Reviews of All

...Melikan's lively, intelligent debut... Readers will eagerly look forward to the second and third volumes in this historical trilogy.

Sensible, intelligent, and forthright, Mary is a delightful new heroine to enjoy as Ms. Melikan begins her Mary Finch trilogy. Based on historical fact, THE BLACKSTONE KEY is a page-turning, excitement-filled mystery with a myriad of interesting characters and a gothic backdrop. Don't miss this excellent mystery.

The story line is fast-paced and vivid as 1795 England is brought to life. However, it is the support characters who Mary meets in her travels who turn THE BLACKSTONE KEY into a strong thriller. ... Fans will appreciate this deep late eighteenth century tale of intrigue.

... Rose A. Melikan's impressive new biography ... This book is particularly valuable for its detailed tracing of Eldon's political career in parliament and his relationships with his contemporaries, which draws on a wide range of source material. Melikan's is a well constructed, subtle and balanced argument, which often gives useful insights into his character. Dr. Melikan is to be thanked for producing a meticulously researched, long overdue biography in an elegant and eloquent style.

... a meticulously researched, long overdue biography in an elegant and eloquent style

... an obvious need for a well-researched and balanced study. After a gap of about 150 years we now have such a work in Rose Melikan's book ... Melikan reveals the range of his career and recsues him from caricature ... This result is an admirably detailed and convincing portrait ... This study has many merits. For the first time Scott emerges as a rounded personality, and his sustained influence upon the legal life of England and Wales becomes comprehensible.

Rose Melikan's debut is a delightful read... a book to relish over tea, with your feet up and an afternoon at your disposal.

All the style and ingredients of a classic tale with memorable characters and thrilling plot twists. It begins a trilogy of smuggling, spying and skulduggery with a plucky, rather impulsive heroine. Good fun.

Packed with excitement, twists and turns, The Blackstone Key is a highly entertaining book that is firmly rooted in historical fact. You are sure to find Mary charming and witty as she pursues her quest to solve a very intriguing mystery.

The Counterfeit Guest sees a welcome return for ... Mary Finch, whose adventures in the first of this entertaining series left us longing to meet up with her again. ... Beautifully written, packed with action and a host of fascinating characters, Melikan's fans can savour another delicious historical adventure.

There is more than a hint of Daphne du Maurier in Rose Melikan's rich and dramatic adventure tale set in the dying days of the 18th century. ... A Gothic adventure story with a rich cast of characters and a storyline to leave you guessing. Thrilling.

Mary Finch, the unlikely heroine of The Blackstone Key (2008), returns in another delightful foray into Georgian-era espionage and intrigue. ... The authentic period detail in this suspenseful novel of wit and manners will please both Austen enthusiasts and historical whodunit fans.

A 'refined gentleman' - elegant, mature, and frosty - mysteriously appears at a country-house funeral in 1790s England. His stealthy presence touches off a cloak-and-dagger plot in The Counterfeit Guest ... Melikan's novel is a well-researched drama with a pace that quickens as the tale progresses ... With characters isolated and limited to passing notes and mailing letters, readers may find themselves silently urging: 'Hurry up; he's coming!'

If Jane Austen had set out to write a whodunit, it would have been as smart, action-packed, well crafted and filled with unique characters as Melikan's second book featuring heiress Mary Finch.

The Counterfeit Guest (Touchstone, 2009), is the second volume in the Regency mystery series by Rose Melikan and its protagonist, Mary Finch, is just as engaging as ever...I spent a delightful time with Mary and her friends and look forward to the third volume in this trilogy. Highly recommended. ****

What makes this story so fascinating is its attention to historic detail.

The drama and suspense are terrific and the mystery that's woven through it all is irresistible. Mary Finch is one of those characters that you wish you could know in real life, she is a wonderfully kind hearted person, but has the heart of a lion and longs for adventure in her life.

Melikan's entertaining third historical thriller featuring Mary Finch ... Melikan successfully captures the spirit of the period while rooting her suspenseful espionage plot in actual events.

Melikan always steeps her excellent mystery stories in authentic period detail and fascinating facts, evoking time and place with precision and panache.  With a rich cast of characters and an all-action plot, The Mistaken Wife proves to be a happy marriage of romance and adventure.

Rose Melikan brings the period to life in her language, characters and fascinating historical detail...This reader anxiously awaits the third book in the series, with the hope that Mary Finch and her adventures will continue long after the next installment.

...this is an intriguing espionage novel that rings true...THE MISTAKEN WIFE is sure to please mystery fans with an interest in history.

This is a richly detailed and literate historical adventure story with a smart, spunky heroine.  The details of Finch's life are intriguing and the sense of time and place are very strong.