Scan barcode
chloebear21's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
cdb393's review against another edition
4.0
I won this book in a Goodreads first-read giveaway.
When I won this book I had only read the first two books in the series. I quickly read the next seven taking the risk that I may tire of the series by glomming it the way I did. I didn't need to worry. Every book in this series is so well-written and detailed. This book is no exception. I love the amount of research and historical detail in this book. It provides an interesting look into history without being dry. I loved the inclusion of Jane Austen as a character in this book. The discussion and play on the types of characters in her books was a welcome addition to the mystery. Besides the historical detail, the mystery was well thought out and not overly obvious which is always a plus.
I enjoyed seeing what Sebastian's and Hero's relationship had developed in to by this book. It's nice to see them as a normal, loving couple. I would have liked to have seen a little more of Paul Gibson's character but I'm sure that his arc will continue throughout the next books in the series.
This book is a great addition to a richly crafted mystery that also explores morality and the lines between right and wrong.
When I won this book I had only read the first two books in the series. I quickly read the next seven taking the risk that I may tire of the series by glomming it the way I did. I didn't need to worry. Every book in this series is so well-written and detailed. This book is no exception. I love the amount of research and historical detail in this book. It provides an interesting look into history without being dry. I loved the inclusion of Jane Austen as a character in this book. The discussion and play on the types of characters in her books was a welcome addition to the mystery. Besides the historical detail, the mystery was well thought out and not overly obvious which is always a plus.
I enjoyed seeing what Sebastian's and Hero's relationship had developed in to by this book. It's nice to see them as a normal, loving couple. I would have liked to have seen a little more of Paul Gibson's character but I'm sure that his arc will continue throughout the next books in the series.
This book is a great addition to a richly crafted mystery that also explores morality and the lines between right and wrong.
tita_noir's review against another edition
3.0
It took me forever to read this. I started it and put it down, picked it up again and then put it down... you get the drift. I finally finished it and realize why I had a hard time staying engaged. It felt like treading water.
Three main things happen in this book:
- There is a central mystery centered on a murderer who is decapitating people
- There is some old business between Devlin and a despicable character from his past
- There is family business
The central mystery really wasn't exciting. Sure a mad decapitator should be interesting. But ultimately the main mystery didn't create any real tension. Devlin basically questions a bunch of people. Some people lie, so he circles back and re-questions them with some new information her learned. Some of the people he questions end up dead. And so on.
And then there was the inclusion of Jane Austen and her brother as characters/witnesses and a possible suspect. And oh by the way, everyone is reading that book about an English upper class family that feels so authentic but the author is mysterious, who could it be? See what she did there? Yeah, that felt a little too meta. I think the intro of the Austens was the first place I put the book down.
The rather more interesting piece of the book is Devlin's hateration for an old enemy who did something incredibly murderous and heinous and is super smug about it. And his stupid wife too. This little side plot was interesting and I really wanted Devlin to get his inner Hulk on and smash something. But alas, he was too civilized.
Meanwhile the personal stuff moves along. I always enjoy the parts of Hero and Devlin's relationship and am liking how they are settling into parenthood. And normally in my review of these books, this is the part where I roll my eyes about Hero's father, Jarvis. But damned if he didn't do something really rather gangsta that I could get behind 100%. Now if he could just get over what ever it is that chaps his ass about Devlin. There is a place where that just feels over-done and tiresome.
And finally, there is a death of a character that made me take an entire star off this book. It felt rather premature and feels like it really diminishes some of the potential of the story going forward.
Boo. Hiss.
Three main things happen in this book:
- There is a central mystery centered on a murderer who is decapitating people
- There is some old business between Devlin and a despicable character from his past
- There is family business
The central mystery really wasn't exciting. Sure a mad decapitator should be interesting. But ultimately the main mystery didn't create any real tension. Devlin basically questions a bunch of people. Some people lie, so he circles back and re-questions them with some new information her learned. Some of the people he questions end up dead. And so on.
And then there was the inclusion of Jane Austen and her brother as characters/witnesses and a possible suspect. And oh by the way, everyone is reading that book about an English upper class family that feels so authentic but the author is mysterious, who could it be? See what she did there? Yeah, that felt a little too meta. I think the intro of the Austens was the first place I put the book down.
The rather more interesting piece of the book is Devlin's hateration for an old enemy who did something incredibly murderous and heinous and is super smug about it. And his stupid wife too. This little side plot was interesting and I really wanted Devlin to get his inner Hulk on and smash something. But alas, he was too civilized.
Meanwhile the personal stuff moves along. I always enjoy the parts of Hero and Devlin's relationship and am liking how they are settling into parenthood. And normally in my review of these books, this is the part where I roll my eyes about Hero's father, Jarvis. But damned if he didn't do something really rather gangsta that I could get behind 100%. Now if he could just get over what ever it is that chaps his ass about Devlin. There is a place where that just feels over-done and tiresome.
And finally, there is a death of a character that made me take an entire star off this book. It felt rather premature and feels like it really diminishes some of the potential of the story going forward.
Boo. Hiss.
jeannemurray3gmailcom's review against another edition
4.0
Continuation of Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. Great mystery. Great writing.
kathrynlikesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I loved that part of the plot revolved around Jane Austen, and some of the inspirations for the characters. I'm enjoying the slow untangling of the truth of Sebastian's birth as well.
vicki_s's review against another edition
3.0
Every time I read one more from this series I vow it's the last one. The murders and historical events are very interesting but our protagonist going around and interviewing everyone over and over is not- so better throw in a chase scene!
Tom had a few lines in this one which was nice and we are picking up an old thread we left off long ago that I'd forgotten about completely.
On to the next one?
Tom had a few lines in this one which was nice and we are picking up an old thread we left off long ago that I'd forgotten about completely.
On to the next one?
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
The year is 1813 and it is late at night in London. On a lonely path that leads to an edifice known as Bloody Bridge, a man by the name of Stanley Preston is found brutally murdered. His head had been cut off and displayed on the bridge. But why? And what was Preston, a wealthy man with humble roots and vaulting ambition doing in such a place that late at night. When Sir Henry Lovejoy, Bow Street Magistrate, asks Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin to help investigate, Devlin discovers a lead strap near the bridge. It is inscribed with the words "King Charles, 1648." Does this reference to the Stuarts mean there is a political aspect to the murder? And does the fact that Preston had a collection of the heads of famous people (Oliver Cromwell, for one) have anything to do with the manner of his death?
Meanwhile at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, the vault containing Henry VIII and Jane Seymour had been opened and the workmen were surprised to find a third coffin. According to the lead strapping, it contained King Charles I. And the king's head is now missing. Then, a doctor who was acquainted with Preston is also killed and beheaded. Is there a madman loose with an obsession with heads or beheadings? What possible motive could there be for killing both men in such a brutal way?
Then Devlin learns that his former Colonel--now Lord Oliphant, a man Devlin holds responsible for the brutal murder of nuns and orphans in Spain, is back in London after serving a stint as a Governor in Jamaica. Why was Oliphant recalled and what exactly was his connection to the dead men when they all were in Jamaica? When someone begins taking potshots at Devlin and his family, he has to wonder if he's making the killer uncomfortable or if Oliphant is just trying to tidy up any loose ends from his past.
Along the way, Devlin encounters a rather insightful spinster by the name of Jane Austen. She marks some very adroit observations that help the noble investigator look at events from a slightly different angle. She doesn't solve the mystery for him, but she does shine a light on certain facts.
On the plus side, I was very glad to see Devlin get a bit of redemption in the final scenes. In general, when the killers in these novels put anyone (beyond their initial, intended victims) in danger or Devlin's involvement in the investigation seems to focus the killer's sights on additional victims, Devlin is too late to save them. This time, he and Tom are able to mount an effective rescue of a woman and her son--who have been used by the killer as bait to trap Devlin. I'm also appreciative that a way was found to deal out justice to Oliphant--of a type that seems particularly appropriate to the kind of man he is. I did want him to be the murderer...but this works just as well.
It is always a pleasure to see Harris accurately use real people and events (with just a tad of poetic license) in her stories. It was especially pleasing to run across Jane Austen and her family in Who Buries the Dead. Davina Porter's reading of the audio novel gave voice to an Austen full of wit and insight such as we would expect from the author of Pride & Prejudice.
The mystery is very well done in this one. Plenty of red herrings and some nice twists on the clues that lead down unexpected paths. I also enjoyed the further developments in Devlin and Hero's relationship. Whether such an equal partnership would really have existed in Regency England is questionable, but it is very nice to see them love and respect one another's strengths and gifts. (If Harris kills off Hero in some future installment, I'll not forgive her) A very strong entry in the series ★★★★ and 1/2.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
Meanwhile at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, the vault containing Henry VIII and Jane Seymour had been opened and the workmen were surprised to find a third coffin. According to the lead strapping, it contained King Charles I. And the king's head is now missing. Then, a doctor who was acquainted with Preston is also killed and beheaded. Is there a madman loose with an obsession with heads or beheadings? What possible motive could there be for killing both men in such a brutal way?
Then Devlin learns that his former Colonel--now Lord Oliphant, a man Devlin holds responsible for the brutal murder of nuns and orphans in Spain, is back in London after serving a stint as a Governor in Jamaica. Why was Oliphant recalled and what exactly was his connection to the dead men when they all were in Jamaica? When someone begins taking potshots at Devlin and his family, he has to wonder if he's making the killer uncomfortable or if Oliphant is just trying to tidy up any loose ends from his past.
Along the way, Devlin encounters a rather insightful spinster by the name of Jane Austen. She marks some very adroit observations that help the noble investigator look at events from a slightly different angle. She doesn't solve the mystery for him, but she does shine a light on certain facts.
Spoiler
I would happily have given this installment five stars save for one thing. I do really get tired of authors killing off interesting characters. Harris has already killed off Russell Yates, the man who married and gave Sebastian's former lover Kat Boleyn protection from Lord Jarvis. Yates had a history of piracy and provided Sebastian with a source of information he would not normally have access to. And now we've decided to kill off Jamie Knox, the mysterious man who looked enough like Devlin to be his brother...and probably was (or at least half-brother). I had hoped we would eventually have a book that would explore that possibility more thoroughly and the interactions between the two would have been very good indeed in such an exploration. But now, if Devlin does wind up finding out the truth behind their similar looks, he will do so alone and I think the situation will be robbed of some of its impact. I can understand that we have a single hero in the novels--Devlin, but if Knox had died just after a momentous revelation of any sort, that would have been more powerful.On the plus side, I was very glad to see Devlin get a bit of redemption in the final scenes. In general, when the killers in these novels put anyone (beyond their initial, intended victims) in danger or Devlin's involvement in the investigation seems to focus the killer's sights on additional victims, Devlin is too late to save them. This time, he and Tom are able to mount an effective rescue of a woman and her son--who have been used by the killer as bait to trap Devlin. I'm also appreciative that a way was found to deal out justice to Oliphant--of a type that seems particularly appropriate to the kind of man he is. I did want him to be the murderer...but this works just as well.
It is always a pleasure to see Harris accurately use real people and events (with just a tad of poetic license) in her stories. It was especially pleasing to run across Jane Austen and her family in Who Buries the Dead. Davina Porter's reading of the audio novel gave voice to an Austen full of wit and insight such as we would expect from the author of Pride & Prejudice.
The mystery is very well done in this one. Plenty of red herrings and some nice twists on the clues that lead down unexpected paths. I also enjoyed the further developments in Devlin and Hero's relationship. Whether such an equal partnership would really have existed in Regency England is questionable, but it is very nice to see them love and respect one another's strengths and gifts. (If Harris kills off Hero in some future installment, I'll not forgive her) A very strong entry in the series ★★★★ and 1/2.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
pollyno9's review against another edition
3.0
Thee were a lot of subplots in this book that seemed ill-fitting. A lot of reference is made to St. Cyr's past, some of it relevant to the matter at hand, but. Lot of it felt like set-up for the next book. Usually I wouldn't mind more background, but the mystery had so many twists and turns and possible suspects that the extra background stuff kind of got lost in the shuffle.
gawronma's review against another edition
4.0
Another really great read from C.S. Harris. I really like the characters and story.