Reviews

Where Serpents Sleep by C.S. Harris

lizzicampdux's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A good use of twisting social and political threads.  

reikista's review against another edition

5.0

Hero Jarvis is researching why women enter prostitution and mets a well-born prostitute ina safe house that is attacked, and the woman dies in her arms. She gets Sebastian St. Cyr to help her find out about the woman, leading both of them to be involved with flophouses, bordellos and the underworld of London. Her life is threatened, and they are left to die by drowning.

cskerry's review against another edition

5.0

Loved the writing style. Very sherlock-holmes-esque, but a bit darker, and little harder for me to figure out whodunit. Totally recommend!

mostlyfated's review against another edition

5.0

My first book of the entire Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries that I read from beginning to end. Definitely read the series if you’re a fan of Regency mystery with a minor romance subplot. It is not necessary to start from Book 1 as each books gives a nice synopsis of the background of the characters and the overall main plot of what happened in previous books.

Definitely start with Where Serpents Sleep if you’re a fan of Hero Jarvis (which I am). I skipped Book 2 and Book 3 mainly because I just didn't want to read about Kat Boleyn and her tortured romance with Sebastian (not a fan of angst relationships and/or annoying female characters). Where Serpents Sleep is the book that really puts Hero on Sebastian’s map and give readers a great insight to her wonderful character. I knew Hero would be a great partner (in love and marriage) for Sebastian when she was first introduced in Where Angels Fall (Book 1).

C.S. Harris does a fabulous job of portraying all the details of Regency England in 1812 where even the dates are exact from the history books. The author’s solid command of historical events and flawless details of early 19th century London is evidenced at how well the the book (and series) flow and move. Not to mention the diction is perfect. Great job, C.S. Harris and I can’t wait to continue on this wonderful series.

iskanderjonesiv's review against another edition

4.0

Hero Jarvis, reform-minded daughter of the Prince Regent's cousin, enlists Sebastian St. Cyr's help in investigating the brutal murders of eight prostitutes.

Following a trail of clues from London's seedy East End to the Mayfair mansions of a noble family, the two must race against time to stop a killer whose ominous plot threatens to shake the nation to its very core?

**

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. The savage murder of eight prostitutes at a London house of refuge provides Sebastian St. Cyr with yet another challenging puzzle in Harris's outstanding fourth mystery to feature the Regency-era gentleman sleuth. St. Cyr, who's been despondent ever since a stunning personal revelation toward the end of 2007's Why Mermaids Sing, is roused from his funk by Hero Jarvis, the fearless and independent daughter of his mortal enemy. Jarvis, who was doing research at the house of refuge at the time of the murders and barely survived the massacre herself, asks for St. Cyr's help in tracking down those responsible. The amateur detective finds no shortage of suspects, ranging from the pimp of some of the dead girls to Bow Street magistrate Sir William Hadley, who had patronized them. While the developing attraction between St. Cyr and Jarvis is a little too predictable, Harris does a nice job of weaving the many plot strands together while exploring the complex character of her protagonist. (Nov.)
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From Booklist

Hero Jarvis, while doing research at Magdalene House, a refuge run by the Quakers for prostitutes in Regency England, narrowly escapes with her life when eight women living there are viciously killed, their murders concealed by arson. As one of the young women died in her arms, Hero decides she must determine why this victim, clearly wellborn, was working as a prostitute and why someone wanted her dead. Unfamiliar with murder investigations, she enlists the help of Sebastian St. Cyr, who has spent the last eight months trying unsuccessfully to deal with the loss of his lover. Sebastian, intrigued by the case and seeing the opportunity to anger Hero’s father, his sworn enemy, agrees to help her. The two investigate, both separately and together, in the slums and mansions of London, uncovering corruption and almost losing their lives on several occasions. The vividly described sights and sounds of Regency London, the stormy relationship between the well-developed main characters, and a complex mystery add to this fourth in the St. Cyr series. --Sue O'Brien

mamap's review against another edition

3.0

It's a serious topic - 8 prostitutes are killed - before the fire, but no one cares why except Hero Jarvis - so, of course, she brings in Lord Devlin.

It would be an r-rating in the movies for language (more than 2...).

The sordid is there in a father's mistreatment of his daughter.

ktaylor1164's review against another edition

4.0

I was getting a bit tired of the beautiful but oh-so-passive Kat, and the author pleasantly surprised me with the shift to Hero Jarvis. Love this character and love her interactions with Sebastian. Another good mystery, too.

bponsford's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

garnetofeden's review

4.0

My one lingering question:

Spoiler

What happened to Mary Driscoll and Hannah Green

?

Rating reviewed 12/26/2022.

constantreader471's review against another edition

4.0

4 .5 stars for another excellent book in this fine series which has never disappointed me. I won book 10 in this series 3 years go and have since been going to the library to read the rest of the series in order.
This book opens with a murder of a prostitute in a home for prostitutes run by Quakers who want to redeem them. There is a woman with the prostitute who is interviewing her. Hero Jarvis wants to gather evidence that most prostitutes are driven to prostitution by economic necessity, not poor morals. Once she has enough evidence, she plans to get friends in Parliament to introduce a bill providing assistance to poor women.
Hero's father is Charles, Lord Jarvis, cousin to the Prince Regent and the power behind the throne. He is more powerful than the Prime Minister, but prefers to operate in the shadows. She tells her father what happened. He calls in an operative and orders him to find the killers and kill them. But Hero wants to know who they are, and why they had to kill everyone in the Quaker home. She turns to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin and heir to Earl of Hendon. Devlin has investigated murders before with success, but he and Lord Jarvis despise each other and he is not friendly with Hero. However, he does agree to investigate.
The killers are ruthless and determined. They start killing anyone who might identify them, thwarting Devlin and Hero as they investigate. Devlin and Hero do discover who the killers are leading to a powerful climax. If you like historical fiction with authentic descriptions of 1812 England, then you will enjoy this series. I read this library book in 2 days.
One quote, describing a minor character: " She was a tall woman, taller even than her sonand just as lean, with a face that was all sharp planes and interesting angles accentuated rather than blurred by the passing of the years."