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veronica87's review
4.0
This series has done several things right from the start. I admit to being no expert on 18th century London (or 18th century anywhere for that matter), but this series has always felt "right" to me in terms of bringing the time period to life, with all of its sights, sounds, and smells. Sometimes very vivid smells. *wink* That said, my investment in this series sky rocketed with the last book (book 4), [b:Where Serpents Sleep|3142581|Where Serpents Sleep (Sebastian St. Cyr, #4)|C.S. Harris|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1389211885s/3142581.jpg|3174048], with the elevation of Hero Jarvis as a character to be reckoned with. Now I love Sebastian as well, and have since book one. He's smart, dashing, dangerous, and sexy but he's needed a woman who could well and truly hold her own against him. For my money, that woman is Hero. So yes, while this series works quite well as a historical mystery, I'm not going to lie...I'm in this for Sebastian and Hero now.
This book picks up roughly two months after book four and finds Sebastian drawn into trying to solve two murders, 30 years apart, at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his own Aunt Henrietta, the Duchess of Claiborne. I love Aunt Henrietta and I wish there was more of her in each book. She's a take-no-prisoners type of woman, a grand dame of high society, and she gives Sebastian the type of advice that he sorely needs to hear even when he doesn't want to hear it. I totally picture Maggie Smith a la the Dowager Duchess from Downton Abbey in my head when I read her parts. But I digress.
In the course of solving the latest murders, Sebastian unwittingly stumbles upon some pretty significant information about his past and his family. It's nothing that will come as a shock to readers as this reveal has been pretty well telegraphed since the first book still, it is interesting to read about Sebastian coming into this knowledge and how it upends his world. Some things are cleared up with the reveal but it also shakes the already fragile relationship between Sebastian and his father, the Earl of Hendon. Along with Sebastian and Hero, this father-son relationship is one I am also strongly rooting for, despite Hendon's wrong choices.
Kat continues to make the odd, but brief, appearance or two but I get the sense that she is going to be in rear view mirror from here on out at least as far as the major story arc goes. I just can't see that her character offers anything to the story, or to Sebastian, that can't be provided by one of the other characters. She does try to encourage the father-son relationship so I give her props for that.
But my most favorite bits were those that dealt with Hero...and with Sebastian trying to deal with Hero, lol. Hero is preoccupied with figuring out just how she is going to deal with some very real consequences stemming from the last book. Because if anyone can find a way, she can. Meanwhile, Sebastian spends his "free" time chasing her down from one London hot spot to another in his efforts to figure out the truth he is sure she is hiding. And all the while, there is the definite sense that while Hero exasperates and frustrates him, and he her, an attraction is growing as well as, perhaps, respect and a better understanding.
He had always thought of her as a formidable, intelligent woman of extraordinary courage and fortitude. But now, standing stiff-backed in the afternoon sunlight streaming in through the garden window, she looked suddenly vulnerable, and maybe a little afraid."
Bring on the next book!
**Re-read it in February 2014 and loved Sebastian and Hero just as much**
This book picks up roughly two months after book four and finds Sebastian drawn into trying to solve two murders, 30 years apart, at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his own Aunt Henrietta, the Duchess of Claiborne. I love Aunt Henrietta and I wish there was more of her in each book. She's a take-no-prisoners type of woman, a grand dame of high society, and she gives Sebastian the type of advice that he sorely needs to hear even when he doesn't want to hear it. I totally picture Maggie Smith a la the Dowager Duchess from Downton Abbey in my head when I read her parts. But I digress.
In the course of solving the latest murders, Sebastian unwittingly stumbles upon some pretty significant information about his past and his family. It's nothing that will come as a shock to readers as this reveal has been pretty well telegraphed since the first book still, it is interesting to read about Sebastian coming into this knowledge and how it upends his world. Some things are cleared up with the reveal but it also shakes the already fragile relationship between Sebastian and his father, the Earl of Hendon. Along with Sebastian and Hero, this father-son relationship is one I am also strongly rooting for, despite Hendon's wrong choices.
Kat continues to make the odd, but brief, appearance or two but I get the sense that she is going to be in rear view mirror from here on out at least as far as the major story arc goes. I just can't see that her character offers anything to the story, or to Sebastian, that can't be provided by one of the other characters. She does try to encourage the father-son relationship so I give her props for that.
But my most favorite bits were those that dealt with Hero...and with Sebastian trying to deal with Hero, lol. Hero is preoccupied with figuring out just how she is going to deal with some very real consequences stemming from the last book. Because if anyone can find a way, she can. Meanwhile, Sebastian spends his "free" time chasing her down from one London hot spot to another in his efforts to figure out the truth he is sure she is hiding. And all the while, there is the definite sense that while Hero exasperates and frustrates him, and he her, an attraction is growing as well as, perhaps, respect and a better understanding.
He had always thought of her as a formidable, intelligent woman of extraordinary courage and fortitude. But now, standing stiff-backed in the afternoon sunlight streaming in through the garden window, she looked suddenly vulnerable, and maybe a little afraid."
Bring on the next book!
**Re-read it in February 2014 and loved Sebastian and Hero just as much**
ocalderon's review
4.0
I think I hate it when I start a series before its complete. I can't help it. I hate waiting. Enough whining. I really like this series. The characters are complicated and really push the plot along. The character development is ongoing and the mysteries are engaging. The romantic aspect of the books is interesting in that it plays a backseat role to each of the stories, but at the same time is sort of always there lurking. I am also fascinated by the choices made by the female protagonist. I can't decide if her choices are truly reflective of the period. In any case, I highly recomment this series but sort of wish she wrote faster or I read slower.
ladyhighwayman's review
4.0
What Remains of Heaven is the fifth and latest installment in the Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries, and is another winner.
It's 1812 and this time Sebastian is sought out by his own aunt to help in a murder case. Two corpses have been found in an ancient crypt - one fresh, one there for decades. Are the murders related or was it pure coincidence?
Sebastian again finds himself plunged into London's seedy underworld, coming across the lowest of the low. One unique suspect he comes across is a son of an American founding father. Another suspect is stalking Sebastian, sought out on revenge of an event from the past.
There isn't as much action as there is in the previous books, but once it finally pops up, boy is it good. That is one thing that is ace about these books: spectacular action sequences. Fantastically intense and exquisitely paced.
In the course of his investigation, Sebastian not only finds out long buried secrets connected to these two corpses, but secrets about his own family, that make him question his own existence. Events in this book will forever change Sebastian's life and I can not wait until the next book in the series is released!
It's 1812 and this time Sebastian is sought out by his own aunt to help in a murder case. Two corpses have been found in an ancient crypt - one fresh, one there for decades. Are the murders related or was it pure coincidence?
Sebastian again finds himself plunged into London's seedy underworld, coming across the lowest of the low. One unique suspect he comes across is a son of an American founding father. Another suspect is stalking Sebastian, sought out on revenge of an event from the past.
There isn't as much action as there is in the previous books, but once it finally pops up, boy is it good. That is one thing that is ace about these books: spectacular action sequences. Fantastically intense and exquisitely paced.
In the course of his investigation, Sebastian not only finds out long buried secrets connected to these two corpses, but secrets about his own family, that make him question his own existence. Events in this book will forever change Sebastian's life and I can not wait until the next book in the series is released!
strikingthirteen's review
3.0
Family drama all around here with the murder of this book and with Sebastian and his peers.
vkemp's review
4.0
Sebastian St. Cyr is pulled into another murder investigation by his Aunt Henrietta. It reveals questions hidden in the past regarding Sebastian and his life. I like these books because the history is good and Sebastain is a great character, full of flaws and strengths as he faces challenges. He is a loyal friend and suffers real anguish since he cannot have the woman he loves.
jillheather's review
3.0
I'd have really liked it if we didn't have the b-plot of "she was a virgin, they had sex just the once, baby!" going on. But the series is lots of fun.
glennisleblanc's review
4.0
This one has Devlin solving a murder of a Bishop at the request of his aunt. The Bishop is found dead in a recently opened crypt and nearby is the body of his long lost missing brother also murdered but seemed to have been overlooked when the crypt was sealed many years ago. Hero is involved with this case as well as it turns out she had had several meetings with the Bishop in the weeks before his death. This is another great book in the series I really have been enjoying them.