A Desperate Fortune - by Susanna Kearsley (Paperback)

About the Book

"Jacobite exile Mary Dundas is filled with longing--for freedom, for adventure, for the family she lost. When fate opens the door, Mary dares to set her foot on a path far more surprising and dangerous than she ever could have dreamed. As Mary's gripping tale of rebellion and betrayal is revealed to [amateur codebreaker Sara Thomas, she] faces events in her own life that require letting go of everything she thought she knew--about herself, about loyalty, and especially about love"--Amazon.com.

Book Synopsis

A New York Times Bestseller!

"I've loved every one of Susanna's books! She has bedrock research and a butterfly's delicate touch with characters--sure recipe for historical fiction that sucks you in and won't let go!"-- DIANA GABALDON, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander

Beloved New York Times bestselling author Susanna Kearsley delivers a riveting novel that deftly intertwines the tales of two women, divided by centuries and forever changed by a clash of love and fate.

For nearly three hundred years, the cryptic journal of Mary Dundas has kept its secrets. Now, amateur codebreaker Sara Thomas travels to Paris to crack the cipher.

Jacobite exile Mary Dundas is filled with longing--for freedom, for adventure, for the family she lost. When fate opens the door, Mary dares to set her foot on a path far more surprising and dangerous than she ever could have dreamed.

As Mary's gripping tale of rebellion and betrayal is revealed to her, Sara faces events in her own life that require letting go of everything she thought she knew--about herself, about loyalty, and especially about love. Though divided by centuries, these two women are united in a quest to discover the limits of trust and the unlikely coincidences of fate.

Other bestselling books by Susanna Kearsley:

The Winter Sea

The Rose Garden

The Firebird

Review Quotes

"A grand adventure...Susanna Kearsley just keeps getting better and better!" -- Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author

"Fans of historical spy fiction will enjoy the dangers risked by Jacobite sympathizers, while Kearsley's gentle drama and accurate detail are sure to satisfy lovers of historical fiction and romance." -- Publishers Weekly

"Kearsley is an expert at seamlessly merging contemporary and historical fiction... The colorful history and romance of the 18th century, combined with the contemporary mystery, create a tale readers will savor." -- RT Book Reviews

"Kearsley's decision to offer a fully developed, romantic lead with the perspective of Asperger's is a welcome and refreshing idea. Incorporating rich historical details that feel as vivid as the present enables readers to quickly lose sense of time as the author weaves threads from two eras into one dramatic tapestry." -- Library Journal

"Mary and Hugh's ending is one of the most moving I've read this year... this journey is worth the ride." -- Dear Author, "Recommended Read"

"Susanna Kearsley deftly conjures both historical intrigue and a contemporary heroine as unique as she is memorable." -- Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author