<p> A remarkable debut novel rich in atmosphere, color, and suspense, Caro Peacock's <i>A Foreign Affair</i> is an irresistible blend of history, adventure, and ingenious invention that brings an extraordinary new writer&#8212;and a truly endearing and unforgettable heroine&#8212;to the literary stage. </p> <p> The year is 1837. Queen Victoria, barely eighteen, has just ascended to the throne of England, and a young woman named Liberty Lane has just had her first taste of true sorrow. Refusing to accept that her gentle, peace-loving father has been killed fighting a duel, she vows to see justice done. . . . </p> <p> The trail she follows is a twisting and dangerous one, leading the spirited young Englishwoman into an intricate weave of conspiracy. Contacted by secret agents, she is asked to pose as a governess in order to infiltrate cold, rambling Mandeville Hall and spy on its master, Sir Herbert Mandeville, who is at the center of a treasonous plan. </p> <p> Nothing at the hall is what it seems, and every turn reveals another deceit, another surprise, another peril, leaving Libby to wonder who to trust and embroiling her in a deadly affair that could destroy the young queen and place Libby herself in mortal peril. . . . </p>