What do you think?
Rate this book
House of Croft #1
A Vengeful King Rises
The only thing more lethal than his need for revenge, is the woman who's tasked with bringing him down.
Adrian Croft dreams of quitting the shady business he stands to inherit, of settling down, and of raising a family free from a life of crime. But when tragedy strikes, this fanciful dream is destroyed. All he wants now is revenge. His anger, however, threatens to cloud his judgment, making it harder for him to recognize danger when it approaches in the form of a beautiful woman.
Trained for covert operations as part of a secret government program, Samantha Carmichael's mission is to give British law enforcement a reason to prosecute the most powerful man in the country. But when common sense and duty begin to blur, can she remain steadfast in her goal, or will her loyalties shift as she gradually loses her heart to the one man she cannot afford to love?
One series, one couple, and the brutal challenges they must face
If you like What Angels Fear, Silent in the Grave, and Murder on Black Swan Lake, you’ll devour Sophie Barnes’ thrilling new series.
Buy A Vengeful King Rises and start this adventure today!
Adrian Croft dreams of quitting the shady business he stands to inherit, of settling down, and of raising a family free from a life of crime. But when tragedy strikes, this fanciful dream is destroyed. All he wants now is revenge. His anger, however, threatens to cloud his judgment, making it harder for him to recognize danger when it approaches in the form of a beautiful woman.
Trained for covert operations as part of a secret government program, Samantha Carmichael's mission is to give British law enforcement a reason to prosecute the most powerful man in the country. But when common sense and duty begin to blur, can she remain steadfast in her goal, or will her loyalties shift as she gradually loses her heart to the one man she cannot afford to love?
One series, one couple, and the brutal challenges they must face
If you like What Angels Fear, Silent in the Grave, and Murder on Black Swan Lake, you’ll devour Sophie Barnes’ thrilling new series.
Buy A Vengeful King Rises and start this adventure today!
492 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2024
37 people are currently reading
1613 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Barnes
67 books1,755 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages. With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.
When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.
For all the latest releases, promotions, and exclusive story updates, subscribe to Sophie Barnes’ newsletter today: www.sophiebarnes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophie...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sophie-Barnes/...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
October 12, 2024
I read the prequel to this book, and it helped a lot in understanding the characters and I think should have been included in the book instead of a stand-alone. I enjoyed the unusual plot that the author has created. A group of women trained from an early age to be spies. The story has Adrian wanting to leave the family business of corruption but is drawn back into it due to crimes being committed that he needs to solve. Samantha is a trained operative and must obtain files that will stop Adrian's organization. This book deals mainly with the couple getting together and solving the crime. I would not call this as a romance more an action spy operation in Regency England. I thought the book handled difficult issues including murder and other abuses without being too graphic, but they are murders. This would be a 5* but the couple are hard to root for due to Samantha's spy directive. Cliff hanger and I am on to the book 2.
October 18, 2024
Dorian Harlowe had chosen five young girls from an orphanage to train as assassins and spies. A long term plan! He and his wife have taken them into their home.
Now is the time to use one of them, Samantha Carmichael. The Chief Magistrate wants to take down Adrian Croft. Croft has inherited his father’s vast empire, but more importantly, his secretive, hidden files on the habits and foibles on people from all walks of life, including the ton, members of parliament, merchants and more.
Sam begins to make overtures by way of Croft’s sister Evelyn. The two begin to bond.
London is currently gripped by a murderer who’s so far killed three young society women. Their throats are slashed and the word Whore attached.
Unfortunately, the innocent Evelyn becomes the fourth latest victim after some scurrilous lies were printed about her. Croft’s cold anger and heartfelt loss knows no bounds.
He’s determined to find the killer. Those who began the rumours about his beloved sister will pay.
Sam joins him. The hunt is on, although taking unexpected turns.
Fabulous Regency thriller!
Now is the time to use one of them, Samantha Carmichael. The Chief Magistrate wants to take down Adrian Croft. Croft has inherited his father’s vast empire, but more importantly, his secretive, hidden files on the habits and foibles on people from all walks of life, including the ton, members of parliament, merchants and more.
Sam begins to make overtures by way of Croft’s sister Evelyn. The two begin to bond.
London is currently gripped by a murderer who’s so far killed three young society women. Their throats are slashed and the word Whore attached.
Unfortunately, the innocent Evelyn becomes the fourth latest victim after some scurrilous lies were printed about her. Croft’s cold anger and heartfelt loss knows no bounds.
He’s determined to find the killer. Those who began the rumours about his beloved sister will pay.
Sam joins him. The hunt is on, although taking unexpected turns.
Fabulous Regency thriller!
July 8, 2024
Thanks to the author and BookSprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion...
WOW - this is a complex BEGINNING of a story with morally-gray characters with beautifully wrought complex pasts, motivations, and personalities. This is only the first of at least three books and there is NO happily ever after at the end of this first book. This ends on a cliff hanger. I hate cliff hangers. I really really do - BUT, in this story, it ends exactly as it should and for once, I am not even irked by the fact it ends on a cliff hanger, and am looking forward, quite impatiently to book 2... and 3.
Adrian Croft was raised to be the heir of criminal royalty - straddling the world of the elite and the underground, he is the latest in the family that has generations of accumulated knowledge of all those around them - knowledge his father and grandfather have wielded like weapons to gain their power and wealth. Adrian was raised harshly by his father to execute his commands and learn to wield that power and the Croft name appears to cause fear throughout, whether one was part of the Ton, or an East-end thug. But Adrian despises his father and hopes to escape his fate to run the Croft criminal legacy, and thinks he can leave it all behind when his father dies. He hopes to live a different life, especially for his beloved, pampered baby sister, hoping she can marry and live a beautiful life, as he escorts her during her debut.
But unfortunately, as Adrian hopes to leave his criminal legacy behind, a terrifying situation is developing, causing fear amongst the elite. Several young women of Society have been brutally murdered over the past many months, and the authorities, despite their investigations, have made not breakthroughs as to who the perpetrator is, and to forestall the public's growing negative opinion and frustration at their lack of progress, the authorities decide to do a bait and switch. To take attention away from their lack of progress finding the murderer, they conspire to bring down the Croft criminal heir, recruiting the young beautiful Samantha Carmichael, a secretly, specially trained government operative. She is charged with the task of sneaking underneath Croft's defenses and hopefully being able to discover enough of his secrets that he can be brought to his knees and punished publicly, giving Bow Street and the authorities some much needed positive public face.
Adrian is intrigued and attracted to Samantha, and hopeful of a better life. But his world is shattered when his sister is the target of the murderer. He spirals down and embraces his dark, criminal past to bypass the authorities and seek the murderer himself. Samantha manages to inveigle her way into his heart and his trust, but as she grows closer to Adrian, and they start to work together to seek the murderer, her own loyalties shift. But Adrian remains in the dark as to Samantha's true purpose and identity... at least until it is too late.
This is full of angst, drama, emotional turmoil, moral conflict, and action. This was very dark as well and I needed little happiness breaks before I could continue the story. The characters were not simple black and white/good and evil. Adrian has a dark, scarred soul, though he wants to leave it behind and be a better person, and live a better life with hope - but then his hope is torn away when his sister is murdered. It broke my heart when that happened - she was such a sweet character. But it reminds me of dark superheros and their origin stories, like the Punisher and the like. I loved this story and am champing at the bit for more. Again, I normally hate cliffhangers, but this one makes sense to me and I cannot wait to see what is next for Adrian and Samantha (and a few of the other characters). It is interesting how Sophie Barnes is twisting the idea of who is good and who is evil here too.
5 stars out of 5
WOW - this is a complex BEGINNING of a story with morally-gray characters with beautifully wrought complex pasts, motivations, and personalities. This is only the first of at least three books and there is NO happily ever after at the end of this first book. This ends on a cliff hanger. I hate cliff hangers. I really really do - BUT, in this story, it ends exactly as it should and for once, I am not even irked by the fact it ends on a cliff hanger, and am looking forward, quite impatiently to book 2... and 3.
Adrian Croft was raised to be the heir of criminal royalty - straddling the world of the elite and the underground, he is the latest in the family that has generations of accumulated knowledge of all those around them - knowledge his father and grandfather have wielded like weapons to gain their power and wealth. Adrian was raised harshly by his father to execute his commands and learn to wield that power and the Croft name appears to cause fear throughout, whether one was part of the Ton, or an East-end thug. But Adrian despises his father and hopes to escape his fate to run the Croft criminal legacy, and thinks he can leave it all behind when his father dies. He hopes to live a different life, especially for his beloved, pampered baby sister, hoping she can marry and live a beautiful life, as he escorts her during her debut.
But unfortunately, as Adrian hopes to leave his criminal legacy behind, a terrifying situation is developing, causing fear amongst the elite. Several young women of Society have been brutally murdered over the past many months, and the authorities, despite their investigations, have made not breakthroughs as to who the perpetrator is, and to forestall the public's growing negative opinion and frustration at their lack of progress, the authorities decide to do a bait and switch. To take attention away from their lack of progress finding the murderer, they conspire to bring down the Croft criminal heir, recruiting the young beautiful Samantha Carmichael, a secretly, specially trained government operative. She is charged with the task of sneaking underneath Croft's defenses and hopefully being able to discover enough of his secrets that he can be brought to his knees and punished publicly, giving Bow Street and the authorities some much needed positive public face.
Adrian is intrigued and attracted to Samantha, and hopeful of a better life. But his world is shattered when his sister is the target of the murderer. He spirals down and embraces his dark, criminal past to bypass the authorities and seek the murderer himself. Samantha manages to inveigle her way into his heart and his trust, but as she grows closer to Adrian, and they start to work together to seek the murderer, her own loyalties shift. But Adrian remains in the dark as to Samantha's true purpose and identity... at least until it is too late.
This is full of angst, drama, emotional turmoil, moral conflict, and action. This was very dark as well and I needed little happiness breaks before I could continue the story. The characters were not simple black and white/good and evil. Adrian has a dark, scarred soul, though he wants to leave it behind and be a better person, and live a better life with hope - but then his hope is torn away when his sister is murdered. It broke my heart when that happened - she was such a sweet character. But it reminds me of dark superheros and their origin stories, like the Punisher and the like. I loved this story and am champing at the bit for more. Again, I normally hate cliffhangers, but this one makes sense to me and I cannot wait to see what is next for Adrian and Samantha (and a few of the other characters). It is interesting how Sophie Barnes is twisting the idea of who is good and who is evil here too.
5 stars out of 5
May 31, 2024
Real mystery, real suspense and some romance. What a great kick off for a new series! I really like this change of pace from Ms. Barnes.
If real romance is more your jam and you don’t like some violence, this isn’t for you. But if you like some darker suspense and mystery you really want to try this book. It has kept me hooked and I wasn’t certain ‘whodunnit’ until the end. And there is more mystery to come! Can’t wait for book number two.
(This review was written after receiving an ARC and is my honest and personal opinion)
If real romance is more your jam and you don’t like some violence, this isn’t for you. But if you like some darker suspense and mystery you really want to try this book. It has kept me hooked and I wasn’t certain ‘whodunnit’ until the end. And there is more mystery to come! Can’t wait for book number two.
(This review was written after receiving an ARC and is my honest and personal opinion)
July 24, 2024
I am obsessed!!! Immediately after finishing A Vengeful King Rises, Sophie Barnes latest and first historical mystery romance, I wanted to dive into the second book!
Different from her regular historical romances, The House of Croft duology is a lot darker and grittier.
Adrienne Croft is the air apparent to the Croft family criminal enterprise. The Croft’s have been running the underground of London for generations. This is what he’s been born to do…
Raised in a den of vipers and thieves Adrian first tries to step back from the enterprise he inherited and live more peaceful lifestyle … that is until violence hits home, and he needs to take every resource in his underground arsenal to fight back against a murderer on the streets of London!
Meanwhile, Samantha new to London Society has her own role to play as her ward Positions her to take down the house of Croft! Like Adrian she’s been raised for this all her life and she’s ready to strike!
Unwitting nemesis soon become the ultimate allies, as they team up to search for a killer!
I’ve always loved Sophie Barnes’s writing and this one is one of my new favourites! I couldn’t put it down! The romance and the intrigue kept me up late at night waiting for the next steamy kiss or their next big discovery!
Different from her regular historical romances, The House of Croft duology is a lot darker and grittier.
Adrienne Croft is the air apparent to the Croft family criminal enterprise. The Croft’s have been running the underground of London for generations. This is what he’s been born to do…
Raised in a den of vipers and thieves Adrian first tries to step back from the enterprise he inherited and live more peaceful lifestyle … that is until violence hits home, and he needs to take every resource in his underground arsenal to fight back against a murderer on the streets of London!
Meanwhile, Samantha new to London Society has her own role to play as her ward Positions her to take down the house of Croft! Like Adrian she’s been raised for this all her life and she’s ready to strike!
Unwitting nemesis soon become the ultimate allies, as they team up to search for a killer!
I’ve always loved Sophie Barnes’s writing and this one is one of my new favourites! I couldn’t put it down! The romance and the intrigue kept me up late at night waiting for the next steamy kiss or their next big discovery!
June 2, 2025
A Vengeful King Rises was very good and well-written, darker and grittier than I expected, with Adrian Croft being the ultimate embodiment of an antihero. I found it a little on the long side with a cliffhanger ending that is a bit heartbreaking. I almost think the turning event could have been used to start the next book rather than end this one so as to allow Samantha and Adrian to enjoy more than a moment's peace before having Murry (should it be Murray?) shatter their hard-won happiness. I did have a pretty good idea of who the Mayfair Murderer was going to be -mostly by process of elimination - so my socks weren't blown off entirely with the reveal. And I had some questions left at the end - which were either forgotten and not tied up or will be answered in subsequent novels.
Overall, I did enjoy it, and I will be following this series as it continues!!
If you are a fan of Kerrigan Byrne's Fiona Mahoney Victorian mystery series, then A Vengeful King Rises may be right down your gritty, no-holds-barred alley.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Overall, I did enjoy it, and I will be following this series as it continues!!
If you are a fan of Kerrigan Byrne's Fiona Mahoney Victorian mystery series, then A Vengeful King Rises may be right down your gritty, no-holds-barred alley.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
June 22, 2025
I was absolutely sucked in from the beginning. Samantha Carmichael was taken from an orphanage and trained as a spy and killer for the Crown. Young debutantes have been murdered over a period of several months. Her secret assignment is to investigate Adrian Croft. His family has had their hands in many ventures, not always legal. When Adrian's sister is also murdered, Samantha and Adrian plot to catch a killer, but Samantha's secret will break what trust they have for each other.
Descriptive violence.
This is a continuous series with these two characters.
Descriptive violence.
This is a continuous series with these two characters.
July 1, 2024
A Vengeful King Rises. My fellow readers. Lets talk a little about Adrian and Samantha’s courtship. It gave me The Last of the Mohicans vibes, (Natty and Cora). Oh my.
“You stay alive. I will find you”.
Ackhhh. I’m crying readers. I have to admit it. Adrian and Samantha’s romance was that real to me. It got me in that soft spot people.
It really got me. Don’t you dare call me crazy book lady. You’ve had a book or two that has done the same to you. (Jk) Their relationship was quite charming and splendidly written. It was almost like a worldwide romance, well except without the traveling.
Samantha is nothing but amazing in this book. The woman brings new flare to being what I assume is an assassin. She’s tough. She can out wit. She certainly out smarts them all.
And she can out play the best of them. That’s Samantha in a nutshell. Truthfully I thought that the woman was smarter than everyone in the book. Samantha’s character was brilliantly written. I believe each time that Adrian addressed her with that soft, “Good morning/ afternoon Lady Carmichael”, I almost drooled all over my pajamas.
And that side eye wink he gives her, with the little dimple indentation in his cheek. It could drop you to your knees. Y’all! That man better stop playing with my extra sensitive naughty bits. I’m taking steroids, dang it. If we all had a man like Adrian today, I just don’t know.
That tall drink of water has been up to some shenanigans as he tirelessly tries to right the wrongs on the dark side of London. As to the women of London, Adrian has that bad boy, seductive appeal that makes all women want to take him home, and discover new things that they never new existed. But this book is not about those women. This book is about Samantha, Adrian, their family and friends. This book was so, so good.
I was determined to finish this story just to find out who the killer was and I was pleasantly surprised. No let me take that back. I had a little inkling, but I had to refresh my memory with my clues again. It was the chase scene readers. I guess it is true sometimes they get to pompous with themselves and they comeback.
I forget the term of what they call that. But anyway. The writer did such a magnificent job of dropping little cheese crumbs here and there for said mouse. (Me). As I ate that delicious government cheese, while following the cheese trail to that final trap. Kiss. Boom. Bang Readers. I so enjoyed everything about this book.
Everyone who was anyone was being blamed. The police. What police?! The Ton. Sick Vipers. The News Pappers. Todays paparazzi. Meanwhile the body count rises. Family and friends are dying. When will this madness end?! Where is Colombo when you need him? Or at least Jessica Fletcher?! May she rest in peace. Jessica can solve a murder from her bed, no sooner than under one hour. She did it once before. She can do it again.
I loved the dark and mysterious aura that some of the characters gave off. Most of the characters help make the story an intriguing story to tell and to read. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to reading the next book. I give this book two snaps and a… I almost forgot. With a Valet like Murry, who needs security/ bodyguards or even a dog. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!
“You stay alive. I will find you”.
Ackhhh. I’m crying readers. I have to admit it. Adrian and Samantha’s romance was that real to me. It got me in that soft spot people.
It really got me. Don’t you dare call me crazy book lady. You’ve had a book or two that has done the same to you. (Jk) Their relationship was quite charming and splendidly written. It was almost like a worldwide romance, well except without the traveling.
Samantha is nothing but amazing in this book. The woman brings new flare to being what I assume is an assassin. She’s tough. She can out wit. She certainly out smarts them all.
And she can out play the best of them. That’s Samantha in a nutshell. Truthfully I thought that the woman was smarter than everyone in the book. Samantha’s character was brilliantly written. I believe each time that Adrian addressed her with that soft, “Good morning/ afternoon Lady Carmichael”, I almost drooled all over my pajamas.
And that side eye wink he gives her, with the little dimple indentation in his cheek. It could drop you to your knees. Y’all! That man better stop playing with my extra sensitive naughty bits. I’m taking steroids, dang it. If we all had a man like Adrian today, I just don’t know.
That tall drink of water has been up to some shenanigans as he tirelessly tries to right the wrongs on the dark side of London. As to the women of London, Adrian has that bad boy, seductive appeal that makes all women want to take him home, and discover new things that they never new existed. But this book is not about those women. This book is about Samantha, Adrian, their family and friends. This book was so, so good.
I was determined to finish this story just to find out who the killer was and I was pleasantly surprised. No let me take that back. I had a little inkling, but I had to refresh my memory with my clues again. It was the chase scene readers. I guess it is true sometimes they get to pompous with themselves and they comeback.
I forget the term of what they call that. But anyway. The writer did such a magnificent job of dropping little cheese crumbs here and there for said mouse. (Me). As I ate that delicious government cheese, while following the cheese trail to that final trap. Kiss. Boom. Bang Readers. I so enjoyed everything about this book.
Everyone who was anyone was being blamed. The police. What police?! The Ton. Sick Vipers. The News Pappers. Todays paparazzi. Meanwhile the body count rises. Family and friends are dying. When will this madness end?! Where is Colombo when you need him? Or at least Jessica Fletcher?! May she rest in peace. Jessica can solve a murder from her bed, no sooner than under one hour. She did it once before. She can do it again.
I loved the dark and mysterious aura that some of the characters gave off. Most of the characters help make the story an intriguing story to tell and to read. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to reading the next book. I give this book two snaps and a… I almost forgot. With a Valet like Murry, who needs security/ bodyguards or even a dog. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!
July 25, 2024
Adrian Croft inherits a shady business from his cruel father & he’s determined to leave it behind him & to raise a family free from a life of crime, he even destroys the files his family has built over generations but then tragedy strikes & this fanciful dream is destroyed. All he wants now is revenge. Trained for covert operations as part of a secret government program, Samantha Carmichael's mission is to give British law enforcement a reason to prosecute the most powerful man in the country, Adrian Croft.
This isn’t the usual type of book from the author but for me it’s her best yet & one of the best books I’ve read this year. Yes there’s still the ballrooms but the focus is on the seamier, darker side of Regency England, it’s full of intrigue, suspense, mystery & a little romance. I loved it, the pace is good, the characters brilliant, it had me on the edge of my seat, it made me gasp, it made me cry NO! I loved both Adrian & Samantha they weren’t your typical hero & heroine as they both had secrets but gradually they came to like each other & gradually fell in love against the backdrop of finding a ruthless killer who was targeting debutantes. It’s not a short book at just under five hundred pages but it seemed much shorter as I couldn’t put it down. Be warned the series is about Adrian & Samantha so there’s no HEA but we are left on a cliffhanger. I’m now champing at the bit for the next book
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
This isn’t the usual type of book from the author but for me it’s her best yet & one of the best books I’ve read this year. Yes there’s still the ballrooms but the focus is on the seamier, darker side of Regency England, it’s full of intrigue, suspense, mystery & a little romance. I loved it, the pace is good, the characters brilliant, it had me on the edge of my seat, it made me gasp, it made me cry NO! I loved both Adrian & Samantha they weren’t your typical hero & heroine as they both had secrets but gradually they came to like each other & gradually fell in love against the backdrop of finding a ruthless killer who was targeting debutantes. It’s not a short book at just under five hundred pages but it seemed much shorter as I couldn’t put it down. Be warned the series is about Adrian & Samantha so there’s no HEA but we are left on a cliffhanger. I’m now champing at the bit for the next book
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
December 10, 2024
A compelling story with a dark side to it, not the normal for Sophie Barnes. Love the different direction the writer has taken. Adrian Croft has been brought up to takeover his family legacy, one he has tried to resist. His father was determined to have his only son takeover and if the meant he needed to teach him the hard way, so be it! Once his father passed away Adrian thought he could leave that life behind. Enjoy the Ton with his sister, but evil lurks on the streets of Mayfair. And Adrian beloved sister is murdered. All that he had hope to leave in the past he will now need to get the revenge he craves.
Samantha and her sisters of her heart are rescued from the orphanage. Their foster parents are raising them to be secret agents for the Crown. Finally after years of training Samantha has her first assignment, to find evidence to bring down the new heir to the Croft legacy. As she makes her way through the various Ton events she manages to cross paths with Adrian, but what her superiors told her about Adrian isn’t the man she is beginning to get to know.
The characters are very well developed and Samantha character reminds me of “Charlie’s Angels”. Very intriguing story that ends in a cliffhanger, which fits perfectly with the story. Can’t wait to read the continuation of Samantha and Adrian story.
Thank you for the ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #AVengefulKingRises
#HouseofCroft #SophieBarnes
Samantha and her sisters of her heart are rescued from the orphanage. Their foster parents are raising them to be secret agents for the Crown. Finally after years of training Samantha has her first assignment, to find evidence to bring down the new heir to the Croft legacy. As she makes her way through the various Ton events she manages to cross paths with Adrian, but what her superiors told her about Adrian isn’t the man she is beginning to get to know.
The characters are very well developed and Samantha character reminds me of “Charlie’s Angels”. Very intriguing story that ends in a cliffhanger, which fits perfectly with the story. Can’t wait to read the continuation of Samantha and Adrian story.
Thank you for the ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #AVengefulKingRises
#HouseofCroft #SophieBarnes
August 18, 2024
The vengeful king that rises in this first book in the House of Croft series is Adrian Croft, the new ‘King of Portman Square’. It’s a position that Adrian never wanted, but has now been thrust upon him – willing or not.
The ‘King of Portman Square’ – at least when that powerful but unofficial title was held by his father or any of the Crofts who came before him, is a title of ill and dangerous repute. A repute that Adrian vowed to set aside after the death of his father.
The Crofts have controlled most of the criminal underbelly of London – if not all of Britain – for generations. During his father’s lifetime Adrian Croft became all too acquainted with everything dirty and dangerous that his father owned – because he was the one who visited each and every establishment to mete out his father’s justice.
Adrian wants to walk the straight and narrow, and for the family to make and maintain its fortunes through legal enterprises instead of gambling, prostitution, and blackmail.
But there are forces raised against his plan in all quarters. There’s a serial killer targeting young women of the aristocracy, killing any that he believes are only pretending to be chaste and virginal. He leaves his victims with a slit throat and a note attached to their corpses with one word – WHORE.
Scotland Yard can’t seem to find the killer, the pressure from above is mounting, and a decision is made to go after Croft – not because he’s the guilty party in THIS crime but because bringing down the vast Croft criminal empire will divert attention away from their inability to stop the gruesome murders.
The government sends in one of their best and most covert agents, Samantha Carmichael, part of a cadre of young female orphans trained as spies in case Napoleon had managed to invade Britain. Her job is to get close to Adrian Croft by any means necessary, find where he keeps his secret blackmail files, and procure rock-solid evidence of his criminal activities.
Even if she has to bed him and/or wed him to make it happen. Even if they both manage to take leave of their senses and lose their hearts in the process.
Escape Rating A: I picked this up because the author is one that I read whenever she has something new – and this book is very new indeed. Meaning that if you are expecting one of her signature frothy Regency romances you’re going to be surprised. A lot. And be utterly captivated and compelled.
This series opener worked well for this reader, because the House of Croft series is what you’d get if two of my favorite historical mystery series, C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr and Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford & Sloane, had a book baby – possibly midwifed by Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series. St. Cyr and Wrexford & Sloane expose the gritty, grimy underbelly of the glittering Regency, take place in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, all of their heroes are dark and brooding, and all of the relationships begin on a knife edge of secrets and lies, distrust and betrayal. While Maiden Lane, although set a century earlier, dives deeply into the same mean streets where the House of Croft holds sway.
But St. Cyr, Wrexford & Sloane and the House of Croft work from different positions. Sebastian St. Cyr is an aristocrat who operates in the halls of power, of which he is not a member, quite, at least not yet., but certainly will be upon the eventual death of his father the powerful and well-connected Earl of Hendon. Wrexford focuses more on scientific advancement and the kind of technical and industrial espionage that leads to grandiose promises and economic crashes. Although both began their secondary interests in investigation after being falsely accused of crimes, they are otherwise completely legit.
Adrian Croft is none of the above. He has no title, but has a great deal of mostly illegally obtained wealth. He has power but seemingly no check on it. He doesn’t merely expose the Regency’s dark underbelly – he has the ability to control it.
Which means that each of these series may be set in the same time and place but they are not looking at it from the same direction.
Adrian comes to his investigation of the serial killer from the perspective of a victim. His young unmarried sister was one of the murderer’s kills. Not because she actually had sullied her reputation but rather because someone put her in the frame in order to force Adrian to take back the reins of the Croft criminal empire in order to hunt down her killer.
That nefarious person is still hiding in the shadows. Although now that he has achieved his objective I can’t help but wonder when we’ll see him again so that loose thread can be tied off – possibly into a hangman’s noose – in a later book in this series.
On the other side of this book’s equation there’s Samantha Carmichael. Because she is not, by any means, a typical Regency heroine. And yet, she’s not anachronistic. That Britain might create a spy program for undercover agents who can hide in plain sight is not implausible. It’s a bit early, historically, but if it were top secret enough we wouldn’t know, would we?
Just as this case is a test for Adrian, it’s also a test for Samantha. Her government handlers expect her to obey orders and yet are forced to give her considerable autonomy in order to carry out her mission. And in that autonomy, and the training to think for herself that it requires, Samantha starts to see the truth about her circumstances and begins to wonder if Adrian Croft is even a quarter as bad as he’s painted.
It’s clearly all going to end in tears and betrayals. The question that will hopefully be explored in the next books in the series, A Tainted Heart Bleeds (October) and A Ruthless Angel Weeps (January) is the question of whether they can find a way past the events that brought them together, or whether they will shatter, separately, together and with shrapnel flying all around.
I’ll be waiting with the proverbial bated breath for the next book, but in the meantime there’s a prequel novella, A Wounded Bird Sings, to tide me over.
Originally published at Reading Reality
The ‘King of Portman Square’ – at least when that powerful but unofficial title was held by his father or any of the Crofts who came before him, is a title of ill and dangerous repute. A repute that Adrian vowed to set aside after the death of his father.
The Crofts have controlled most of the criminal underbelly of London – if not all of Britain – for generations. During his father’s lifetime Adrian Croft became all too acquainted with everything dirty and dangerous that his father owned – because he was the one who visited each and every establishment to mete out his father’s justice.
Adrian wants to walk the straight and narrow, and for the family to make and maintain its fortunes through legal enterprises instead of gambling, prostitution, and blackmail.
But there are forces raised against his plan in all quarters. There’s a serial killer targeting young women of the aristocracy, killing any that he believes are only pretending to be chaste and virginal. He leaves his victims with a slit throat and a note attached to their corpses with one word – WHORE.
Scotland Yard can’t seem to find the killer, the pressure from above is mounting, and a decision is made to go after Croft – not because he’s the guilty party in THIS crime but because bringing down the vast Croft criminal empire will divert attention away from their inability to stop the gruesome murders.
The government sends in one of their best and most covert agents, Samantha Carmichael, part of a cadre of young female orphans trained as spies in case Napoleon had managed to invade Britain. Her job is to get close to Adrian Croft by any means necessary, find where he keeps his secret blackmail files, and procure rock-solid evidence of his criminal activities.
Even if she has to bed him and/or wed him to make it happen. Even if they both manage to take leave of their senses and lose their hearts in the process.
Escape Rating A: I picked this up because the author is one that I read whenever she has something new – and this book is very new indeed. Meaning that if you are expecting one of her signature frothy Regency romances you’re going to be surprised. A lot. And be utterly captivated and compelled.
This series opener worked well for this reader, because the House of Croft series is what you’d get if two of my favorite historical mystery series, C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr and Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford & Sloane, had a book baby – possibly midwifed by Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series. St. Cyr and Wrexford & Sloane expose the gritty, grimy underbelly of the glittering Regency, take place in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, all of their heroes are dark and brooding, and all of the relationships begin on a knife edge of secrets and lies, distrust and betrayal. While Maiden Lane, although set a century earlier, dives deeply into the same mean streets where the House of Croft holds sway.
But St. Cyr, Wrexford & Sloane and the House of Croft work from different positions. Sebastian St. Cyr is an aristocrat who operates in the halls of power, of which he is not a member, quite, at least not yet., but certainly will be upon the eventual death of his father the powerful and well-connected Earl of Hendon. Wrexford focuses more on scientific advancement and the kind of technical and industrial espionage that leads to grandiose promises and economic crashes. Although both began their secondary interests in investigation after being falsely accused of crimes, they are otherwise completely legit.
Adrian Croft is none of the above. He has no title, but has a great deal of mostly illegally obtained wealth. He has power but seemingly no check on it. He doesn’t merely expose the Regency’s dark underbelly – he has the ability to control it.
Which means that each of these series may be set in the same time and place but they are not looking at it from the same direction.
Adrian comes to his investigation of the serial killer from the perspective of a victim. His young unmarried sister was one of the murderer’s kills. Not because she actually had sullied her reputation but rather because someone put her in the frame in order to force Adrian to take back the reins of the Croft criminal empire in order to hunt down her killer.
That nefarious person is still hiding in the shadows. Although now that he has achieved his objective I can’t help but wonder when we’ll see him again so that loose thread can be tied off – possibly into a hangman’s noose – in a later book in this series.
On the other side of this book’s equation there’s Samantha Carmichael. Because she is not, by any means, a typical Regency heroine. And yet, she’s not anachronistic. That Britain might create a spy program for undercover agents who can hide in plain sight is not implausible. It’s a bit early, historically, but if it were top secret enough we wouldn’t know, would we?
Just as this case is a test for Adrian, it’s also a test for Samantha. Her government handlers expect her to obey orders and yet are forced to give her considerable autonomy in order to carry out her mission. And in that autonomy, and the training to think for herself that it requires, Samantha starts to see the truth about her circumstances and begins to wonder if Adrian Croft is even a quarter as bad as he’s painted.
It’s clearly all going to end in tears and betrayals. The question that will hopefully be explored in the next books in the series, A Tainted Heart Bleeds (October) and A Ruthless Angel Weeps (January) is the question of whether they can find a way past the events that brought them together, or whether they will shatter, separately, together and with shrapnel flying all around.
I’ll be waiting with the proverbial bated breath for the next book, but in the meantime there’s a prequel novella, A Wounded Bird Sings, to tide me over.
Originally published at Reading Reality
July 27, 2024
WOW, what an absolutely exhilarating story. Well written by this story telling author. Full of mystery, darkness, villains, love, abuse, romance, murder, action, suspense, intrigue, sadness, danger, secrets, twists and turns. This story will keep you on your toes and on the edge of your chair till the very end which is a cliff hanger to the next story. Samantha is an agent to the crown who has been trained for years to succeed. Little did she know that the assignment she's given will end up the love she wants. Adrian is the son of a man who controlled the underworld of London, a very dark brutal man. He wants to be a different man then what he he was trained to be by his father. But as fate has it, he has to be that man after his sister is killed. He uses that power to hunt down her killer. Samantha helps him with that but ends up pushing him into a fake marriage with hopes of becoming a real marriage. Will have to wait for the next book to find out what happens. Would give this a higher rating if possible. Would recommend to everyone.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 17, 2024
I really enjoyed the story which has a lot of of moving parts to it- a murder, multiple characters who could be the main character in the plot so I think the author really took her time to develop this story. I really wasn’t sure of the villain in the story until the end of the book. This is a departure from what I am used to reading from Sophie but I am impressed enough to want to read the second part to the story of Adrian Croft and Samantha Carmichael. I usually don’t like stories that don’t have a HEA but I am hooked and plan on reading the next book just to follow Adrian and see what happens next in his life. “A Vengeful King Rises” appears to have whet my appetite for a different take on what I usually prefer to read.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 11, 2024
I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!! THE CLIFFHANGER????????????
HEAR ME OUT HEAR ME OUT! BECAUSE THIS HAS SURPASSED MY EXPECTATION!
I do not want to spoil anything.
If you love historical romance, slow burn, suspense, mystery-thriller, a little gore, secret identity, brave strong woman (with daggers *wink wink*), "I'm yours and you're mine" type of guy, I advise you to put anything on your TBR aside on July 30th and get to this book ASAP
Pub date: 30 July 2024
Thank you NetGalley, BookBuzznet, and Sophie Barnes for kindly giving me an ARC in exchange for honest review!
HEAR ME OUT HEAR ME OUT! BECAUSE THIS HAS SURPASSED MY EXPECTATION!
I do not want to spoil anything.
If you love historical romance, slow burn, suspense, mystery-thriller, a little gore, secret identity, brave strong woman (with daggers *wink wink*), "I'm yours and you're mine" type of guy, I advise you to put anything on your TBR aside on July 30th and get to this book ASAP
Pub date: 30 July 2024
Thank you NetGalley, BookBuzznet, and Sophie Barnes for kindly giving me an ARC in exchange for honest review!
July 4, 2024
This book did not disappoint!! With several plots and twists going on with several groups of players, it held my attention and I didn’t want to put it down. I greatly applaud this story because I couldn’t figure out the whodunnit until it was actually revealed. Now I’m anxious to read the next in series and see where Samantha and Adrian’s story. Leads; plus looking forward to a new mystery.
Disclosure: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. Lucky me!!
Disclosure: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. Lucky me!!
July 30, 2024
Wow, wow, just wow!!! There are not enough words to describe how well Sophie Barnes has done with this story. Everything about it is just magnificent. The plot will leave you eager turning the pages and in turn holding your breath as you anticipate what is to be revealed. In Samantha and Adrian the author has created two powerful characters who will forever be remembered by readers. I will be waiting with bated breath for the next in series. Get a copy and enjoy the mystery.
July 9, 2024
This book is the beginning of a new series and what a series it will be. Romance and mystery bring out a very engaging suspense story. Adrian and Samantha are well developed characters that delve into some sinister stuff. There is a little bit of a cliffhanger due to it being the beginning of a series, but the main mystery is solved and I didn’t solve it first. It was a very good read.
July 20, 2024
A very intense read, I found myself in the edge of the chair in anticipation of what would happen next. Great world building, and wonderful characters. What an ending, talk about a cliff hanger, can’t wait for the next book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 15, 2024
Wow. This is a dark but extremely fascinating book. There is great intrigue and the author is able to your attention without feeling pulled into too many stories. It keeps a reader engaged and I both struggled to put it down and even dreamt of the characters at night! I would strongly recommend this book if you can tolerate some vivid grisly scenes.
July 3, 2024
Shocking and awesome! You get shocked after the first chapters and awed at the characters involved in the murder mystery. Spy and counter spy, underworld vs authorities, grief vs love and loyalty. Love everything about this book and looking forward to the next in series.
May 14, 2025
I really really liked this book. I read the prequel which helped me understand this story right off the top.
I like the darker mood of the story and yet there is tenderness there too. It shows us how people who have a dark side to their personality can lis be capable of great tenderness and love.
It reminds me of Bec McMaster’s Kiss of Steel (one of my all time favourite books) without the steampunk elements.
I was sorry to see the plot twist at the end of the book but I knew it was inevitable.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Highly recommended.
I like the darker mood of the story and yet there is tenderness there too. It shows us how people who have a dark side to their personality can lis be capable of great tenderness and love.
It reminds me of Bec McMaster’s Kiss of Steel (one of my all time favourite books) without the steampunk elements.
I was sorry to see the plot twist at the end of the book but I knew it was inevitable.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Highly recommended.
July 8, 2024
Couldn't put this book down! The plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. Beautifully written with complex characters that felt like old friends. A must-read for any fiction lover. Can't wait for the sequel!
July 9, 2024
Wow!!! What an outstanding story. Absolute page turner. Our hero is really a bad boy . The lady is sent take him down. It’s going to be hard to wait for the next adventure in their lives.
June 28, 2024
OMG!! This story is so good! You have a wonderful mystery to solve with a side romance (but enough to keep you invested). The way it ended...I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!!!
July 3, 2024
This is one of the best mysteries I have ever read! It grabs your attention at the beginning and keeps you engaged throughout the entire story.
The story has grit, mystery, a bit of romance and lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
The chemistry between Adrian and Samantha as they get to know and trust each other is wonderful, even though each has their own agenda.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
The story has grit, mystery, a bit of romance and lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
The chemistry between Adrian and Samantha as they get to know and trust each other is wonderful, even though each has their own agenda.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
August 19, 2024
The start of a new series from this author that is different to other things I have read by her. This was as well written as her normal books and full of brilliant characters who are complex and intriguing. The situations and motivations and not the usual black and white answers. It also finishes on a bit of what would be called a cliff hanger leaving lots of things unfinished and lots of answers to come in the future books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 21, 2024
Great start for a new series! Multigeneration crime family. Murder. Betrayal. Spies. Vengeance. Passion. Heartbreak. Loyalty. Secrets. Love? All in Regency England.
August 27, 2024
What a read!! This was completely different from Sophie Barnes' usual romance novels, but it was thoroughly engrossing. Between the murders of allegedly immoral young women, and the mission the female protagonist (Samantha Carmichael) has concerning the male protagonist (Adrian Croft). Her boss wants Croft brought down, but feelings develop between her and her mark. Yes, they end up together (spoiler) BUT it does not lead to happily-ever-after. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I'm eager to see where things will go.
Sophie Barnes successfully stepped out of just being a historical romance novelist. Now she has added historical mystery to her repertoire, and I look forward to more.
Thanks to NetGalley for access to this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sophie Barnes successfully stepped out of just being a historical romance novelist. Now she has added historical mystery to her repertoire, and I look forward to more.
Thanks to NetGalley for access to this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 15, 2024
What an interesting book. I am of two minds when thinking about this book. While I enjoyed the story I am not so sure I enjoyed the romance. The mystery was intriguing and well-written; however, I did not feel any kind of love story at all. I did not like the main people, both had jobs that were not so great. Although I could admire Samantha's, what is better than a woman is amazing and strong, I did not like all the setup for miscommunication. Then to end the book as it did, no words. I did enjoy the story, the murder mystery was great and I never saw the killer, which is the best, I just thought there would be a more romantic element and I never bought that part of the story. This does seem to be the start of a fun mystery series and I look forward to reading more of the mystery.
July 8, 2024
As this was departure from Ms. Barnes usual books, and my normal reading tropes, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
The book started off feeling a little disjointed as characters were introduced but as I continued reading the disjointed feeling disappeared and felt normal as the points of view changed. Ms. Barnes did her normal great job of developing the characters and soon I was invested in solving the mystery and finding out if true love will win the day
I’ve already ordered the second book in the series!
I was given an arc of the book.
The book started off feeling a little disjointed as characters were introduced but as I continued reading the disjointed feeling disappeared and felt normal as the points of view changed. Ms. Barnes did her normal great job of developing the characters and soon I was invested in solving the mystery and finding out if true love will win the day
I’ve already ordered the second book in the series!
I was given an arc of the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews