"Tales of King Arthur and the Lady of Shalott provide inspiration for this latest gripping installment in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series. Just four days wed, the aristocratic investigator and his fiercely independent bride, Hero Jarvis, become caught up in a twisted intrigue involving ancient legends and a deadly family curse.
"Regency England, August 1812: Sebastian's plans to escape the heat of London for a honeymoon are shattered when the murdered body of Hero's good friend Gabrielle Tennyson is discovered drifting in a battered boat at the site of a long-vanished castle known as Camlet Moat. A beautiful young antiquary, Miss Tennyson recently provoked an uproar with her controversial identification of the island as the location of Camelot. Missing and presumed dead are also Gabrielle's two young cousins, nine-year-old George and three-year-old Alfred.
"Still struggling to define the nature of their new marriage, Sebastian and Hero find themselves occasionally working at cross-purposes as their investigation takes them from London's medieval Inns of Court to its grimy back alleys, and from a newly built country estate to a rural enclave where ancient Celtic beliefs still hold sway. Probing deeper, Sebastian discovers dark secrets at the heart of the Tennyson family and an enigmatic young French lieutenant who is concealing mysteries of his own.
"As Sebastian and Hero race to unmask a ruthless killer and unravel the puzzle of the missing children, they soon realize that both their lives and the growing love for each other are at risk, threatened by powerful men in high places...and by a tall, dark stranger who may hold the key to Sebastian's own parentage."
This is, unfortunately, another severely delayed review. I finished reading this book in August of 2019 and, as I mentioned in another review I just posted, I was so frustrated with myself for having accidentally deleted a rather lengthy review that I simply stopped reviewing my books as I read them (that, and I was extremely distracted because we were also purchasing a new home and I was 6 months pregnant in August!). *Edit: I was able to figure out how to backdate my review to post on the correct date that I finished this book; the review was written on May 19, 2020.
This was a fitting installment in the Sebastian St. Cyr series of period mysteries. As always, Harris did not disappoint with her rich, captivating narrative and complex plot. She remained true to her brilliant, headstrong characters and darkly twisted mystery. I was exited to see Arthurian mythology playing a prominent role in this particular story. As a bit of a British literature and history buff, I don't think we see much of an acknowledgment of this in popular literature (unless someone blatantly chooses to write about it with characters and plots specifically set within said mythology). I even once wrote an entire presentation on the importance of the Arthurian legend in British culture -- specifically how King Arthur makes a resurgence in times of need and strife. He represents a very specific brand of nationalism (and this happens to tie in perfectly with the plot of this particular book!). I loved how much this came into play - not only with Gabrielle's claims that Camlet is THE Camelot, but with the mystery surrounding the circumstances of her death.
The plot takes you in a winding journey from suspect to suspect - each seemingly more guilty than the last. All the while, the simmering tension and desire between Sebastian and Hero is at war with their respective desires to be "in charge." Each is brilliant in his/her own right, yet they cannot seem to let go of the longstanding battle of wills that stands between them. As they attempt to work together to solve this mystery, they discover the growing strength of their own relationship and fresh marriage. This presents a nice undertone to the mystery and tragic murder of Hero's friend.
In this case, solving the murder is not enough. There is still the matter of the missing boys. Who has the means and motive to kill the intelligent young woman and kidnap her cousins? What role does the dashing Frenchman play in all of this? Could a jealous relative be behind the murder, or is there something much larger at play here? Could Hero's father have been behind it all along? If so, what does that mean for the relationship between Hero and Sebastian; or Hero and her father, for that matter?
Another undercurrent in this book is the mystery surrounding Sebastian's true parentage. We encounter a very intriguing stranger who may just have all the answers -- if he was willing to talk...
The multifaceted nature of this story (in fact, the entire series) makes for a very compelling read. The period nature of this plot creates a dark and gritty (almost gothic) setting, perfect for those of us who have an interest in period literature. The characters are all richly crafted and the mysteries are complex and keep you guessing until the very end. Overall, I am still thrilled with this series and look forward to moving to the next one.