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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
I read this book very quickly once I got into it. CS Harris once again has delivered a great, fast paced novel that delivered suspenseful mystery that I could't put down. Sabastian and Hero work well as opposites and it will be rrewarding to see what happens in the next novel.
This investigation lays out bare a lot of secrets, some of which concern Devlin himself, straining once again his relationship with his father. The characters and their relationships are the stars of this book: I cared less for the mystery than for the advancement of the main characters' arcs. (It's still a good mystery; it's just that I'm invested in the characters more!)
Enjoyable series which I'll keep reading. Lots of mystery to still unravel about St Cyr's background.
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**
Reread! Loved it just as much. My original review here.
RATING: 4 STARS
I love the cover for book five, and it has definitely caught my eye at the library once or twice. The story, however, is a bit more fuzzy in my mind. I do remember Benjamin Franklin's son is this story, and there was a body found that was from historical times. I did rate this title four stars so it must have been a great mystery, but I do wish now, I wrote the review after reading it, lol.
I love the cover for book five, and it has definitely caught my eye at the library once or twice. The story, however, is a bit more fuzzy in my mind. I do remember Benjamin Franklin's son is this story, and there was a body found that was from historical times. I did rate this title four stars so it must have been a great mystery, but I do wish now, I wrote the review after reading it, lol.
I’m on break so I’ve just been flying thorough these book.
This book was nothing short of great. I really enjoyed the plot and especially the dialogue. I cannot wait for Hero and Sebastian to finally get together.
Can you imagine Hero, Sebastian, Lord Jarvis and Hendon at the dinner table? I think they’d be very entertaining.
This was so much interesting. I hope Sebastian will begin to our Kat begins him and move on.
Also I can’t wait for Tom to grow older. Sebastian will have his hands full no doubt.
This book was nothing short of great. I really enjoyed the plot and especially the dialogue. I cannot wait for Hero and Sebastian to finally get together.
Can you imagine Hero, Sebastian, Lord Jarvis and Hendon at the dinner table? I think they’d be very entertaining.
This was so much interesting. I hope Sebastian will begin to our Kat begins him and move on.
Also I can’t wait for Tom to grow older. Sebastian will have his hands full no doubt.
What Remains of Heaven
4.5 Stars
When the body of a Bishop is discovered in an ancient crypt, the Archbishop of Canterbury seeks the help of Sebastian St. Cyr to solve the mystery of his death as well as that of the other, decades old corpse whose identity is unknown. As Sebastian gathers clues and suspects, he is also forced to confront the ghosts of his own past and stumbles across a devastating family secret.
While the mystery is well-crafted with smoothly interwoven historical detail and several exciting actions scenes, it is Sebastian’s character and his relationships with the people in his life that transform the story from merely enjoyable to truly fantastic.
The twists and turns of the plot are evident both in Sebastian’s investigation, which leads him to a slew of likely and unlikely suspects, as well as in his personal life where he must come to terms with the truth of his paternity and the possibility of impending fatherhood.
The real strength of the book lies in Sebastian and Hero’s interactions and their growing attraction. She is a wonderful heroine who lights up the pages with her unique mix of intelligence, independence and vulnerability, and observing her attempts at thwarting Sebastian’s curiosity and driving him toward infinite exasperation is particularly entertaining.
All in all, What Remains of Heaven is an excellent historical mystery and I will be reading the next book immediately, which is almost unheard of for me.
4.5 Stars
When the body of a Bishop is discovered in an ancient crypt, the Archbishop of Canterbury seeks the help of Sebastian St. Cyr to solve the mystery of his death as well as that of the other, decades old corpse whose identity is unknown. As Sebastian gathers clues and suspects, he is also forced to confront the ghosts of his own past and stumbles across a devastating family secret.
While the mystery is well-crafted with smoothly interwoven historical detail and several exciting actions scenes, it is Sebastian’s character and his relationships with the people in his life that transform the story from merely enjoyable to truly fantastic.
The twists and turns of the plot are evident both in Sebastian’s investigation, which leads him to a slew of likely and unlikely suspects, as well as in his personal life where he must come to terms with the truth of his paternity and the possibility of impending fatherhood.
The real strength of the book lies in Sebastian and Hero’s interactions and their growing attraction. She is a wonderful heroine who lights up the pages with her unique mix of intelligence, independence and vulnerability, and observing her attempts at thwarting Sebastian’s curiosity and driving him toward infinite exasperation is particularly entertaining.
All in all, What Remains of Heaven is an excellent historical mystery and I will be reading the next book immediately, which is almost unheard of for me.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No