Tag: Sheri Cobb South

In the Family Way: Another John Pickett Mystery by Sheri Cobb South

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Mystery, Part of a Series2 Comments

In the Family Way: Another John Pickett Mystery (John Pickett Mysteries Book 12)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: John Pickett Mystery #12
Publication Date: 10/31/22
Period: Georgian (just before Regency)
Number of Pages: 272

You’ll just love John Pickett, but, of course, you know that if you’ve ever read any of the books in this series. If you haven’t read any, I strongly urge you to read them all – from the beginning because it is so heartwarming to watch John grow from a gangly pickpocket to the intelligent, mature, caring man he is today. You can certainly read this as a standalone book, but the experience is so much richer if you’ve watched John from the beginning. Now, he’s going to be a father, and he’s going to be such a wonderful one. We know that because of the way he treats Kit, his ten-year-old half-brother.

The book opens with a bang when John is followed and then abducted by two men. He’s definitely shocked to learn the identity of the man behind the abduction. Not only shocked but definitely displeased. He doesn’t like the man and he doesn’t like what the man has to say. As soon as he arrives back at his home, he gets another shock. John’s father, Gentleman Jack Pickett, has returned from serving his sentence in the Antipodes. Yes, another man John doesn’t want in his life and he’s shown up in it – and on the same day.

John fully intends to put his father out of the house and not look back, but Julia influences him to do otherwise. Kit also influences John’s decision to offer his father a place to stay; after all, Kit has never seen his father before and Gentleman Jack didn’t know he had a second son.

When Gentleman Jack is murdered that same night – stabbed in the back with a strange-looking knife – John is determined to find the murderer. Gentleman Jack had hinted at some life changes while he was visiting, but didn’t elaborate on them – are those changes the reason he was murdered? John treks all over London – from the docks, to the City, to Whitehall, and points between before he puts all of the clues together.

It turns out that Gentleman Jack’s life-changing news was just that – for both Jack and John and I cannot wait to see the results of that in future books. I’m also anxious to see what happens with the gentleman who had John kidnapped – that one is scrumptious as well! Then, to add whipped cream to the top, Julia went into labor and delivered their first child.

This book had it all – and might just be my favorite book of the series – but I think I say that with each new book. There is a true abiding romance between John and Julia, a sweet newly found love between John and Kit, an intriguing murder mystery to solve, and a relationship with someone new who will be a friend or foe. So, I can definitely recommend this book, this series, and this author, and I hope you will enjoy the read as much as I did. The trouble with this series is that as soon as you finish a book, you are already wishing for the next.

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Death Can Be Habit-Forming by Sheri Cobb South

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

Death Can Be Habit-Forming: Another John Pickett Mystery (John Pickett Mysteries Book 11)Death Can Be Habit-Forming: Another John Pickett Mystery by Sheri Cobb South
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: John Pickett Mysteries #11
Publication Date: 8/24/21
Period: Regency London

Much to Julia Pickett’s dismay, our handsome, sweet-tempered, honorable, and very, very stubborn John Pickett has gotten himself into quite a pickle this time. Since they married a year ago, John has struggled with the inequity of their marriage. Julia is a Viscountess and John was born in the slums and learned to pick pockets almost before he could walk. Thanks to the foresight of Magistrate Colquhoun, John was steered down the right path and became a principal officer with Bow Street. However, because John mistakenly feels tainted by the actions he had to take in his last case, Brother, Can You Spare a Crime?, he resigned his position with Bow Street. He tried placing ads in the papers for conducting discreet inquiries, but got no results and has since been drudging away as a clerk in an office. So, when Julia bursts through the doors of his employer and tells him someone wants to hire him to conduct an inquiry – John cuts his employment ties and heads out to meet his new client. Perhaps he should have asked a few more questions and maybe he shouldn’t have agreed to take the case and meet those stipulations quite so easily… Oh well – it is too late now.

Mr. Edward Poole wants John to rescue Miss Lydia Bonner, his love interest, from an opium treatment facility, Larches. Lydia’s brother Phillip died at that same facility a little over a month ago. Phillip had been committed, against his will, by his guardians. Now, Lydia is there as well and Edward has been forbidden to see her. Edward is very concerned for Lydia and wants her rescued.

John’s plan is to have himself committed, by Julia, for treatment. While Julia is totally against the idea, she finally acquiesces and signs the commitment papers. Now, all John has to do is find and rescue Lydia Bonner. That all turns out to be easier said than done. Larches is a very strange place, with a strange staff and strange inmates. John got in easily enough, but he may not get out – and if he does, it may not be in one piece.

There were a couple of chapters where I held my breath all the way through. You see, I just love sweet, lovable John and I didn’t want to see him suffer. I was so fearful of what was going to happen to him – and it did – but the author made it bearable by slipping through time and not giving a blow-by-blow description of it. There were also a few things that just didn’t ring true to me, but if I tell you what they are, it will provide spoilers for the story.

I definitely recommend the book and hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. It is well-written, excellently paced, and populated with characters you’ll either love or hate – depending on their role. Then, when we celebrate with John and Julia at the end – well, that is really special. Now, we can all look forward to the next John Pickett adventure.

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

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