This delightful sequel to The Queer Principles of Kit Webb follows Percy's friend and stepmother Marian and their erstwhile blackmailer Rob as they sort out the aftermath of murdering Marian's terrible husband and the awkward business of ducal titles and money. Rob and Marian fall delightfully in love and the queer found family with Kit, Percy is an essential part of their happily ever after. Both main characters in this romance are attracted to, and have had relationships with, men and women -- a queerness that is treated as unremarkable. There is also negotiation around penetrative sex, since Marian is at high risk for dangerous complications in pregnancy, that works out in delightfully queer ways. I hope there will be more to come from this series!

I stand by the point I made in my last review that I don't think Historical England™ is the setting for me, but I was blown away by how much I liked this novel in comparison to the first book. Kit Webb wasn't bad, but I just found it underwhelming -- by comparison, I tore through The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes in, like, eight hours flat. However, I have to disagree with the reviewers that say this novel can function as a standalone installment. Without reading The Queer Principles of Kit Webb , I don't think you'll have a full understanding of this novel. I tried, then had to turn back 4 chapters in. There's just too much context you'll be missing if you haven't read the other half of the story, not to mention that Marian begins essentially in the middle of the climax of Kit (albeit from a different POV).

Onto the synopsis!: Marian Hayes is fresh off the alleged murder of her husband and desperate to flee the city to wait for the news to blow over. Unsure if she'll be correctly named as the killer, or if her lie about the shot being fired by their assailants will be believed, she takes her once-blackmailer hostage and disappears into the night. But Rob has secrets of his own that might ruin the fragile relationship blossoming between them, and Marian isn't an open book herself. They'll have to rely on each other if they want to see the next stage of their journey through, but can they really trust someone they've met under such dastardly circumstances?

[I had two main issues with Kit Webb: I didn't find Percy interesting, and I didn't like the format Cat Sebastian used to end nearly every chapter in the book. But Kit Webb walked so Marian Hayes could run. Both Marian and Rob were a riot; I thought Marian's self-exploration of what motherhood did or didn't mean for her was something not usually touched on in romance novels (a genre that so often seems to end in a much-desired pregnancy). In fact, Rob's relationship with his mother was equally as unique and complex. Not to mention...the spice? It was good, good spice. If you read enough modern romance, you can usually guess the way a spicey scene is going to go, but Marian Hayes explored a relationship dynamic that I haven't read in mainstream media before: a woman who finds no pleasure in having penetrative sex (and, in fact, might just die from it; the horrific reality of Georgian childbirth) and a man with mile-wide praise kink. (hide spoiler)]

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes was such an enjoyable read. It was fun, fast-paced, and strikingly sentimental. If you're looking for a loveable cast, engaging plot, and witty dialogue, then this is the book for you.

**STAR BREAKDOWN**

Story: ★★★☆☆
Characters: ★★★★★
Would I Reread?: Yes
Would I Buy?: No, but I'd borrow it from the library, so...kinda?
Overall Star Rating: ★★★★☆

A beautiful sequel! Also, I am here for a gorgeous romance between a man and a woman that doesn't rely upon penis-in-vagina sex. In the world of the novel it's because Marian is preventing pregnancy on doctor's orders, but as a reader I just appreciate varieties of sexual intimacy. My only complaint is that I'd have liked more major scenes with the ragged rescue cat, lol.

I am one of like 8 people who did not finish The Perfect Crimes of Kit Webb (I started it but could not get into it), and I do think that hurt my reading experience of this one. I felt a little lost in the plot at the beginning and had a hard time tracking all of the friendships, relationships, and family trees. However, once I sorted some of that out, this was an enjoyable read!

This book had the very traditionally acerbic Cat Sebastian heroine and features both a bi hero and a bi heroine (which is the casual and yet essential historical queer rep we love to see). There is Only One Bed and some reproductive illness rep. which are both great. I am kicking myself because I was approximately 65% of the way through this book before I realized it was a Robin Hood retelling (he's a thief named Rob who redistributes wealth and her name is Marian. Come on, Kelleen!), but once I caught on, I really enjoyed that angle! Feed the poor! Eat the rich!

This was a lot lower heat and a lot lower in sexy detail than I was expecting, but there were some glimpses of a femme dom which is always delightful.

Over all, my reading of this was bumpy to start, but once got into it and invested in the characters and the retelling, I had a good time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC.

CW: reproductive illness/discussion of traumatic pregnancy, discussion of non-consent, former imprisonment, gun violence, postpartum depression,

A easy fun romp that includes capers and romance set against England, a few hundred years ago. I enjoyed it-but recommend reading the first book in the series first for some context!

Cat Sebastian is one of my favorite authors and having adored "The Queer Principles of Kit Webb," my expectations for this continuation of the series were high. Needless to say, this book saw the bar I had set and just pole vaulted over it!

While this series does feature some feats of derring-do, these are “charismatic criminals” after all, that is not the point of the story. The story is, in comparison to how elegantly the characters, plot and scenery weave together, not a page-turner. However, the romance that builds, the relationships that bloom and the character arcs keep you entranced with this world. At its heart this is a story about people falling in love and finding happiness despite their personal faults and all the ways that life throws up barriers to these kinds of HEAs. The reader is in love with both Marian and Rob by the time the epistolary chapters conclude, and getting to watch two classic disaster-bisexuals fall in love with each other is a delight. Add in layers of social justice, feminism and extremely consensual sex, this entire book is a winner.

My only caveat for the book is this: read the previous book in the series first. Cat Sebastian has built a brilliantly connected world and there will be some aspects of the experience missing if you skip over Kit and Percy’s story. Basically, I am telling you to read two amazing books…could be worse really.

I loved this. It does start immediately after Kit Webb ends, so I do think it’s important to read that one first. This story follows Marian and Rob, and they are on the run together from the beginning. Cat’s pacing is often different from most books, and I loved the way the romance and action unfolded together in this book. Also, sex is negotiated with so much respect and consideration here.

The description for The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes on author Cat Sebastian’s website reads as follows: It starts with an epistolary romance via blackmail letters and continues with a series of felonies; in other words, two disaster bisexuals doing their best (worst) in 1750s England.

Need I say more?! Preorder this book already!

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is, in a word, charming. It’s brilliantly written, with dialogue that’s as sharp as a knife and characters that leap off the page. It’s by no means perfect, but any imperfections are palatable with a plot this fun and characters this endearing. Rob is like Kaz Brekker meets Captain Black Sparrow in the most perfect way. Marian is clever, brutally honest, and will do anything for the people she loves. Plus, did you forget that both are bisexual? That’s a win in my book.

At times, the reader can feel a bit isolated, considering a good 50% of the novel features just Marian and Rob on their journey across the country. However the chemistry between the two is so electric and the conversations so lively that you get over it. I mean, the romance is DREAMY. SWOON-WORTHY. MAJOR HEART EYES. The two together are a match made in heaven (or, hell, if they’re robbing you). Their relationship dynamic is complicated and at times messy, yet it is a breath of fresh air.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, romance, queer books, grumpy/sunshine, or the one bed trope (who isn’t?) THIS is the perfect book for you. It’s truly unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

I read the NetGalley ARC of this novel. My review: I meant to finish this sooner, but I didn't want to leave. I have no higher compliment for a story. Rob was fun to meet in book 1, and a delight as a point of view character. Marian was intriguing in book 1, and she did not disappoint. They're perfect for each other but it takes time to figure that out.

There is a kindness for people who break stereotypes in this novel. It's a love song to every person who doesn't fit society, but does their thing anyway and finds happiness regardless. The trauma representation is understated but intrinsic, and basic human kindness is the core of the friendships.

Marian is a woman learning that she can feel, and be loved, and Rob is a man who via his intense attraction comes to realize that his running away days need to end. Neither is very good at these lessons, but they get there eventually. I enjoyed the epilogue immensely.

*3.5
I really wanted to like this book but it just felt like something was missing. I don't think that there was enough description of them actually falling in love it felt it happened all of a sudden.

I received a copy through netgalley.

I thought The Queer Principles of Kit Webb made me swoon, but I was unprepared for the vertigo inducing swoon of The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes.

First I’m going to share two quotes and these ought to be all the advertisement you need to sell you on this book. Next, I’m going to warn you that you cannot read this gem of a book without reading reading it’s predecessor, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, and then I’m going to add some spoilers for Kit Webb. And then I’m going to tell you some of the reasons I loved this book and beg you to read it when it comes out so that I can squee about my favorite thing which is too spoilery to share.

One:

“You have been busy,” he murmured, thinking of what a waste it was that in all the thousands of love poems written across the ages, nobody had ever thought to catalogue their beloved’s proficiency in crime.

***

“Meaning you give it away.”
“Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes.”
“To the worthy poor,” she guessed.
“I don’t much care if they’re worthy,” Rob said. “None of my business.”

Two:

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes overlaps in time with Kit Webb, answering the lingering questions about where Rob and Marian were and why they were together. We get to read the correspondence between Rob Brooks and Marian Hayes, in which Rob is blackmailing Marian and he is falling in love. (Marian is falling in love too, but Rob admits it). We dive quickly into the aftermath of the highway robbery gone wrong, but if you haven’t read the first book, a lot will be unclear.

Three:

Rob is all sunshine. He loves scrappy old cats, kittens and babies. Everyone is his friend. Marian is prickly and competent, a volcano under ice. She shows her love by arranging things for people. Rob adores her, and I would blackmail for her too. While Percy had some grief around giving up being the Duke of Clare, Marian can’t wait to shake off the shackles of aristocracy, so long as the people she cares for are safe.

As she did in Kit Webb, Cat Sebastian utterly rejects the premise of the good aristocrat. There is no trading in a bad duke for a good one.

Please read this book and then let’s have a book club meeting where we discuss it in great detail and sigh over every page. You know where to find me.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley, for the advance reader copy. My opinions are my own.

Ok, I really enjoyed this book. The strengths were definitely in the relationships--both the romantic relationship between Marian and Rob and their friendships with Percy and Kit. I enjoyed Kit and Percy's book a lot, but I think this one was even better. I love Rob's disdain for the aristocracy, I loved that there was no ridiculous conflict based purely on misunderstandings between the hero and heroine. The plot was good, but it wasn't what kept me reading.

I do think this book is a little harder to read as a standalone than a lot of romance series. I felt like having the backstory from the first book made me enjoy and understand it more, and I can't really imagine what the reading experience would have been like without it. I do think there still would be a lot to love, but these two books are so connected that I'd definitely recommend reading them in order.

Dear fellow readers,

To be brief:

I loved the characters so hard. Like "Hall of Fame" loved them so hard.

I wished I loved the plot more? It sounded so perfect. The pacing and timing seemed a little disjointed, though, and with the focus on some areas, I wanted more in other areas that seemed barely touched upon. It ended up more of a "liked" the plot situation.

Speaking of timing, I felt mixed emotions about a major subplot that I thought took up too much time yet also added to the characterization in an interesting way. It's probably more of a "me" thing, however.

More importantly, I adored the friend-TPs/family of choice-TPs (especially Marian and Percy, omg), the "eat the rich" theme, all the humorous moments, Rob's sheer adoration for Marian's prickly personality, the hot ginger appreciation, the cat, and the animals in general.

I feel like I need to reread this to review it and appreciate it properly,* but despite the ambivalent sound of this review, I also know I couldn't wait to continue reading this any moment I had to put it down, and I adored Marian and Rob every moment of the book. I'll certainly pick up the audio and devour it when it's available.

With Humble Regards,
Reader V

I just recently read The Queer Principles of Kit Webb and was so intrigued by Marian as a character that I was extremely excited to get this from NetGalley and read it immediately. This starts right in the middle of the action from the first book - Marian has just shot her husband and is going on the run. She is accompanied by Rob, a thief and former highwayman who has been blackmailing Marian. Their relationship starts in the form of blackmail letters, and grows from there. I found Marian to be a great character - a sharp, independent woman who has been pushed into a terrible marriage and, at the start of the novel, is the victim of a blackmailer. I appreciated her character growth, and I got some sunshine/grump vibes with Marian's practical cynicism and Rob's zest for life. A great romance (with plenty of adventure) with two very different, but very engaging main characters.

Cat Sebastian has such a way with words, her writing never ceases to impress me. The writing is tight, engaging and highly entertaining. And it was a most unorthodox romance but I really liked that about it.

This is the follow-up to Kit Webb which I have not read yet (but is on my TBR)… The book can stand well enough on its own without having read Kit Webb first but I do feel like I missed the meaning of several references and didn’t understand some conversations that I would like to have been clued in on. I think this will be a very rewarding reading experience for Kit Webb fans.

It starts out with the most hilarious epistolary (and antagonistic) back-and-forth between highwayman Rob and duchess Marian. They are equals in every way but in social standing. Their banter is so good and Rob is like a feminist Robin Hood. I am here 👏🏼 for 👏🏼 it 👏🏼 (Also… “Rob”? “Marian”? Stealing from the rich, giving back to the poor. I like it.😏)

Clever characters, irreverence, and disdain for the privileged upper classes are a few of the things I’ve come to expect from Cat Sebastian and this is has all of that. The colorful, well-drawn characters and fantastic dialogue were my favorite aspects of the book. Overall I think this is a really well done enemies to lovers trope and a very enjoyable read.

Tropes and other relevant info:
* historical romance (M/F)
* enemies to lovers
* slow burn
* forced proximity
* only one bed
* grumpy/sunshine
* cinnamon roll hero
* two bisexual protagonists

3.5 stars out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing the digital arc.

3.5
While this was an enjoyable read, it did make for a confusing one, especially if you haven't read the first (The Queer Principles of Kit Webb). It makes a lot of allusions to the first, and a majority of the characters are tied to to the events of the first book so that even though the second is about a different couple, you start out at a disadvantage if you don't have prior knowledge.
With that said, I loved the witty banter and the discussion of trauma, plus postpartum depression of a main character. The sex positivity is also present in this book.
In the end, though I acknowledge the positives this book has to offer, it wasn't for me. I had a difficult time empathizing with one of the main characters, and just couldn't fully get into some of the relationships in the book.