We return to the heroine of The Blackstone Key, Mary Finch, for another dose of drama and derring-do. ... The author really evokes the period in time while giving us a feisty heroine to root for.
Reviews of The Counterfeit Guest
Lovereading.co.uk
This intriguing and entertaining read is filled to the brim with suspense and drama, and is definitely one not to be missed!
The People's Friend
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.
Lancashire Evening Post
... Melikan's sprightly sequel to The Blackstone Key ... the novel's confident voice, quirky characters and sparkling period detail should keep fans of light historical thrillers turning the pages.
Publishers Weekly
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.
Booklist
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!'
Hour Detroit Magazine (November 2009)