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A review by abbythompson
What Remains of Heaven by C.S. Harris
4.0
Sebastian St. Cyr is back on the case when his beloved aunt cons him into investigating the suspicious death of the Bishop of London. The Bishop's body has been discovered in a recently unearthed crypt outside the city ... and a second body, of a much older murder, is also found. St. Cyr is convinced the deaths are related and the search takes him from the halls of Whitehall and the upper reaches of British government to the back alleys of Smithfield where the stones run with blood.
Yet again, C.S. Harris pens a masterpiece of Regency era fiction. Her research is impeccable and removing the protagonist from the soirees and musicales of high society is a brilliant move. The reader learns so much more about the culture and politics of the time without being overwhelmed or bored.
Hero Jarvis is also the perfect foil for St. Cyr's aristocratic nobility. She's stubborn, determined and very smart and yet Harris shows us the more sensitive and softer side of Hero as she deals with unforseen complications from her emotional encounter with St. Cyr at the end of the last book. What I do NOT like is the revelations about St. Cyr himself and how it could further complicate his relationship with Kat Boleyn. With the choice between Hero and Kat, I'd chose Hero. She's no pushover and as St. Cyr's wise aunt notes, St. Cyr needs someone who will stand up to him. Kat's too much of a pushover and has her own baggage. Their relationship would be one of St. Cyr rescuing her, rather than a relationship of equals. Anyways, that's my soapbox for this book. I'll hold further comment until I see how Harris shakes it all out in the next book.
WHAT REMAINS OF HEAVEN is a fascinating mystery and explores both a city and a man's darker sides without melodrama or getting maudlin. If you haven't tried out this series yet, I highly recommend it.
Yet again, C.S. Harris pens a masterpiece of Regency era fiction. Her research is impeccable and removing the protagonist from the soirees and musicales of high society is a brilliant move. The reader learns so much more about the culture and politics of the time without being overwhelmed or bored.
Hero Jarvis is also the perfect foil for St. Cyr's aristocratic nobility. She's stubborn, determined and very smart and yet Harris shows us the more sensitive and softer side of Hero as she deals with unforseen complications from her emotional encounter with St. Cyr at the end of the last book. What I do NOT like is the revelations about St. Cyr himself and how it could further complicate his relationship with Kat Boleyn. With the choice between Hero and Kat, I'd chose Hero. She's no pushover and as St. Cyr's wise aunt notes, St. Cyr needs someone who will stand up to him. Kat's too much of a pushover and has her own baggage. Their relationship would be one of St. Cyr rescuing her, rather than a relationship of equals. Anyways, that's my soapbox for this book. I'll hold further comment until I see how Harris shakes it all out in the next book.
WHAT REMAINS OF HEAVEN is a fascinating mystery and explores both a city and a man's darker sides without melodrama or getting maudlin. If you haven't tried out this series yet, I highly recommend it.