Tag: JL Buck

The Dead Sang Off Key by J.L. Buck – Review

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The Dead Sang Off Key (Viscount Ware Mystery Book 4)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Viscount Ware Mystery #4
Publication Date: 7/9/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 291

Excitement abounds in this latest addition to the Viscount Ware Mystery series. With a disappearing dead body, smugglers, French spies, blackmail, a disgruntled magistrate, and a love interest in danger, Lucien has his hands full. Luckily, his fellow agent, Andrew Sherbourne, supports him every step of the way. Of course, Lady Anne is front and center – in the mystery and in Lucien’s heart.

When summoned to Whitehall, Lucien is told that the French spies they have been chasing have kidnapped the seventeen-year-old daughter of a Spanish diplomat so they can blackmail him into spying for them. Lucien and Sherbourne hardly have a clue where to begin since the kidnapping happened over a month ago.

Lady Anne Ashburn and her father are near the seashore mourning the death of her mother who passed away several months previous. When her father is suddenly called back to London to attend to parliamentary business, Anne stays behind. What can a young, unmarried lady do in a small coastal town when she is in mourning and cannot make social calls or attend any functions? Well, she can walk the beach and maybe explore the Singing Cave – and she does. She also finds the body of a young dark-haired girl in that cave. Except the body has disappeared by the time she returns with a constable who then treats her very dismissively. Where did the body go? She certainly didn’t get up and walk away.

Can the body Lady Anne found be the missing Spanish girl Lucien is looking for? They’ll have to find the body and ensure an identification, but Lucien is sure they are the same. Then, they’ll have to turn the area upside down to find out what happened to her.

With an investigation that must be handled softly to assure the French are unaware of the finding of the body, it is difficult to proceed. Then, there is a town that doesn’t want to talk for fear of prosecution for smuggling, a Magistrate who doesn’t want to cooperate, and a grieving father to console. How can they ever find the man who is behind such a heinous act? Oh, they can find the street-tuffs who abducted the girl, but they aren’t the ring leaders and that is who they have to find.

Luckily, Lucien, Sherbourne, and Lady Anne are just the ones to solve it all and take the French spies down. Arrogance can bring a villain down and it certainly did in this case. To me, the vilest villain was the one who got no real punishment, but to tell would be a spoiler. SIGH! So, if you are looking for an exciting, fast-paced, nail-biting, adventure, this is the book for you. Happy Reading!

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The Dead Came Calling by J.L. Buck

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

The Dead Came Calling (Viscount Ware Mystery #3)

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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