Andrea Penrose has created a wonderful new series!!!! I've been a fan since I first discovered her Lady Arianna Regency Mysteries. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed her excellent writing until I began reading this book. She makes the period come alive through her characters! For me, one of the most impressive things about her is her ability to portrays lively characters from all levels of siciety. Her ability to skillfully switch among the varying viewpoints of those characters is equally impressive. I'm thrilled to see the next installment listed on Amazon, and I can hardly wait to read it!! Thanks to Kensington Press and NetGalley for providing access to electronic ARCs of such outstanding mysteries!!

This book should have been a slam-dunk for me. Historical mystery? Great. Set in the Regency period? Even better. A dark, intelligent, sardonic hero with potential hidden depths? My favorite kind. A courageous, independent heroine? Bring it!

And yet, in spite of being the sort of thing I should love, the book didn’t pull me in like it should have.

I think what kept me from fully engaging with the book is that the main characters didn’t completely come alive for me. The author makes the strategic decision not to delve too deeply into the pasts of her hero and heroine, so that the reader only gets a partial view of what has shaped them into the people they are. She seems to be setting the hook to encourage the readers to pick up future books in the series to learn more about them, but that choice left me feeling a bit disconnected from the two of them. (Particularly Wrexford; Penrose gives a little more insight into what makes Charlotte tick.)

To make up for the light characterization, the book needed to have an engrossing plot. The mystery was reasonably well constructed, with a few red herrings, but it wasn’t very complex. It wasn’t until the last third of the book, when Wrexford and Charlotte start to actively confront their suspects, that I really got drawn into the story. I finished the novel because I wanted to find out what happened, but it certainly wasn’t the kind of book I couldn’t put down.

For me, this book was just OK. People who are looking for a new historical mystery series to read might want to give it a try, though. I may have been spoiled by C. S. Harris’s terrific Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. The comparison to that series in the book’s description is appropriate in terms of the setting, but Harris’s novels are much richer in terms of character and plot.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A clandestine meeting of shadowy figures in a church culminates in a grisly murder. The victim is the Reverend Josiah Holworthy, a pompous churchman who has been carrying on a very public feud with the Earl of Wrexford. The Reverend has held up the Earl as the very personification of wickedness. Enter Charlotte Sloane, a caricature artist with a wicked pen and a large following. She works under the pen name of A.J. Quill and guards her real identity jealously. As a woman, she would never be allowed to publish. Her late husband, Anthony, had used the name and she is forced to take up his trade to stay afloat. Charlotte has developed a number of sources and is able to get into the church between the discovery of the body and the arrival of the Bow Street Runners. Not only are the Runners eager to pin the murder on Wrexford, but the drawing Charlotte publishes the next morning of the horrible scene inflames all London against him. Wrexford must investigate the murder to save his own neck and his first order of business is find out the identity of A. J. Quill. Charlotte and Wrexford form an uneasy alliance, aided by a pair of street urchins that Charlotte has befriended. The two plunge into a swirling abyss of murder, alchemy, forgery, and treason with an explosive ending.

The Regency Era is a fascinating time in which there was great interest in science and new discoveries. The scientists working in The Royal Institution, led by Humphry Davy were the celebrities of their day and their discoveries followed and heralded by both the "ton" and the general public. Science and chemistry play a large part in the the story, forming a background to what is an excellent mystery and ripping good yarn. Both Charlotte and Wrexford are well-developed characters: Wrexford, very much the aristocrat of his time, but possessing a soft center, and Charlotte, who is a woman with a steely will and secrets of her own. She was obviously gently born and extremely well-educated but has sunk out of that circle of society. I am looking forward to learning more about her story and watching what is an obvious attraction between Wrexford and herself develop. The supporting characters, particularly Raven and Hawk, Charlotte's two street urchins are also welcome additions.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder on Blak Swan Lane. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions above are my own.

RATING- 4.5 Stars

Murder on Black Swan Lane is the first book in a new series of Regency-era historical mysteries by Andrea Penrose (who also writes as Andrea Pickens and Cara Elliot), which sees a satirical cartoonist teaming up with a scientifically-minded earl to investigate a couple of gruesome murders. The mystery is well-put together and includes some fascinating detail about the chemical sciences as they were understood at the beginning of the 19th century – the author has clearly done her homework – and we’re introduced to an engaging set of characters who will, I hope, continue to appear throughout the series.

The Earl of Wrexford (who doesn’t appear to have an actual name, just a title) has recently been publicly denounced as the worst kind of dissolute rake by the pompous, puffed-up Reverend Josiah Holworthy. Never one to suffer fools gladly, and the sort of man whom boredom inspires to ever more reckless behaviour, Wrexford responds to his accuser by unleashing his razor-sharp wit in a clever rebuttal, which is printed in the Morning Gazette. An increasingly vitriolic and very public argument ensues between the two men which is eagerly documented every step of the way by the popular satirist A.J Quill, whose cartoons persistently skewer those at the highest levels of society, shining a light on the darkest misdeeds on the rich and powerful.

When the Reverend Holworthy is found dead in a church on Black Swan Lane, almost decapitated, his face disfigured by some sort of chemical, suspicion immediately alights upon Wrexford, whose rather eccentric interest in chemistry is widely known. With Quill’s uncannily accurate drawings and pithy captions stirring up public opinion against him, Wrexford decides it’s time to find out where the cartoonist is getting his information.

A talented artist, Charlotte Sloane picked up her late husband’s pen after his death some eight months earlier and has continued to produce satirical cartoons using his pseudonym, A.J Quill. She guards her identity judiciously, knowing that if it’s discovered that the scourge of the ton is a woman she will be completely ruined and unable to earn a living. So the last thing she wants or expects is to discover the Earl of Wrexford on her doorstep demanding to see A.J Quill. Charlotte’s attempts at deflection become increasingly desperate, at which point the earl realises the truth and offers her a deal. If she will agree to share such information as comes her way regarding the investigation, he will keep her secret and pay for the information. Charlotte is furious at being backed into a corner, but she has no alternative. She is living from hand to mouth as it is, and can ill afford to turn down the money the earl offers or risk being exposed as A.J Quill, so she takes the deal.

Thus begins a very fragile relationship in which both protagonists circle each other warily as they gradually develop a strong mutual respect for the other’s intellect and skills. Wrexford and Charlotte are similar in some ways – they are both keeping secrets and hiding their true selves behind a public persona – but are completely different in others; Wrexford is all about facts and is bothered when he doesn’t have an answer or reason for something whereas Charlotte is far more accepting of the fact that not everything is logical and that sometimes there are no answers.

The murder mystery is intriguing and well-executed; complex enough to grab the reader’s interest but not so complicated that it’s difficult to follow, and peppered with lots of interesting scientific discussions and detail, in particular relating to the study of alchemy and its bearing on the scientific knowledge of the time. There’s larceny, espionage and the discovery of some painful truths, as Charlotte and Wrexford uncover links between her husband’s untimely death and the mysterious Ancients Club, things she had suspected but been unable to prove until now.

There is a small but colourful cast of secondary characters who I hope we’ll see more of in future books; Henning, the dour, Scots surgeon, Tyler, Wrexford’s valet and fellow chemist, Raven and Hawk, the two street urchins Charlotte has taken under her wing and Kit Sheffield, Wrexford’s closest friend who is, at first glance, somewhat of an empty-headed fribble, but who is far from being as stupid as he seems. The two principals are flawed, yet likeable and hopefully, the author plans to reveal more about them in future stories as it’s clear from the hints she drops here that there is much more to both of them than we’ve seen so far.

My one criticism of the book is with the way in which the story is set up. Holsworthy holds Wrexford up as an example of the worst kind of wickedness and denounces him as a rakehell, yet there isn’t much evidence of this debauched lifestyle on the page; in fact Wrexford himself says at one point that the reality of his life doesn’t live up to his scandalous reputation. The man I read about is irascible and highly intelligent with an unusual (for a member of the aristocracy) interest in science, a man who puts logic ahead of emotion and disdains sentimentality. There are a few references to his unsavoury reputation throughout the book, but unless his reputation is for being a man with a hot temper who prefers to go his own way, the idea of a cleric using him as an example of immorality doesn’t really make sense.

I’ll also add a word of caution for anyone looking for a Lady Julia or Lady Darby type of romantic frisson – you won’t find it here. Wrexford and Charlotte develop a strong working relationship which gradually turns into friendship and have developed an almost grudging admiration and respect for each other’s abilities by the end of the book. That’s not to say there is no potential for development in a more romantic direction in future, but for now, this is a solid historical mystery in which the emphasis is firmly on tracking down the killer and proving Wrexford’s innocence.

I enjoyed the story and the characters and am eager to read more of Charlotte and Wrexford’s adventures together. Murder on Black Swan Lane is recommended for anyone in the mood for a well-written historical mystery featuring a moody aristocratic hero and a heroine who knows how to cut him down to size.

Grade: B+

Murder On Swan Lane is the first in the Wrexford and Sloane Mystery series.

Andrea Penrose once again provides readers with very exciting Regency period mystery.

This series follows the activities of an unlikely duo. Charlotte Sloane has taken on her late husband’s persona of A. J. Quinn and has been making satirical cartoons like drawings, poking fun at the aristocracy and her most recent had taken Lord Wrexford to the task. Lord Wrexford is known for his scientific prowess but in recent times has become bored and has started experimenting with medieval chemistry.

When the body of brutality murdered Reverand Holworthy, Lord Wrexford is thought to be the guilty person. When Lord Wrexford finds that he is the focal point of Quinn’s next piece of work, he endeavors to find the identity of Quinn. When he meets with Sloane and after some negotiations, they agree to work together to find the murderer. Sloane is need of additional funds that Wrexford has agreed to pay her and he needs her help to escape the hangman’s noose.

Wrexford with the help of Sloane and her two minions, Hawk and Raven, two young lads that she has taken into her home, soon find themselves looking at underhanded dealings of members of the aristocracy. Sloane and Wrexford need to develop their trust in each in other so they can find the murder before Wrexford has to meet the hangman.

A well-plotted story with an interesting cast of characters. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Raven and Hawk with all their spunk.

I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this new series to see what adventures are in store for Sloane and Wrexford.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on Black Swan Lane was written by Andrea Penrose. This mystery, set during the Regency era, is the first in a new series featuring the delightfully dynamic duo of Wrexford and Sloane.

When the charismatic Reverend Josiah Holworthy is found murdered in a church, it is a shocking crime. Suspicion falls on The Earl of Wrexford, who has been known to be one of the targets of Holworthy’s sermons against debauchery. Wrexford didn’t do it, of course, but can he convince Bow Street of his innocence?

Meanwhile, Mrs. Charlotte Sloane has a secret- she is A.J. Quill, the satirical cartoonist whose prints have targeted Wrexford in the past. She is not convinced of Wrexford’s guilt, but prints that showcase him with demonic features prove to be lucrative.

Eventually, Wrexford locates Quill’s house and his surprised to discover that his quarry is a woman. They enter into an unlikely partnership in order to discover the truth about what happened to Holworthy. Charlotte has good reason not to trust aristocratic gentleman based on events in her past, but her keen eye for details might be the only thing that can save Wrexford.

Penrose has created an immersive Regency world filled with period details. It was very satisfying to watch Wrexford and Charlotte uncover the clues that eventually lead them to the identity of the perpetrator. I would also like to point out that I loved almost all of the secondary characters just as much (villains excluded), and although it is hard to pick a favorite, I hope that we get to see more of Sheffield in future mysteries.

I would absolutely recommend Murder on Black Swan Lane to fans of historical mysteries. Wrexford and Charlotte have some great chemistry together, and it’s rather pleasant that their rapport is built on mutual respect and admiration rather than attraction. That said, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for those two. I am already eagerly waiting to see which mystery Wrexford and Sloane tackle next!

I was a big fan of Penrose's Cocoa Conspiracy series and am very glad that she's back with a new mystery series. As with her previous books, Murder on Black Swan Lane is well written, atmospheric, filled with interesting historical details and features intriguing characters with mysterious back stories. This one in particular I would strongly recommend for fans of Deanna Raybourn's Julia Grey series and Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series, as well as anyone interested in the history of science. The mystery is multi-layered, as Charlotte Sloane's own personal history dovetails with the murders occurring throughout London, for which the unusual Earl of Wrexford is the chief suspect. Although we get tantalizing glimpses into Charlotte's true identity, I'm looking forward to finding out more in future installments.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for providing an e-ARC for review!

The Earl of Wrexford and the Reverend Josiah Holworthy have been locked in a public war of words that Regency London have been enjoying immensely. If popcorn existed in those days they would have been settling in for the show. Their jibes at each other have become a particular source of material for Londons most popular satirical cartoonist A.J.Quill. On night their feud ends abruptly when the Reverend is murdered and the Earl finds himself the number one suspect. As he begins the task of trying to clear his name he finds unexpected assistance from the mysterious Mrs Sloane, the real brains behind A.J.Quills cartoons. Together they navigate the dangerous shadow world of Regency London to uncover who the Reverends real enemies were and clear Wrexfords name.

This is a well written and interesting set up to a new series. It's an intriguing story in its own right but there's lots of seeds and roots planting for the back stories of Wrexford and Sloane. And there lies the strength here. The chemistry between them is instant and even if the mystery gets a bit obvious at times (which it does) their spark is enough to keep interest alive. I'm looking forward to part 2.

I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.

The Earl of Wrexford isn’t your average aristocrat: for starters, he has a keen scientific mind and an interest in chemistry. Secondly, he has no time for fools and doesn’t care what the rest of society thinks of him. When Reverend Holworthy publicly condemns him for his wickedness, he retaliates, and the war of words escalates, and cartoonist A.J. Quill uses the feud as fodder, drawing even more attention. Then the reverend is found dead, with chemical burns, and Wrexford finds himself the primary suspect.

Charlotte Sloane is a talented artist, but knows the public would never follow a female cartoonist, so she uses her late husband’s pen name to put food on the table…at the expense of the rich and famous she scathingly depicts. When the Earl of Wrexford figures out her identity, she’s afraid he’ll expose her. Instead, he seeks her help in solving the mystery of the reverend’s death before he swings for the crime. But the crime has roots in dark secrets, and the perpetrator will stop at nothing to see that they fail, even adding more victims to the list.

Murder on Black Swan Lane is a richly-detailed story set in Regency England. Charlotte is an engaging character, full of curiosity and a secretive past, but determined to make her own way in the world. Wrexford is fascinating, with his dry sense of humor, brilliant mind, and disdain for traditions. Together, the two of them enter a dark and twisted world full of secrets that takes them places they’d never imagined.

Andrea Penrose is a romance author who writes under several pen names. Murder on Black Swan Lane is her newest book, the first book in the Wrexford & Sloane Regency series.

(Galley provided by Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Thanks Kensington Books and netgalley for this ARC.

Just the kind of book I love. This novel is not to missed!
The tension between Wexford and Quill feels electric and sets the mood for their showdown with a elusive set of villains. You'll be keep up all nite reading this delicious murder mayhem.

Read this for Charlotte- an intrepid widow in Regency London who works with Wrexford to solve a murder using scientific means. Some of this might seem cliche but it's awfully fun. The mystery is a little twisty, with a few red herrings. Penrose has written a great start to a new series- this has good potential for future installments. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I have really been enjoying historical mysteries and this one was a lot of fun!  This was my first novel by this author but it won't be the last.

Charlotte makes her living poking fun at the wealthy and one of those is Lord Wexford. She has depicted his many miss deeds so accurately he wonders where the writer gets the information. Lord Wexford has a long running argument with a local reverend and when he ends up dead Lord Wexford is one suspected of the deed. 

Lord Wexford can't believe it when the writer A.J. Quill has the murder scene so detailed and has his valet (who is really more than just a valet) look into finding who the person it. He never expected him to be a her. 

Lord Wexford really doesn't want to involve Charlotte but she is determined to help him figure out who the killer is and soon another person is killed and it seems to all point towards a secret society and alchemy science. Charlotte also learns that it could also help he finally understand what happened to her husband. 

Murder on Black Swan Lane is a really great mystery with a lot of great characters. I love Charlotte as she took up the pen name her husband used and kept making the satirical pictures for the newspaper after he died. She also tries to take care of two young boys who live on the street and they help her gather information for her drawings. They really cracked me up I love those two kids and they really make the book. I also love the banter between Lord Wexford and Charlotte as she doesn't cower to him just because he is a Lord. 

I can't wait for the next installment!

This was a good book that kept me hooked and entertained from beginning to end. Be aware that this is a series and you will not want the book to end!

My thanks to netgalley and Kensington Books for this advanced readers copy.

A thoroughly enjoyable read,reminiscent of Amanda Quick. Interesting and complex set of characters of whom I hope we shall hear more.

Lord Wrexford is a man of science and as such is often heard having words with Reverend Josiah Holworthy. The current caricature drawn by the well-known A. J. Quill not only shows this but also the wayward lifestyle of Lord Wrexford. Quill’s drawings often include unknown details of situations that keep the beau monde watching their backs. Thus, when Holworthy’s body is discovered within his church and Quill’s detailed drawing show more than just a murder, the Bow Street Runners naturally look to Wrexford as their key suspect. Using details of Quill’s drawing of the scene, Wrexford sets out to discover the person behind the drawings and find out how he acquires these hidden details and help Wrexford catch the killer before he finds himself at the end of the hangman’s noose.

Filled with rumors and legends of alchemy, Murder on Black Swan Lane is an entertaining look at society during regency England. Some reviewers have compared this with c.s. Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr novels. Harris’s books of this time are filled with more meaty political details. Though Penrose’s book looks at the huge gaps between the haves and the have-nots, it doesn’t go into great detail, nor is it needed to get the reader to see them. This novel gets to the heart of the mystery and keeps it moving. Harris’s writing and her books are among my favorites and if, as promised, this is the first of a new series, Penrose will be added to my favorites.

I welcome the return of Andrea Penrose, after thoroughly enjoying her Cocoa trilogy. In this first installment of a new mystery series, the Earl of Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane join forces to solve a series of mysteries in Regency England. This unlikely pair are drawn together when Wrexford is unjustly accused of being the killer, and Charlotte has information that he needs. The characters are well drawn, play off each other well, and the supporting characters, including two charming ragamuffins who Charlotte keeps an eye on all play a part in the resolution of this mystery. The tension in the relationship of Charlotte and Wrexford is palpable, and shows great promise if they can learn to trust each other.

A stunning start to a new historical crime series. Darkly atmospheric, at time romantic, with a host of satellite characters who are interesting in their own right and you can count me as a dedicated reader. Science, art and murder come together beautifully, and I was completely swept away.

After Lord Wrexford has a public disagreement with a clergymen, the scientist/nobleman immediately falls under suspicion by authorities when said clergyman is murdered. To prove his innocence in the matter, Lord Wrexford sets out to discover the truth, setting his sights on the satirical cartoonist 'AJ Quill' who has details of the crime no one else saw.

Right from the start, this is a fantastic story. The science side of the novel makes it stand out from the others based in the era. Lord Wrexford is an intriguing character, logical and focused on the facts. To compliment him, we have Charlotte, an artist who looks at things outside of the box.

The mystery is enjoyable and the reader is led along at a nice pace. At times, the alchemy terms are a bit confusing and bog things down just a bit. The minor characters are a delight and memorable in their own way.

All in all, I want to know more. would love to follow Lord Wrexford and Charlotte as they solve more mysteries together.

This is a must read for any fan of historical mysteries.

It's fair to say that this book ticked a lot of boxes for me: A historical murder mystery with a strong female lead who is successfully making her way in a man's world. An evocative and well-researched portrayal of Regency London. Interesting details on science and art. An intelligent and handsome Lord fighting for truth. Action and adventure and sympathetic characters.

The novel follows an impoverished female satirical cartoonist, Charlotte Sloane, who gets caught up in corruption at the highest levels in society as she seeks subjects for her drawings. This pulls her into a murder mystery where she has to work with the chief suspect, Lord Wrexford, to clear his name and protect her own identity (she publishes as A J Quill, assumed male by society). The obvious way to take this would be Wrexford as Charlotte's protector and love interest, but Penrose does something far more interesting and the novel is all the stronger for this choice.

Particularly strong here are the supporting characters - I loved Hawk and Raven and think Sheffield also has a lot more potential. Indeed, this is a book populated by people that it is easy to care about and like. The historical detail is another strength - there is a real sense of period which isn't the usual sugar-coated view of Regency London.

The book had the feel of the start of a series, which I certainly hope to be the case. The characters are developed well, but there is the definite sense that there is more story to be told and I, for one, can't wait.

A murder mystery set in Regency London, the first in a new series. The notorious Earl of Wrexford has been engaged in a long-running, very public argument with Reverend Josiah Holworthy, mostly conducted in letters published in various newspapers, over the role of science and religion. So when Holworthy is found murdered, Wrexford is the obvious first suspect – particularly since it turns out that the murder was committed by throwing acid in Holworthy's face, and chemistry in Wrexford's particular interest. To prove his innocence, Wrexford sets out to find the real murderer, which leads him to A.J. Quill, a satirical cartoonist who seems to know every secret in London. Quill is actually Charlotte Sloane, a hard-working widow using her husband's penname to preserve the last vestiges of her respectability. When her husband's death also seems to be connected to the conspiracy surrounding Holworthy, they become equally passionately committed to solving the mystery.

This is a fun premise, and I admittedly was very interested in a book about the scientific circle of Regency London, but it didn't live up to my expectations. There's nothing wrong with it, exactly; it's just that everything here is such a cliche. We have the adorable street urchins with Cockney accents, the feisty heroine who nonetheless is impressed by the hero's power and honor, the grumpy Scottish doctor, devious French spies (even when their motivation is explicitly to support France's revolutionary society over Britain's classist aristocratic system, the French are always devious in a novel about how sexy and awesome the Regency was) and, of course, Wrexford himself: the hero who's just so smart that all of society bores him and so of course he's a jerk with a reputation for cynicism and 'biting wit'.

The writing itself isn't much better. Charlotte and Wrexford supposedly represent a clash of passion vs logic, but since Wrexford loses his temper and Charlotte hides her emotions just as often as the opposite, we're told this by the narrative rather than it arising naturally from the characters. For example:
“Mrs. Sloane?” Shadows tangled with the strands of black hair curling, making his face as shapeless as his rag market hat. “No protest? No demand to charge in where angels fear to tread?”
Charlotte wished she could see his expression. There was an undertone to his question that she couldn’t quite identify. “I know you think me ruled by impulse rather than logic—”
“Intuition, not impulse,” he corrected. “Which I’ve learned to respect. If you have an objection, I am willing to listen.”
“And I, sir, have learned to respect the way you use reason to attack a problem.”
So subtle! So natural! So not how human beings speak!

The writing in scenes between Charlotte and Wrexford often descends to trashy romance level (note: good romance writing also exists! But it generally avoids tired cliches like this), despite it not actually being a romance. Though I wouldn't be surprised if the series goes there in the future. More examples, from their first meeting:
A gentleman, not a ruffian from the stews.
She jerked her gaze upward.
Well-tailored wool, burnished ebony buttons. Shoulder capes that accentuated the breadth of his shoulders.
She took an involuntary step back.
He pulled off his hat and slapped it against his thigh, sending more drops of water flying through the air. Wind-whipped hair, dark as coal, tangled around his face. At first, all Charlotte could make out was a prominent nose, long and with an arrogant flare to its tip. But as he took another stride closer, the rest of his features snapped into sharper focus. A sensuous mouth, high cheekbones, green eyes, darkened with an undertone of gunmetal grey.
[...]
For a big man, he moved with feral quickness. A blur of wolf black, leaving the sensation of predatory muscle and primitive power pricking against her skin.
[...]
The earl’s face might well have been carved of granite. Not a muscle twitched. Shadows danced, dark on dark, through his long, curling hair. He appeared implacable, impervious to any appeal for mercy.
Charlotte knew she should have been repelled, but something about the hard-edged planes and sculpted contours of his features held her in thrall. There was a cold beauty to him, and she felt her fingers itch to take up her paintbrush and capture that chilling aura of a man in supreme command of his emotions.


And so on and so forth. Alas, I can't even say that I got much out of the scientific side of the book, since the mystery ultimately turns out to revolve around alchemy – also interesting, to be fair, but not what I came here for.

It's not a bad book, but with a thousand other mystery series out there, this one just isn't captivating enough to be worth more of my time.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2015914520