You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
Set in Regency Era England, Sebastian St. Cyr (the Viscount Devlin) is a cross between Mr. Darcy and Sherlock Holmes with a little sprinkling of James Bond thrown in for good measure. In this installment of the C.S. Harris’ series Sebastian finds himself investigating two murders victims found in a recently opened crypt; the murder of the Bishop of England and a 30 year old unsolved murder. C.S. Harris’ strengths continue to be her ability to seamless wave historic places, events, and people in the live of her fictional protagonist. The relationship between Sebastian and his tiger Tom and best friend Gibson are believable and some of the high points of the series; also enjoyable is the depiction of the strained relationship between Sebastian and his father and the evolution of the relationship with Hero. The mystery is well crafted, with enough clues scattered throughout the novel that the reader comes t o the same conclusion right just as Sebastian is unraveling the mystery. Where this novel falls (hence only 3 stars) is the continued forced inclusion of Kat in the plotline turning an otherwise excellent novel into a cheap soap opera.
The latest request for help from Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin--from the Archbishop of Canterbury, no less--is undeniably intriguing: The bodies of two men have been found in an ancient crypt, their violent deaths separated by decades. One is the Bishop of London, the elderly Archbishop's favored but controversial successor. The identity of the other seems lost in time, although his faded velvet attire marks him as gentleman of the eighteenth century.
To Sebastian's consternation, the last person to see the Bishop alive was Miss Hero Jarvis, a woman whose already strained relationship with St. Cyr has been complicated by a brief, unexpectedly passionate encounter. It also soon becomes obvious that her powerful father has reasons of his own for wanting the Bishop out of the way. In an investigation that leads from the back alleys of Smithfield to the power corridors of whitehall, Sebastian amasses a list of suspects that ranges from some of the Prince Regent's closest cronies to William Franklin, embittered son of famous American patriot Ben Franklin. Each step Sebastian takes toward the killer brings him closer to a devastating truth that could ultimately force him to question who--and what--he really is.
Fifth in the fast-moving(Publishers Weekly, starred review) British-set historical mystery series starring a charismatic hero.(Kirkus Reviews starred review)
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury to help in the investigation of two corpses found in an ancient crypt, their violent deaths separated by decades. One is the Bishop of London, the elderly Archbishop's favored but controversial successor. The identity of the other seems lost in time.
Sebastian amasses a list of suspects that range from some of the Prince Regent's closest cronies to William Franklin, embittered son of famous American patriot Ben Franklin-and finds himself confronting the well-guarded secrets of his own family's history. Now each step he takes toward the killer brings him closer to a devastating truth that could ultimately force him to question who-and what-he really is.
Sebastian does solve the murder, but not before he is attacked and nearly killed several times. I have noticed that this is a recurring theme in these books, i.e. Sebastian is always attacked and nearly killed, but always manages to survive.
While I recommend reading these books, I also recommend reading them in order, as there are developing relationships that progress through the series.
One quote on weather: "The next morning dawned heavily overcast and blustery, with an unseasonably chill north wind that whistled in the chimneys and sent trash scuttling down the streets."
Lie after lie has continued to pile up for the near-thirty years of the Viscount’s life, but he has begun to peel away at the veneer that has always been heavily placed over the surface. Now his relationships with those closest to him make sense, as do the memories he has retained since childhood. The mysteries will always be a heavy draw for this series, yet I would argue that the main interest in myself as a reader relies on the man at the heart of every investigation.
Beyond matters within the St. Cyr family, the previous book had begun to show the sparks of chemistry and the potential of a partnership between Sebastian and Hero Jarvis, and their relationship must come to a head sooner or later with the repercussions of their actions. This is the fifth book in the series and it still feels as if there are so many different avenues to explore when it comes to Sebastian’s personal life. If the series can continue in this vein then it is unlikely it will ever grow stale, which should come as a comfort to the readers.