Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Viscount Ware Mysteries #3
Publication Date: 7/11/23
Period: Regency – October 1812 – London
Number of Pages: 289

This story, as well as the others in the series, is well-paced, intriguing, and even bone-chilling at times. With powerfully captivating characters, political intrigue, and a fledgling justice system that is just learning to deal with all levels of society equally and justly, you’ll despair of Lucien ever finding the true murderers and gaining Sherbourne’s freedom.

Imagine Andrew Sherbourne’s shock when a woman from his past, a woman who betrayed him to the French, shows up at his home with a small child she claims is his. She just as quickly disappears leaving the child behind – and also just as quickly, is found murdered in an alley. A very stubborn and determined constable with a thorough dislike of aristocrats swiftly decides Sherry is the murderer and wants him in a noose. And … the chase is on. Will Lucien manage to find the true murderer before Bow Street tries and then hangs Sherry for murder?

There are few, if any, clues to guide him, and with little help from Rothe (their spy boss), Lucien hardly knows where to start. He is also missing his normal help mates because Sherry must remain in hiding as much as possible and Lady Anne is days away from London nursing her ailing mother. Captain Wycliff (we met him in the last book) quickly offers help but the going is slow. When, finally, they get an inkling, it is time to write to Lady Anne with some questions about a neighbor of hers.

Even when Lucien knows who the villain is, he has absolutely no proof – and without proof, Bow Street will never clear Sherry. What to do, what to do? This quickly moving, intense investigation will keep you on the edge of your chair – biting your nails.

The villains are vile, the lead and supporting characters are well-developed, and the mystery is very well-plotted and executed. So, what is not to love? Well, for me it is the fact that the romance still isn’t there. There is definite growth in that direction, but, goodness, as slow-moving as the romance is, the series will be over before the romance even starts. Are the mysteries enough to keep me reading the series without a robust romance? I’m not sure it is. We’ll see.

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