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Irina Shapiro
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The Folly Kindle Edition

by Irina Shapiro (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 647 ratings
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On a cold, December morning in 1815, the body of nineteen year-old Lady Elizabeth Flynn and her stepson, Captain Jeremy Flynn, are found floating in a lake on the Flynn estate. Sir Henry is devastated by the loss of his young wife and heir to the estate, especially since there is no evidence, no witnesses, and no apparent motive. But nothing is what it seems, and the gruesome find is only one link in a chain of events that started long before.

Forbidden love, family secrets, and betrayal have led to this moment, ending months of speculation and gossip and bringing it to a shocking conclusion.
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  1. Print length
    222 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    April 22, 2012
  5. File size
    424 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007WNTXGK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Merlin Press LLC; 1st edition (April 22, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 22, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 424 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 647 ratings

About the author

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Irina Shapiro

Irina Shapiro

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Irina Shapiro will be first in line if recreational time travel ever becomes a reality, but for now, she must rely on flights of imagination, traveling through time and space vicariously through her characters. Irina particularly enjoys stories set in the past, where the characters must navigate the volatile political climates of their time while still managing to live, love, and cause mischief.

Irina has always had a particular fascination with the paranormal, and explores some of these themes in her books. She believes that nothing is truly impossible; true love can transcend space and time, and live on forever.

Please visit Irina Shapiro at www.irinashapiroauthor.com to learn more about her titles and upcoming releases.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
647 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

DiF
5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting story
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2014
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Love, it seems, is always complicated, and, unfortunately, marriage not necessarily from love.
Especially around the turn of the 19th century. Marriages oft coerced, or even forced, due to saving a young lady's honor after an apparent indiscretion reached public scrutiny. Nothing untoward needed to actually occur, just its appearance.
But what if love should happen, through the back door, so to speak? Would it actually be possible to leave all of the unsavory life behind and start anew with love?
What consequences might ensue? Would such action even be safe?...or might vengeance drive threatening and opposing actions, even risking the end of life itself?
This story addresses all that and more. It is a love story, and an adventure. As well as a harrowing ride for safety as forces converge in attempt to end all for the young lovers. Yes, it is a nail-biting story, but not so much a murder mystery. Yet if lovers of that genre will ever be impressed by a love story, this is the book that will please, them.
It is exciting as well as heart-warming, and well worth the reading!
2 people found this helpful
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Pat. H
4.0 out of 5 stars A Regency Romance and Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2016
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I was a little concerned that I might not like this book since early on the bodies of a young, pregnant wife and her adult stepson are found murdered. Flashbacks are used to tell how all this came about. I have read enough mysteries that I can usually pick out the plots clues and know who the murderer is for most of a book. This book had me fooled from the beginning and I never would have guessed the ending--it was a total surprise for me.

I think the title, "The Folly" besides referring to a garden decoration by the lake near where the bodies are found, is also a metaphor for the mistakes many of the characters make in their lives and the lengths they go to pretend all is well even though others will be hurt by their selfish actions. The things they do might cover up their shamefulness and guilt but in the process they build a life that is foolish and false; it only looks good on the outside. The life they live is the true folly. Only those who can honestly face the truth are able to build a solid life for themselves; the others are simply trying to cover up their shame and live a life of lies to keep their "respectable" reputations.

Elizabeth is a young girl who will have her coming out during the next season. She and her parents are invited to a garden party at the home of her best friend. The two girls are happily planning what they will do when they go to London for the season, and dreaming of all the balls and parties they will attend. Elizabeth is happy to see her friend's brother has come home for the party and she spends a lot of time talking with him about his recent travels to the continent. As it starts to rain they run to a boathouse to keep from getting drenched and continue to talk about his travels. When the rain lets up they go to the house since the party has been moved indoors and are surprised to be greeted by her parents who are rather upset with her. People have been talking about the two of them disappearing together and her reputation has been compromised. Her parents insist on leaving immediately and when they get home Elizabeth is told she must marry immediately or the family will be ruined by scandal. She is shocked that her friend's brother will not speak up on her behalf and tell everyone nothing happened. But he has his own reason for letting people think he compromised Elizabeth. After all, it doesn't hurt the man's reputation to be thought a cad.

Elizabeth is forced to marry a man who is her father's age and has been his friend since they were young men. Even after going along with her parent's plan they still shun her and refuse to visit her in her new home. She becomes very lonely and only enjoys the days her husband is gone, taking care of business in town; until her husband's son from his first marriage comes home from the Napoleon wars. He is handsome, charming, and kind. She can tell there is something wrong with the relationship between father and son and tries to help them heal their relationship. But instead of making things better, she falls in love with her stepson and he with her. They want to run away together, but their bodies are found in the lake.

So who murdered them? Did the husband/father finally get angry enough with them to do it and make it look like someone else did it? Was it murder/suicide? Did he hire someone to kill them? Why did it take two months for their bodies to show up in the lake? Where were they all that time? There is so much more to the story but I don't want to ruin it for you. There is love, romance, ladies-of-the-night, murder, spies, death, and redemption. And a HEA on top of all that.

There is some rather explicit sex scenes but that is pretty much par for the course. It would definitely be R rated for sex if it was a movie, but it is a really good love story and a great mystery.
8 people found this helpful
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Allen
3.0 out of 5 stars So/so historical romance
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2021
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It's okay if you're into that sort of thing. No surprises to anyone who has read one or two of them.

I read it because I am a fan of the author's series, Raymond and Haze. It is light but fun and the mystery is good.
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Adam
5.0 out of 5 stars This is my 2nd time reading this book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2022
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This book was so wonderful when I read it 2 years ago. I’ve just finished my 2nd reading of it and I’ve enjoyed it as much as the 1st time!

Done miss reading this great story and many others written by this amazing author, Irina Shapiro👍
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Chuck Brider
4.0 out of 5 stars The Folly
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2022
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An interesting story of love, tribulation and a happy ending. The first half of the book was spent introducing the characters and once I got past that the story was quite good. Shapiro is one of my favorite authors. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
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Southport Summers
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent mystery and love story!
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2012
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I highly recommend this novel ! I found it to be quite the page turner! I love Gabaldon's Outlander series but sometimes grow weary of her many lengthy "detours" that only serve to lengthen the read not improve on it. Shapiro gets right to the point and sticks to the plot without failing to develop her characters. The plot takes on many unpredictable twists and turns that make the book hard to put down. I also enjoyed the insights on the moral philosophies of that time in history which made it so difficult for women to "survive". I have enjoyed Shapiro's other novels as well, but this was my favorite .
2 people found this helpful
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Nancy Moody
4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual Mystery!
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2021
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I chose this rating because of the sexually descriptive parts of this story. I prefer clean stories. I found this a rather dark. That said, the plot is well-developed, with many interesting twists and turns, and glimpse into people's lives, secrets and motives. Characters are very believable.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2021
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Love conquers all .. This story keeps you wondering what comes next hard to put down ... it's to keep you wondering what comes next .. Good read
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Top reviews from other countries

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アイスキャッスル
5.0 out of 5 stars 予想を裏切る怒涛の展開にハマります
Reviewed in Japan on December 28, 2018
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良い意味で予想を裏切られるお話。息子と若い後妻が不倫の末に心中かというシーンから始まり、あまり期待せずに読み始めたのですが、後半からは手に汗握る場面もあり、ハラハラドキドキの怒涛の展開に。
凄く楽しめました。こんなに安い値段で申し訳ない気も…
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julie gillam
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2013
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I would recommend this book to readers of historical fiction who like a love story. The characters are portrayed in such a way that you care what happens to them and the story had many twists and turns.
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mrshendy
1.0 out of 5 stars The Folly
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2014
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I found this book poor. The idea for the book was good. It rambled though and I found it hard to follow.
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