Fatal by Design

Bow Street Duchess Mystery #5

by Cara Devlin

A summer house party in the English countryside.
A missing rare jewel.
An abducted viscountess.

The secrets and complications keeping Audrey and Hugh apart begin to unravel when they team up to solve a puzzling mystery surrounding the disappearance of Audrey’s sister, the Viscountess Redding, and a long-lost ring worth a fortune.

The Bow Street Duchess Mystery series continues in October 2023 with a new Audrey Sinclair and Hugh Marsden investigation. Stay tuned for a full description, coming soon!

The Bow Street Duchess Mystery series is perfect for fans of the Lady Sherlock mysteries, the Veronica Speedwell mysteries, and PBS Masterpiece’s Miss Scarlet & the Duke.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Audiobook

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2023

About the author

Cara is an author, reader, and history lover. She reads and writes across genres, but her heart is reserved for romantic historical fiction and mystery. Her Bow Street Duchess books are fast-paced historical mysteries featuring a slow-burn romance taking place in Regency London. The series begins with Murder at the Seven Dials. Cara lives in rural New England with her family, where she is at work on her next series, the Spencer & Reid Mysteries.

Reviews

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book that moves the plot forward. I have read all the books in the order written and this was not as intriguing as the previous books as much was foreshadowed in the last book. Yes, the "romantic climax" has finally happened. Perhaps this was a little bit of a letdown as this book was my least favorite in a very good series. So this one gets a 3.75* as the mystery was good and now I must wait for the next to be published.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great instalment in the Bow Street Duchess series.

4.5 stars.

This was a fast paced mystery, picking up a few months after the events of book 4. Audrey is now dealing with ‘widowhood’ and has not seen Hugh in months, due to her ‘mourning’ period if you read the previous books, her husband executed his plan to fake his own death . Secrets are revealed that test their commitment to each other (can’t say anymore, read it, it’s good) while they investigate the kidnapping of Audrey’s sister.
All the wonderful side characters are present and the overarching love story moves forward as they solve crimes together.
Overall a great, satisfying read, that -as always- makes me anxious for the next one.

Thanks to BookSirens and the author for a chance to read and review this early.




************************************
Pre-approved for the arc for this one! PREEEEEEEE-APPROVED!

I’m going to be insufferable about this for awhile….but, pre-approved.

pre-approved

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

December 2023: I loved revisiting this series! Seeing more of the friends and family was wonderful (Thornton and Cassie, especially). We also get so much more with Millie and maybe some foreshadowing for her to be in a future story?

September 2023: Can I give this six stars? This fifth book in the Bow Street Duchess series is so incredibly satisfying. The gang is all here as Audrey and Hugh’s story continues.

This book picks up four months after the last and my heart immediately went out to Audrey for what she has gone through at the hands of her so-called best friend. Hugh has kept his distance and Audrey has left London to spend time with Philip’s brother and his family.

As Philip's brother and his wife are about to welcome guests to a house party, Audrey decided to head to her country home. She comes across an empty carriage with a dead driver and, using her gift, realizes that her estranged sister was the passenger and she’s been kidnapped.

Luckily, Hugh is attending the house party Audrey just left and can help track the sister down.

This moves quickly, but there are multiple threads in the mystery to follow. The “why” of the kidnapping is elusive at first, but with a bit of traveling, Audrey and Hugh figure it out. All that time on the road gives them ample time together.

No spoilers here, but everyone who has been following this wonderful series will be happy with this one, even though the ending isn’t a happily ever after. It’s perfect and sets up the next book beautifully.

I received and early copy through BookSirens. I always order physical copies of the books in this series because I want them physically on my shelf.

[Dab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nope, no review. No time, I have a book to read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatal by Design is another great installment in the Bow Street Duchess series, this being the 5th book in the planned 7-book series. It sees Hugh and Audrey coming together again a few months after the events of Book 4, Penance for the Dead, to find out why Audrey's older sister, Millie, has been abducted and where she is being held. We also see the return of Grant Thornton, Hugh's closest friend and widowed physician, Philip's younger siblings, Cassie, Tobias, and Michael and his wife, Genie as well as Sir and Basil, as they all gather at Greenbriar, the new Duke of Fournier's current country estate for a planned house party that goes awry even before it starts with Lady Redding's kidnapping. Reading this story is like gathering to see old friends who are dear to us and also to find out whether Hugh and Audrey will, or won't they?

Overall, I enjoyed this story, although perhaps not as much as the previous book. It is a solid addition to the series, and of course, I'm still very invested in the main characters but also the secondary ones as well. But for me, it wasn't as tight or as enthralling as finding out Hugh's background or his emergence as a legitimate heir and viscount. Note: from hence forth, there will be spoilers in my review, so read at your own risk, or skip over, if you'd rather not find out what happens.


The book got off to a slow start for me, and I couldn't tell if that was because it had been about 4 months since I had last read the series and so had gotten away from the characters, or whether it was because Hugh and Audrey, after realizing that they want to be together long-term in Book 4, start this book relatively estranged. While I know that they almost had to be, given the circumstances of Audrey "mourning" Philip's fictitious death - yes, he does go through it, the absolutely selfish putz! - it feels like we don't pick up where we left off with the last book, but have taken 3 steps back in Hugh and Audrey's relationship. So that sort of took me off the rails a bit, but I will start with what I ADORED about this book first:

1. Audrey and Hugh finally consummate their love - with Hugh talking about there being no one but Audrey for him for the rest of his life and wanting to marry her. He is so gentle, respectful and restrained with her that he just is THE best hero at this point in the story, and it's beautifully written, imo. He also tells her more than once that he loves her, but she doesn't say the words back to him as often (good for Hugh; I wish Audrey had said it more, but Hugh is the more assured one, I guess).

2. Thornton, Hugh's closest friend and "found family" brother is back for another round of having Hugh's back and saving Audrey. He is such a great character and friend to Hugh, so loyal and true. There's a lot of suggestion that he is going to find love again with Cassie, but I am really curious about him being a "rake" after his wife's death (it feels a little incongruous to me given his other character traits) - and what will bring together a 32-ish year-old man and a young woman of about 20 - is it their mutual losses?? She's lost her baby to another couple, while Grant has lost his wife. It'll be interesting to see if he can love her as "fiercely" as he loved his wife, Sarah.

3. It is good to see Michael, Philip's younger brother, and now the Duke of Fournier, as an ally to Hugh and Audrey rather than standing in opposition to them, and by the same token, to see Millie become a gentler, better understood character who was wronged by her mother and uncle as well, who finds a second chance at love and with whom Audrey can develop a closer relationship in the future.

What didn't I like so much:

1. At times, it felt like the Hugh in this book was different from the Hugh we've seen in the previous 4 books. The Hugh we've seen so far is guided by his principles, always in control, making decisions based on reason and his sense of honor. So I found it hard to believe that when Hugh finally makes love to Audrey, he isn't in control - in fact, he's so controlled when he takes Audrey's virginity, as noted above. And they have sex more than once that night/following morning. So that Hugh then turns around and shuts down Audrey's advances/desires because he doesn't want to get her pregnant felt very off to me. And he sort of belittles her by asking if she really understands why he's abstaining from further relations. He takes a step back, when I don't think the Hugh of the previous books would have taken the step forward if he wasn't completely sure of himself and of Audrey. You could also argue that he had sex with his mistress, Gloria, several times a week for almost 2 years, and the risk of impregnating her didn't faze him in the least. So I didn't buy that version of Hugh, even if I understand that he wouldn't want any child of his to be raised as another man's.

2. I'm having a hard time imagining Grant Thornton as a rake - and I wonder whether this was pre-marriage or since the death of his wife.

3. The book ends with Hugh and Audrey parting AGAIN, so it feels a bit like a rubber band - they come together, part, come together and part again, rather than a steady progression of their relationship. I just want the happy ending that they deserve, and I have this sneaking feeling that we haven't seen the last of Philip Sinclair.

Despite my reservations with this book, I enjoyed it, and I still can't wait to see what happens with Hugh and Audrey next. It is a great series!!

4.25 stars

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens.com, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[riley ☠︎︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. I need the next book so bad.

[Tina Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS AHEAD…



I really enjoyed this story. It’s my favourite so far because we got to see Hugh and Audrey come together finally, telling each other of their feelings and agreeing to be together in the future.
I was finding it a bit hard to keep track of all of the characters and their relationship to each other in the book, particularly at the end during Michael and Genie’s house party. It seemed like many of them had similar sounding names also (Carrigan, Cartwright) which always makes it harder for me to remember who is who.
So fun to see a bit more of Hugh’s valet, Basil. We get to see his character get fleshed out a bit more. It’s always a pleasure to see Sir in the story l thought he didn’t figure in it as much as in the last. Carrigan is his usual competent and reliable self, protecting Audrey.
It was also interesting to see more of Audrey’s sister, Millie and to find out she is not quite the horrid person we all assumed she was.
I loved that Hugh and Audrey finally got to have a memorable, loving night together and that Hugh was the man she lost her virginity to. I also was cheering for Hugh when he kissed her on the forehead in front of everyone, making it clear he had staked his claim. One thing I wondered about was why Hugh said he couldn’t make love to Audrey since he was worried about getting her pregnant. Why wouldn’t he use French Letters or the pull out method or any number of other types of ‘activities’ to satisfy both of their urges?
I was sorry to hear how Cassie feels about men, after her experience in the last book but I think there’s a real possibility Lord Thornton will be able to help her overcome that. It would be so lovely if they got together since they are both in need of love and care.
I didn’t have any issues with the plot,
Of course I worry about what will happen with Phillip since I’m sure he will somehow manage to screw things up for them. I wonder if Audrey will see him while she and Cassie are visiting the Continent in the next book.
One thing I noticed in this particular book was Marlowe’s tendency to overuse a couple of phrases. For instance, she mentions several times in just a few pages about Michael ‘lowering his brow’ and in several places, she uses the phrase ‘pinning her lip(s)’. A minor thing but it happened often enough to become mildly irritating.
I am so looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. I really hope nothing stands in the way of Hugh and Audrey’s continued romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This is the fifth entry in the Bow Street Duchess Series, and I wouldn't recommend reading it as a standalone; best to start with at least the second book if not the first to get a sense of the characters.

The rest of this review contains spoilers. Read at your own risk.......................................................

While I enjoyed this entry, it didn't hold my interest quite as well as the previous, which did an excellent job of building tension and dread with the mystery angle while also revealing Hugh's past and more of the potent connection between Hugh and Audrey. There was quite a lot to live up to here, and I think that's why I felt just a tiny bit disappointed. The writing is strong, as always, and there are the usual scene stealers (Sir, Thornton, and Cassie enlivened scenes when the action slowed). The mystery hits close to home, as Audrey discovers that her sister, Millie, has been kidnapped, so Audrey is fully emotionally engaged, using her powers to discover crucial clues.

Although the culprit is easy to deduce, the quick pacing of the final chapters kept me reading. I enjoyed how Millie and Audrey's relationship played out.

On the flipside, the opening chapters dragged slightly, with continued introspection on Audrey's husband (honestly, Philip didn't deserve that much focus). My favorite early scene was when Hugh finally told Audrey straight out what he thought of the guy; my second favorite scene was when Hugh told off Audrey's unpleasant mother and uncle.

That leads me to the main reason for not rounding up: I felt that Hugh lost some fire as the plot went on, the chemistry he'd had with Audrey feeling a bit dampened once they had relations. Their sex scene is sweet and very tasteful (open door), but it felt as if the author wasn't quite sure what to do about the emotional angle between them after that. The ending was a "sort of" HEA, which was to be expected considering the time period, but I almost wished the author had held up on the consummation until both characters seemed to be more willing to discuss the details of their future together (there's a question regarding children that I thought was given short shrift).

Overall, I did really like this entry in the series, it was fine as both a mystery and a romance, but not super memorable. I was hoping for something with tad more darkness and a hint more spark.

[Sue Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This is such a good series and keeps getting better. I especially enjoy Sir. Looking forward to the next book.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5⭐️

This is 5th in the Bow Street Duchess mystery series, and I thoroughly enjoyed this outing as I have previous adventures.

After a four-month hiatus from each other and a heartbreaking and cruel betrayal from her best friend, Audrey and Hugh team up to find her missing, estranged sister and also find themselves in a seemingly impossible personal situation.

While I did enjoy this one, I found a bit of dichotomy with Hugh’s character here having to do with decisions he makes in his relationship with Audrey. He seems a bit different in his personal principles this time around, and it kind of threw me.

However, I really enjoyed the sincerity I felt in the mains towards their relationship moving forward and look forward to seeing how the bit of a cliffhanger plays out.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey Sinclair now the Dowager Duchess of Fournier has been spending time with her in laws after thee news that Philip had been lost at sea. Audrey is leaving as Michael & Genie are holding a house party but she’s hardly left the estate when she comes across an abandoned coach, there’s a dead coachman, Audrey uses her powers & discovers the coach is her sister Millie's. As callous as Millie has been in the past, Audrey can’t turn her back on family. She’ll do whatever it takes to find her sister, even if it means working with the man she’s been avoiding for months: former Bow Street officer Hugh Marsden now Lord Neatham. Hugh is happy to fall back on his Bow Street skills to track down Lady Redding but the viscountess’s disappearance is only half of the puzzle. A long-lost ring worth a fortune could be the driving force behind the deadly events
The fifth book in this brilliant series, whilst it could be read on its own to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading from the start. I love Audrey & Hugh & their very slow burn romance, things do progress in this book. Philip has been lost at sea but only Audrey knows the truth that in fact Philip has faked his death. I loved that Audrey told Hugh the truth but that caused a dilemma. There’s also the mystery of Millie's kidnap & the valuable diamond ring, which I found intriguing. A very well written page turner which I read straight through, the secondary characters also have depth & I loved that we got to know more about them especially Grant. This is the penultimate book in the series & I’m impatiently awaiting the finale
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Cri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really eager to start the fifth installment of the Bow Street duchess mystery series. I have really liked all the previous books and couldn't wait to see what was in store for Audrey and Hugh.

This book is really captivating and a page turner. I could not put it down! I finished it in just one setting. I was really happy to get some more insight on Audrey's sister and Cassie, and for sure, I was also interested about the development in the relationship between Hugh and Audrey.

Now, I can't wait to read the next book and hopefully we will see more of Thorton, and maybe Cassie, why not?

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author for me. I just finished book 1 thru 4 and it was so intriguing and so damn good. I was surprised how much depth she got in the story. The funny thing is all the books I read have sex in them and I researched her and thought she had sex in her books and she didn't in books 1 thru 4. This book finally had some but like a sentence or two and not descriptive at all. But like I said, these have been such greats read it really didn't matter.

I usually read light ton stories but I do have a few authors that have a bit more intrigue and daring. But this series is really suspenseful with murder and secrets. So unusual for me. I have never read a series like this. Not just so heavy with the suspense and intrigue but it's the same main characters across the whole series. Like I said about book 1 thru 4, it doesn't really end in a cliffhanger, but you just know there is more to come from Audrey and Hugh.

I am starting to see that this could have been really a 5 or 6 book series if she tightened up some of the storylines. I don't normally ever get to read a whole series back to back and I see now I kind of prefer waiting. After a while it can be a bit, okay already, let's end this. But again this is still been an interesting and fun read.

On to Book 6.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always pleasant and well-paced. Not the most riveting installment to date, but still a solid read with enjoyable characters. Looking forward to the next adventure!

[Jo Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to have an opportunity to read Book 5 in the Bow Street Duchess Series, and it was as entertaining as I expected. Audrey is spending time with family and is both missing, and worried about, seeing Hugh again. As she prepares to travel to Fournier Downs, and away from Hugh, she learns that her estranged sister, Millie, has been kidnapped, which leads to Audrey and Hugh working together, again, to solve the mystery. I loved seeing them growing closer together, and enjoyed catching up with the secondary characters. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

I received a copy of the book free, but I give my honest opinion voluntarily.

[Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

By now Audrey and Hugh are one of my top OTPs, but the amount of bodies thrown in Audrey's way is getting ridiculous.. Still, everything was worth it for that moment *happy sigh*

[Rebecca Hodgson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC to review with my own honest thoughts.

Firstly - I love Cara's writing. She knows how to create worlds that just come to life inside my head like a movie and during conversations with Cara herself, I've come to really appreciate her processes specifically dealing with Philip and his disappearing act. We spoke about how much I wished Philip was dead but that actually I really appreciate that she has not just chosen to go down the easy cheap route of just killing him off.

Instead, she finds other ways to resolve the situation. And I think that just shows how good of a writer she is.

That said - my review of this book is as follows:


I really enjoyed the book and its plots but there were a few challenges for me. The first was getting into the book, it was a slower start than the others, for me and I did have to persevere. Once I got through the first chapter or so with the re-establishing backstory of who some of the characters were, it started to grab my attention.

My main quibble with the book is that at times Hugh doesn't seem the same Hugh as before, and maybe that's because of his change in circumstance but specifically his concern of impregnating Audrey when all he can think about is how much he wants her and loves her. It made Hugh come across slightly colder than he had been in previous books and indeed the same book previously.

Cara recovers the love between Hugh and Audrey however in the last half of the book and it was interesting to see Millie in love after we have been shown her as dismissive and distant. It's nice to see her other side.

I am living for Thornton & Cassie! I am unsure how Cara will handle them but she does seem to enjoy them as a potential couple as much as I do soo... spin off books perhaps?

Remains one of the best mystery romance series I've read :) can't wait for the next one!

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatal by Design is the fifth book in A Bow Street Duchess Mystery series.

This book begins about four months after the last one ended. Audrey is in mourning after the "death" of her husband the Duke. Audrey has been staying with Philip's brother and sister-in-law's country home while all are mourning the loss. She has had a hard time keeping up the facade of being a widow since Philip left to start a new life. Audrey decides to return home before the guests arrive for a house party with her in-laws.

Once on the road they encounter a carriage stopped on the road with the driver dead. Audrey recognizes the carriage as belonging to her sister, but she is nowhere in sight. Using her gift, she sees that her sister was kidnapped so she returns to her in-laws for assistance. Luckily, Hugh is attending the house party Audrey just left and can help locate her sister.

This is a pretty fast paced story. I really enjoy the relationship that has been growing between Audrey and Hugh. I was never a fan of Philip and his treatment of Audrey. She deserved so much better than he had to offer. Hugh and Audrey have finally admitted to their feelings for one another, but they are far from being public as Audrey is still in mourning which sets the stage for the next book. Looking forward to it.

I received an ARC from BookSirens for an unbiased review.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book revolves around Audrey sister Millie being kidnapped. Her driver, and maid killed. Hugh is trying to keep his distance since Philip has left, and society feels he has come to a bad end. Leaving his wife in black weeds, and nothing to say. Her and Hugh begin the search for her sister. The book also has a mystery about a missing huge diamond once given to Millie by the man she loved, but her mother would not give consent. They find love notes hidden in her sister’s secret hidden drawer, that they were still in contact. She was also a widow, but they had made plans to change that. There is business about a silver mine, and people are investing shares at five thousand dollars each to have a share, and Hugh believes this is all connected. It was a marvelous book. It had a lot of the usual characters we like, and those we mistrust. This one has some sexual content, and a few swear words. It is a great mystery, and keeps you reading half the night. I know she must stay in mourning a year , and then perhaps her life can begin again. I gave it a five. Hugh makes a great leading man, and our heroine is always charging into danger, so you keep turning till the end. A great regency murder mystery, with romance, and theft added in.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Audrey's husband has executed his plan to fake his own death on the Continent, thus making her a fake widow and the Dowager Duchess. When her sister is kidnapped and her driver and maid killed on the way to see her, Audrey and Hugh join forces to investigate.

There are a couple of things that I'm not altogether sold on.
First is Hugh's readiness to consummate their relationship after learning of the fake death, especially after his own experience. But I'm glad that they are together though. Second is the reason for Audrey's trip to the Continent. But I think it's a plot point for the next book, so I guess I'll find out more.

It's been a good series so far, and I think I will be quite happy to revisit this series at a later date.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another wonderful instalment in the Bow Street Duchess series. I've loved every one. Devlin's characters are fierce, brave, intelligent, and utterly independent and driven to uncover the truth, at all costs. Audrey and Hugh have evolved into a team that always get their villain. Helped by Audrey's special gift, the complex mysteries unfold one clue at a time, always in a satisfying manner for the reader. The secondary characters are interesting, and you care about what happens to each one of them. This book further delves into Audrey's family history, which I also appreciated. I hope we encounter her sister and husband more in the future, and I still fervently hope that Audrey's mother and uncle get theirs at some point. The descriptions of the Ton and cultural norms are always fascinating, and something I very much enjoy.

Such a well done series!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey St. Claire, Dowager Duchess of Fournier's sister disappears. On her way to her sister-in-law's country house party, it's an abandoned coach and a dead body. Once again dead bodies find the duchess. Soon after Hugh Marsden, Viscount Neatham, slides back into his role as a Bow Street Officer. Who to trust and what's the motive for the kidnapping and murders? Suspicions fall on many until the puzzle pieces fall into place. A viscount and a dowager duchess are very committed to solving the crimes and to each other.
I just can't let go reading this series. Recommend reading in order.

[Doris Brase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost loves and missing jewels.

I read this one straight through. Couldn't put it down. Audrey and Hugh reconnect whike looking for her missing sister. Murder, kidnapping, and securities fraud create lots of paths to follow.

[Gillian Burles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual comments but now I feel more invested in the characters so feel the need to finish the damn series. Her husband is a selfish asshole (yeah I know thwarted at living his own life blah blah blah but that doesn’t mean he can’t take any one else’s needs into consideration l)

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally enjoyable cozy mystery. Still loving the characters!

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story although there was a lot of romance there was enough of a mystery to still make it a good story.

[Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Philip is still a selfish ass. Millie turned out to be misunderstood. The mystery was weak compared to the other books.

[Halsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! Honestly I was heart broken at the end of the last book but I knew she'd find a way to bring them back. Cara Devlin does not miss when it comes to bringing them together again with a tripled connection. The Romance is subliminal and the mystery had me biting my fingernails add in the character developments not only the main ones grow some into villains some into amazing and sizzling people or couples. I'm excited for whats in store, a Cassie POV? someday? I'm eating the delicious crumbs of my faves.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*happy sigh*

So many characters with the house party sometimes had me wondering what if just read, but overall very good. More like 4.5, but I rounded up for my eagerness to start the next!!

[Pat Chrivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline and wonderful characters. Can’t wait for the next one.