Sebastian St. Cyr investigates gruesome murders of young men and relates them all to a rescued ship from India; and, now that he finally has gotten Kat to agree to marry him for her own safety, she learns that her father is Alastair St. Cyr.

Another great addition to the series

This is the 3rd in the Sebastian St. Cyr series and I almost think it's one of the best. The characters are well established, yet there's more to learn about them which is interesting. The central mystery was not easy to solve and the secondary plots were equally as interesting, if not more so in some cases. I recommend the series very much.

I once heard the Sebastian St. Cyr series described as Mr. Darcy meets James Bond and I think that’s a very good description of the protagonist of the series. I’m also a fan of Regency era stories and mysteries, so this series was a natural pick for me. While the plot does meander a bit and some of the story elements are very eye rolling worthy, on the whole this is a fun, quick, bubble gum of a book; not much thinking required while reading but and a lot to enjoy.

Spoiler

I very much enjoy Sebastian (even if his powers seem super human at times) and his relationship with Gibson and Tom. I’m not overly fond of Sebastian’s relationship with Kat; I find it horribly clichéd and the love scenes are extremely cringe worthy (and frankly add nothing to the story). Worse, in this volume it appears that lovers Sebastian and Kat are actually siblings. No, really (and yes, yes, I know there are hints that this fact may actually be a lie manufactured by Sebastian’s father trying to facture his relationship with Kat. Still, this is the third book I’ve read in the past month where it appears that the lovers are actually siblings; what is this? A bad soap opera? This is a cheap plot point that really serves no purpose, there were other, more plausible ways to keep Kat and Sebastian apart.

That minor quibble aside, I did enjoy this book.

Murder has jarred London’s elite. The sons of prominent families have been found at dawn in public places, partially butchered, with strange objects stuffed in their mouths. Once again, the local magistrate turns to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for help. Moving from the gritty world of London’s docks to the drawing rooms of Mayfair, Sebastian confronts his most puzzling—and disturbing—case yet.

**

From Publishers Weekly

While appending a serial killer plot line to a historical setting is nothing new, Harris imbues what could be an overdone and tired narrative device with refreshing novelty, making his third Regency-era whodunit (after 2006's When Gods Die) a triumph. Sebastian St. Cyr, an unconventional nobleman with a talent for detection, is called in by Westminster chief magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy after two scions of the upper classes are found butchered and left on public display. St. Cyr soon finds a connection between the killer's calling card and a John Donne poem. As shadowy figures threaten and the parents of the victims display an inappropriate hostility to his efforts, the sleuth doggedly persists, uncovering a secret with shocking repercussions for London's upper class. Neatly meshing the page-turning whodunit plot with major developments in St. Cyr's love life, Harris shows every indication of assuming the mantle of the late Bruce Alexander as a reliable producer of quality period mysteries. (Nov.)
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Review

Praise for the Sebastian St. Cyr Series

"Best historical thriller writer in the business!  Sebastian St. Cyr is…uncannily clever, unwaveringly reserved, and irresistibly sexy.  The entire series is simply elegant.”—New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner

“Deftly combines political intrigue, cleverly concealed clues and vivid characters.”—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“A crescendo of suspense and surprise.”—Library Journal (Starred Review)

“Thoroughly enjoyable…kept me enthralled.”—Deanna Raybourn

“A ripping read...captivated me to the final page.”—Will Thomas

“Harris crafts her story with the threat of danger, hints of humor, vivid sex scenes, and a conclusion that will make your pulse race.”—The New Orleans Times-Picayune

“Harris delves deep into the mores of Regency England…”—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Fun times. Never an easy read but it's fascinating digging into the underbelly of 1811 English society. Still PG-18.

Book three and no sign of the dreaded series slump. Still love the characters and the mystery and the writing.

I like the 1st two books in the series well enough to keep reading. Glad I did because this one was great. The pacing was better, the storyline tighter and the mystery compelling and sad. Hoping each one gets better as she gets the hang of writing the stories. Plus Im being educated on all things 1800 England!