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A review by veronica87
When Falcons Fall by C.S. Harris
4.0
What can I say about this series that I haven't already said? It's my absolute favorite historical mystery series and this book is certainly worthy of helping the series to maintain that status. After the rather sad events of the last book, Sebastian has arrived at an idyllic rural village in Shropshire with his wonderful wife, Hero, at his side. His motives for making the journey are deeply personal but no sooner has he arrived before the shadow of a mysterious death begins to pull at his attentions. The new village Squire, having heard of Sebastian's reputation for solving murders, enlists his aid in discovering why a young widow, rather recently arrived to town herself, is suddenly dead. The resulting investigation is a twisting, turning journey through dark and deeply held secrets stretching back through the years.
The time and setting are so vividly portrayed that I can practically feel myself wandering through the various sites along with Sebastian and Hero. The murder was intricately woven with enough red herrings that I certainly didn't figure out who the guilty party was until maybe a nano second before Sebastian revealed all. And the use of actual bits of history, in this case the actual presence of Napolean's younger brother in the English countryside, as a prisoner of war as well as the impact of the Enclosure Laws, is masterfully done. The fact that Sebastian was operating without his usual sources of aid, like Lovejoy and Gibson, may have frustrated him but I don't feel the story suffered for their absence. It was weird to have an entire book without Jarvis though. At any rate, I will be glad for the return to London for the next book.
But, really, Sebastian made out quite fine in the end because he has the wonderful Hero at his side. Watching their relationship grow and mature across several books has been a real highlight of this series and it only adds that extra something special to what is already an exceptional historical mystery series. If there had just been one or two extra scenes between the couple it would have elevated this book to a five star read for me. The fact that I'm only giving it four stars is less about the quality of the story and more about my level of greediness where Sebastian/Hero are concerned.
Once, he had faced danger with a recklessness born of a careless attitude toward living. But those days were in the past. And as he held her close, felt her heart pounding against his, heard the keening of her breath, he knew a deep and all-consuming thankfulness that he was here, now, alive and in this woman's arms.
The time and setting are so vividly portrayed that I can practically feel myself wandering through the various sites along with Sebastian and Hero. The murder was intricately woven with enough red herrings that I certainly didn't figure out who the guilty party was until maybe a nano second before Sebastian revealed all. And the use of actual bits of history, in this case the actual presence of Napolean's younger brother in the English countryside, as a prisoner of war as well as the impact of the Enclosure Laws, is masterfully done. The fact that Sebastian was operating without his usual sources of aid, like Lovejoy and Gibson, may have frustrated him but I don't feel the story suffered for their absence. It was weird to have an entire book without Jarvis though. At any rate, I will be glad for the return to London for the next book.
But, really, Sebastian made out quite fine in the end because he has the wonderful Hero at his side. Watching their relationship grow and mature across several books has been a real highlight of this series and it only adds that extra something special to what is already an exceptional historical mystery series. If there had just been one or two extra scenes between the couple it would have elevated this book to a five star read for me. The fact that I'm only giving it four stars is less about the quality of the story and more about my level of greediness where Sebastian/Hero are concerned.
Once, he had faced danger with a recklessness born of a careless attitude toward living. But those days were in the past. And as he held her close, felt her heart pounding against his, heard the keening of her breath, he knew a deep and all-consuming thankfulness that he was here, now, alive and in this woman's arms.