In a sideways move branching off her excellent Rockliffe novels "A Trick of Fate" is the first in the new Brandon Brothers series. The focus moves to Max Brandon (brother to Arabella Brandon from "Cadenza") and the story opens at his estate in Yorkshire, where Max has discovered that he is the victim of eighteenth-century style identity theft. While trying to deal with this problem he receives a visit from Frances Pendleton, the love he lost five years previously and who is now angrily accusing him destroying the job prospects of her younger brother.

I really loved this delightful story from a very talented author. In addition to the gorgeous characters of Frances and Max and their wonderful love story, I particularly like the mystery element, the road tour of the Scottish borders, the interactions of the family and the excellent dialogue.

Max and Frances’s romance sparkles throughout the novel. I like the flashbacks telling their back story and love seeing the characters’ internal thoughts. The author is so clever in revealing the character of her protagonists and the development of their story through their words and actions rather than tell us through description. It has much more immediacy and involves the reader more closely in the story.

As someone who reads a lot of crime novels, I was thoroughly engaged by the “mystery element” of Grey’s outrageous antics. I loved the suspense of wondering what he would do next, who was he and how he would get his comeuppance. This certainly added piquancy to the story. I rather enjoyed Grey’s character. From the beginning he shows inventiveness and an engaging sense of humour.

I think the road trip element was inspired. Not only does Grey’s merry dance move the plot along (literally and figuratively) but it gives us a fantastic opportunity to see Max and Frances’s story develop. The intimacy of the coach and the anonymity of wayside inns enable Max and Frances to rediscover each other. The dialogue in these sections is particularly strong. I love their sense of humour and that feel they are each other’s equal. Max is masterful but that is understandable given his responsibilities and it is nicely balanced by a barely concealed vulnerability in his need of Frances.

I always love re-entering the Georgian world that Ms Riley creates. It is wonderful to meet old friends from earlier books and catch up on their lives. In this story we learn a little more about Ralph and Lizzie Sherbourne and meet again the delightful Chalfont children. However, the author is also so skilled in creating new people for us to love. She has fleshed out minor characters from earlier stories so that they spring to life: Max’s brother Leo, his mother Lady Louisa and his steward, Duncan are wonderful additions. I also really enjoyed the author’s handling of Lady Pendleton who really shone in all her ghastliness.

You don’t need to have read Ms Riley’s earlier works to enjoy this lovely book. It is a strong story and one I know I will read again and again. However, if you have not read any of the author’s other works, I urge you to do so. The Rockliffe series – six delightful Georgian romances – do provide excellent background for this story. I would also strongly recommend Ms Riley’s Roundhead and Cavalier novels which bring to glorious life the turbulent events and romances of the English Civil War and you will also meet Max’s 5x great grandparents and see from whom he inherits his strength, intelligence and compassion.

I just love Ms Riley's writing and cannot think of another author whose books I look forward to reading with such joy and excitement. She always delivers a thoroughly engaging and satisfying read. "A Trick of Fate" sits happily alongside all Ms Riley's novels. I heartily recommend it. ( )

This was a pleasant read, with likeable main characters who actually spoke to one another, so the 'big misunderstanding' of five years ago was cleared up very quickly. I believed in their relationship, even if I found their road trip together as 'cousins' a little unlikely for the period. The mystery plot sort of fizzled out (admittedly I did skim those bits). Although I see this is the first in a series, characters did crop up now and then (and tell their husbands they were pregnant for example) who had clearly wandered in from other books by the author. ( )