Review by overflowingshelf - Courier of Death

overflowingshelf 's review for:

Courier of Death by Cara Devlin

5.0

emotional mysterious tense medium-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

CW: grief; physical violence; infidelity; misogyny

Courier of Death was easily one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and thankfully, I did not have to wait long for it! After the ending of Method of Revenge, I NEEDED the next book as I have been in such a bad reading slump since finishing that. This book far exceeded my wildly high expectations for it, and I am truly so obsessed with the Spencer and Reid series! Each book keeps getting better and better.

I could not wait to see how Cara Devlin was going to handle the implications of the ending of Method of Revenge, as that ending was going to seriously change Leo and Jasper’s relationship! Their relationship is definitely different in this book – as it should be – and yet they still have this undeniable connection that makes it hard to stay away from each other. I love the nuances and complexities that have been added to their relationship dynamic, as it not only makes it feel like an incredibly real relationship but also heightens the emotions in the story. There are so many layers to Leo and Jasper’s relationship, and I honestly love that so much. It is so fun peeling back the layers and seeing how both characters evolve and respond to the new things they are learning about each other.

The new dynamics to their relationship also make the slow-burn romance in this even better. I swear, Cara Devlin is the MASTER at the slow-burn romance – no one does it better than her. The tension between Leo and Jasper was pulling on my heartstrings. THE YEARNING. I was freaking out over the smallest things, like sitting next to each other on a couch. I genuinely LOVE that feeling, as you only really appreciate those small, yet incredibly meaningful, gestures in a slow-burn romance because they speak volumes to how the characters are feeling. I swear, I feel like I kept going “OH MY GOD,” throughout half this book, hoping for things to move forward. Chapter 24 in particular had me feeling all the emotions, and I am SO excited to see how the romance continues to develop in the next book!

I also really appreciated the evolution of these characters over the series. I feel like there has been so much growth! Jasper has come so far in accepting Leo’s input in his cases, even praising her skill. His protective instinct is still there, but he also knows that including her will be better for both of them since he knows Leo can be stubborn and impulsive. In this book in particular, I really felt for Leo. For the first time, she is faced with confronting what her future might look like outside of the morgue as Uncle Claude’s condition worsens and a new assistant, Connor Quinn, has been brought in to help handle things in the morgue, including duties she usually does. Things are in flux for her, and she is feeling a bit unmoored and uncertain, which she struggles with as she is usually incredibly confident in herself, and I am curious to see how this will play out in future books.

The crime at the center of this book also felt way more emotional than any other case Leo and Jasper have investigated, probably due to their personal connections to it. As always, I found the mystery deeply engaging – I love how Devlin perfectly balances the slow-burn romance with such engaging mysteries. There are always so many twists, turns, and layers to the central mystery that can leave you guessing until the end. It’s so fun to read, I love watching all the pieces come together. This series, in particular, deals with a lot of different criminal gangs in London, and I enjoy seeing how all these criminal networks are connected in unexpected ways.

Courier of Death also did a fantastic job of pushing forward the series’ overarching mystery of the death of Leo’s family. We are slowly but surely getting more hints and pieces of what might have led to the tragedy involving her family, and I am so excited to see where that goes in the next book. There are definitely some loose strings left to tie up still…

I am genuinely obsessed with the Spencer and Reid series and will read as many books as Cara Devlin decides to write. And I need everyone to read them! If you haven’t picked these up, what are you waiting for? This series is perfect for fans of the Veronica Speedwell or Lady Sherlock series, so if you enjoy those, trust me! This series is PERFECT for you.

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC! All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Content Warnings