Running concurrently with one of the previous novels in the series, Elliot is rescued by Jo before he is killed by his captors.
When he is well enough, Elliot joins her group of mercenaries to go after a former friend of Elliot's, Strickland, who happens to be holding both Jo's and Elliot's friends hostage. Along the way, Elliot befriends her raven named Angus, who is normally aloof with others. He is the star in all of his scenes.
It is obvious they met earlier in the series, since they do not act like complete strangers with one another. They also give in to their deep attraction to one another before a quarter way into the novel. It is not a judgement. It's as if they finally gave into it, instead of a surprise since they didn't know each other.
Jo is very different from most heroines in hslostorial novels. Like many, she has secrets. Her father, Mungo, passed months ago, but he still gives her advice in her thoughts, like many parents. However, in her inner thoughts, she reveals to the reader that she has had "more than a few lovers." She is also quite deadly with knives. Very early in the story, she has disposed of at least a handful of (very bad) men.
Elliot, is a spy for the Crown, knows some of Jo's past, but most is either incorrect and missing from the files the government has on her. While he is a spy, he is portrayed as a very nice and honorable one, and a spy who never killed anyone. He is definitely the opposite of Jo. Their intent to fight for the Crown is obvious, they definitely have different styles.
The rescue (not a spoiler,) includes some funny instances, from the bickering of the friends in the midst of the rescue, and Jo telling Elliot to wait for her signal, but he has no idea what the signal is.
When they arrive in London, they part, and remain separated for a year, though they spied on each other.
I felt the beginning of the story was more of a closure to the combined stories of the couple, and then Jo and Elliot's story actually began. Intrigue, mystery, treason, secrets, and love abounds in this story.
How in the world, with their careers and the lives they led, did they not have a clue about the dangers?????? I had an issue with that. It was also a tad James Bond type of good and evil....even to the "this is my plan for you."
There is violence described in detail as well as many sexual scenes just as graphic. Also, how doea she see him as a reserved lover?
This left me with questions. How, how, and how in the world? As well as "Really?"
I love Minerva Spencer's work. I've read quite a few. Strong heroines are fantastic. However, I do like the heroes to act less than puppies who follow them around hoping for attention.
This is definitely for adults.
I did read this in one sitting. The story was interesting once the rescue portion...first third of the book...was finished. The couple who had already had their own novel, was too intertwined in this one. I didn't read their story, and wasn't quite sure why they were so prominent in this. They should have been like first couple.
I enjoyed it, but will probably not read the first two in the series.
This can be read as a stand alone, but a good bit would be less confusing if the other two were read first. I was able to ignore their stories for the most part.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The third and apparently last in The Wicked Women of Whitechapel trilogy, some of the events of this book occur concurrently with events in the other two books; I believe you can read them out of order or independently, but that reading them in order increases the overall level of enjoyment quite a bit, because it fills in some of the relationship backstory.

I had been waiting for Josephine “Blade” Brown’s and Elliot Wingate’s story pretty much from the moment each of the characters showed up in The Boxing Baroness, the first book of the trilogy, but most definitely after they were introduced to each other in that book. (see footnote 1)

My fascination with both characters, and their relationship, only increased by their appearance in The Dueling Duchess, especially after the group returns to London, because during that novel it’s implied that something is happening between Jo and Elliot, but whatever it may be is left unexplored, as the focus of that story is on Cecile and Guy.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

Beware: torture; vigilantism, including extrajudicial executions on page; explicit sex.

The novel opens with Elliott being beaten by members of a criminal roaming ‘militia’ that has been visiting hell on the French countryside for the last few years, until Jo rescues him; said rescue involves a bit of murdering, and that is followed in short order with a spot of vigilantism.

There is a lot of character building in those first few pages, on both sides; they show her as a very competent operative, able to compartmentalize her thoughts and emotions very effectively, and him as someone with strong principles, an even stronger will, and a rather wide idealistic streak.

The first third of the book takes place in France during the Hundred Days war of 1815, as the merry band of British friends, aristocrats, spies and circus performers, oh my! travel to meet one traitorous baron and former friend, as seen in The Boxing Baroness.

Elliot’s capture and torture at the beginning of this novel are a consequence of events that are explained in a lot more detail in that first book; the most obvious consequence of that and his subsequent rescue, is that he and Jo spend a couple of weeks together and away from the rest of the core cast of characters. This in turn leads them finally give in to the attraction which has been a strong undercurrent to their every interaction so far, though she is very insistent that this will be a “one night only” thing.

As with the other two couples in the trilogy, there’s a period of months during which the two lovers don’t see each other. Eventually, of course, he gives up the effort, and, after engineering a few conversations with Jo–ostensibly to help his friend Guy, as this part of the story happens concurrently with the later events set forth in The Dueling Duchess–Elliot insinuates himself again into a liaison with her.

To be clear, he has been fascinated with her from the beginning, and soon admits to himself that, despite her inscrutability, he’s grown to love her; it is Jo who refuses to engage in anything more than a sexual relationship. It isn’t only her background, or that Elliot has seen her kill without remorse or regret, but that Jo has lived a very unorthodox life, one she likes, and that he is the son of an earl, and she wants to protect him.

At this point, halfway or so into the novel, there are some dramatic revelations that change the Jo’s and Elliot’s relative positions rather drastically; I appreciated that several of the other characters poked fun about this reversal, because it made it a bit easier to roll with the story, but I confess that I was less than enthralled.

More than anything, it seemed that it slowed the pace of the story down substantially; there is a sense of waiting for another shoe to drop, but very little actually happens for several chapters. It doesn’t quite drag, but it didn’t hold my attention the way the first half did, and while the climax and confrontation with the villain are suitably tense and high stakes, the last chapter is just a bit too pat.

Because some of the events in the three novels happen simultaneously, the main characters of the other two novels play relatively minor parts in this one; I would say that of the three, in this one we spend the most time exclusively with the protagonists.

I had mentioned in my review of the first book that Jo might have been written as autistic, and that feeling is stronger here. She knows that she’s “odd”; part of it may be attributed to her upbringing–moving constantly, never making friends or, indeed, developing any close relationships beyond her father and Angus, her pet crow–but as Elliot and Jo grow closer, it’s clear that it’s who she is rather than how she grew up.

There’s none of the dreaded, “not like other girls” thing going on either. While Elliot loves her, he’s fully aware that Jo looks at the world and relates to the people in it like no one else he’s ever met; even as he acknowledges to himself that he doesn’t fully understand her, and that he will likely never do, and he is okay with that.

For their part, Jo’s friends from Farnham’s Fayre accept her without question; not just because their own lives are outside the usual run of respectable society (poor or aristocratic), but because they have come to appreciate her as she is: generally quiet, direct, competent, happier in the periphery than the center, yet caring and supportive in her own slightly distant way.

Elliot is a great character in his own right; as the son of an earl, he’s part of the high ton, and therefore subject to a number of expectations; as a younger son who defied some of those expectations to follow his own path and forge his own way in the world, he has a very solid sense of self; and he’s a very talented spy, someone who can literally disappear into the background no matter the occasion or the company.

The chemistry between the two is lovely; the sex scenes are explicit and hot, but there’s more than that; it is a delight to see Jo opening herself to Elliot’s love.

“Jo had loved Elliot for what felt like a long time, maybe even before she’d rescued him. Maybe since the first time he’ d stood on stage and faced her knives without flinching, his cool blue gaze looking deep inside her even back then, noticing something special about her that nobody else seemed to see.” (Chapter 21)

Angus, of course, steals every scene he’s in. Corvids are very intelligent birds, and ravens raised by hand tend to develop very close relationships with their humans, so it was a delight to see this written into a genre romance.

My least favorite aspect of the story is the whole social position and the attendant obligations, class divide and so forth. I understand why they are brought to bear, both before and after their change in circumstances, but given Jo’s life up to date, I sincerely wondered at her patience.

On balance, I enjoyed this book more than the previous one, but not as much as the first; the author’s voice is very appealing to me, and several of the story elements hearken back to the historical romances of yore, only with truly self-sufficient and competent heroines and a boat-load of consent, which is just lovely.

The Cutthroat Countess gets 8.75 out of 10

* * * *

1 “Both went strangely still, and Marianne was put in mind of two alley cats. If they’d had fur, it would be standing on end”, chapter 9, The Boxing Baroness

A steamy, fast paced romantic story involving Josephine Brown and Elliot Wingate. Jo Brown is a part of an all women Fayre in which she performs by throwing knives at objects. Elliot is a spy for the home office and is traveling with his two friends, Sin, the Duke of Staunton and Guy Darlington in search of information about Sin's brother, who is being held for ransom but presumed dead. Jo and Elliot give in to their temptation for each other while they are in France and continue their relationship after they return to England. They are soon caught up trying to crack a code which might prove the innocence of Jo's father and the man she always thought of as her father. The story includes members of the Fayre who also have their own stories but each can be read as a standalone. After solving a 30 year mystery, Jo and Elliot finally get their HEA.
I received an ARC from NetGalley but I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Seeing why Jo is the way she is has been so enjoyable. I love how honorable and cutthroat she is. I did figure out who the bad guy was pretty quickly but it was still enjoyable.

4 1/2*STARS*
The third book in the series picks up where The Dueling Duchess left off. Kidnapping, ransom and the French Red Cats. Traitors, spies and double agents. Books of poetry and code. Who do you trust when you find out the truth about your past? Josephine Brown known as Blade in Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre, is not afraid to defend herself or her compatriots with her knives. Saving Elliot Wingate from torture was easy, but falling in love with him was not.
Spencer weaves a complex plot that starts in France and ends in England with questions to answer and more surprises than I expected. I totally lost track of time reading this book. Strong females are Spencer's specialty and this series has reinforced that in spades. No weaklings allowed. Very descriptive sex and violence.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was steamy, action packed and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

I love the author and the series Rebels of the Ton, so I was really eager to read this story.
I feel that I liked the main characters and their connection but what made me rating this book 3 stars is that it felt that it cannot be read as a standalone.
I haven't read the previous book and I felt that I cannot fully follow the story because of that .
Too many characters and too many names.
Maybe it was just me and my brain, who knows...

Before Josephine Brown began working as a blade expert for Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre, she was a loner, yet now, as part owner of the circus, she's suddenly forming real friendships. And then there is her attraction to clever, handsome Honourable Elliot Wingate—whose life she happened to save. Elliot was fascinated by Jo “Blade” Brown even before he witnessed her lethal gifts, firsthand. He's never met a woman who is such an intoxicating combination of self-sufficiency, beauty, and mystery. He's never been in love before, but there is no denying he's fallen hard.
The third book in the series& another fast paced, page turner. Once again the author has delivered a riveting read, which I read in two sittings. I really liked both Eliot & Jo, both spies, both mature & they were honest with each other so none of the dreaded miscommunication. I loved that he fell for her first & then how both characters grew whilst Jo’s backstory gradually was revealed. An engrossing tale of mystery, intrigue & of course romance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I want to state right off that I think it is better if you read the first two books in this series otherwise you might be a little lost (at least for the first third of the book). Anyway, I thought this was very slow to start but once it got going, boy did it get going. I really liked Jo and Elliot from the previous books and I totally loved them in this book. If you like secrets, twists, an older heroine, and surprises, this is the book for you. I should never doubt Minerva, she will always draw me into a story and not let me go before I am finished. Fantastic writing, good story and heart enough to blow your mind.
.
Oh, I was wondering, and hoping, that Helen gets her own story…with Daniel? I hope Minerva writes a story for them.

I adored Jo and Elliot's story!! I think I was waiting for their story the most through the other two books in the series and Spencer did not disappoint. It was so much fun watching these two get their HEA!

“The Cutthroat Countess” by Minerva Spencer is the third in the series entitled The Wicked Women of Whitechapel.. This story begins in France before ending up in England. This story centers around Jo (Josephine) Brown and Elliot Wingate. Elliot works for the Home Office of England, spying and gathering information for the Crown. Jo is a blade thrower in a female centric circus which provides cover for both Jo and Elliot, as Jo is an independent contractor gathering information, protecting people, etc for those who pay her fees. Her father was accused of spying against England during the American Revolutionary War so he took Jo and fled to the Continent always keen on clearing his name and that of another soldier. They led a life on the run. Currently, Jo is mourning his loss and is working alone. Elliot and Jo meet in France, each with their own agenda. I enjoyed this plot centering around a strong female lead with awesome skills, smart, and brave . She knew how to take care of herself and others in a very dangerous time. I liked the fact that Elliot admired her for who she was and didn’t need her to change. He deferred to her when the situation was warranted. Jo and Elliot together were a steamy couple. Characters from the first two stories in the series had a smaller role in this one. I especially enjoyed Angus. He was a great addition to the story. All the while, a traitorous spy is lurking in the background to ensure that his secrets about his actions don’t come to light. Overall, well done between the plot and the characters, The pace in the middle of the story didn’t reach the level of the beginning and the end. I wanted a little more action where it lagged a bit in the middle. The circus was an important part of the story and could have been showcased after they returned to England. Jo’s skillful blade act would have worked well during this time frame in the story. Also, I must say I didn’t want to see them drink another cup of tea, which they were constantly doing. I do recommend this story, it’s a good fit within the genre and there is a lot to like about it. I was given this book by NetGallery, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this controversial for its time series featuring three unconventional women with gifts that they used to earn an honest living. When three aristocrats joined the Farnham Fantastical Acts with their own agenda in mind there's bound to be chaos and chemistry. With two of the three leading female acts accounted for its time for the blade wielding performer to come into her own.
Jo has a host of secrets and connections that she uses first to rescue Elliot himself a spy for the crown and then allied with him all his friends and family. Despite the growing closeness between the two a future is not in the cards for them given that Elliot needs to marry a peer, a woman approved by his grandmother and Jo doesn't have any blue blood, or does she?
Jo finds out that her past is not what she believed it to be and that someone is willing to keep the secrets from the past buried. Can she and Elliot overcome the obstacles in their path to find their happily ever after. Do read the story to find out.

The third book in the Wicked Women of Whitechapel series. This novel focuses on Jo "Blade" Brown, the knife thrower at Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre. Basically, like the first 2 books in the series, Jo finds out that she is of the peerage and has to rectify that w/ her freedom as a commoner and her love for Elliot Wingate. I found this novel to be my favorite of the 3. I think Jo's raven, Angus, makes the whole novel and the romance between Jo and Elliott is extra spicy!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-arc.*

This book reads like a regency James Bond movie and it’s utterly thrilling!!

Both MCs are over thirty (no virgins, no awkwardness, no promises “one night and never again” yeah, right), excellent at their job (they pine undercover) and have never been at ease enough to open their hearts - not so unusual if you’re always looking over your shoulder. And even though he falls first (and really hard), they grow together. Amidst all the ugliness their relationship is truly a tender thing of beauty!

Dry humour, witty banter, vivid imagery and a colourful cast of side characters - including Jo’s uniquely talented raven Angus - make this a thoroughly entertaining tale against a backdrop of loss, loyalty and love. The villains are conniving and nasty, and the reckonings are bloody. Mystery, suspense and a slow unravelling of her history. Secret admiration, steamy passion and a good deal of stubbornness.
An action-packed and enthralling love story I would recommend to one and all!

PS - this is book 3 in the series and they fit nicely together as the stories overlap a little. However, this book works perfectly well as a standalone!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
She’s Josephine Brown - private spy, blade expert and one of Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre’s favourite acts. Never staying long in place over the past decades, she’s never had stability or true friends until now.
He’s Elliot Wingate - youngest son to an earl, one of His Majesty’s most valued spies and he’s joined the fayre with his two best friends Sin and Guy so they can secretly travel to France to rescue Sin’s brother.

Jo and Elliot’s attraction is instant, but their admiration for each other grows along their treacherous journey through a country on the verge of war… until they finally give in to temptation. He falls for the tough mysterious beauty willing to risk her own life to save him from the mercenaries who captured him. She falls for the quiet clever man who accepts her for who she is and what she does. The man who stays loyally by her side even after she discloses her murky past.

Theirs is a love that can never be, yet can’t be denied. A year goes by and they’re both still pining for those fleeting days of passion in France. An encounter at a ball lands them once again in the same bed, but each time he tries to get close, she slips away.
And then Elliot’s new superior stirs up Jo’s deeply buried, extremely dangerous secrets. Her future changes in the blink of an eye. Elliot says he loves her no matter what, but is his heart true? Or should she run once again?

I was really excited to get approved one but when I noticed it was a third in a series so I went back to read the other books first

Generally this series wasn’t for me . I didn’t enjoy the characters or stories too much . But a lot of people seem to love it so if you are a HR fan might be worth a try

A great addition to Minerva Spencer’s ‘The wicked women of Whitechapel’ which follows Josephine Brown, a blade expert at the Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre. Having travelled with her uncle Mungo for most of her life, she has finally found friends at the circus. Yet, it is the Honourable Elliot Wingate, who fascinates her. After saving his life, his work as an agent of the Home Office, should have her fleeing, yet he is all that she can think of. Likewise, Elliot is fascinated by Jo, despite seeing her in action with her lethal skills. Yet Jo is forever proving just beyond his reach and when he discovers her deeply buried, extremely dangerous secrets, he wonders whether she will run again, leaving him behind.

Jo was always the character that was always in the background with her mysterious allure. Whilst she and Elliot appear in the first two books of the series, the focus is on the other main characters. So, it is book 3, that their story is told and in doing so, I felt compelled to revisit the earlier books, to further unravel their characters. Whilst Jo is portrayed as aloof and someone who does not fit in, with her unusual connection to her raven, I felt that in revealing her past, made me understand her. Similarly, Elliot’s personality comes to life, and I could see how they are such a perfect fit. I thoroughly enjoyed see how their relationship developed and how they worked together, to uncover the mystery of Jo’s past. I also loved Angus, her raven, who at times, stole the show.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nomadic Jo joins a female circus troupe, bonding with her coworkers after years alone. She's drawn to Home Office agent Elliot, who threatens her new life. He's falling for her, but she pushes him away. As their investigation reveals perilous secrets, Jo must choose: trust Elliot or run from the yearnings of her heart again.

Jo and Elliot are both complex characters who have to fight to fit their lives together. This is an emotional story with a strong mystery storyline and a bit of adventure.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I have been waiting for the story of Blade and Elliot since I read the Duelling Duchess.

After spending a lot of time together pursuing their missions in France, the two most reserved characters of the series enter into a passionate relationship, because they simply can't stay away from each other. Elliot is a wonderful MMC, he is so in love with Jo but abides by her wishes to keep it casual. And poor Jo had such a complicated past that she considers herself unworthy of a gentleman like Elliot and is scared of what he will think of her once he knows the whole truth about her missions.

The gimmick of this series is that all heroines turn out to be of aristocratic birth, so by the middle of the story we figure out that Jo is actually a countess! She has to assume her duties, and the only way she can keep from going mad in her new role is by having Elliot by her side. And of course the only way she can have Elliot by her side at all times is if they are engaged, hence -- fake engagement! Seriously, Elliot endured a lot trying to get skittish Jo to marry him for real. I truly admire this guy. Jo, on the other hand, while understandably weary, could've still been nicer to the poor man.

There's fair amount of action in the book, which I enjoyed. Minerva made me clutch my chest in fear for Jo's raven Angus more than for anyone else.

The book surprised me with the spice level. While I couldn't remember many scenes from the previous one, the bathtub scene between Elliot and Jo -- well, mostly Elliot ;) -- is still stuck at the back of my mind.

I believe this series has to be read in order. The Duelling Duchess is where I met Blade and Elliot and where their connection was hinted at heavily. It made me excited for their story and I think this book would have lost some of its charm if I hadn't read the second one.

Generally, I loved the story, the setting and the action. I will definitely continue reading this series and Minerva Spencer!

Trust no-one!

A mantra Blade (Josephine Brown) has lived with for years. Not for her the usual upbringing! Death and violence, hiding, travelling great distances in dangerous places, have all been her way of life. This is the final in the ‘Wicked Women of Whitechapel’ series.
I find Blade the most fascinating of Spencer’s Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre ladies. She’s always been distant and mysterious, accompanied by her Raven Angus, disappearing from time to time, then turning up unexpectedly.
As for Elliot Wingate, he’s equally as admirable, intelligent and solid. Fourth son of an earl he’s been an effective English, able to blend in perfectly no matter the situation, as Blade attests.
Jo (Blade) is lethal with the various knives she always has about her person.
Her tame raven Angus is wonderfully eccentric (if birds can be that), and appears to be quite fond of Elliot.
Jo, with her father Mungo (now deceased) had been working for various clients across Europe, during the Napoleonic Wars on highly confidential matters.
Just after the war the Fayre travels to Prussia, acting as a front for the Duke of Stanton and his friends, who are following a lead about the Duke’s brother. He’d gone missing whilst an intelligence officer with Wellington.
Jo is there with the Fayre, working as a knife thrower, but also on other business. When Elliot is captured by the Red Caps, ex militia who now, in the war torn aftermath, terrorised the locals. Fortunately she’s able to rescue him from these vicious rebels.
As the story unfolds we learn more about Blade and her past life. Then information comes to light that smacks her right in the face, leaving her reeling.
Wow! Will Elliot rise to the occasion or will he revert to being the typical idiotic Englishman?
Intrigue, suspense and humor dog the pages for a startling, yet not surprising reveal.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

It was great to return to Minerva Spencer's The Wicked Women of Whitechapel series for Jo and Elliot's story. They were both so mysterious and closed off that I was worried how the story would progress but the author did a great job of showing their progression to their HEA. I loved seeing the characters from the prior stories in the series. I loved the relationship with Angus as well and how much personality Angus expressed throughout the story. It was a great entertaining adventurous story!