1814 London 15th book in series but can be read as standalone. Sebastian St Cyr and his wife, Hero, are asked to solve the murder of Nicholas Hayes who was accused of murdering a French woman 15 years earlier. I learned lots of well-researched history about the East India Co's opium smuggling and Napoleon's defeat. Harris is a very talented writer. Her unique characters and plot make for a book that held my attention all the way through. I now look forward to reading the next book in the series and would highly recommend to those who love historical mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for a free copy for an honest review.

The Allied Sovereigns have assembled in London to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon in June 1814. Royal families from the German states, Russia and Austria are reveling in the restoration of the European monarchs. In the midst of all the festivities, the body of Nicholas Hayes, a British noble, was discovered in a tea garden. He was thought to have died 15 years earlier in Botany Bay where he was sentenced for the murder of the wife of a French emigre. Hayes was a friend of Jules Calhoun, Sebastian St. Cyr’s valet, who had Sebastian accompany him to the murder scene. Sebastian soon discovers that his own interest goes beyond helping out a friend as the investigation calls into question Hayes’ guilt for the crime that originally banished him from England.

I’ve loved this series for its historical accuracy, forthrightness and honesty about the past. It’s unparalleled in that respect, at least among my other historical fiction choices. This story surpassed my high expectations in this aspect as well as providing high intrigue and a downright confounding mystery. My education about the East India Company was apparently a farce and I learned the reality of its sordid history and devastating impact on Asian cultures. Hayes murder was cleverly entwined with the political machinations involving Allied relationships following Napoleon’s downfall, which had me paying attention to minute details and the intricacies of key relationships. If this wasn’t enough to engage me, Sebastian was teamed with Hero to work through many elements of the case, past and present.

This was the most delectable of installments to date, at least for me. Nicholas Hayes’ life was sort of a “what if” representation for Sebastian as so much of their lives mirrored each others except for the intervention of Constable Henry Lovejoy saving him from a similar fate at a similar pivotal moment in his own life. It inspired him to seek the truth on Nicholas’ behalf as there was absolutely no one to stand for him. There’s always been a noble quality about Sebastian beyond peerage and he’s never been finer than he was here in seeking the truth amidst incredible opposition. I loved everything about this story as it cleverly and skillfully steeped well defined characters, intrigue, mystery and suspense in a wealth of history. And the ending? Beyond lovely.

When I started reading the Sebastian St Cyr books from beginning to end in December, I had this book in the forefront of my mind.

I had really jumped around in this series over the years and that often left me feeling a little confused as to different character relations. I was tried of feeling lost in the series, so before this book came out I went back and read the entire series beginning to end starting in December.

There wasn’t a single minute that I regretted that decision. I loved all of the books, though some were better than others, I still enjoyed watching the characters evolve and change. It’s with that evolution fresh in mind that I started this book.

Summary
It’s June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the Prince Regent’s invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoléon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British nobleman long thought dead.

Eighteen years before, Nicholas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaford, was accused of killing a beautiful young French émigré and transported to Botany Bay for life. Even before his conviction, Hayes had been disowned by his father. Few in London were surprised when they heard the ne’er-do-well had died in New South Wales in 1799. But those reports were obviously wrong. Recently Hayes returned to London with a mysterious young boy in tow–a child who vanishes shortly after Nicholas’s body is discovered.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is drawn into the investigation by his valet, Jules Calhoun. With Calhoun’s help, Sebastian begins to piece together the shattered life of the late Earl’s ill-fated youngest son. Why did Nicholas risk his life and freedom by returning to England? And why did he bring the now-missing young boy with him? Several nervous Londoners had reason to fear that Nicholas Hayes had returned to kill them. One of them might have decided to kill him first. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
All of these books have reoccurring characters and some books emphasize their past relationships more than others. This book was not one of those books—instead it focused on the mystery itself. So if you are thinking about picking up this series but are worried you will be lost in the series, this one would be a great place to start. Now that last book in this series played up on other character and story history way more than this, but this one was much more about the mystery.

In this mystery, I could really sympathize with the victim. His entire life was full of tragedy and people who simply just let him down in a number of ways. I felt more compelled to keep reading because I wanted to see some kind of justice for him and I thought Sebastian was just the detective to do it!

There were lots of different suspects to pick from and each with their own selfish motives. I enjoyed watching Sebastian try to flush out the motives and suspects at every turn and was hoping they were all guilty because they were all so unlikable.

With a series this long running, there is always the potential for the stories to become formulaic, and while there are some things that I notice as being part of a formula—-Sebastian being followed for example—I never feel bored or disappointed in the hero or the other characters. This author writes strong mysteries that read very quick with lots of red herrings and some surprises along the way, but what I really love is her attention to historic detail. I see her research and love of history at every turn in each and every book.

I cannot wait for the next Sebastian book and as long as she keeps writing them, I will keep reading them. This series is one that I recommend to everyone I meet and I have since gotten my family hooked on them too. I recommend starting at the beginning of course for full effect but it’s not entirely necessary, a book like this one is a fine place to start in the series.

Book Info and Rating
Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: April 7th 2020 by Berkley Books
ISBN 0399585680 (ISBN13: 9780399585685)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Berkley Books, in exchange for an honest review all opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: historical fiction/mystery, mystery, detective novel

Who does indeed speak for the damned?

What a sensitive and unusual couple Hero and Sebastian, Lord and Lady Devlin are.
I wouldn't like to cross Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. When he's quiet and controlled is when people should be wary, particularly when his much loved wife Hero is threatened. Both characters are independent and strong, both with their own developed interests that weave together in amazing ways. Parenthood has only enhanced their connection.
This story reaches back into the past. Sebastian's valet Calhoun brings to his attention the plight of a man sentenced eighteen years ago, under strained circumstances, to transportation, serving the life of a convict in Botany Bay. Inexplicably that man is later found not only back in England, but dead in Pennington’s Tea Gardens at Somer's Town. Nicholas Hayes, the youngest son of the late Earl of Seaforth had been a byword for what happens to rebellious offspring, frequently used as a cautionary tale by harassed parents. Nicholas apparently managed to escape from Botany Bay to Canton, and after many years there, secretly returned to England to set mysterious things to rights.
Hayes was accompanied by a young Eurasian boy Ji who disappears. Hero is particularly worried about him and as she's writing a story about the plight of street musicians she uses that as her cover to investigate further.
It's June 1814 and the Prince Regent is celebrating Napoleon's defeat with leaders of the victorious countries--an exhausting round of grand occasions.
Hero and Gage find themselves intent on solving the death of Nicholas and finding Ji. In doing so they are drawn back into a past that many want left alone, to the point of focusing their wrath on the couple. Dangerously so! Sebastian is determined that the truth about Nicholas's previous conviction and concerns be unmasked no matter where that might lead. Speaking for the damned indeed!
Another splendid vintage Sebastian St. Cyr mystery!

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley

Yes, I have in fact read fifteen of these books. From the author’s Facebook page it looks like there will at least be a sixteenth book, and I’ll read that one too. This series has taken an odd, double-place in my reading diet. To steal phrases from Pop Culture Happy Hour, for me it is both pop culture comfort food and, occasionally, pop culture junk food.
My ultimate piece of pop culture comfort food is the original Law & Order series. I love the structure: body, quip, police stuff, trial part 1, twist, trial part two, credits. This series follows a similar pattern—there’s a body, Sebastian is told to not interfere, Sebastian interferes, we see Gibson, Hero is out doing social work stuff tangential to the case, Jarvis looms, Sebastian has to fight and shoot people, the mystery is solved.
Unfortunately, though I have read all fifteen books I can probably only tell you the plots of… five of them? The plots of books 1, 3, 12, 14, and 15 I remember, but the rest settled on my brain and dissolved like cotton candy (Stephen Thompson’s textbook definition of pop culture junk food on Pop Culture Happy Hour). My poor memory aside, I like that Harris’s mysteries and plotting can still surprise me after fifteen books. Though I did see one twist (and was proud of myself for doing so) in this book, I didn’t see the twist of the main mystery coming. All in all, this was exactly what I needed to read right now. Thanks for the ARC Berkeley and NetGalley!

I glommed this entire series last year and had a heck of a good time doing it. For a few months there I think I recommended it to every single person I talked to. It’s just so well done.

In this installment Sebastian is called out when the body of an accused murderer and disgraced son of an aristocrat is found in a tea garden. Many in London are shocked to learn that not only was he still alive, but that he had may have returned with revenge in mind. Sebastian is determined to find out what his motives were, who killed him, and the identity and location of the child he brought with him. All of this hits home for Sebastian who was himself wrongly accused and could have suffered the same fate as Nicholas.

As with any of the installments in this series, this book was tightly paced, richly descriptive and full of action and suspense. I love Sebastian and his wonderful close knit friends and family who he relies on. I have to say the ending to this one brought a tear to my eye and had me sniffling a bit.

Another great entry into a truly wonderful historical mystery series. I can not wait until my next adventure with this author.

Final grade- B+

5 stars

A dead body in a teagarden. Secrets buried from the distant past. Political intrigue mixed with London's society. Welcome to London, 1814.

Historical world-building:★★★★★
Mystery plot: ★★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★★★
Enjoyment: all the stars, this was the perfect evening read

Who Speaks for the Damned is the 15th book in the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries, but don't let that stop you from picking it up—I was a new reader to this world and these characters and had a darn good time.

Sebastian St. Cyr is the Viscount Devlin in early 1800s London. He's a nobleman with a past...and a habit for ferreting out crimes that the nobles would rather be left alone.

When a disgraced former member of society winds up dead in a teagarden, Sebastian is on the case. The man is Nicolas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaforth. Eighteen years ago, Hayes was convicted of attempted assault and murder and banished to a distant prison camp for life. Thought to be dead, Hayes' recently dead body in London comes as a shock to society and unearths secrets better left buried.

Who killed this former murderer, and why?

I really, really enjoyed this one.

Sebastian St Cyr is not your average gentleman, and he doesn't care if you know it or not. Given the time period and the historical setting, I found his character extremely unique and surprising. I loved his way of questioning the ton—with surprising elements of humor—and his core of steel when it came to class injustice.

The author also did a FABULOUS job with the sense of place and historical accuracy. It felt like 1800s London, down to the dialogue, as opposed to a historical novel with just enough details. I loved the total immersion into the time period.

And, last but not least, the mystery! Obviously can't talk about this too much without spoilers, but let's just say that C.S. Harris knows how to spin a good yarn. I was right about a few things, wrong about a few things, and in the end so thoroughly entertained by the entire experience that I just settled in for the ride.

Thank you to Berkley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Since this is #15 in a series and I have not read the previous #14, I'm sure that colored my enjoyment of the book. The mystery itself and the English history of the early 1800s were good. The characters did not have the depth that I assume they would have had if I had read the previous books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Random House for the ARC to read and review.

Fifteen books in, and the Sebastian St. Cyr series is still going strong.

I wouldn’t rank this one among the best in the series, because for me it lacked a bit of suspense, but it’s still very good. As always, the mystery is solidly constructed, with several potential suspects who might plausibly be the murderer. (There’s a twist regarding the identity of one character that I suspected beforehand, but I couldn’t guess the identity of the killer.) The historical setting is as well drawn as usual, too, and I always enjoy the glimpses we get of the loving relationship between Sebastian and Hero.

If you’re a fan of Harris’s series, you’ll definitely want to give this a read.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Once upon a time, the author of the Sebastian St. Cyr series described how she came to write St. Cyr and his series. She said that she wanted to create a character who seemed, on the surface, to be the epitome of the Regency hero; tall, dark, handsome and brooding. (I think with emphasis on the brooding.) But then to explicitly NOT make him the hero of a Regency romance. Thus was Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, born.

A much later description of Devlin referred to him as Darcy with more than a touch of James Bond, but that doesn’t really feel right. St. Cyr seems to have always been carrying too much emotional baggage to have ever been Darcy, while his adventures and investigations take him into much darker places than Bond usually goes and afford him considerably fewer technological toys – even ones that would have existed in the Regency.

St. Cyr relies on his instincts, his brains and his considerable ability to fight as dirty as necessary, whether that fight involves fisticuffs, social exposure or politics – as much as he hates the latter options when needed.

When his story began in 2005 – or in 1811 in St. Cyr’s world, England was on the brink of the Regency and St. Cyr was a battle-scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, unable to settle or sleep, wracked with PTSD after his life-altering experiences in a war that had not yet ended. (Even by the time period of this 15th book in the series, 1814, the war is still not over. It is merely in abeyance during Napoleon’s exile on the island of Elba.)

St. Cyr, as the heir to an earldom, should be one of the Regency dandies that appear in the pages of so many romances set in the period. Instead, he has become an unofficial and unpaid murder investigator with the help of the head of the newly formed police agency at Bow Street. His membership at the highest levels of the aristocracy allows him to poke his nose into many, many places where a simple copper would be thrown out the back door.

Even his father-in-law, the Prince Regent’s cousin and spymaster Jarvis, is forced to deal with St. Cyr whether he likes it or not. And he definitely does not.

This latest entry in the series is an enthralling mystery that does an especially good job of exposing the glitter of the Regency Era as the bio-luminescence of something rotting in the dark, as St. Cyr finds himself investigating the death of a man who is all too much like the one that he sees in his own mirror. There but for the grace of god, and just a few scraps of luck that turned good instead of bad, would have gone St. Cyr.

It’s a case he can’t let go of, no matter how many times he’s warned off. And no matter how high the halls of power that he needs to bring low.

Escape Rating A+: It should be fairly clear that this is one of my favorite series. In fact, if it isn’t clear already, as part of my Blogo-Birthday Celebration I ONLY review stuff I really, really love. After all, this is my birthday and the blog’s birthday and why shouldn’t I treat myself to some books and authors that I know I’ll love?

Especially since this whole week is a hobbit’s birthday, meaning that I give presents instead of getting them. It just wouldn’t do to give away books I don’t utterly adore.

What I love about this series in general, and it’s certainly exemplified by this entry, boils down to two things. One is certainly the development of the characters. St. Cyr and his wife Hero have created a partnership of equals in a way that doesn’t often happen in historical romance. They have both come through dark places and dark things, and found each other in spite of people and circumstances that stood in their way.

They both carry a lot of baggage, and it is not a weight that either can carry FOR the other. Rather, carrying it together lightens the load. I also have to say that more than either Darcy or Bond, the character that St. Cyr most often reminds me of is Roarke from the In Death series. They share the same kind of darkness in their pasts, and they both work on expiating their demons in the same ways. They have also both formed strong partnerships with women who were initially on opposing sides from themselves.

The other thing that makes this series so strong is its setting. It is so much the opposite of what we think of the Regency as being. There was so much glitter at the top, and so much rot underneath. The murder in this story is a case in point. The powers-that-be have already decided who MUST be guilty, regardless of who is actually guilty. The attitudes reflected by our protagonists resonate with 21st century readers and yet feel part and parcel of their time and place.

Wrong is always wrong. Murder is always murder. No matter who the victim was, or what they, themselves might have done. That St. Cyr sees so much of himself in this particular victim adds to the poignancy of the whole story.

In the end, good triumphed, at least temporarily. Evil got its just desserts. And the powers that be blame St. Cyr for righting a wrong that many would have preferred to bury. A combination of things as they should be with the acknowledgement that many in power do not desire that outcome.

A Disreputable Nobleman is Killed Leaving Behind a Young Asian Boy

Calhoun, Sebastian St Cyr’s manservant, comes to him for help. His friend Nicholas Hayes, son of an earl, has been found murdered in Pennington’s Tea Gardens. He has a young Asian boy with him who is now with Calhoun’s mother, a rather notorious pub owner.

Nicholas was convicted of killing a young Frenchwoman and sent to Botany Bay eighteen years ago. Everyone believed he was dead until he returned to England with the boy. Sebastian must answer the question of why Nicholas would return to England where he has enemies who would be eager to end his life, and who is the boy?

As Sebastian begins to investigate, the boy disappears. Now he must try to find the child as well as learn who the killer was. The more he investigates, the more Sebastian realizes that the circumstances of Nicholas’ conviction and transport to Botany Bay are not as straightforward as he was led to believe.

This is the fifteenth novel in C.S. Harris’ Regency mystery series featuring Sebastian St. Cyr. As usual, the historical detail is exceptionally well researched. In this novel we get a glimpse of the festivities sponsored by the Prince Regent celebrating the defeat of Napoleon.

Sebastian is a character you want to follow. He’s grown emotionally and in his detective skills throughout the series. One reason I enjoy the books is following his development and enjoying his relationship with the wife Hero, also helpful in his detective work.

If you enjoy well written historical mysteries with realistic characters, you will enjoy this book. You may also enjoy the complete series although this book can be read as a standalone.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very good story! I was almost immediately drawn in and immersed in the characters. One thing I loved about this book was the pacing. The pacing was PERFECT. It always bugs me when the pacing of a mystery thriller is to fast or slow. Even though this is part of a series, you can easily start on this book and not feel like you are missing any parts of it.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

In this latest, Sebastian learns of a new murder he needs to investigate when a scared, young boy comes to tell his valet, Jules Calhoun, that his friend, Hayes, has been killed. As usual, Harris pulls me into the heart of a new story that is more than a mystery so I can hardly put the book down and fly through the pages.

Who Speaks for the Damned is the fifteenth in the Sebastian St. Cyr historical mysteries. Each book develops the series arcs, the characters, and some ongoing relationships so they don’t read as well when taken out of order.

This series continues to dazzle me with the complexity and depth of each mystery and the characters. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is the main character and he has captured my fancy since the first book. He has grown as a person and as a detective making peace with his past and growing steadier on a good present path. Hero, his wife, is just as appealing as a strong, intelligent woman who is his partner in love, home, and work- both his and hers.

This mystery was deeply emotional. The author is good at making the reader feel not just for the people around the victim, but for the victim himself. In this case, the death was a tragedy and only felt more so as Sebastian dug up the truth of his life and the people around the murdered man. I was so worked up on Hayes’ behalf that mere jail time or even hanging didn’t seem enough to feel that justice would be done. It was a good twisting mystery.

Who Speaks for the Damned takes place against the historic backdrop of the peace celebrations after Napoleon is defeated. The author paints a vivid picture of Regency English life and draws in people from all strata including people from other parts of the world. Harris doesn’t shy away from the social and cultural history of the time such as the abuses of the East India Company, Opium smuggling, the life of those transported to Botany Bay, street musicians, illegitimacy, political intrigue, war-time espionage and more.

All in all, this was superb for mystery, history, and people story that has heart and vitality. I devoured this and was still left wanting more immediately after. Those who enjoy historical mysteries should definitely try this series.

amateur-sleuth, England, historical-fiction, early-19th-century, murder-investigation

I'm sure that I read a much earlier Sebastian St Cyr mystery and though I can't seem to find it, I have somewhat vague very positive feelings about it. In this one St Cyr is long restored to respectability and feels affected by a murder involving a peer exiled for murder eighteen years ago who unknowingly returned to London and is the first to die leaving behind a young Chinese boy. The sleuthing is very good and the historical research seems as authentic as I remember. The characters are exceptionally well drawn and the whole imagery is as clear as being there. I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!

Nicholas Hayes is found murdered very early on in this book and his murder sets off a whole host of dominoes as it was believed that Nicholas was dead and had been for years. His return and murder brings out some long held animosity between quite a few people, but who was mad enough to murder.

This was the first book by CS Harris that I have read and I enjoyed it, but it didn't wow me when I compare it to other books in the genre. What I didn't love about the story was the who dun it of it. I felt as though the detective was clunky of sorts and it circled and circled and I wanted to feel as though the detective was just a bit smarter.

The thing that kept me reading and that I enjoyed the most about the book was its pacing. For me when I read mystery/thriller books, they must have good pacing and the book must keep moving forward or else I can loose attention and fast. This book kept the pacing and at the end of each chapter I was ready to read the next.

I don't know that I would go back and start this series at the beginning. Thankfully starting on book 15 wasn't a problem as there wasn't much of a focus on the personal life of the main character and the plot was entirely about the murder that was enclosed in this one book.

"Who Speaks for the Damned" is a mystery set in June 1814 in London. This book is the 15th in a series, but you can understand it without having read the previous novels.

Historical information was woven into the story and provided a distinct feel of that specific time and place. The characters were interesting, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Both Hero and Sebastian were involved in the investigation, though Sebastian was the main investigator. He tracked down leads and asked good questions. There were several suspects who had a motive, and it could have been any (or several or all) of them until the final clues at the end. Sex occurred between Hero and Sebastian, but it was only briefly described (not play-by-play, graphically-described sex scenes). There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.

4.5 stars

I think the secret of success to a long running series is making characters that you care about. You want to read the next book to find out what the characters have been doing since you left them last. I know it sounds odd but I really like the characters in this series and I just can't wait to catch up with them. I enjoy the time I spend with them. This book is not exception.

St. Cyr gets involved in solving the murder of a disgraced son of an Earl. Sentenced to murder and sent to a prison, the man had been thought to be dead 15 years ago. Somehow he was alive and returned to London for some reason. St. Cyr cannot rest until he finds out who murdered him, why he returned to London and the truth about the original murder.

The search takes him all over London from the Palace to the slums. Set in 1814 just after Napoleon is defeated, the attention to historical detail is great. You really get the sense of time and place. Even though it's the 15th book, it can be read as a stand alone. I thought it was a good addition to this wonderful series.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Series: Sebastian St. Cyr #15
Publication Date: 4/7/20
Number of Pages: 352

Hold on to your hats because this intense and complex historical mystery is going to take you on a rollercoaster of a ride. We are fifteen books into the series, and you’d think things might begin to get a tad stale. That isn’t even remotely close to the case though. This book is as fresh, different, and interesting as the first book in the series. The author’s research and grasp of the history of that period are outstanding and make you feel as if you are right there living the tale as it unfolds.

I’ll make no bones about it – this book ripped my heart from my chest, flung it to the floor and stepped on all the little pieces. Many of this author’s victims are sympathetic and you mourn their passing, but this one… If you don’t wail at the things that he had to endure in his life only to be murdered – well…

Nicholas Hayes was discovered in Pennington’s Tea Gardens with a sickle protruding from his back. He’d only been back in England for a week or two after eighteen years away. Everyone had thought he had died after being transported when he had been convicted of the murder of a young Frenchwoman. If he had escaped death after he’d been transported, why would he return to London where he’d be immediately executed if the crown discovered him? What of the young child who is with him?

As we learn more about our victim, we find that all is not as one would think. But, who wanted him to die and why? You’ll learn all of that as you follow the clues along with Sebastian and Hero. You’ll meet some truly despicable people – true vermin in the guise of humans. You’ll also meet and get to know some lovely, caring people who deserve a better life than they’ve had.

This was truly a wonderful read – well-written, well-plotted and filled chock full of characters you will either love or hate, but nothing in-between. For me personally, because it was such an emotional read, I should probably have chosen to read it at some time other than the midst of a global pandemic. But, nonetheless, I am happy to have read it and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am late to this series, having wanted to read it for years but only actually getting around to it back in December, but after fifteen books, no matter how recent a fan, you have to wonder : how long will it go on?

This installment definitely felt episodic in the sense that this was removed from what I sort've expected to see come to light by now. Events I can't hint at or speak of due to s p o i l e r s. Instead this was just another vaguely run of the mill murder mystery that Sebastian involves himself in, much to the dismay of almost everyone around him, and as a result a lot of other people die in the midst of trying to cover something up from long ago, now come back to haunt them, and which is forced out into the open because they tried to cover it up.. again.

The one positive I can say (well, okay, that sounds terrible, this book wasn't bad, but..) is that some of that copy and paste feeling I had reading these books, particularly when dealing with a certain character, wasn't present this time. Some of the laziness was absent from this fifteenth book and that made everything feel much less rote, which I appreciated. Again, I just wonder, how long can things continue? I have nothing against a long series but only when the new books offer something worthwhile or fresh for the characters; that's why we read these. Not for the plot or villain of the week but for progress.

There did seem to be some nostalgia and hearkening back to book one in this installment, some what-if and it-could've-been-me which did allow for some perspective on Sebastian's part but I think we had already worked through most of that, so why was it important to rehash?

If you missed these characters, I think you'll be satisfied by the new book. If you expected that long-awaited drama to bubble up and dealt with head-on, you might be disappointed. But either way I think you'll enjoy sinking into a familiar world considering the world outside is looking mighty strange right now. This will be comforting in that respect but a new favourite? I wouldn't expect so.

First time reading this author. I enjoyed the characters, the mystery, the setting, and the ending. I have started looking for the older books in the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.