Thanks to Berkley Pub for the free copy in exchange for my honest review

I’ve been going through so many thrillers lately, so having some historical fiction in the mix was refreshing. WHO SLAYS THE WICKED is book fourteen in the Sebastian St. Cyr series, but don’t let that deter you. You can 100% read this as a standalone with no difficulties or feeling lost. I previously read WHY KILL THE INNOCENT and loved it, so I was hoping to have a similar experience with the next installment. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed!

Full of murder, mystery, and truly depraved killings, this one grabbed me right away. What I was the most impressed with in WHY KILL THE INNOCENT was the author’s ability to completely transport you into the time period. I had the same experience here and she did it just as effortlessly. This one isn’t at a crazy fast pacing, but it’s just the right amount of suspense the I just couldn’t put it down. Harris set up the story and the characters perfectly without droning on – just enough so that new readers to the series are able to be caught up. Considering these two, Sebastian and Ashcroft, have had run-ins before (from book 12, I believe, and one I hadn’t read), I didn’t feel like I was missing any information on their encounters in the past.

Overall, if you like a murder mystery with a deranged killer and a hint of historical fiction, then this should be added to your TBR. As I said in my last review, I need to go back and pick up the other books because I would love to see what other cases Sebastian St. Cyr has had before!

It's been awhile since I've been able to visit with my favorite sleuthing Viscount so I loved being able to settle in with him for another Regency era murder investigation. This book ties in directly to the people and events from [b:Where the Dead Lie|30363074|Where the Dead Lie (Sebastian St. Cyr, #12)|C.S. Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476285587l/30363074._SY75_.jpg|50872858], book twelve in the series and one that dealt with some truly dark, human inflicted evils.

His society had failed these children both in life and in death. Did they rest easy now? he wondered. Did something of them linger somewhere still? Something beyond the bones swallowed by the earth? He wished he could believe it did. He wanted to believe.

But that comfort, like so much else,remained elusive"

One thing I've always liked about this series, one of numerous things, is that I never have to wait long for the murder to happen. There's none of this wading through half a book before a body drops dead. In this series, the murder...or in some cases the discovery of the body...always kicks off the first chapter. And when the dead body in this particular book is discovered and identified, the case gains an even more urgent status than usual for Sebastian, Viscount Devlin, because it's all in the family this time around. The murdered nobleman, and I use that term loosely, is none other than Viscount Ashworth, the sleaze who married Sebastian's own niece, Stephanie, two books (and seven months ago, story time) back.

No one is sad to see Viscount Ashworth go, certainly not any of us readers, but because suspicion will naturally fall on Stephanie, Sebastian is compelled to investigate - if for no other reason than to lay to rest his own doubts about her innocence. It was another twisty, turny investigation with plenty of suspects, varied motives, red herrings, and multiple dead bodies. Honestly, I had no clue as to the identity of the murderer until maybe a few pages before Sebastian revealed it.

Another aspect of this series that enjoy and that I find highly informative is the work that Hero, Sebastian's brilliant wife, does with the city's poor. It's not always directly relevant to the main plot of the story but it is always fascinating to learn about the types of jobs needed to keep the infrastructure of the time stable. This time we meet some rag and bone finders, pure finders, and night soil men.

The only thing that keeps this book from being a five star read for me is that there just wasn't as much Sebastian-Hero page time for me. Yes, I know that this is primarily a mystery series and I'm not arguing that that shouldn't be the main focus. Of course it should. But Sebastian's personal life has always been as much of a draw for me as the intricately plotted mystery narrative. His home life is what grounds him, what sustains him, what bouys him up when the darkness threatens to pull him under. So, yeah, I'd like to have a few more quiet and intimate moments with the St Cyrs...as a couple and as parents to their adorable young son, Simon. Nevertheless, this was still another wonderful installment to the series and I'll be back with the St Cyrs sooner rather than later.

This series is just so good. And I feel like we are working up to some amazing revelations in the next book!

Things get personal in this one as Sebastian's nephew-in-law is found brutally murdered and while there are way too many suspects, things focus on his troubled niece. Even though the world is arguably better off without the man, Sebastian works to clear suspicion from Stephanie. Twist and turns abound in this one all set against the backdrop of Napoleon's retreat and Russian interest. I can't wait until the next one.

When a dissolute young member of the Upper Ten Thousand is discovered murdered in his bed, surrounded by erotic paraphernalia, Sir Henry Lovejoy summons Sebastian St. Cyr to investigate. As Sebastian begins to question suspects, it becomes apparent the widow of Lord Ashworth, Sebastian's niece, rises to the top of the list. But, Lord Ashworth was not a good person and a lot of other people wanted him dead. Too many people. Meanwhile, a delegation of Russian diplomats, heading by the Tsar's sister and her entourage, including Lady Ivanna Gargarin, arrive in London to negotiate the set-up of post-Napoleonic Europe. This adds another element to the investigation. As Sebastian worries about his niece, more bodies turn up. This is a very well-written series of historical thrillers, written with an eye for detail. I like the characters, who are fully developed. Recommended.

I stayed up past my bedtime to find out whodunnit. There wasn't a lack of suspects--everyone wanted this man dead and plenty had means and opportunity, as well as motive. We also learned a little more about Sebastian's family, Hero's investigative work revealed some new information, and evolving events on the world stage offer more opportunities in the future for this excellent Regency mystery series. I highly recommend it, starting with the first book to fully enjoy the characters.

With this entry, Harris is almost back to the best work of the series. The mystery was great and I liked catching up with Tom and some of the other side characters that we saw less of in the most recent books. I'd actually like to see more of Sid Cotten and possibly have him team up with Sebastian in the future. It would be a very interesting dynamic.

That said, Hero is still not back to her actual intelligence level. I'm not sure why Harris felt the need to dumb down the smartest and best character is the series and while Hero bounced back a little in the previous book and this one, she still isn't back to her pre-Simon level.