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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This was quite good, the plot nice and twisty, with one suspect after another seemingly the killer and then revealed to have an alibi. There was some nice misdirection hiding the actual killer. (caveat: I don't usually read mysteries, so I can't comment on how this compares to others.) However, I would have enjoyed it quite a bit more if the author didn't feel the need to rehash the brutal killings and subsequent rape of the women every 10 pages or so. It was exhausting and too grisly for me. I'll try the second book, as I've already gotten it from the library, but I'm not sure I'll continue the series if it proves to be equally gruesome.
Three and a half stars
Boy, those anarchists certainly must have been a thorn in everyone's sides back in the day as this is the third historical mystery I've read that involved them as a main plot device. I feel the need to go brush up my world history now. In any event, this debut book by C.S. Harris, a female author, serves up an intriguing male protagonist in Sebastian St Cyr and an equally engaging murder mystery. The details of the murder/s are pretty horrendous and the chain of suspects leads high up the political chain as well as to Sebastian's own front door. The plot did meander a bit in the third act as by the time that Sebastian was making his THIRD round of the same suspects I was more than ready for the end game to be revealed.
As I mentioned before, Sebastian makes for a cool hero. He's carrying around some inner demons relating to the five years he served in war and, as such, he's not the spoiled, carefree member of the English aristocracy that one would expect the youngest son of an Earl to be. There are various and sundry other characters that are introduced, some better than others, as the story is told in third person from multiple view points. There is a small romantic element as we are introduced to Kat Boleyn, Sebastian's first love and the one that got away. This is one of the few times where I would have been fine if there hadn't been any romance in the book at all. Kat as a character was okay, though she's hiding some secrets of her own, but I didn't feel any investment at all in her relationship with Sebastian. I usually like to see the whole journey of two characters toward coupledom, that's just my personal preference. I can become invested in couples who have been estranged for whatever reason and who are now reconciling if it's done well, i.e taken slowly and with trust having to be re-earned, but I don't feel that this was done with Sebastian and Kat. So, while I am interested in reading more St Cyr mysteries, if the romance stays far in the background that would suit me fine.
Of the myriad other characters that appear in the story, Sebastian's father and Tom, the helpful street urchin (historical mysteries seem to love them), seem the most important, at least to Sebastian. There are hints at a deeper mystery relating to Sebastian's family and I kept waiting for him to ask what I consider to be normal follow up questions every time that the matter came up but he never did. That was frustrating and I found it a bit unbelievable that a son would not push for more information. I'm rooting for a mending of fences between Sebastian and his father as they don't seem to have the best relationship to start off the book. In fact, I was much more invested in this relationship than I was in the one with Kat. Tom could use some fleshing out as right now he's more of a cardboard "type" as opposed to a fully realized character. I'm not sure that he'll get it but I hope so.
All in all, I found this to be a solid murder mystery with some interesting characters and some convoluted family dynamics and secrets that will likely stretch across future books. The opening is made for Sebastian to continue down this unlooked for role as an investigator so hopefully additional books will bear out the promise of this first effort.
Boy, those anarchists certainly must have been a thorn in everyone's sides back in the day as this is the third historical mystery I've read that involved them as a main plot device. I feel the need to go brush up my world history now. In any event, this debut book by C.S. Harris, a female author, serves up an intriguing male protagonist in Sebastian St Cyr and an equally engaging murder mystery. The details of the murder/s are pretty horrendous and the chain of suspects leads high up the political chain as well as to Sebastian's own front door. The plot did meander a bit in the third act as by the time that Sebastian was making his THIRD round of the same suspects I was more than ready for the end game to be revealed.
As I mentioned before, Sebastian makes for a cool hero. He's carrying around some inner demons relating to the five years he served in war and, as such, he's not the spoiled, carefree member of the English aristocracy that one would expect the youngest son of an Earl to be. There are various and sundry other characters that are introduced, some better than others, as the story is told in third person from multiple view points. There is a small romantic element as we are introduced to Kat Boleyn, Sebastian's first love and the one that got away. This is one of the few times where I would have been fine if there hadn't been any romance in the book at all. Kat as a character was okay, though she's hiding some secrets of her own, but I didn't feel any investment at all in her relationship with Sebastian. I usually like to see the whole journey of two characters toward coupledom, that's just my personal preference. I can become invested in couples who have been estranged for whatever reason and who are now reconciling if it's done well, i.e taken slowly and with trust having to be re-earned, but I don't feel that this was done with Sebastian and Kat. So, while I am interested in reading more St Cyr mysteries, if the romance stays far in the background that would suit me fine.
Of the myriad other characters that appear in the story, Sebastian's father and Tom, the helpful street urchin (historical mysteries seem to love them), seem the most important, at least to Sebastian. There are hints at a deeper mystery relating to Sebastian's family and I kept waiting for him to ask what I consider to be normal follow up questions every time that the matter came up but he never did. That was frustrating and I found it a bit unbelievable that a son would not push for more information. I'm rooting for a mending of fences between Sebastian and his father as they don't seem to have the best relationship to start off the book. In fact, I was much more invested in this relationship than I was in the one with Kat. Tom could use some fleshing out as right now he's more of a cardboard "type" as opposed to a fully realized character. I'm not sure that he'll get it but I hope so.
All in all, I found this to be a solid murder mystery with some interesting characters and some convoluted family dynamics and secrets that will likely stretch across future books. The opening is made for Sebastian to continue down this unlooked for role as an investigator so hopefully additional books will bear out the promise of this first effort.
I read this because I've been missing the Julian Kestrel series by [a:Kate Ross|201535|Kate Ross|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1239630632p2/201535.jpg], and all of the suggestions on Goodreads said to try this series next. The book started off slow, but did pick up toward the middle (although the end seemed to go on forever... I swear the red herrings and blind leads just kept coming, and the last hundred pages or so felt like one extended chase scene when the book should have been wrapping up ). So. Sebastian St. Cyr is still no Julian Kestrel, in my opinion, but I'll probably continue this series anyway to see if it improves.
Marvelous. Well written with complex characters. Sebastian does at times seem to be almost supernaturally good at everything, but he's humbled just enough to keep him from being too irritating. Very pleased to have discovered a new-to-me series with many more books to devour.
“When one lived a life that was, essentially, a lie, appearances were everything.”
I'm not even entirely sure who recommended this book or how it got on my radar, but I'm glad it did. It's a regency era historical mystery set among London, and especially the Ton. In some ways it reminded me of the Kendra Donovan series, but without the time travel elements. I like a mystery where the science can not be heavily relied upon to solve things and there's a lot of running around London in coaches talking to people to figure out what happened, and of course a loveable street urchin who can find anyone.
At first the stuff with the King and the Whigs and the Torries sort of went over my head, but I'm glad I kept going because the characters explained more of what was happening with the palace-intrigue later, and it did add to the mystery. Be warned, this is not a cozy mystery and the manner and description of death in those that die is not overly graphic but definitely descriptive.
The mysterious and soulful Sebastian St. Cyr is our reluctant protagonist and he has all the makings of a great mystery hero, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more in this series.
I'm not even entirely sure who recommended this book or how it got on my radar, but I'm glad it did. It's a regency era historical mystery set among London, and especially the Ton. In some ways it reminded me of the Kendra Donovan series, but without the time travel elements. I like a mystery where the science can not be heavily relied upon to solve things and there's a lot of running around London in coaches talking to people to figure out what happened, and of course a loveable street urchin who can find anyone.
At first the stuff with the King and the Whigs and the Torries sort of went over my head, but I'm glad I kept going because the characters explained more of what was happening with the palace-intrigue later, and it did add to the mystery. Be warned, this is not a cozy mystery and the manner and description of death in those that die is not overly graphic but definitely descriptive.
The mysterious and soulful Sebastian St. Cyr is our reluctant protagonist and he has all the makings of a great mystery hero, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more in this series.
Veronica is a great source for new books. I started this one because of her high recommendations for the books farther into the series. She fell in the love with this series come book four. I wonder if I will too? At the least, I definitely had fun reading this one and plan to read more.
The author's note about Bithil Syndrome at the end of the book was really cool. I have a mental note to look into it. Is it weird if that's my favorite part? It makes sense. I mean, the syndrome is a key part of Sebastian and he is the main allure for me to keep reading. He's pretty cool and I want to get to know him better.
Overall, I liked the story more for not figuring out who the killer was until the end. This is suppose to be a mystery but it didn't feel like one to me. The case felt more like a mechanism to draw out the characters and the time period. The politics came across as heavy-handed and awkward. It's hard to take a character as smart when the actions do not back it up.
If I'm right, this story is the basis that will flower into more intrigue, drama and romantic entanglements. I caught ideas that are seeded in this one and I hope they will come to fruit later.
Harris did a wonderful job of setting up the characters in a manner that is easy to digest and you immediately have an idea of what to expect. I enjoyed the way I got to know Rachel. You get a hazy frame of her at the very beginning and fill in the outlines with tidbits of her life. It makes you want to know more about her. Even though she's dead and likely to play no farther part in the story. Pretty cool to care that much about a character that's dead. Yet, she was definitely a star within this novel.
Usually, I'm all for lovers to surpass all confrontations and conflict in order to be together. Not this time. This time, I like Sebastian so much that I'd rather he fall in love with someone else. I can see why he loves her. I'm definitely there with why she loves him. But I want more for him. For many, I'm sure others enjoy the mysteries that probably make up the stories in this series but that's not the main allure for me. I just want to dive into Sebastian's life, see what happens and cheer for him against the odds.
The author's note about Bithil Syndrome at the end of the book was really cool. I have a mental note to look into it. Is it weird if that's my favorite part? It makes sense. I mean, the syndrome is a key part of Sebastian and he is the main allure for me to keep reading. He's pretty cool and I want to get to know him better.
Overall, I liked the story more for not figuring out who the killer was until the end. This is suppose to be a mystery but it didn't feel like one to me. The case felt more like a mechanism to draw out the characters and the time period. The politics came across as heavy-handed and awkward. It's hard to take a character as smart when the actions do not back it up.
If I'm right, this story is the basis that will flower into more intrigue, drama and romantic entanglements. I caught ideas that are seeded in this one and I hope they will come to fruit later.
Harris did a wonderful job of setting up the characters in a manner that is easy to digest and you immediately have an idea of what to expect. I enjoyed the way I got to know Rachel. You get a hazy frame of her at the very beginning and fill in the outlines with tidbits of her life. It makes you want to know more about her. Even though she's dead and likely to play no farther part in the story. Pretty cool to care that much about a character that's dead. Yet, she was definitely a star within this novel.
Usually, I'm all for lovers to surpass all confrontations and conflict in order to be together. Not this time. This time, I like Sebastian so much that I'd rather he fall in love with someone else. I can see why he loves her. I'm definitely there with why she loves him. But I want more for him. For many, I'm sure others enjoy the mysteries that probably make up the stories in this series but that's not the main allure for me. I just want to dive into Sebastian's life, see what happens and cheer for him against the odds.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
TW: Rape, Murder, Necrophilia
First read this in 2016 and I really enjoyed it. Reread in 2021 and I still really enjoyed it but found it over long. Still want to continue with the series
Are you afraid of the dark prompt: historical fiction
First read this in 2016 and I really enjoyed it. Reread in 2021 and I still really enjoyed it but found it over long. Still want to continue with the series
Are you afraid of the dark prompt: historical fiction
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Murder
This was well-written with interesting characters. The Regency London scene described sufficiently without being wordy. The plot was fairly simple and drawn out by, perhaps, 75 pages. It was tiresome the constant re-interviewing the same suspects to reveal more info each time. This book doesn't portray the early 1800s British justice system favorably. Overall, the author's writing skill will prompt me to look at her other titles.
It's a page-turner. Yes, the protagonist is preternaturally competent, but I kind of enjoyed that. He's also dark and brooding, like Batman, only without the funny outfit. Looking forward to the next installment.