, I wondered how they would end. Of course, we find out how Sofiya came to have the tiara (a gift from Grand Duchess Olga), but Isobelle doesn’t. And we don’t know how Sofiya met Isobelle’s father until the story progresses. Isobelle is in the dark about her mother’s past, and slowly uncovers clues that lead to more questions than answers.
In 1948 New York, when Isobelle finds the tiara with two receipts from a jeweler dated 1930, she sets off on a journey of discovery of her mother’s past, including information about her father. With the help of the jeweler’s grandson, Jules, Isobelle slowly peels back the layers of Sofiya’s life. Jules and his grandfather reveal that the tiara was part of the Romanov collection, so how did Sofiya end up with it? But soon Isobelle learns that Jules has an ulterior motive: he’s a member of a secret society that vows to return stolen art and jewels to their rightful owners. Isobelle knows her mother wasn’t a thief, but proving that is another matter.
Going back and forth in narratives, M.J. Rose weaves a tale that compels the reader to continue on to find out all the secrets. Of course, the reader knows the provenance of the tiara from reading Sofiya’s story, but Isobelle doesn’t, and that’s what makes the journey so interesting. The secrets of the tiara are more than Sofiya even knows. When a man from Sofiya’s past in Russia turns up, claiming to be Isobelle’s father, long thought dead in a Siberian prison, the mystery gets more tangled.
I did not see the ending unravelling the way it did. What started out as a historical novel with a mystery and two love stories ends up like a Dan Brown novel, with intrigue and adventure thrown in. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending, although I found the very last entry unnecessary and out-of-place for the plot.
I can imagine future books for Jules and his Midas Society and would gladly read them.
enticingtitles's review against another edition
4.0
If you have always been intrigued by the mystery of the Romanov family (and obsessed with the movie Anastasia), then M.J. Rose's "The Last Tiara" is the book for you. Told through dual timelines we learn about how this mysterious tiara plays a role in the Moon family past.
Sofiya's early life brings her in close contact with the Romanov family, especially the daughters Olga and Tatiana. Her timeline explains how the tiara came to be in her possession and what it meant to her. Isobelle's timeline begins with her reeling from her mother's untimely death and being left with no knowledge of her life prior to living in America. During her work renovating their shared apartment, Isobelle finds the tiara hidden in the wall and begins to dig into why it was there, why her mother hid it all these years, and all the other secrets her mother kept from her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and loved how Rose entwined the story with the Romanov history and mystery.
Sofiya's early life brings her in close contact with the Romanov family, especially the daughters Olga and Tatiana. Her timeline explains how the tiara came to be in her possession and what it meant to her. Isobelle's timeline begins with her reeling from her mother's untimely death and being left with no knowledge of her life prior to living in America. During her work renovating their shared apartment, Isobelle finds the tiara hidden in the wall and begins to dig into why it was there, why her mother hid it all these years, and all the other secrets her mother kept from her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and loved how Rose entwined the story with the Romanov history and mystery.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
An entertaining historical fiction story about secrets in the past and a mysterious tiara linked to the end of the Russian dynasty. Definitely recommend for fans of Russian history or a good art heist plot.
kdurham2's review against another edition
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two storylines, both in the past. Sophia Moon lived in St Petersburg, Russia as the world was falling apart and with her close proximity to the royal family of Tsar Nicholas II, she had a unique perspective on the family's final days. Isobelle her daughter has returned to NYC where her mother fled when she was just an infant and is dealing with the ramifications of the unexpected death of her mother and the secrets that she left behind.
What made this book feel unique other than where and when it took place was that both storylines were historically set. Even Isobelle's storyline was more contemporary, she was living in NYC in 1949. I think having her story be historical helped because she didn't have all the technology at her fingertips and it also made her have her own storyline with her involvement in the development of Oak Ridge, TN and her uniqueness as a woman architect at the time. She had substance while also diving into her mother's past.
Two storylines, both in the past. Sophia Moon lived in St Petersburg, Russia as the world was falling apart and with her close proximity to the royal family of Tsar Nicholas II, she had a unique perspective on the family's final days. Isobelle her daughter has returned to NYC where her mother fled when she was just an infant and is dealing with the ramifications of the unexpected death of her mother and the secrets that she left behind.
What made this book feel unique other than where and when it took place was that both storylines were historically set. Even Isobelle's storyline was more contemporary, she was living in NYC in 1949. I think having her story be historical helped because she didn't have all the technology at her fingertips and it also made her have her own storyline with her involvement in the development of Oak Ridge, TN and her uniqueness as a woman architect at the time. She had substance while also diving into her mother's past.
seachell1's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for an advanced reader's copy of this book for my honest review.
Alternating between 1915 Russia and 1948 New York City, The Last Tiara tells the story of a daughter learning about her mother's past through a mysterious tiara she found in her apartment after her mother dies in a mysterious accident.
I always enjoy a story told in two vocies, one in the past and one in the present. This book is no exception. Part mystery, part romance, part historical fiction. The characters are interesting and well written.
I received this book as an ARC, but it has since been published and is available now!
Alternating between 1915 Russia and 1948 New York City, The Last Tiara tells the story of a daughter learning about her mother's past through a mysterious tiara she found in her apartment after her mother dies in a mysterious accident.
I always enjoy a story told in two vocies, one in the past and one in the present. This book is no exception. Part mystery, part romance, part historical fiction. The characters are interesting and well written.
I received this book as an ARC, but it has since been published and is available now!
jlynnreadsandwrites's review against another edition
3.0
When Isobelle Moon discovers a tiara hidden away in her deceased mother's bedroom, she finds a clue to her mother's past. Sophia Moon (formerly Sofiya Petrovich) fled Russia after its revolution left the country torn apart. She spoke little about her past, finding it all too painful to revisit. Isobelle still aches to know about her mother's past and tries to learn something about her mother's life in Russia by learning about the tiara. Learning about the tiara, leads Isobelle to jeweler Jules Reed, an elegant man Isobelle finds herself attracted to though she is certain he has no interest in her.
This novel is told in two perspectives. Interspersed with Isobelle's journey in 1948 to learn about her mother's past, is Sofiya's own story. Sofiya's story begins in 1915 and stretches through the years of the revolution. We see Sofiya become a nurse, fall in love, and learn how she ended up in New York City, alone with her daughter, the man she loved left behind. The two narratives play off each other, leaving the reader knowing some of the answers Isobelle is searching for before she finds them.
I was drawn in by the exciting premise of this book and my own fascination with that period of Russian history but the novel itself didn't quite turn out how I hoped. There is a lot of explanation in this novel. Isobelle spends the first few pages of the novel explaining her life. While the information is important, the way it was delivered was not particularly exciting or engaging. This is a common refrain throughout the book, especially from Isobelle's perspective. (Not to mention some of the little details that were unnecessarily mentioned, such as what they ordered for lunch.) At times, I was also a bit confused by the timeline of the book. One example of this: it was never entirely clear to me when Isobelle was born and whether she was born in Russia or the U.S.
As an architect in the 1940s, Isobelle has to navigate a difficult world. One of the ways she does this is by downplaying her femininity. Partly, this is to blend in better with her male colleagues and, partly, it is simply how she prefers to dress and behave. I liked this aspect of Isobelle, as I always like women who push against societal expectations. However, Isobelle was a hard to like character for me. Despite the courage, persistence, and ambition it took for her to be an architect in this time period, she is a very insecure character. It takes so little to deflate her and while being ambitious and persistent are not mutually exclusive from insecurity, it seems to me she would have needed a sturdier backbone to make it as far as she has in her career. Isobelle is also convinced, to a fault, that men are not interested her. After one bad experience with a man who used her, Isobelle is now certain that no man could want her for who she is. I can understand how this feeling may develop in her character, in her circumstances, but she is so convinced and this refrain is repeated so often in the story that it is grating. Even when it is clearly in front of her face, she refuses to see or even imagine that a man could want her. Her lack of self-confidence and value is depressing. Isobelle does also seem to struggle with reading people and understanding their emotions but this is something more inferred than outwardly stated. If this aspect of her character was built out more than her inability to know if a man is interested could have been balanced by this part of her personality making her complete lack of self-confidence less grating.
I found Sofiya to be a more engaging character, though, still very surface level as Isobelle's character is. Sofiya is young, only nineteen, and I think it's easier to forgive younger characters for not having as much depth or for focusing almost entirely on one aspect of their life, because there is so much still left for a young character to learn. Sofiya is naive and has been raised in privilege. She has grown up friends with the Grand Duchesses through her mother, who teaches art. As her story opens, Russia is already upended by war and she and the two eldest Grand Duchesses have become nurses. This leads Sofiya on her journey to love and eventually to a life as a single mother in New York City.
There is an interesting mystery underlying this story. There is much to learn about the tiara and how it ended up hidden away in New York with no one but Sophia (she changed the spelling of her name once she reached America) the wiser. Isobelle and Jules make their way down the trail of the tiara's history as best they can. In the end, all questions are answered. The ending felt rushed and a little too neat to me but all of the questions were answered which is the most important piece of a mystery.
In the end, while this wasn't my favorite novel, I did feel compelled to finish it. I was especially interested in Sofiya's storyline and had the book been written entirely from her perspective, I would have found it more engrossing. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the relationship between Isobelle and Jules and did want to know how they discover all of the tiara's secrets.
I would recommend this book for those who prefer light reads, where most of the action is centered around a mystery. Despite my criticisms, I do think this is a book that many readers would enjoy as a fun historical mystery.
This novel is told in two perspectives. Interspersed with Isobelle's journey in 1948 to learn about her mother's past, is Sofiya's own story. Sofiya's story begins in 1915 and stretches through the years of the revolution. We see Sofiya become a nurse, fall in love, and learn how she ended up in New York City, alone with her daughter, the man she loved left behind. The two narratives play off each other, leaving the reader knowing some of the answers Isobelle is searching for before she finds them.
I was drawn in by the exciting premise of this book and my own fascination with that period of Russian history but the novel itself didn't quite turn out how I hoped. There is a lot of explanation in this novel. Isobelle spends the first few pages of the novel explaining her life. While the information is important, the way it was delivered was not particularly exciting or engaging. This is a common refrain throughout the book, especially from Isobelle's perspective. (Not to mention some of the little details that were unnecessarily mentioned, such as what they ordered for lunch.) At times, I was also a bit confused by the timeline of the book. One example of this: it was never entirely clear to me when Isobelle was born and whether she was born in Russia or the U.S.
As an architect in the 1940s, Isobelle has to navigate a difficult world. One of the ways she does this is by downplaying her femininity. Partly, this is to blend in better with her male colleagues and, partly, it is simply how she prefers to dress and behave. I liked this aspect of Isobelle, as I always like women who push against societal expectations. However, Isobelle was a hard to like character for me. Despite the courage, persistence, and ambition it took for her to be an architect in this time period, she is a very insecure character. It takes so little to deflate her and while being ambitious and persistent are not mutually exclusive from insecurity, it seems to me she would have needed a sturdier backbone to make it as far as she has in her career. Isobelle is also convinced, to a fault, that men are not interested her. After one bad experience with a man who used her, Isobelle is now certain that no man could want her for who she is. I can understand how this feeling may develop in her character, in her circumstances, but she is so convinced and this refrain is repeated so often in the story that it is grating. Even when it is clearly in front of her face, she refuses to see or even imagine that a man could want her. Her lack of self-confidence and value is depressing. Isobelle does also seem to struggle with reading people and understanding their emotions but this is something more inferred than outwardly stated. If this aspect of her character was built out more than her inability to know if a man is interested could have been balanced by this part of her personality making her complete lack of self-confidence less grating.
I found Sofiya to be a more engaging character, though, still very surface level as Isobelle's character is. Sofiya is young, only nineteen, and I think it's easier to forgive younger characters for not having as much depth or for focusing almost entirely on one aspect of their life, because there is so much still left for a young character to learn. Sofiya is naive and has been raised in privilege. She has grown up friends with the Grand Duchesses through her mother, who teaches art. As her story opens, Russia is already upended by war and she and the two eldest Grand Duchesses have become nurses. This leads Sofiya on her journey to love and eventually to a life as a single mother in New York City.
There is an interesting mystery underlying this story. There is much to learn about the tiara and how it ended up hidden away in New York with no one but Sophia (she changed the spelling of her name once she reached America) the wiser. Isobelle and Jules make their way down the trail of the tiara's history as best they can. In the end, all questions are answered. The ending felt rushed and a little too neat to me but all of the questions were answered which is the most important piece of a mystery.
In the end, while this wasn't my favorite novel, I did feel compelled to finish it. I was especially interested in Sofiya's storyline and had the book been written entirely from her perspective, I would have found it more engrossing. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the relationship between Isobelle and Jules and did want to know how they discover all of the tiara's secrets.
I would recommend this book for those who prefer light reads, where most of the action is centered around a mystery. Despite my criticisms, I do think this is a book that many readers would enjoy as a fun historical mystery.
jlynnreadsandwrites's review against another edition
3.0
Received an advanced reader's copy of this book through NetGalley.
When Isobelle Moon discovers a tiara hidden away in her deceased mother's bedroom, she finds a clue to her mother's past. Sophia Moon (formerly Sofiya Petrovich) fled Russia after its revolution left the country torn apart. She spoke little about her past, finding it all too painful to revisit. Isobelle still aches to know about her mother's past and tries to learn something about her mother's life in Russia by learning about the tiara. Learning about the tiara, leads Isobelle to jeweler Jules Reed, an elegant man Isobelle finds herself attracted to though she is certain he has no interest in her.
This novel is told in two perspectives. Interspersed with Isobelle's journey in 1948 to learn about her mother's past, is Sofiya's own story. Sofiya's story begins in 1915 and stretches through the years of the revolution. We see Sofiya become a nurse, fall in love, and learn how she ended up in New York City, alone with her daughter, the man she loved left behind. The two narratives play off each other, leaving the reader knowing some of the answers Isobelle is searching for before she finds them.
I was drawn in by the exciting premise of this book and my own fascination with that period of Russian history but the novel itself didn't quite turn out how I hoped. There is a lot of explanation in this novel. Isobelle spends the first few pages of the novel explaining her life. While the information is important, the way it was delivered was not particularly exciting or engaging. This is a common refrain throughout the book, especially from Isobelle's perspective. (Not to mention some of the little details that were unnecessarily mentioned, such as what they ordered for lunch.) At times, I was also a bit confused by the timeline of the book. One example of this: it was never entirely clear to me when Isobelle was born and whether she was born in Russia or the U.S.
As an architect in the 1940s, Isobelle has to navigate a difficult world. One of the ways she does this is by downplaying her femininity. Partly, this is to blend in better with her male colleagues and, partly, it is simply how she prefers to dress and behave. I liked this aspect of Isobelle, as I always like women who push against societal expectations. However, Isobelle was a hard to like character for me. Despite the courage, persistence, and ambition it took for her to be an architect in this time period, she is a very insecure character. It takes so little to deflate her and while being ambitious and persistent are not mutually exclusive from insecurity, it seems to me she would have needed a sturdier backbone to make it as far as she has in her career. Isobelle is also convinced, to a fault, that men are not interested her. After one bad experience with a man who used her, Isobelle is now certain that no man could want her for who she is. I can understand how this feeling may develop in her character, in her circumstances, but she is so convinced and this refrain is repeated so often in the story that it is grating. Even when it is clearly in front of her face, she refuses to see or even imagine that a man could want her. Her lack of self-confidence and value is depressing. Isobelle does also seem to struggle with reading people and understanding their emotions but this is something more inferred than outwardly stated. If this aspect of her character was built out more than her inability to know if a man is interested could have been balanced by this part of her personality making her complete lack of self-confidence less grating.
I found Sofiya to be a more engaging character, though, still very surface level as Isobelle's character is. Sofiya is young, only nineteen, and I think it's easier to forgive younger characters for not having as much depth or for focusing almost entirely on one aspect of their life, because there is so much still left for a young character to learn. Sofiya is naive and has been raised in privilege. She has grown up friends with the Grand Duchesses through her mother, who teaches art. As her story opens, Russia is already upended by war and she and the two eldest Grand Duchesses have become nurses. This leads Sofiya on her journey to love and eventually to a life as a single mother in New York City.
There is an interesting mystery underlying this story. There is much to learn about the tiara and how it ended up hidden away in New York with no one but Sophia (she changed the spelling of her name once she reached America) the wiser. Isobelle and Jules make their way down the trail of the tiara's history as best they can. In the end, all questions are answered. The ending felt rushed and a little too neat to me but all of the questions were answered which is the most important piece of a mystery.
In the end, while this wasn't my favorite novel, I did feel compelled to finish it. I was especially interested in Sofiya's storyline and had the book been written entirely from her perspective, I would have found it more engrossing. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the relationship between Isobelle and Jules and did want to know how they discover all of the tiara's secrets.
I would recommend this book for those who prefer light reads, where most of the action is centered around a mystery. Despite my criticisms, I do think this is a book that many readers would enjoy as a fun historical mystery.
When Isobelle Moon discovers a tiara hidden away in her deceased mother's bedroom, she finds a clue to her mother's past. Sophia Moon (formerly Sofiya Petrovich) fled Russia after its revolution left the country torn apart. She spoke little about her past, finding it all too painful to revisit. Isobelle still aches to know about her mother's past and tries to learn something about her mother's life in Russia by learning about the tiara. Learning about the tiara, leads Isobelle to jeweler Jules Reed, an elegant man Isobelle finds herself attracted to though she is certain he has no interest in her.
This novel is told in two perspectives. Interspersed with Isobelle's journey in 1948 to learn about her mother's past, is Sofiya's own story. Sofiya's story begins in 1915 and stretches through the years of the revolution. We see Sofiya become a nurse, fall in love, and learn how she ended up in New York City, alone with her daughter, the man she loved left behind. The two narratives play off each other, leaving the reader knowing some of the answers Isobelle is searching for before she finds them.
I was drawn in by the exciting premise of this book and my own fascination with that period of Russian history but the novel itself didn't quite turn out how I hoped. There is a lot of explanation in this novel. Isobelle spends the first few pages of the novel explaining her life. While the information is important, the way it was delivered was not particularly exciting or engaging. This is a common refrain throughout the book, especially from Isobelle's perspective. (Not to mention some of the little details that were unnecessarily mentioned, such as what they ordered for lunch.) At times, I was also a bit confused by the timeline of the book. One example of this: it was never entirely clear to me when Isobelle was born and whether she was born in Russia or the U.S.
As an architect in the 1940s, Isobelle has to navigate a difficult world. One of the ways she does this is by downplaying her femininity. Partly, this is to blend in better with her male colleagues and, partly, it is simply how she prefers to dress and behave. I liked this aspect of Isobelle, as I always like women who push against societal expectations. However, Isobelle was a hard to like character for me. Despite the courage, persistence, and ambition it took for her to be an architect in this time period, she is a very insecure character. It takes so little to deflate her and while being ambitious and persistent are not mutually exclusive from insecurity, it seems to me she would have needed a sturdier backbone to make it as far as she has in her career. Isobelle is also convinced, to a fault, that men are not interested her. After one bad experience with a man who used her, Isobelle is now certain that no man could want her for who she is. I can understand how this feeling may develop in her character, in her circumstances, but she is so convinced and this refrain is repeated so often in the story that it is grating. Even when it is clearly in front of her face, she refuses to see or even imagine that a man could want her. Her lack of self-confidence and value is depressing. Isobelle does also seem to struggle with reading people and understanding their emotions but this is something more inferred than outwardly stated. If this aspect of her character was built out more than her inability to know if a man is interested could have been balanced by this part of her personality making her complete lack of self-confidence less grating.
I found Sofiya to be a more engaging character, though, still very surface level as Isobelle's character is. Sofiya is young, only nineteen, and I think it's easier to forgive younger characters for not having as much depth or for focusing almost entirely on one aspect of their life, because there is so much still left for a young character to learn. Sofiya is naive and has been raised in privilege. She has grown up friends with the Grand Duchesses through her mother, who teaches art. As her story opens, Russia is already upended by war and she and the two eldest Grand Duchesses have become nurses. This leads Sofiya on her journey to love and eventually to a life as a single mother in New York City.
There is an interesting mystery underlying this story. There is much to learn about the tiara and how it ended up hidden away in New York with no one but Sophia (she changed the spelling of her name once she reached America) the wiser. Isobelle and Jules make their way down the trail of the tiara's history as best they can. In the end, all questions are answered. The ending felt rushed and a little too neat to me but all of the questions were answered which is the most important piece of a mystery.
In the end, while this wasn't my favorite novel, I did feel compelled to finish it. I was especially interested in Sofiya's storyline and had the book been written entirely from her perspective, I would have found it more engrossing. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the relationship between Isobelle and Jules and did want to know how they discover all of the tiara's secrets.
I would recommend this book for those who prefer light reads, where most of the action is centered around a mystery. Despite my criticisms, I do think this is a book that many readers would enjoy as a fun historical mystery.
broncoannee's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. The story alternates between the mother in Russia at the time of the Bolshevik uprising and the daughter in 1950s NYC. The story was nice enough, but the mother's story was told in third person and the daughter's in first. It made it feel uneven, particularly when the daughter was describing every little thing she did.
marbooks88's review against another edition
4.0
Isobelle knows almost nothing about her mother Sophia's life in Russia before she came to New York City so when she discovers a tiara, minus most of the jewels, when she is renovating her mother's bedroom after her tragic death Isobelle is determined to learn more. Told in alternating chapters, Sophia's life in Russia and Isobelle's quest to solve the mystery, the origin of the tiara is revealed. Will searching for the secrets of the past put Isobelle's life in danger? Fans of Fiona Davis will enjoy this story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review.