Reviews - What Remains of Heaven

121 reviews for:

What Remains of Heaven

C.S. Harris

4.09 AVERAGE

veryowlsome's review against another edition

2.0

Eh. I liked the historical details. I wasn't crazy about everything else.

bibliobeka's review against another edition

3.0

Less Kat, but still not enough Hero.

cornerofmadness's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of the better historical mystery series I’ve read in ages. There are many Victorian mysteries but Harris carves out a time period about 50 years earlier and the early 1800’s in England is quite different than the Victorian era if for no other reasons they’re reeling from a loss in the Colonies and a mad King at the helm.

This is, I believe, book 5 in the series and the one that came just before this one probably should be read first but even without that, the subplots can be discerned quickly enough. Speaking of which it is nearly impossible to discuss the subplots without ruining them. SubPlot#1- I totally expected this after the last book. SubPlot#2 – I wish she wouldn’t have gone here with the story. I don’t like Kat and I’m not thrilled with what is being set up.

Sebastian St Cyr, Lord Devlin, gets dragged into this new mystery by his Dowager Aunt, the duchess of Claiborne, and the archbishop of London, her friend. The archbishop is dying and the top choice for his replacement was just found murdered in the chapel’s crypt which had been broken into during renovations of the local church. Even stranger, he’s found atop another murder victim whose clothing and money puts his death about 30 years prior.

Bishop Prescott turns out to be the uncle to one of Devlin’s friends from school and apparently a man of secrets. One of those secrets revolves around Subplot #1 and Miss Hero Jarvis, who is a smart feminist, a great foil for Devlin and the daughter of his father’s (and his) nemesis, Lord Jarvis. Devlin is also caught up in subplot #1 but that’s about all I should say of that.

Prescott was a younger son, much like Devlin, and had done as younger sons often do, entered church service. He was an advocate for abolishing slavery, one of the things he shared with Hero. He lost almost all his brothers but the eldest to wars and so hated the Americans and the French, a key point since one of the suspects is William Franklin, Ben Franklin’s estranged and exiled son (in reality, William Franklin did indeed get exiled back to England for his loyalties to the crown)

When the older murder victim’s identity is discovered, Devlin is convinced the two deaths, decades apart are related. Another fly in the ointment is one of the other suspects is a butcher, a violent man with an even more violent son whom Devlin tried to get hung during his military days. That son is out to kill Devlin now but is it part of the murder or just revenge, Devlin has to unravel that knot before he’s killed.

The story is very good. I love the interaction between Hero and Devlin and maybe that’s the reason I just don’t like Kat. I galloped through this and now I’m in that ‘darn, I have to wait until this time next year to see how it all ends.’ Because yeah, while the mystery is solved the subplots aren’t and that annoyed me. Though I have to think Subplot #1 is going to take up a lot of the next book.

lilpoo0607's review against another edition

5.0

Keeps getting better. Sebastian is a gentleman badass, which makes him one of my favorite characters of all time. However, I hate Hero Jarvis for some reason that is unknown to me.

logan_turner's review against another edition

4.0

I love this series! Just when I thought Sebastian's life couldn't have any more twists and turns, this one comes along and ups the ante. I loved that we see some interesting anti-American sentiments in the British ton leading up to the War of 1812. Great mystery with the same great characters. I can't wait to read the next one.