Monday, October 26, 2015

A Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love

Book Description: When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.
India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.
A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.
Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

My Thoughts:  What a mystery!  From the beginning of this read I became intrigued with India Hartley.  First of all, her name is so unusual. And secondly, she is an actress.  So is she always in a "pretend" mode? 
After her father's death she goes on tour to perform at theaters across the south.  But on the second night Arthur Sterling, her co-star, is shot dead on stage.  And India is accused of this crime.
Someone who wants to help India hires the most handsome lawyer in all of Savannah to defend India.
Phillip is a widower who needs more money from his law practice so that he can restore his plantation, Indigo Point.
Since India can't go anywhere without being mobbed.  The judge grants that she can reside at Indigo Point until her trail.
This is where the mystery evolves....a locked room, a slave girl's disappearance...an abandoned boat and a burned out chapel.  Secrets, secrets, with India on the trail.
This was quite an interesting read!  Actually, I couldn't put it down! Loved it!  

*This book was provided for review as part of the Thomas Nelson
Fiction Guild Team Challenge*
  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 13, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1401687598
  • ISBN-13: 978-1401687595


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