C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr has been a favourite historical mystery series of mine for a long time. I am constantly recommending it to avid mystery fans for its gritty atmosphere and the fantastic characters that Harris has created.

With this being the fourteenth book in the series, I can honestly say that this is a series that does not get stale. The author always succeeds at pulling forth historical facts that I find endlessly interesting, especially since Harris captures both the lower and upper class lifestyle. In this particular installment, the mystery hits closer to home for Sebastian when his niece, Stephanie's husband is murdered. Sebastian isn't unhappy that Lord Ashworth is dead, but he certainly doesn't appreciate the suspicion that is thrown Stephanie's way. As per usual, the mystery unfolds carefully, speeding up to its eventual conclusion. But, what I have been noticing in the past few books is a strong nod to a larger story arc involving Sebastian's mother and his father-in-law, Lord Jarvis. I might be way off base, but I think Harris is building to something big here, although I'm not sure if they will be connected. I'm invested in finding out!

The only complaint that I had was that there was not enough of Hero in this one. I really love how Sebastian and Hero's relationship has evolved over the series, but I would really like there to be more time with these characters together. I also wonder if there is going to be some tension in their marriage what with my suspicions about Lord Jarvis.

At any rate, Harris' fourteen book was a fantastic addition to the series. Fans of historical mysteries will delight in this richly told mystery.

*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.