Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #7
Publication Date: 3/26/24
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 262
Shades of Guy Fawkes! An anarchist has been causing upheaval throughout the continent – and now he is in London. What havoc does he plan to wreak and can he be stopped before it happens?
Mikaela and Brodie, who are now married, are pursuing different investigations. Brodie, secretive as ever, is investigating on behalf of the Agency (a forerunner of MI6), and Mikaela is looking into the case of a missing doctor.
Joseph Bennett is a gifted physician and surgeon. He is brilliant and is always pushing the limits of current standards and trying new innovations. That brilliance has caused him to be censured by the medical leadership and that grates on him. What can a man do other than start a secret practice? Secret as in absolutely no one knows about it. So, when his wife hires Mikaela to find him, she has no place to start. That doesn’t deter her, and she digs into his life with a fine-toothed comb. What she finds . . . Well, you just need to read the book. 😊
Brodie continues working assignments for the Agency – and this one is a doozie. Lithuanian, Dimitri Soropkin, an extremely dangerous anarchist, has cost many lives on the continent with his explosions and unrest. Now, he is in England, to spread anarchy and cause maximum damage to England, its leadership, its stability, and perhaps its Queen. Brodie and the Agency know he reached London because there have been reliable sightings of him. Then, he disappeared and there have been no sightings at all. He didn’t leave, so where is he and what is he up to?
Two exciting investigations come clashing together most interestingly, and the exciting solution will leave you on the edge of your seat. The story is fast-paced, interesting, and well-written. The series has quickly become one of my favorites though I was hoping for more growth from Brodie – he has disappointed me of late. It isn’t that he distrusts Mikhaela, it is that he has insecurities about himself – plus he wants to protect her at all costs. Given his background, I can understand his insecurities to a point. I can even understand his protectiveness – to a point. However, he should know that won’t work and learn to trust that she can and will take care of herself – and maybe even help him in the process. I’m hoping there is some substantial growth in the next book.
I enjoyed this book and I have also enjoyed the other books in the series. You could read this as a stand-alone title, but for a richer experience, I would suggest reading the series in order. Some things will puzzle you – if you are an anglophile and want accuracy – such as this line – “A member of the ton, she had been born to her title of duchess, however, she rarely used it.” Ummm – right – and she is referred to as Lady Antonia (Montgomery). There is also the Lady Forsythe title Mikhaela inherited from her father. This author researches, so perhaps she’s found examples of where these could be correct, but I’m pretty sure they aren’t. Anyway – I love the book and can recommend it – and I hope you will love it too. Happy Reading!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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