Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart

Airs Above the Ground

by Mary Stewart

A thrilling tale of adventure and deception set in 1950s Austria, from the queen of romantic suspense and author of Madam, Will You Talk?

'This zestful romantic adventure grips, amuses, frightens and delights' Sunday Telegraph

Vanessa March's husband Lewis is meant to be on a business trip in Stockholm.

So why does he briefly appear in newsreel footage of a fire at a circus in Vienna, with his arm around another woman?

Vanessa flies to Austria to find her husband - and inadvertently becomes involved in a mystery surrounding the famous dancing stallions of Austria's Spanish Riding School . . .

Praise for Mary Stewart:

'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times

'I'd rather read her than most other authors' Harriet Evans

'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent

'She set the benchmark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing' Elizabeth Buchan

Reader reviews of Airs Above the Ground:

'You feel you are there in the story. This made my holiday perfect'

'This book has it all . . . thrilling action in a stunning Austrian setting, I loved it'

'A cracking good story, beautifully written. This is a most satisfying read'

'Mary Stewart specialises in novels which have you alternately holding your breath as to what might happen, or chuckling to yourself. This is one of her best'

Reviewed by MurderByDeath on

3.5 of 5 stars

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Not her best work, but a fun read nonetheless.  More a straight up mystery than romantic suspense, and while the plot villain was obvious, Stewart at least had some fun misleading the reader about the plot itself.   Aside:  I bought this years ago at a FOTL sale for a dollar; when I finished reading it, I saw that it was published and printed 3 blocks from where I live now.  On its site now sits a 'home improvement store' - Bunnings, the Aussie answer to Home Depot.  A place a spit and swear about every time I have to visit it.  Now, it seems, I have even more reason to dislike it - I'd rather the book publishers were still there.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 5 May, 2020: Finished reading
  • 5 May, 2020: Reviewed