Category: Historical Mystery

The Custom House Murders by Ashley Gardner

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

The Custom House Murders (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries Book 15)
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Captain Lacey Mysteries #15
Publication Date: 11/17/20
Number of Pages: 292

Who knew James Denis had a rival for control of London’s underworld? Well, he does, and their rivalry has broken out into full-fledged war – with Captain Lacey caught in the middle. To add to that mayhem, Lacey encounters an old army friend who has been accused of murder. Lacey has it coming at him from every direction in this fast-paced, exciting, well-written story. And yes, I’ve done it to myself again – I was so excited to start reading the book, I read it straight through. I had planned to read it slowly and savor every word, but – well – I just couldn’t put it down. Now, I have to wait for the next one and that is a bummer.

Just at breakfast, a package was delivered to Lacey with an accompanying message. The package and message, from James Denis, instruct Lacey to deliver the package to Mr. H. Creasey at an address that is near the Custom House. Lacey opens the package to see the contents and it is a simple chess piece – a white queen. Well, that seems innocuous enough – doesn’t it? Little does Lacey know the chaos that will follow that simple delivery.

As Lacey and the ever-protective Brewster pass the front of the Custom House, Lacey is hailed by someone. That someone turns out to be Major Miles Eden who Lacey had served with during the wars. Eden was one of the few officers Lacey respected and liked.

When Lacey’s delivery ignites a long-smoldering battle between Denis and Creasey, Lacey and his family are caught in the middle. Murder attempts, kidnapping, and more mayhem than you can name ensues before the war comes to its fiery end. Who wins the war? Is it Denis? Is it Creasey? Oh! You’ll just have to read the story to see.

In the middle of the underground’s war, Lacey learns that his friend Major Eden is wanted for murder – and Bow Street Runner Pomeroy arrests Eden while he is with Lacey. Lacey is convinced Eden isn’t guilty, but he’s sure he’s hiding something. Lacey manages to keep Eden from arrest while the investigation continues, but Pomeroy will be looking for ways to convict him. The murder of yet another passenger from the ship that conveyed them all back from Antigua convinces Lacey that the reasons for the murders all go back to the cargo that was stolen off their ship. But who stole it? What was it? Why did they need to commit those murders?

The suspects are many, and the solution will surprise you. With all of the red herrings as well as the many twists-and-turns, I was guessing until the very end when the villain was revealed. I hope you will read and love this book as much as I did. I can hardly wait for the next one.

A Lady Compromised by Darcie Wilde

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Mystery, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

A Lady Compromised
Barbara’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #4
Publication Date: 11/24/20
Number of Pages: 304
*** 3.5 Stars ***

Historical Mysteries are my favorite sub-genre and I am always looking for new-to-me authors and series to love. I found this series and wanted to give it a try even though I was coming into the series on the 4th book rather than starting at the beginning. This book can easily be read as a standalone and I don’t feel I missed much by not reading the first three books. I can also say that this book didn’t entice me to go back and read the first three books.

Rosalind Thorne, daughter of Baronet Sir Reginald Thorne, who is/was a forger, has lived in very reduced circumstances for the last several years. She has survived and supported herself by becoming ‘A Useful Woman’ in society. Basically, she helps ladies out of tangled situations. As she prepares to leave London for a two-fold mission – to help her friend Louisa Winterbourne prepare for her wedding – and to see if her former relationship with Devon, Duke of Casselmaine is still as warm as it once was. She wonders if she can leave all she has created for herself in London for the quiet country life of a duchess. Of course, decisions can never be simple, so a letter from Helen Corbyn arrives, asking Rosalind to help unravel the mystery of her brother’s death while she is visiting Louisa and Devon.

There are a great many secrets held within several families as well as family animosities and feuds. With suspects galore, Rosalind may not escape before a murder ends her life as well. Twisted and tangled relationships nestled within political issues of the time make Rosalind’s inquiries particularly perilous.

I am not a fan of love triangles and this series seems to have had one during the previous three books. It doesn’t appear that any of the relationships were secret and each of the men knew about the other, so I guess that is good. I believe this book was to ‘settle’ the triangle – and I suppose it did in that Rosalind made a choice to decline one of them for anything beyond friendship. However, it didn’t appear to me that she actually chose the other. Frankly, I like more romance in my mysteries that this one had – it was lukewarm at best.

Overall, it was a good mystery, but it was slower paced than I usually like, and without an active romance to shore it up, it fell flat for me. The author threw a lot of historical ‘facts’ at us about life during the period, but I’m not sure how much of it was totally accurate. For instance, Adam Harkness, Principal Investigator at Bow Street would not have been wearing a red vest. The Bow Street Horse Patrol was the only one who wore the red vests. Others at Bow Street wore regular clothing. I am happy to have read the story and to have met Rosalind, Devon, and Adam, but I wouldn’t re-read the book – nor am I sure that it enticed me to try the next book when it comes out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.