Andrea Pickens

This is the first book I've read in this series of mystery-adventures set in Regency England, but it's not necessary to read the first two adventures to get the general lay of the land or access the "will they are won't they" romantic tension between the feisty heroine Charlotte Sloane and her "bad boy" inamorata, the Earl of Wrexford.

Don't get me wrong: I'm okay with a little romance as long as the writing isn't too purply. This particular trope (spunky girl/bad boy) is as old as moldy bread, but Penrose manages to keep things classy without breaking any new ground. (There are no brooding stares or throbbing organs, thank god!) Her prose style is wordy and repetitive (this could be 100pgs shorter without sacrificing anything of substance) and she has this weird obsession with onomatopoeia (things always seem to be going *crunch crunch!* or *clink clink!*), but her period research feels sound and her cast of supporting characters are endearing of not particularly original.

It's the accompanying mystery involving the investigation of the murder of Charlotte's cousin Cedric, an aspiring gentleman-scientist, that ruined this for me. Penrose's gimmicks is that her two protagonists are big fans of scientific method and critical thinking; they don't let their emotions interfere with their reason. But there's nothing logical about this so-called investigation ... just a series of silly assumptions and contrived dilemmas that provide distracting dramatic fodder but reveal themselves as preposterous if you actually bother to think about them, as I made the mistake of doing.

Characters behaving in a rational way, for instance, would presumably be bothered by the fact that the suspects they are investigating - while they may be involved in some shady scientific endeavors - actually have zero motive for committing any of the crimes.

Characters behaving in a rational way wouldn't rely on clues that are as problematic as - well, as problematic as Galvanism, a field of science that was briefly en vogue in the late 1800s but summarily debunked when it was discovered that while electricity can make the muscles of dead things twitch, it can't actually bring dead things back to life. (Yes, this was the scientific discipline that inspired Shelley's Frankenstein.) What rational person, having discovered traces of snuff near a bench in a highly trafficked public park, would automatically assume that it must have been left by the murderer? Is using snuff before (or after) you murder someone some sort of Regency custom?

Characters behaving in a rational way would find much, much easier ways to pursue their inquiries than repeatedly placing themselves in false dilemmas or physical peril.

And then the solution to the mystery, when it's finally revealed, turns out to be so strained and farfetched, wrapped up in a denouement so melodramatic and cheesy, that I officially gave up and skimmed the final pages in a state of disgust.

Come to think of it, this book actually has a lot in common with Galvanism, in that not even an unobjectionable current of romantic tension (or the story's cast of likeable if unoriginal hangers-on) ends up providing enough juice to animate the novel's labored and unsatisfying mystery plot.… (más)

Lady Hester Stanhope’s eccentric father has controlled her life, and she escapes as soon as she can. With the support of her uncle William Pitt the Younger, she maneuvers through the glittering and treacherous heights of London Society, earning favor with the influential Beau Brummell. While presiding over her uncle's gatherings, she seeks a passionate and equal match. Hester finds courage, strength, and an unexpected future that establishes a glorious legacy of her own.

I’d heard of Lady Hester Stanhope before but I didn’t know much about her. There is much to admire about a lady who was determined to live life according to her own rules. At the same time, I’m not sure I would have liked her if I’d met her. She seems to have been someone ruled by her emotions and little self-control.

The plot moves at an even pace and the details of the time were enjoyable. Much of the story revolves around her various love affairs. Hester throws herself into each one, risking scandal and censure each time. Although the sex scenes were not detailed, they were enough to make me uncomfortable.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy fictional biographies about a historical figure. I received an advance copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.… (más)

After Lord Wrexford and his friend Sheffield stumble upon a murder scene in a park, he becomes involved in another investigation and seeks Charlotte's assistance. Thanks to a generous friend, she's moved to a better location where she and her wards Raven and Hawk can live a little more safely. The murdered man was a well-bred man on the verge of patenting an engine that would be revolutionary for its time. I love the way the author makes street urchins useful in her plots. I loved the inclusion of mathematics in the plot. I wondered how long we'd have to wait for Raven to be the one to solve the puzzle. We see the relationship between Lord Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane deepening. The mystery was well-built and kept the reader interested. I listened to the audiobook read by J. C. Stewart. I'm enjoying this series very much.… (más)

I received this as a Goodreads giveaway and have never been so excited to win a book in my entire life!

This was everything Wrexford and Sloane should be. Excitement, murder, spies, and politics. However, there were fewer instances of reactions to Quill's caricatures, and I was a little disappointed in that they did not play more of a part of the story. That, and the extreme use of the words "villain" and "Damnation" were what prevented it from being a 5-star rating. Once you got past everyone saying one or both of the two words on seemingly every page (and sometimes multiple times in a conversation), it was great!… (más)