Rating: 
Summary: A welcome change!
Review: Although this is not one of my absolute favorite Heyer books, it is up there in the top 10. The characters are lively and their characterisations are a lot of fun - and true to their ages. Although the pace falters in some places, and the plot is - at times - frankly outrageous, Georgette Heyer brings it all together with her usual mastery: and makes no apologies at all for the outrageous plot devices. Not a book for a first time Heyer reader, but definately one for those readers who want to bridge between her Mystery and Regency genres to read.
Rating:
Summary: A Mixture of Regency Romance and Mystery
Review: Although this is not one of my absolute favorite Heyer books, it is up there in the top 10. The characters are lively and their characterisations are a lot of fun - and true to their ages. Although the pace falters in some places, and the plot is - at times - frankly outrageous, Georgette Heyer brings it all together with her usual mastery: and makes no apologies at all for the outrageous plot devices. Not a book for a first time Heyer reader, but definately one for those readers who want to bridge between her Mystery and Regency genres to read.
Rating:
Summary: An early Georgette Heyer
Review: At last, publishers are starting to print the novels of this author, the best of Regency novel writers. Her novels are admittedly the inspiration for modern day romance authors. Talisman Ring has much to recommend it: sprightly characters, a mystery to be solved, and two love stories. Ludovic and Eustacie are young and feckless, while Sir Tristram and his love are more sedate, but still entrancing. Those who read this novel for the first time are lucky to have found one of the great writers of the genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Infinitely memorable and wildly quotable
Review: Georgette Heyer has an eye for the ridiculous and in this wonderfully hilarious romp she let fly her full range of comic and romantic notions. Eustacie, a romantically inclined and altogether very young French girl is given in marriage by a death-bed promise to Sir Tristram - mild reluctance turns quickly into distaste for the scheme on both sides - Eustacie is shocked to find that Sir Tristram will neither ride ventre a terre to her deathbed, nor does he find the imaginative vision she conjures up of herself alone, and dressed maybe in white, being drawn in a tumbril to the guillotine, at all affecting. Realising the cause is hopeless, Eustacie runs away and gets caught up with a gang of smugglers, which happens to include her very wildly irresponsible cousin Ludovic - he promptly gets shot by Excisemen and...... well, writing about it here it all sounds vastly dramatic and far-fetched but Heyer writes with her tongue firmly in her cheek and she lets us in to the joke as well. She has such a light touch that the most seemingly ridiculous situation is never taken too seriously - you can truly suspend your disbelief and enjoy the story. Indeed, she does that with a great deal of irony for Sir Tristram is the least imaginative hero you might imagine. Were he to live now he would most definitely have belonged to the Skeptics Society. Events move to a local inn where a we meet the resolute and sparkling Sarah Thane, surely one of the most wonderful heroines Heyer has every created. Along the way we must solve a old crime that will clear Ludovic's name, search an old house for priests hole, escape numerous scrapes and help Sir Tristram mend his broken heart. A charming, funny, romantic mystery and full of great scenes to remember.
Rating:
Summary: Infinitely memorable and wildly quotable
Review: Georgette Heyer has an eye for the ridiculous and in this wonderfully hilarious romp she let fly her full range of comic and romantic notions. Eustacie, a romantically inclined and altogether very young French girl is given in marriage by a death-bed promise to Sir Tristram - mild reluctance turns quickly into distaste for the scheme on both sides - Eustacie is shocked to find that Sir Tristram will neither ride ventre a terre to her deathbed, nor does he find the imaginative vision she conjures up of herself alone, and dressed maybe in white, being drawn in a tumbril to the guillotine, at all affecting. Realising the cause is hopeless, Eustacie runs away and gets caught up with a gang of smugglers, which happens to include her very wildly irresponsible cousin Ludovic - he promptly gets shot by Excisemen and...... well, writing about it here it all sounds vastly dramatic and far-fetched but Heyer writes with her tongue firmly in her cheek and she lets us in to the joke as well. She has such a light touch that the most seemingly ridiculous situation is never taken too seriously - you can truly suspend your disbelief and enjoy the story. Indeed, she does that with a great deal of irony for Sir Tristram is the least imaginative hero you might imagine. Were he to live now he would most definitely have belonged to the Skeptics Society. Events move to a local inn where a we meet the resolute and sparkling Sarah Thane, surely one of the most wonderful heroines Heyer has every created. Along the way we must solve a old crime that will clear Ludovic's name, search an old house for priests hole, escape numerous scrapes and help Sir Tristram mend his broken heart. A charming, funny, romantic mystery and full of great scenes to remember.
Rating:
Summary: Comedic and romantic Romp in eighteenth century England
Review: Heyer really enjoys herself in this tightly woven tale of comedy, adventure and a touch of mystery thrown in. There are all the main elements of an eighteenth century bodice ripper - only no bodices get ripped and it is much more satisfying. Heyer knows how to play with characters and the elements to get the best out of it all. Her characters are wonderfully light and witty and the whole tale is just so difficult to put down. First off there is Eustacie who is an escapee from the French Revolution (although well before there was any danger thus breaking her romantic heart that she wasnever a romantic figure going to her death in a Tumbril). She is being set up for an arranged marriage with her cousin Sir Tristram - whose greatest wish is not to marry her at all. To escape this marriage she flees at night (despite terrible tales of the headless horseman which roams the nearby woods). In her flight she comes across a band of smugglers and her 'romantic' cousin Ludovic. There is the missing 'Talisman Ring' of the title of this book which will release Ludovic from years of exile as an accused (but naturally innocent) murderer. This book has one of my favourite Heyer heroines, the unshakeably prosaic Sarah Thane who steps in to help Eustacie clear her cousin Ludovic of murder and thus make them able to at last marry. In the meantime Sarah must work around the even more prosaic Sir Tristram. Heyer manages to turn the most ordinary events into wonderfully farcical situations. She has a coterie of secondary characters to support this - for instance the two sincere but bumbling Bow Street Runners, as well as Nye (the inn owner) and his deaf daughter. There is also a lovely turn by Sarah's self-contained brother who, despite being a stern upholder of the law being a JP, only cares seem to be food and good smuggled wine. The trouble with writing reviews is it never captures the essence of the humour and it is high in this one - I think Talisman Ring is one of Heyer's best. It was written in 1936 just before Heyer began her obsession with Regency Drawing room comedies - but this has the lightness of touch which her later Regency's such as Frederica, and The Grand Sophy have. It is all light and airy good fun. If you haven't read this one, then add it to the top of your Must Read list.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: I have most of the novels of Georgette Heyer, and this is one of my favorites. Heyer stuffs her books with period detail and language, but it's never heavy going -- she writes like a light screwball comedy in hoopskirts. I particularly enjoy the characters and conversations in The Talisman Ring. The ingenues (Eustacie and Ludovic) make for sparkling comic relief with their enthusiasms, but it's the mature lovers (Sarah and Sir Tristram) who shine in their witty courting dance. Adventure, romance, a lost heir and murder most foul -- what more could you ask for?
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: I have most of the novels of Georgette Heyer, and this is one of my favorites. Heyer stuffs her books with period detail and language, but it's never heavy going -- she writes like a light screwball comedy in hoopskirts. I particularly enjoy the characters and conversations in The Talisman Ring. The ingenues (Eustacie and Ludovic) make for sparkling comic relief with their enthusiasms, but it's the mature lovers (Sarah and Sir Tristram) who shine in their witty courting dance. Adventure, romance, a lost heir and murder most foul -- what more could you ask for?
Rating:
Summary: Witty, clever, romantic!!
Review: I have read and re-read all of Ms Heyer's books since I was a teenager in the 60's. This is one of her best. She is a master at creating colorful characters that we can all relate to. From Eustacie through Sir Hugh the characters delight and entertain with their notions of bending the moral branch. This book does not disappoint in the story line, the character portrayels or the description of life in England at that time! If you read any Heyer books, it should be this one (though don't neglect Bath Tangle, The Grand Sophy, Black Sheep or Frederica!).
Rating: 
Summary: I am a fan of Georgette Heyer
Review: I stumbled on this website by accident, I thought I was the only person in the world to read Georgette Heyer novels! I am amazed that people in America read them as well, I did not think taht they would transplant at all well. None of my friends read them, but I have since I was a teenager. Her Regency novels are my favourite, in England the dust jackets had an almond green cover with a small pastel painting in the middle, very pretty. I once painted the living room in my flat (sorry apartment) almond green, my favourite colour in honour of her books. Georgette Heyer was well known enough to have had a biography written about her after she died about 20 years ago. I love her books they are soul chocolate, perfect to read when feeling down in the dumps, beautifully written, witty and observant. Anyone for Georgette Heyer trivia? She was born in Wimbledon,in south London of all places, and her father was called George Heyer, he was a benefactor of Kings College Hospital, (a teaching hospital in S. London) I worked there for a while and stumbled on his name in the hospital chapel, carved on the wall. Georgette Heyer only had one son, he is a High Court Judge in the UK, Mr Justice Rougier (Rougier was her married name)quite well known and been involved in some high profile judgements. She was also half or quarter Russian. Ho hum what else can I add, hope this of interest to collectors of Georgette Heyer trivia!
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