“As he edges closer to the truth – and one murder follows
another – he confronts a conspiracy that imperils those nearest him and
threatens to bring down the monarchy.”
*I wrote this review on 1/21/19. We're only in February and I've already messed up my monthly reading count for the year! We've, unfortunately, had a lot of tragic things going on lately and they've yanked me away from any of my simple pleasures in life -- my reading and reviewing being among the most important. A few weeks later and I'm finally getting around to actually posting this review. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I think it's a great addition to the Sebastian St. Cyr series and an excellent segue from the first installment.*
This is the second installment in the Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery series and it fits in quite smoothly with the beginning of the series. We encounter Sebastian, Viscount Devlin, a few months after the conclusion of his first investigation (and the clearing of his name). While life has returned to some semblance of normal for Devlin – he’s taken on Tom as his tiger and he’s begun a comfortable (if somewhat secretive) relationship with the love of his life, Kat Boleyn – it cannot last. While in attendance at a party thrown by the Prince Regent, the guests are thrown into chaos when Prinney is discovered with a beautiful, young, dead woman in his arms. There are those who would suspect that Mad King George’s insanity is catching – that his heir is just as twisted and addled – but those behind the monarchy do their best to deflect suspicion by insisting the marchioness died by suicide. By knife. In her back.
Given the suspicious circumstances, Jarvis invites Devlin to
examine the situation and the body; it quickly becomes apparent to the
intelligent, observant viscount that the death is not all that it seems to
be. As the investigation begins in
earnest, it is obvious that suicide was not the manner of death…and that Devlin’s
past may very well have come back to haunt him.
Similar to the first installment, this book is filled with
twists and turns that keep you guessing pretty much up until the very end. The plot is multifaceted and complex, making
for a well-paced and exciting read. The
suspects were continually changing and shifting. I would bet that Devlin was right in his
suspicion of someone only to have my mind changed in a chapter or two; then, I
would believe someone innocent only to have new, damning evidence come to
light. It was a rollercoaster of a book
filled with intrigue, subterfuge, and a nefarious subplot. Could the Prince Regent have lost his mind
and killed a woman who didn’t accept his advances? Or is there something more sinister afoot – a
plot attempting to discredit the monarchy and be rid of the lush, unsteady
Regent? Set against the backdrop of a
tumultuous England unsure whether the virus of revolution will spread from
France, these are troubled times where danger lurks around just about every corner.
In addition to Devlin (of course), this book also sees the
return of Kat and Tom. Devlin has made
Tom his tiger and the boy has taken to his role. It’s clear how much he admires and
appreciates Devlin, and witnessing Devlin’s attachment to the quick-witted lad
is touching and humanizing. He doesn’t
play as large a role in this book, but he does manage to help with the
investigation – and land himself into some peril. The romance between Kat and Devlin has
blossomed once more in the months between the first book and the second. I enjoy the degree to which their
relationship features thus far in the series.
There’s enough to make us realize the depth of their attachment and
passion – to see just how they can be true helpmates to one another – but it
doesn’t take over the plot or turn it into a romance novel. I enjoy their dynamic and the diversity of
their backgrounds. Devlin doesn’t care
what society will think of their relationship, while Kat, on the other hand,
isn’t willing to risk Devlin’s future by marrying him – not to mention she has
a dark secret of her own, one she doesn’t believe he’ll ever be able to
overlook.
Overall, I found the plot exciting and fast-paced. The rapid twists and turns kept me guessing,
which, I suppose, is the best anyone can hope for in a book of this genre. The setting (mainly London) is vivid and
richly-crafted, playing to all of your senses, often engulfing you in Devlin’s
world and experiences.
One comment I do feel I must make is that Devlin is chased
quite a bit in this book. And by “quite
a bit,” I mean “a lot.” Almost to the
point of excessive. I feel like he made
a run for it every couple of chapters. It
wasn’t quite to the point of being inauthentic and I do realize that the plot
involved a complex network of some very bad men who would do anything to
protect their aim, but it did seem to take up a good amount of the story. It went something like, “Oh, Devlin is going
for a night out. Oh, no! Someone is after him.” A few chapters later: “He’s following another lead and…he’s being
chased again! Hope he makes it out okay!” A few chapters later, “He’s off again! And…he’s being chased. Again.”
Catch my drift? Additionally,
there was another murder mentioned in this book. I may have missed something, but it felt very
unresolved and almost forgotten by the conclusion. Maybe it was a set up for another book? We’ll just have to wait and see!
Overall, this was a very good book. It has mystery, history, intrigue, murder,
complex plot twists, subterfuge, and a touch of romance. While I will admit that I found the end of
the book came on rather suddenly, I still find the book worthy of the read. I’m particularly excited to see what some of
the discoveries mean for Devlin’s own future – and past. This is worth the read for fans of period
books, mysteries, and those who aren’t too squeamish (since this book does deal
with a grisly murder and the darker sides of London’s underbelly).
