Cover Image: Murder at the Serpentine Bridge

Murder at the Serpentine Bridge

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

When we last picked up the Wrexford and Sloane series, Wrex and Charlotte had just gotten married and started their new life together; with their rag-tag group of family and friends. Murder at the Serpentine Bridge picks up where we left them. Wrex and Charlotte are navigating their new relationship. As well as raising and parenting the Weasels ( my favs!). But, Dun Dun Dunnn! - of course, they stumble headlong into another intriguing mystery. Quite literally, but this time it's more to do with the big players in the political realm. Slightly different than the previous books. Penrose resurrects Henning, our imbibing Scottish surgeon, as well as Aunt Alison and excitingly enough, Pierson Grentham’s top spymaster (Also from the Lady Ariana Regency Series.) I’m wondering if Grantham, as well as Lady Ariana and Lord Saybrook will appear in this series or if Penrose will make a collaborative novel.

There is also an exciting new addition to this series; by the name of Falcon. He is so adorable, and he fits right in with the Weasels. I hope we get to read about him regularly. This is also what I love about Penrose’s book. She always keeps going higher and higher in the quality of her stories. She has kept me entertained every time, and I’m never disappointed!

I hope that you read and enjoy this new book. Happy reading y’all!!

Was this review helpful?

Murder at the Serpentine Bridge is the sixth book from Andrea Penrose's Wrexford & Sloane series. Since it is the first book I have read in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I thought it was great. Five stars.

Was this review helpful?

My favorite genre! Historical Mysteries, and Charlotte, Countess Wrexford, with her husband The Earl of Wrexford are going to charm you with their unusual abilities, and compassion. The Peace Congress is taking place in London at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and the crown heads of Europe are in attendance, with their high ranking military officers. During the festivities an inventor is murdered, and we are off! Charlotte, Wrexford, their friends Sheffield, Cordelia, Aunt, maid, valet, a surgeon, and the boys, Raven, Hawk, and a new young friend is Peregrine. All gather to stop a drawing of a rapid loading rifle from being sold to the highest bidder. A good mystery, a very realistic scenario.
I highly recommend. Thank you #Netgalley #MurderAtTheSerpentineBridge
carolintallahassee

Was this review helpful?

In #MurderattheSerpentineBridge, the Earl and Countess of Wrexford (formerly Charlotte Sloane) work with their friends and colleagues to investigate the theft of a new type of weapon—a multi-shot pistol—with a goal of retrieving the plans and prototype before the thieves can auction them off to the highest bidder. The story takes place during the lavish Peach Celebrations for which the heads of European countries have gathered in England to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon.

While out walking late one evening with Raven and Hawk (Charlotte and Wrex’ young wards), Wrex and the boys discover a dead body near the Serpentine Bridge. Although at first glance it looks like the death could be due to a tragic accident, the victim is Jeremiah Willis, the inventor who was working on perfecting the multi-shot pistol for the British government. Hoping for a quiet summer, recently married Charlotte and Wrex reluctantly agree to once again get involved and help the government, partly because of some remarks by their government contact which may (or may not) constitute a threat to reveal Charlotte’s identity as A.J. Quill, a cartoonist known for using her pen to highlight corruption and injustice.

As Charlotte and Wrex attend the society functions that are part of the Peace Celebrations to try to identify the mysterious organizers of the auction, other members of their band of investigators do similar work among other lower classes. Readers of previous novels in the series will welcome the return of Tyler, McClellan, Sheffield, Cordelia, Henning, and Griffin–as well as Raven and Hawk--and their individual contributions to piecing together this deadly puzzle.

All in all, another stirring adventure, with an appealing cast of leading and supporting characters, set during a noteworthy historical event.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for a free copy of the book.

Was this review helpful?

Another great addition to this series! Charlotte and her new husband, the Earl of Wexford make an amazing couple both in love and in mystery! The weasels are also important in their lives, and they find themselves with another orphaned boy with the wits to help them in their cases!

Was this review helpful?

A great mystery that kept me turning the pages. I love mysteries set in regency England, and if you are a fan of C.S. Harris, then you should definitely check out this series. I also enjoy the camaraderie and relationship between the Earl and Quill, and the mystery was well written.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this one! This series keeps getting better and better!

Wrexford and Charlotte, of course, are the best, but so are all their friends and family, the ones we've come to know and love by now. Watching Raven and Hawk grow is a special treat, and I love how they've added Falcon to their family.

This was an especially embroiled mystery, full of politics and devious people with really nefarious purposes. I enjoyed reading the author's notes on the real history of this time period and where she got the inspiration.
I would have loved to see more moments between Wrex and Charlotte.

Looking forward to the the next one in this series!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I liked the book from the beginning but after a while. I just couldn't get into it anymore. It just seemed like it wasn't making ny sense to me. There was too much information about certain parts of the book.

Was this review helpful?

Another enjoyable book in this series- all the main characters from previous books are back and the mystery they find themselves investigating is well told, with plenty of intrigue.

I enjoyed the plot- one of the best of the series to date I think- but I was disappointed at the lack of character moments, especially given that this was the first book since Wrexford and Charlotte (the two main characters) were married. There is mention of how Charlotte is still getting used to her new life, but there's really not much else in the way of reference to this change. It's very plot driven, dialogue heavy, and I would have liked to see a bit more in terms of personal interaction with the characters, and character development. But an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the next one!

Was this review helpful?

Andrea Penrose's sixth instalment of Wrexford and Sloane - Murder at the Serpentine Bridge, is a faced paced, adventure-filled ride. From the first book to this one, I've loved how Ms. Penrose crafts the wonderful relationship with all the characters, especially Wrexford and Charlotte and the intriguing mysteries. This is the first book after their marriage and all the changes that union brings, it is nothing short of marvellous! Wrexford and Charlotte were a team before, but this new arrangement highlights their wonderful connection even more. The inclusiveness of the Earl and his new Countess and their chosen found family makes my heart sing, especially in our current world of upheaval. Fast-paced dialogue wonderful descriptions of the action and mystery kept me turning page after page. The mystery and pacing is great and I finished it in one sitting, but going back on day two to reread my favourite parts. I highly recommend this sixth instalment. (I also enjoyed the connection to Penrose's other series - Lady Arianna and Sandro!) Pick it up to read today.

Was this review helpful?

Another really solid installment of the Wrexford and Sloan series. All of London is abuzzz with the upcoming celebration for the end of the ongoing war. When a brilliant inventor is murdered and his design for a revolutionary weapon design goes missing, Wrexford and the gang is once again drawn into a dangerous mystery.

I thought this was a good entry. I enjoyed the addition of Peregrine into the trio of weasels, nice to see more found family. Charlotte is struggling to adjust to her role as countess which limits her ability to get out on the streets like she used to.

Was this review helpful?

Murder at the Serpentine Bridge once again has Wrexford and Charlotte investigating despite themselves. Wrexford and their wards find a body when they take their dog down to the river to play. Unfortunately, it turns out that it is a well known engineer who was building something the government doesn't want anyone to talk about. But the government is happy to force Wrexford to use his investigative skills to find out more, and there's some familiar names coming up in this.
It's a nicely laid out historical mystery that includes character development for our newlyweds and their wards as they adjust to their new circumstances. It's well balanced with the turns of the mystery and it's interesting to see them all come home and share their info together freely without some of the caution they had in previous books.
One of my quibbles with Penrose's writing is that characters keep making dramatic statements that I suppose are intended to add to the suspense of the situation, but instead seem overwrought. Why isn't the writing already showing me the stakes are high without it having to be told? I really noticed it in this book, and it reveals a weakness that instead of upping the stakes, makes it feel like a caricature.

Was this review helpful?

I have been a fan of Penrose for many years and have read all her books. I was deeply disappointed in this one on several levels. From a storytelling standpoint, it leaned lazily on the increasingly large number of trusted friends harrowing to have critical information at just the right time. More importantly, I was aghast that the author chose to use a Black man as a murder victim for no reason other than to have the leads appear more sympathetic by being less racist than their peers. There are no other Black characters except a child the leads heroically save and take in, in the most egregious example of white knight knighting. It is callously including Black characters only as victims and to further the white characters story, as well as make the white characters appear more heroic.
Stale execution and a racist premise make this my last Penrose book.

Was this review helpful?

Wrexford and Sloane are at it again! In “Murder at the Serpentine Bridge”, Wrex, Charlotte, and the rest of the crew find themselves once again faced with a murder to solve. This case keeps you guessing until the very end. A wonderful new story in the Wrexford and Sloane series!

Was this review helpful?

"Lakes, rivers, oceans—he had always found something magical about a body of water. Closing his eyes, he recalled the enchanting sound of the surf from his youth. Ebb and flow. The elemental rhythm of Life, constantly in motion. Perhaps that had appealed to him because he had always been a nomad."

I have been enjoying the Wrexford & Sloane Mystery series, it had all the elements of what I wanted from a mystery book. I've been enjoying Charlotte's journey from Murder on Black Swan Lane to this new entry. I enjoy the way Andrea Penrose writes a good mystery and a good historical novel.

Was this review helpful?