The Emperor's Agent — Jo Graham

Courtesan, actress, medium -- spy. 1805: Europe stands poised on the brink of war. Elza is content with her life in the demi-monde, an actress and courtesan in the glittering society of France's First Empire, but when her former lover is arrested for treason, Elza is blackmailed into informing on her friends and associates. She has one alternative -- to become the secret agent of the most feared man in Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte! France's invasion of England is imminent, but a spy in the camp of the Grand Army threatens the secret plans. Taking the Emperor's commission to catch the spy means playing the deadly game of spy versus counterspy. However, this is no ordinary espionage, but backed by the power of the witches of England determined to hold England's sea wards against invasion. Only an agent who is herself a medium can hope to unravel their magic in time -- with the life of the man Elza loves hanging in the balance. From the theaters of Paris to the sea cliffs that guard the Channel, from ballrooms and bedrooms to battlefields corporeal and astral, Elza must rely on her wits, her courage, her beauty, and her growing talents as a medium for she must triumph -- or die! PRAISE FOR JO GRAHAM Based upon the real life of Maria Versfelt (alias Ida St. Elme) -- courtesan, actress and writer -- Graham's latest entwines history, romance and a delicious dollop of fantasy. Sexy and dashing. -- Kirkus Review on The General's Mistress (This) story will confirm Graham's place in the highest ranks of historical fantasists. -- Publisher's Weekly on Stealing Fire Graham's ability to bring history to life is truly remarkable -- Romantic Times Book Reviews on The General's Mistress Graham's spare style focuses on action, but fraught meaning and smoldering emotional resonance overlay her deceptively simple words. -- Publisher's Weekly on Black Ships The General's Mistress is a gorgeous book, a tumultuous moment in history seen through the eyes of a woman who is living both in and beyond her own time. Like Elza, the book manages to straddle the modern-day and the past to be both authentic and accessible to the readers. The result is a beautiful, sensual journey of a woman with many names trying to find her true identity. -- Geek Speak Magazine on The General's Mistress