Highborn Devotion: A Crime of Passion

by Phillip Barea

On a cool summer morning in 1905 the dead body of a young woman is discovered near a river. The corpse is that of a woman renowned for her beauty and high social status, and the circumstances are so odd that they baffle the police. The case will eventually expose the secret passions of England’s aristocracy.Bonus poems from the author are also included at the end of the novel.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2024

About the author

Born in Virginia; Phillip grew up in Puerto Rico as the youngest son of a bilingual and bicultural family. After many years of travel, study, and work abroad; Phillip finally settled down in the Atlanta area (his mother’s hometown and his father’s college home).

His background in international affairs and international law, as well as his nonprofit and academic work experience, greatly influenced the development of his personal philosophy. This personal philosophy is at the heart of all his written work and social criticisms.

Reviews

[Becca Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me completely by surprise. I started it expecting a typical Edwardian-era mystery, but Phillip Barea weaves something far more intricate a psychological and emotional exploration of guilt, class, and desire. The writing feels lush and immersive; I could almost smell the damp riverbank where the story begins. The investigation moves slowly at first, but that pace builds a deep sense of unease that fits perfectly with the tone. What impressed me most was how the author portrayed England’s upper class their refinement hiding scandal and obsession beneath the surface. The twist near the end hit me hard because it didn’t feel forced; it grew naturally out of the characters’ flaws and choices. The added poems at the end are haunting and beautifully complement the mood of the story. If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries with atmosphere and moral depth, this one deserves your time.

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel feels like stepping straight into the Edwardian world elegant on the surface, but full of whispers and betrayal underneath. The early scene in the rose garden between Sir Simon and Lady Eleanor is one of the most delicately written romantic moments I’ve ever read, yet it also sets off the chain of tragedy that follows. Barea captures the vanity and restraint of England’s high society with sharp insight. What stood out most for me was how no one in the story is purely innocent. Lady Eleanor’s composure hides fear, Andrea’s love curdles into obsession, and Simon’s devotion becomes a kind of blindness. When the truth behind the death near the river finally emerges, it’s heartbreaking but inevitable. The bonus poems at the end add a quiet, mournful echo to everything that came before.

[Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it was just another “aristocrats behaving badly” mystery, but it’s much richer than that. The murder investigation is really just a frame for a story about pride, reputation, and passion gone too far. I especially liked how Barea writes dialogue full of restraint, yet every polite word drips with tension. The love triangle among Sir Simon, Lady Eleanor, and Miss Grant is handled beautifully. The moment when Andrea mistakes Simon’s historical banter about Henry VIII for a declaration of love felt painfully real. You can almost hear her heart breaking in slow motion. The pacing can be a bit old-fashioned, but that’s part of the charm it reads like something serialized in an Edwardian magazine.

[Ayomi Kun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m halfway through Highborn Devotion and already completely caught up in the emotional mess these characters create for themselves. The author’s style is lush, sometimes almost poetic, and the social detail the dances, the mannered conversations, the gossip feels authentic. At first, I wasn’t sure where it was going, since it opens like a romance and then slowly darkens. Now I can see how carefully the threads of jealousy and secrecy are being pulled. I’m especially intrigued by the tension between Captain Gordon’s quiet sense of honor and Simon’s pride. It feels like something tragic is inevitable, but I can’t yet tell who will pay the price.

[Nalongo Achen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something hypnotic about the prose in this book. It moves slowly, like a waltz at a country estate, but every turn tightens the tension. When the body by the river is finally identified, I genuinely gasped not because it was shocking for shock’s sake, but because the emotional groundwork had been laid so carefully. What impressed me most is how Barea makes the highborn characters human. He doesn’t condemn or glorify them; he just lets their passions destroy them. Lady Eleanor’s silence speaks louder than any confession. And the last chapters quiet, sorrowful, tinged with guilt lingered with me long after I finished.

[Collins Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, Highborn Devotion had me hooked. The setting Edwardian England is brought to life so vividly you can almost smell the river fog and hear the creak of the carriages. What starts as a simple murder quickly becomes something deeper: a haunting exploration of privilege, obsession, and forbidden love. Phillip Barea’s prose feels classic yet cinematic, and the emotional weight lingers long after the final chapter. The bonus poems at the end were the perfect touch delicate, sorrowful, and reflective. A must-read for anyone who loves historical mysteries with a touch of poetry.

[Abigail Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might come back to it later. The writing is elegant and clearly inspired by nineteenth-century stylists, but it demands patience. The scenes are rich with social nuance the ball, the garden, the subtle rivalry between Lady Eleanor and Miss Grant yet the story unfolds like a slow burn. I admire how real the emotions feel; you sense that everyone is headed toward disaster even when they’re only exchanging polite compliments. I just wasn’t in the right mood for something this measured. Still, even without finishing, I can tell it’s a tragic love story wrapped in class critique and moral decay.

[Modern bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Highborn Devotion. The atmosphere pulled me in from the very first page the foggy mornings, the quiet English countryside, the whispers of scandal in high society. Phillip Barea writes with such elegance and restraint that the story feels both timeless and chilling. The murder mystery is gripping, but what really stayed with me were the characters and the hidden desires that motivated them. The bonus poems at the end were a lovely touch they felt like an echo of the story’s tragic beauty. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a literary edge.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t your usual whodunit. Barea writes with such restraint and elegance that the suspense builds quietly, almost seductively, until it bursts open in shocking revelation. The victim a woman of high society feels both real and symbolic, and the deeper you go, the more you see how class and desire intertwine. It reminded me a little of Daphne du Maurier and Wilkie Collins, but with a modern emotional clarity. Every line feels intentional. I finished it in two sittings and immediately reread my favorite passages. The language alone deserves five stars.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highborn Devotion starts gently almost like a period romance before it reveals its darker layers. I loved how the story explores the psychology of the characters rather than rushing through the mystery. There’s tension, beauty, and a quiet sadness that builds throughout. The ending completely surprised me, and I actually went back to reread certain scenes knowing what I knew. The bonus poems were an unexpected gem, offering a glimpse into the author’s heart and process. It’s not a fast-paced thriller, but if you love slow, elegant storytelling, this is for you.

[Steven Maculy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillip Barea has crafted something rare here: a mystery that feels like art. The murder of a young aristocratic woman sets off not only a police investigation but also a journey through guilt, passion, and human weakness. The atmosphere is rich, almost cinematic, and the emotional depth of the writing caught me off guard. There were moments where I had to stop and just absorb the beauty of the sentences. The poems at the end tie everything together like whispers from the story’s soul. This is the kind of book that stays with you quiet, powerful, unforgettable.

[Annette Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highborn Devotion surprised me with how immersive it was. The author paints 1905 England with such delicate detail that I could practically feel the fog along the riverbank where the young woman is found. The mystery itself is layered, with hints dropped carefully throughout, but what really struck me was the emotional depth. The characters aren’t just plot devices they feel painfully human, with secrets and heartbreaks that unfold at just the right pace. The bonus poems at the end were an unexpected and lovely touch, adding a reflective softness after the tension of the investigation.

[Grace Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillip Barea has such a gift for evoking atmosphere you can almost feel the chill of that 1905 morning when the story begins. What starts as a murder mystery quickly unfolds into a deep, emotionally charged exploration of class, desire, and reputation. The prose feels old-world but accessible, and the pacing kept me hooked all the way through. The bonus poems at the end were a lovely surprise and tied beautifully into the novel’s themes of love and loss.

[Victoria Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel has the elegance of a classic Victorian mystery but with a modern sense of pacing. I loved the contrast between the beauty and privilege of the aristocratic world and the dark undercurrents that the investigation exposes. The protagonist’s journey through those layers of high society each interaction revealing a new shade of truth was incredibly compelling. I also loved the poetic writing style. It’s the kind of book you can savor slowly.

[Olivia Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, the book starts with a gentle, almost unhurried tone, but once the investigation deepens, the tension builds beautifully. The victim’s story, her relationships, and the closed world she moved in come together in a way that feels both tragic and believable. What elevated it for me was the humanity of the characters no one is purely good or evil; they’re messy, flawed, and painfully real. The poems at the end were gorgeous and added a nice personal touch from the author.

[Opeyemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book thinking it would be a typical period mystery, but it ended up being far more emotionally complex. The “crime of passion” aspect is handled with nuance rather than melodrama, and the way the aristocracy’s secrets unravel is fascinating. Barea captures the feeling of early 20th century England without ever making it feel like a history lecture. By the time I reached the last third, I was completely locked in.

[George Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barea captures 1905 England with such vivid detail that I could practically feel the river mist on my skin. The pacing is steady and elegant, and the emotional stakes kept pulling me deeper. I loved every minute.

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching the investigator struggle with loyalty, truth, and the influence of the aristocracy added a thought-provoking layer to the story. It’s not just about solving a crime it’s about navigating a world where justice isn’t simple.

[Sofia Vanderlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. The mystery is compelling, but the writing the language, the mood, the quiet tension lingers long after you finish. The bonus poems were a lovely touch.

[Olamide Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated how the investigation slowly unraveled not just the crime, but the complicated lives of everyone involved. Each character felt layered and flawed in believable ways.

[Rachel Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What hooked me immediately was the eerie beginning by the river. From there, every chapter felt like opening another secret door into aristocratic England. Could not put it down

[Martin Barnabas · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something very old-world about the prose, yet it reads smoothly and quickly. If you enjoy historical mysteries with emotional depth, this one is a gem.

[Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t just a whodunit. it’s a story about forbidden desires and the hidden lives of the upper class. The tension between public reputation and private passion was fascinating.

[Larry Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a relatively concise novel, it packs a surprising emotional punch. The final chapters are especially memorable, and the ending is both tragic and satisfying.

[Joshua Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m picky about historical fiction, but Barea clearly did his homework. From the dialogue to the social norms to the subtle class dynamics, everything felt authentic.

[dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the mystery unfolds methodically, with clues dropping in natural, believable ways. It felt more like reading an uncovered case file than a flashy thriller.

[Emma Colins · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing the mystery, the poems felt like stepping into the author’s personal reflections on love, loss, and beauty. A unique and intimate addition that made the book feel truly complete.