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A review by jaclynder
Why Kill the Innocent by C.S. Harris
5.0
C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr series is very good; each book is always compelling and rich with historical detail. However, Why Kill the Innocent just seemed to push all those excellent qualities just a little bit further making this latest addition to the long-running series exceptional.
Here, Sebastian's wife, Hero stumbles upon the body of a gifted pianist, Jane Ambrose. Jane also happens to be Princess Charlotte's piano tutor. Unsurprisingly, the Crown doesn't want any hint of scandal to be associated with the princess so it is put out that Jane slipped on the icy streets during the unusually fierce winter that London is experiencing. Sebastian and Hero are having none of that and launch their own investigation into what truly happened to this talented woman, only to discover multiple suspects, including Hero's own father, Lord Jarvis.
If your a reader of the series, you'll recognize many of the players. Sebastian and Hero continue to be awesome both together and separately. At this point in the series, their marriage is secure; however, Lord Jarvis continues to throw a bit of wrench into their harmonious partnership. The focus on Sebastian and Hero is what continually draws me back to the series as does the way that these characters have grown since book one. While there's not always enough focus on their personal lives I enjoy the way that this ties the series together.
I also found Why Kill the Innocent to be more gripping and disturbing than the previous books. All the books in the series share the harsh realities of life during the Regency Era, but there was something about this one that made more of an impact for me. The fact that Sebastian and Hero were investigating the murder of a woman who was never able to publicly share her knowledge and expertise as a talent in her own right. Instead, Jane's husband took credit for her work and abused her in their marriage. The claustrophobic nature of Jane's and woman of that era's life pervaded this novel. There was something overly heartbreaking about this mystery and it stuck with me far after reading.
Fans of Harris' series will revel in her latest addition to the series. The mystery is as engaging as always and is coupled with the signature palpable historical atmosphere. If you haven't read the series, do so, but start with book one!
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Here, Sebastian's wife, Hero stumbles upon the body of a gifted pianist, Jane Ambrose. Jane also happens to be Princess Charlotte's piano tutor. Unsurprisingly, the Crown doesn't want any hint of scandal to be associated with the princess so it is put out that Jane slipped on the icy streets during the unusually fierce winter that London is experiencing. Sebastian and Hero are having none of that and launch their own investigation into what truly happened to this talented woman, only to discover multiple suspects, including Hero's own father, Lord Jarvis.
If your a reader of the series, you'll recognize many of the players. Sebastian and Hero continue to be awesome both together and separately. At this point in the series, their marriage is secure; however, Lord Jarvis continues to throw a bit of wrench into their harmonious partnership. The focus on Sebastian and Hero is what continually draws me back to the series as does the way that these characters have grown since book one. While there's not always enough focus on their personal lives I enjoy the way that this ties the series together.
I also found Why Kill the Innocent to be more gripping and disturbing than the previous books. All the books in the series share the harsh realities of life during the Regency Era, but there was something about this one that made more of an impact for me. The fact that Sebastian and Hero were investigating the murder of a woman who was never able to publicly share her knowledge and expertise as a talent in her own right. Instead, Jane's husband took credit for her work and abused her in their marriage. The claustrophobic nature of Jane's and woman of that era's life pervaded this novel. There was something overly heartbreaking about this mystery and it stuck with me far after reading.
Fans of Harris' series will revel in her latest addition to the series. The mystery is as engaging as always and is coupled with the signature palpable historical atmosphere. If you haven't read the series, do so, but start with book one!
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.