Category: Historical Mystery

A Darkness In Seven Dials by Ashley Gardner

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A Darkness in Seven Dials (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries Book 17)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Captain Lacey #17
Publication Date: 5/21/24
Period: Regency – 1820 London
Number of Pages: 275

This was a delightful addition to the Captain Lacey series. I have read each book as they were released into the world and I’ve loved each of them. Not only does this one have a mystery with twists and turns, it presents some intriguing possibilities for future plots – maybe even a new ongoing villain. We’ll just have to wait and see.

The thing we all thought would never happen – HAPPENED! Not only was James Denis arrested for murder, but he was found standing over the body with the bloody knife in his hand. Of course, those of us who read this series know he isn’t guilty – as does Captain Lacey. That, however, doesn’t dampen Bow Street Runner Spendlove’s elation and joy at finally getting Denis into Newgate.

Much to Denis’s dismay, Captain Lacey begins to investigate only to find himself in danger. How did the victim come to be where he was found? With Denis’s cunning, how did he manage to allow himself to be caught standing over the body with the murder weapon in his hand?

As we learn more about the victim, Lacey finds himself under attack. Is it the murderer or is it Denis’s new archenemy – or are they one and the same? I can’t wait to see where that storyline goes. Will Mr. William Archer take over as the villain of the series or will Denis send him on to his great reward? Another intriguing storyline could include Lady as Denis’s love interest. Will he allow it or will he admire her from afar? Will she be used against him in the future? I would certainly bet on it.

This was a quick, fun read with an interesting mystery with a bit of a twist. I enjoyed seeing more of Denis’s men and learning a bit about them rather than them staying window-dressing and used for nothing other than a handy set of fists. Of course, I loved Donata and Lacey and that he tells her absolutely everything and always keeps her as his first priority.

If you are looking for a nice mystery with interesting characters and lovely twists and turns, then you might want to give this book a read.

A Vicious Machination by Lynn Messina

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A Vicious Machination (Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries, #13)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery #12
Publication Date: 6/28/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 287

A QUICK NOTE HERE: Amazon says this is the 12th book in the series and Goodreads says it is the 13th. The difference is at the 7th book where the author wrote a mystery featuring Beatrice Hyde-Clare’s cousin Flora as the investigator. Goodreads counts that as book seven and Amazon doesn’t include it in the series listing at all. This may not matter to you, but I keep up with the series and the book number within the series and I thought others might as well.

Ahhhh – this quick, entertaining, witty mystery was just the pick-me-up I needed. Bea and the Duke are always so entertaining and fill their investigations with banter, sly observations, leaps of logic, informative friends and family, and dogged determination. This series is intertwined with the new Verity Lark series, so the last couple of books in each series have had crossover stories/appearances. BTW – if you haven’t tried Verity’s series, you should – it is as interesting and entertaining as this series. Just a quick bit of background – Verity is the sister of the Duke – but he never knew she existed until just a short while ago. I think she is his full sister, but I may not remember correctly. At any rate, his father and her mother had not married when Verity was born and she was put into an orphanage where she suffered a horrible childhood. She and her two close friends managed to live through their childhood and have gone on to create successful lives for themselves – and they’ve exacted revenge on all of those cruel, uncaring individuals who were involved with the orphanage.

While the Duke of Kesgrave has briefly met his sister, Bea has not. She very much wants to meet her, but Kesgrave isn’t sure whether he wants a relationship or not – and neither is Verity. What Bea did not want to do was meet Verity for the first time with Verity imprisoned at Newgate – accused of murder. Oh! My! With Kesgrave away until the evening, Bea knows someone has to go to the prison to see what can be done. So, Her Outrageousness, the Duchess of Kesgrave, proceeds to the prison for an interview with Verity.

Miss Agnes Wraithe, the murder victim, is one of the vilest creatures ever and she sincerely deserves the nickname – The Wraith – given to her by Verity and her friends. Did she deserve to be shot? I vote YES! But, did Verity do it? I vote NO, and so do Bea and Kesgrave – and anyone else who knows Verity. Will Bea and Kesgrave be able to find the proof they need? It definitely won’t be easy because Verity was found standing over the body with the gun in her hand. OOPS!

There are plenty of suspects and none of them are innocent victims of anything – but are they murderers? Bea and Kesgrave eliminate one red herring after the other until there are no more red herrings – just the murderer.

I enjoyed watching Bea and Kesgrave zip all over London interviewing suspects, following leads, participating in witty banter, and ultimately solving the case. I hope you will love it as well. I’ve always loved that Bea is referred to as Her Outrageousness, but she also has a new sobriquet in this book – The Murder Duchess. I don’t care for that one and I hope it doesn’t stick. I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Happy Reading.

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