Martha Ray was born in 1746. Her father was a corset maker, and her mother was a servant for a noble family. She was considered to be a talented singer and a beautiful girl. She began an affair with John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, moving in with him when she was seventeen. The Earl supported her in completing her education, as well as fathering nine children. Only five survived. While the Earl was legally married, his wife was suffering from mental illness, and he lived as a married couple with Martha Ray. Martha was murdered at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England on April 7, 1779. She was 32 years old.

I bought this book at my favorite local used bookstore. I can't remember how much I paid for it, but it was worth whatever I did pay. This book was well researched, and very interesting. I love old murder cases, and I also love books about royals and nobles. Marth wasn't either, but her proximity to nobility as a mistress of a noble is interesting. I really enjoyed this book.