A Dangerous Madness

Regency London #3

by Michelle Diener

The Duke of Wittaker has been living a lie... He’s been spying on the dissolute, discontented noblemen of the ton, pretending to share their views. Now he’s ready to step out of the shadows and start living a real life...but when the prime minister of England is assassinated, he's asked to go back to being the rake-hell duke everyone still believes he is to find out more. Miss Phoebe Hillier has been living a lie, too... All her life she's played the game, hiding her fierce intelligence and love of life behind a docile and decorous mask. All it's gotten her is jilted by her betrothed, a man she thought a fool, but a harmless one. But when she discovers her former fiancé was involved in the plot against the prime minister, and that he's been murdered, she realizes he wasn't so harmless after all. And now the killers have set their sights on her... The only man who can help her is the Duke of Wittaker--a man she knows she shouldn't trust. And she soon realizes he's hiding behind a mask as careful as her own. As the assassin steadfastly vows he acted alone, and as the clock ticks down to his trial, the pair scramble to uncover the real conspiracy. And as the pressure and the danger mounts, Phoebe and Wittaker shed their disguises, layer by layer, to discover something more precious than either imagined–something that could last forever. Unless the conspirators desperate to hide their tracks get to them first. A Dangerous Madness is connected to the other novels in the Regency London series through an overlap of characters, but each novel is complete on its own, and you do not have to read them in order.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Regency, Regency Romance

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2014

About the author

Michelle Diener is a bestselling, award-winning author of historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy. Having worked in publishing and IT, she's now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters.

Michelle was born in London and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

When she's not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her online at Twitter and Facebook.

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle freebie romance time again. A Dangerous Madness mixes the usual romance with a historical event - the 1812 murder of Spencer Perceval, the British prime minister, by one John Bellingham, a Liverpool merchant - and turns it into a conspiracy mystery. Bellingham may or may not be delusional, and may have been egged on by unknown conspirators.

All Miss Phoebe Hillier knows is that her rather foolish and pompous fiancé was somehow involved with Bellingham, right before he jilted her and took off for the Continent ... and that she's now in danger because of it.

The Duke of Wittaker, a man with a reputation as a rake and scoundrel, is involved with a private investigation of the murder, which leads him to Phoebe. Phoebe is reluctant to trust him (or anyone really) but she may not have a choice once shots start getting fired.

I liked the developing relationship between Phoebe and Wittaker, one of the very few men who really sees her as an intelligent person and respects her for it. The premise for the murder mystery was intriguing. It dragged the pace down for me a little during most of the book (I would have liked more romance and less investigation) but the wrap-up was very good, as was the author's afterword.

This worked pretty well as a stand-alone read, though I could tell the some of the secondary characters (who were the main characters in the prior books) were supposed to be more significant to me than they actually were.

This novel lost at least a full star because (a) punctuation and spelling errors were frequent enough to distract me (better proofreading please!) and (b) even though you could technically call this a clean read (kisses only), it irks me in Regencyland when unmarried ladies act out of line for the times. Phoebe decides to embark on an affair with the duke notwithstanding she's already in scandalous territory because of being dumped by her fiancé and because she's been seen keeping company with the duke, who has a Reputation. Even after he tells her he loves her and wants to marry her, and she's in love with him, she's not ready to commit to marriage yet. But she's up for sleeping with him for a while first. And that's where the book ends. Whatever.

[Ivy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more regency historical fiction, with a romantic storyline included to sweeten the plot. So, if you're hoping for lots of sex, balls, horseback riding on Rotten Row and walks in Hyde Park then you'll be disappointed. But, if you love history, enjoy a good mystery and you're up for lots of intrigue built around the author's own conspiracy theory about the assassination of British Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, then this is right up your alley.

This is the third in the trilogy of standalones, but I decided to read it first because the H's a duke. Yeah, I am that vapid sometimes; it's that simple, for me. LOL.

Prime Minister Perceval's assassination, in 1812, was the JFK murder of the day. One big difference between Perceval and JFK ( aside from nationality of course ) was the fact that the American President had been well liked by many. Perceval, on the other hand, while being quite intelligent and bold, was a divisive leader: his many Orders In Council, had put a target on his back because his very bold domestic and foreign policies had angered not only the spendthrift Prince Regent, the local shipping industry leaders and the fledgling manufacturing sector, but also many other members of Parliament. Perceval had also been trying the patience of the US government with his aggressive and bold Orders In Council that had been disrupting their trade and shipping concerns.

In fact, there are some historians who suggest that if Perceval had been murdered a month or so earlier, there might not have been a War of 1812 ( aka The Second War of American Independence ). That's probably the most simplistic and convenient theory but it does deserve a little merit because the Americans might not have declared war if there had been a cessation to those dreaded Orders In Council.

I'm no expert in this era of American History, since my area of study focused on the post Monroe Doctrine ( 1823 ) period. But I'm not gonna bore you guys with more historical discussion. The important point to note, as this is linked to the novel's storyline, is the fact that there were many individuals and groups with vested interests who would've benefitted from Perceval's death.

This is Prime Minister Spencer Perceval:



Perceval was, like JFK, assassinated in public so that everyone knew the identity of his killer. The killer was a man called John Bellingham.

This is John Bellingham:



Everyone knew why Bellingham had killed Perceval, but no one knew who else had been working behind the scenes, pulling the assassin's strings like puppet masters. And that's what this novel deals with. The author has her own personal conspiracy theory about the identity of those manipulators who'd worked behind the scenes, providing the secret funding and stoking the ire of an already angry man ( Bellingham ) who felt that he'd been treated shabbily by the politicians of his country. Perceval's assassination has created many dramatic conspiracy theories because, as with the JFK murder, it's hard to get closure when unknown co-conspirators are not brought to justice.

The MC's in this novel, who are brought together because of this assassination, are: James, the Duke of Wittaker and Miss Phoebe Hillier. Phoebe's life is endangered after her ne'er do well fiance, the Marquess of Sheldrake, is murdered a day after Perceval's assassination. It is soon obvious that the late Sheldrake had been connected to the conspirators who'd been working with the murderer Bellingham. Before his death, Sheldrake had jilted Phoebe because he'd been scared that his own life would now be endangered. He'd opted to run off to the continent but had sent an important document to Phoebe before leaving London. It's this document that the villains are keen to acquire and they also know that their own identities are at risk if the heroine figures out the significance of the document.

This is the heroine, Phoebe:



James, the lovable, funny and hot H, works as a spy for the Home Office. He's the very last person anyone would suspect of being a regency 007 agent because he works to maintain a fake public image as a rakehell playboy who loves to party and gamble. It's the only way he's able to have access to the more seedy members of the Ton who are involved in criminally suspect undertakings.

This is the H, James, the Duke of Wittaker:



I won't provide the usual detailed spoiler information for this novel, because it's the kind of story that can only be enjoyed if the reader gets a firsthand picture of how the intrigue and mystery unfolds. What I will explain is the author's basic conspiracy theory premise:

The author believes that the men who were working behind the scenes, to pull John Bellingham's strings, were none other than a small group of men who were sycophants of the Prince Regent.

This is the Prince Regent ( aka Prinny )



It's no secret that Prinny loathed Prime Minister Perceval, because the latter tried to curb his spending and had even embarrassed him in public a few times too. A group of Prinny's ass kissing pals ( the heroine's dead fiance Sheldrake had been one of them ) got together and decided that they would help the prince by getting rid of the biggest thorn in his side. Together with General Gascoyne ( the Member of Parliament for Liverpool ), these men worked quietly but cunningly to light the fuse that caused John Bellingham to do what he did.

This is General Gascoyne:



I ended up feeling sorry for John Bellingham because he's portrayed, in this novel, as a man who was teetering on the edge of sanity. If the author's conspiracy theory is correct ( and no one can know for sure ) then what was done to John Bellingham was awful and just as much a tragedy as his assassination of Perceval. The evil men who prey on vulnerable and emotionally fragile souls, like Bellingham, deserve a special place in Hell. Bellingham's rushed trial ( a mere week after the PM's assassination ! ) and the way the Attorney General railroaded over the proceedings, left a lot to be desired.

It was almost as if they all wanted to put the hangman's noose around Bellingham's neck before he had a chance to spill his guts and offer up the names of his co-conspirators. The fact that the Attorney General, Vicary Gibbs, resigned right after the trial ended, was also a bit suspicious. I mean, he'd just won an important trial, so why the rush to resign unless he had something to hide too ? The author did use a lot of creative licence to give our H the credit for the Attorney General's resignation:

Gibbs sank back in his chair so suddenly, it rocked a little. James could see the confusion and the hint of fear on his face.

“What is this about?”

“I’ve come to tell you to resign.” He watched Gibbs take that in, and frown.

“Resign, on what grounds?”

“Corruption. Dereliction of duty. Failure to uphold the law. You can take your pick.”

Gibbs gaped at him.

“Bellingham is to be hanged on Monday, I understand, and the jury took less than fourteen minutes to find him guilty.”

“I’m not the jury—”

“You set the trial date less than four days after the crime took place. And I know why.”

James did not try to hide the contempt he felt for Gibbs. For all of them. “You can pass this message on to the Prince Regent. We know. And if anyone has the bright idea to try something like this again, should there be another politician in future His Majesty doesn’t like, we will make sure the papers have the full story, no matter how little proof we can produce.”

Michelle Diener. A Dangerous Madness (Kindle Locations 3318-3325). Michelle Diener. Kindle Edition.

This is Sir Vicary Gibbs, the Attorney General ( aka Vinegar Gibbs )



The romantic storyline was a sweet, slow burn that was helped along by the fact the MC's were forced to work together to try and solve this conspiracy. Propinquity and a common goal, helped to stoke the embers of lust that existed between them from their very first meeting. There were a few rushed and heated kisses, a couple of sweet romantic embraces but no sex scenes. And, it's only at the very end of the story that they declare their feelings for each other.

There's also a minor storyline that deals with the heroine's mini scandal and how the H acted gallantly to help ease her way in society. Phoebe had become the centre of gossip after her fiance's death, especially when a nasty, witchy, busybody old woman broke the news that the heroine had been jilted prior to Sheldrake's death. In regency times, a jilted woman was often viewed as being "ruined" even if ( as in the case of the heroine ) she'd barely even shared a kiss with her late fiance.

This was a vastly entertaining novel and I was never bored, because my curiosity kept me turning the pages in an effort to see what new twist was going to pop up. So, if you love historical fiction and conspiracy theories you ought to give this a try.

Safety:No sex, no cheating, no OM, no OW.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS


Very intriguing book. This was a new author for me, and I was quite impressed. This regency romance revolves around the real-life assassination of Spencer Perceval, the Prime Minister of London in 1812. The author admittedly wove in real-life characters and events into a conspiracy theory of her own making. She also managed to weave a little romance in there too, which sweetened the deal for me. At the end of the story she includes an author's note which explains which events and characters are real and which are her invention. Brilliantly executed. I will definitely seek out more from this author.

Note: I read this on audio. And the narrator, Shiromi Arserio did and excellent job with it.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in the series of Ms Diener’s loosely connected romantic mysteries set in the Regency period and, as with the other two, it takes as its starting point an actual historical event – in this case the assassination of Spencer Perceval, the British Prime Minister, in 1812.

The whole of society knows that James, Duke of Wittaker, is a wastrel and reprobate, a young man given to drinking, wenching, and gaming who was a sore trial to his late, upstanding father. What the whole of society does not know is that Wittaker is nothing of the sort, and that his image is just that, a carefully cultivated persona he adopted when asked – by his father – to engage in undercover activities on behalf of the Home Office. James’ age and rank made him ideally placed to be able to move easily among the ton and to gather information on any number of the dissolute, disaffected noblemen peopling the gentlemen’s clubs and gaming houses.

But so long spent indulging in a debauched lifestyle have adverse effects on James, whose persona became less of a persona and more of a reality – until a horrific wake-up call a few weeks before the beginning of this novel makes him decide to get out so that he can live his own life.

Miss Phoebe Hillier lives in a state of almost constant irritation and frustration with the strictures imposed upon her by society. She is betrothed to Lord Sheldrake, an engagement engineered by her father to make a marchioness of his daughter in return for her very large dowry and estates. When Sheldrake suddenly breaks off their engagement and tells her of his intention to flee the country, Phoebe is relieved – but is left on the brink of social ruin.

A couple of days later, the Prime Minister is assassinated, and some of the things Sheldrake had said to Phoebe on the occasion of their last meeting begin to make her suspicious – but she can’t quite pinpoint either why or of what. Then, when the Duke of Wittaker turns up unexpectedly at her home, she remembers Sheldrake’s offhand comments about his departure ensuring her safety, and her suspicious come back with a vengeance – could Wittaker be one of the men from whom Sheldrake was fleeing?

James has, in fact, been asked to slip back into his old role in order to gather as much intelligence about the situation as he can. Many people, including those among the highest echelons of society, had no love for Perceval, and he is tasked with keeping his ear to the ground and using his reputation as a congenial fellow in sympathy for the disaffected to loosen tongues and elicit information which, he knows, “was easier to come by if everyone thought he was drunk.”

To say more about the plot would be to give too much away, so I’ll just say that Ms Diener has very cleverly taken the historical facts of the assassination and the subsequent prosecution and conviction of the suspect, and interwoven them with her own theories and interpretations of events, which are in themselves quite fascinating. In her comprehensive Author’s Note, she separates fact from fiction and, shows how she has arrived at the conclusions drawn by her characters, and her version of events is just as plausible as any of the other theories she mentions.

James and Phoebe are engaging characters who are thrown together because of the investigation and also drawn together on a personal level. When Phoebe is targeted by would-be assassins, James charges himself with her protection; and it’s a relief to find an intelligent and independently-minded heroine who doesn’t feel the need to throw herself into the path of danger at every available opportunity. She isn’t a simpering miss, but sees the sense of the advice Wittaker gives her about ensuring her personal safety. Most importantly, however, Phoebe is both surprised and gratified that the duke doesn’t talk down to her or view her as being of lesser import or intelligence. Her father and fiancé had condescended and underestimated her, whereas James listens to her ideas and lets her participate in his investigation when it is appropriate for her to do so.

This is a novel in which the romantic aspects of the story take second place to the mystery, and because of the time-frame (the historical events described take place in less than a week), the romance does feel a little rushed. But that said, it reaches a satisfactory conclusion, and the low-key nature of it was a welcome relief from the overkill of mental lusting that is characteristic of so many romances these days.

A Dangerous Madness is well-paced, meticulously researched, and easy to get into without being overly simplistic. There are a few turns of phrase which feel a little anachronistic, but for the most part, Ms Diener recreates the period very well, with particular emphasis on the uncertain political situation of the time.

[Michelle Diener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connections

I am so excited that my historical novel, A Dangerous Madness, releases today. A Dangerous Madness is set during the Regency period in London, and the plot revolves around the assassination of the British prime minister, Spencer Perceval.

A Dangerous Madness stands alone, but it is also connected to two other of my historical novels, The Emperor's Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies. The fun part of connecting the novels for me was to revisit characters I love from the previous two books (which are also connected to each other) but introducing those characters so that a reader of A Dangerous Madness doesn't have to have read the other two books to understand them. The characters have to stand alone, as much as the books do. But for those readers who have read either one or both of the previous books, they'll see those characters again, and learn a little about what has happened to them since the last book.

I've had so many readers contact me and comment on how much they enjoyed catching a glimpse of one or other of their favorite characters, which I really love. And quite a few people who read Banquet of Lies went back to read The Emperor's Conspiracy, and told me they found it equally satisfying, so readers don't have to read the books in any particular order.

In this way, connected books are more versatile than a series, because most people are hesitant to read a series out of order, and I totally understand that. I also love that so many people wrote to me after Banquet of Lies, asking if the Duke of Wittaker would get his own story. It was very satisfying to tell them I had started working on it straight after I finished Banquet of Lies. :)

From the beginning of Banquet of Lies, the Duke of Wittaker is mentioned by various characters again and again, although readers only 'meet' him near the very end. But when he did arrive on the scene, he made a real impact. I wrote and rewrote the scenes with him in them, because he really shone as a character and I wanted to do him justice. I loved that readers felt the same way, and those who read Banquet of Lies and have been waiting for their Duke of Wittaker fix, I hope they enjoy A Dangerous Madness as much as I enjoyed writing it.

[Erin (Historical Fiction Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Michelle Diener is a jack-of-all-trades, a gifted writer who can move between genres with ease and find success among multiple demographics. The historic mystery in The Emperor's Conspiracy proved her a master of intrigue while fantasy adaptations like Mistress of the Wind and The Golden Apple highlighted her creativity and original narrative style. She wields a wickedly witty pen and though her work leans toward lighter fiction, I've always found it delightfully entertaining and A Dangerous Madness was no exception.

Like the earlier installments of Diener's Regency London series, the story builds on an actual event. I was not familiar with the assassination of Prime Minister Spencer Perceval prior to picked up this book, but found my naiveté enhanced my experience with the novel as it prompted me to look deeper into the material. Phoebe and Wittaker are wonderful characters and I enjoyed the chemistry they shared, but the facts of their story were easily my favorite aspect of the narrative.

The books are written as stand-alones and can be read in any order, but that said, I like the subtle nod Diener offered those already acquainted with Giselle Barrington, Lord Aldridge, Charlotte Raven and Lord Durnham. I don't think the mysteries themselves particularly perplexing, but they've momentum and character, a playfulness that is as evident in their construction as it is their heroines and heroes. Some elements feel a tad far-fetched for the period, but Diener makes up for it with plenty of lighthearted mischief and lively banter.

Chock full of secrets, romance, and suspense, A Dangerous Madness proved an absolute pleasure. A fun and engaging tale from beginning to end.

[James McRay · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Sept 2025] Just finishing up rereading this fantastic series. All three fictionalized books are built around real world events during the Regency Era, and A Dangerous Madness is by far the wildest. Peek at the Author’s Note at the end of the book before starting. It doesn’t spoil anything.

[Feb 2022]
I love Michelle Diener. That is all.

[Olga Godim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this Kindle ARC through NetGalley from the publisher, Season Publishing.

An intriguing historical novel, a mix of mystery and romance, this book was a quick, absorbing read. Educational too, as the author chose a real-life mystery to power her imagination. In 1812, the British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was shot dead by John Bellingham. To this day, that assassination baffles historians. Was it a conspiracy? If yes, who was involved? Ms. Diener let this particular crime propel her plot. And the protagonists are caught up in the dangerous tangle of political lies and inept, panicked scrambling of the bad guys.
The novel starts with Phoebe, the female lead, being jilted by her fiancé. She never liked him; it was a match arranged by her late father, but it still stings. When a couple days later, Perceval is assassinated, she doesn’t suspect a connection… until a strange letter arrives from her former betrothed, then the news of his death reaches London, and then someone tries to kill her.
Frightened and confused, forced to deal with the disdain of the ton inspired by her broken betrothal, she has no other option but trust a strange man she discovers in her garden.
James, the Duke of Wittaker, tries to find the truth behind the Prime Minister’s assassination, and his clues lead him to Phoebe.
The instant sexual attraction between the protagonists was one of the few points I didn’t like about this novel. It didn’t feel real. On the other hand, perhaps the extreme situation both found themselves in forged their mutual bond. Before their precipitous meeting, both have been living a lie. She – by playing a demure society miss while she despised her fiancé and wanted nothing to do with the empty balls and gossips. He – by pretending to be a wastrel, a dissolute rake, a role foisted on him by his father to spy on certain segment of the ton for the crown.
As they investigate the assassination and the possible conspiracy attached to it, their connection deepens. They both finally break free from the cocoons of mendacity restraining them, daring to be true to each other and to themselves. Their burgeoning love seems to be an afterthought, almost a side effect of their inner liberation from the mires of deception.
The action is not merely fast – it’s galloping like a runaway horse. New perils erupt every few pages, and the further the heroes get in their investigation, the more questions they have. In fact, they must deal with so many problems so quickly that the character development suffers. For example, we don’t know anything about Phoebe’s past, which hampers our understanding of her frequent and sudden flares of anger.
James is defined much better; he is a spy who doesn’t wish to spy anymore, and Phoebe is his ticket out, a woman who recognizes the real man behind his mask, just as he peers behind hers and sees an intellect to match his own. It doesn’t scare him off, as it would most men in his position. Just the opposite, he wants her at his side.
The secondary characters are all rather sketchy, both good and bad, and the story could’ve benefited from their further development, but on the whole, it was a satisfying read. I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to any reader of light historical fiction.

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phoebe Hillier is jilted the night before Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is assassinated while exiting the House of Commons. James, Duke of Wittaker, is asked to resume the disguise as a dissolute rake in order to assist in the investigation as to what—or who—might have been aiding the assassin. And Phoebe's ex-fiance is topping the list of suspects... Along the way, there is mayhem! romance! politics! and intrigue!

1. This was interesting. And I mean that in the best of ways. The basis of the story is the real life assassination of Perceval, killed on 11 May 1812 by a man who claimed to be acting alone: one John Bellingham, arrested without resistance at the scene of the crime and convicted to hang by Friday of that same week. However, there are still mysteries surrounding the events: did John Bellingham truly act alone? How did he manage to continue to live in London without any source of funds?

This is where Diener starts, and her novel has enough raw facts to keep it engaging. I know it left me intrigued by the entire situation, which I consider a success.

2. There is something of a romance in this book, although it is a secondary element and it is weakened somewhat by its back seat. Phoebe and James know each other for less than a week before she's proposing illicit affairs and he's proposing marriage. They don't confess to any dramatic feelings, but that's almost OK in the scope of their harried relationship. You do get the sense they'll live happily ever after, even though it all happened so fast.

3. I was a bit confused by the need for Wittaker to be 'under cover' as a rogue. He spends a great deal of the book either dressed as a footman or using his title and money to get answers—very little of it seems to revolve around his position as a drunken rake. So the narrative's need to lean on that as his source of ... frustration was weak.

4. While third in the series, it definitely stands alone. I'm intrigued enough that I may attempt to seek out books 1 & 2, so that's another point in its favor.

5. Overall: an entertaining, well-written, interesting story if you're in the mood for a regency-era political thriller.

[AlwaysV · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story spoke directly to me, to the today issues that kept bringing me down so low. From the beginning to the final scene, I completely forgot specific troubles in real life, the ones that strangled and shut me down. The joy of the author's beautiful and brilliant writing just lifted me up and made me grin and almost dance with happiness.

Sharing two of my favorite scenes:

❣️"The Prime Minister has just been assassinated. . . but when the word spread, . . . I had to fight through cheering, celebrating crowds to get here. They were all but dancing in the street. . ."

❣️❣️A beautiful ending:
There was a scrabble of leather on stone, and she took a few long steps away from the wall, her eyes straining in the twilight to see who would come over the top. Wittaker peered down at her. Then he grinned and jumped to the ground.
"This is almost like old times."

She smiled back and stepped into his arms, then gasped as he lifted her and swung her up against the wall, holding her in place with his body. "Almost," she murmured, lifting her hands to pull his head down close to hers. "But not quite."

[HR-ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time period was 1812. This was historical fiction
with a romance. Spencer Perceval was the only
English Prime Minister ever to be murdered.

Heroine Phoebe, dtr of a baronet met hero James,
and informed him she didn't trust him b/c his
reputation included duels, gambling and women
(actually a façade). For a time she hid her
intelligence.

James, a Duke & former soldier, was charged with
helping to investigate the PM's murder. it was
public knowledge that the PM opposed slave trading.
Would this lead him to the murderer? Phoebe
accidently became tangled in the intrigue and
James saved her from a gunman.

The leads fell in love during the investigation.
Please note, the couple only exchanged a few kisses.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Prime Minister has just been assassinated.” Dervish ran a hand over his stark, sharp face, and James could see it shook. --Dervish & James

This was such a different sort of historical read for me. I don't think I've ever read an HR novel where the story was much less character-driven and more murder-mystery/realistic historical fiction. And I have to say that I was definitely intrigued, even though I didn't form a strong bond with either of the two MCs. In fact, the character I probably sympathized with the most was the villain/murderer (which I think you'll understand if you read the novel).

James, the Duke of Wittaker, has spent the majority of his adult life living a lie. First encouraged by his father when he came of age, he parades himself around Society as just another drunken rakehell who has a mild interest in the government (if only so he can complain about its inadequacy), when he in fact uses this facade to gain intelligence from other noblemen for the Crown. He finally decides to hang up his other persona and be himself when news of the murder of the Prime Minister reaches him, and he is forced to go 'undercover' once more. Even though the murderer was captured and confessed to working alone, the story doesn't quite add up as there are several cover-ups and missing pieces. James reluctantly enlists the help of Phoebe, who unwittingly becomes a target after her betrothed breaks off their engagement and flees the country, and the two work against the clock to try and discover what really happened.

I found the murder-mystery aspect of this story so interesting, especially when I read the Author's Note at the end and learned that most of the events/circumstances in the novel actually happened! Perceval, the Prime Minister at the time, really was assassinated by Bellingham, and the sketchy details surrounding the event clearly left many holes for conspiracy theories and outlandish truths to be covered up. This part absolutely fascinated me and kept me reading until the very end, even if the romance in this book left much to be desired and felt a little forced/rushed to me. Overall, an intriguing read!

[Isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by Season Publishing through Netgalley

Phoebe is trapped in a loveless engagement - that is, until Sheldrake, her intended, breaks it off with her with vague allusions to a plot which will force him to leave the country.

Phoebe is relieved to be rid of Sheldrake, but suspicious when the Prime Minister is murdered concurrently with her former betrothed's departure.

James, the Duke of Wittaker, has taken leave from spying for King and Country. He's tired of playing the fop, the rake. But the Prime Minister's assassination sends him back to his old haunts.

I had a bit of trouble getting into this book. It's slow to start, and the mystery - though I loved the way Diener mixed historical fact with fiction - was a bit dull.
But around 24% things start to pick up so if, like me, you're having trouble getting into this book, stick with it, it gets better!

Some things didn't work very well, James is never exactly subtle when trying to obtain info as a spy, nor is he a particularly good interrogator when he interviews Bellingham.
Maybe I'm spoiled by C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr novels, but James just wasn't clever enough for this kind of mystery.

Phoebe, apart from a moment early on when she decides to go see the prime minister's murderer, unchaperoned, not occurring to her that she wouldn't be allowed in, is a very practical and sensible character.

The romance was the best part of the book, but wasn't a big part of it, and that was a pity.
James spent his life pretending he was someone he was not, and Phoebe spent her life hiding her personality to be the demure lady society wanted her to be. So it was lovely that they both really saw each other, and liked what they saw.

But it's a nice historical romance with some mystery to spice it, so give it a try!

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prime Minister is shot dead. James, Duke of Whittaker, with three associates believes the murderer, Bellingham, wasn't the only suspect involved in the Prime Minister's death. Phoebe was betrothed to one of the suspects. Someone believes she has something pertaining to the murder. Can James protect Phoebe from danger? Can they prove the conspiracy theory before Bellingham's trial?

The characters are well-rounded and believable. The history of the trial is true and not filler. The pacing is a page-turner delight. I found the story engrossing and a fast read.

[Steelwhisper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well...



This is the story in which the two plots it has don't really connect. Mind, this novel is well-written on a technical level, the editing per se was fine, the prose fluent, but the plot. The plot.

Why would an author spend an inordinate amount of time getting historical facts right, as indeed Ms Diener did with the entire mystery related to the assassination of Spencer Perceval, which was meticulously researched, only to then turn the romantic main plot into something which is not only severely anachronistic, but on top reads like a proto-feminist manifesto?

Why would she go to great lengths to show several people in the proper behaviour patterns of the Regency era, only to then install protagonists who behave like modern people - or who display the frustrations and reactions that modern people would feel living during the Regency era?

I quite simply don't understand this, and the consistently anachronistic behaviour of James, Phoebe, her aunt, and practically every and all staff involved on various levels, undid all the pleasure I experienced at seeing a Regency romance written about actual events of the period.

Mystery 3* and Regency Romance 1* adds up to 2* in general.

I probably would read SciFi of this author, however.

[Amy Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this read I don't know where to quite begin! A Dangerous Madness is the third book in Michelle Diener's Regency series. I haven't read the first two books, but I will be picking them up as soon as humanly possible because I am hooked!

The book centers around the assassination of Perceval Spencer, "the only English prime minister ever to be assassinated". This is the first I had heard of this event, so it was really interesting to learn more about it and the investigation. But what I loved most about the read was the interaction between the two lead characters - Phoebe and James. They were so cute together, I really enjoyed their repartee, and had a few laugh out loud moments at their expense. I can definitely see this book being made into a fun series on BBC, with Phoebe and James as a husband/wife detective team

Part romance, part murder mystery, part political, all AWESOME...I highly recommend you pick up a copy of A Dangerous Madness and be prepared to be entertained! If you're hooked like me, check out Michelle Diener's back list for more reading.

http://www.passagestothepast.com/2014...

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

The murder investigation plot was so tight, on it's own I probably would have rated this a four or above. Diener clearly did her research, as the central investigation surrounds the real life murder of British Prime Minister Perceval in 1812.

The romance is very much secondary to the plot, which on its own would not be a detriment to the novel, but there are so many glimpses of what could be an excellent romance that simply fail to follow through. Some of that is certainly due to the quick turnaround--the entire novel takes place over less than a week--but despite how little time we get with Phoebe and James, you come away believing they'll make it work.

This ended up frustrating me more than anything. It almost felt like this was the first part of a series (and although it's actually third, it appears each book stands alone), where we got to see Pheobe and James solve crimes and fall in love. She asks him to be her lover, but they never sleep together? I don't necessarily need sex in my romance novels, but that was a cruel tease. It's made all the worse by the fact that Phoebe and James have excellent chemistry. In the end, I just wanted to see more of it.

[Thea Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first heard of Michelle Diener through Stephanie at Bookfever, she's a mad keen Michelle Diener fan and her enthusiasm for the author was catching and I had to try out her books so off to Netgalley I went to request A Dangerous Madness as I'd seen it on there.

Yes, A Dangerous Madness is book 3 in the Regency London series but I had it on good authority that the series is very loose and each book so far can be read as a standalone so what did I have to lose?

The book's story revolves around a successful plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of England which was a very real event in English history. Drawn into this plot is Phoebe Hillier who's former betrothed may have had a hand in the plot before his death and who is now in danger fro those behind the plot. Investigating this plot is James, Duke of Wittaker who is known to the world as one man but is actually someone completely different in reality, he's a bit of an undercover spy who's been watching the nobility from his unique vantage point as one of them. Phoebe and James are drawn together through the investigation but can they undercover the truth before the worst befalls them?


I must admit for all my enthusiasm for historical fiction that this one didn't quite hit the mark for me so let me explain my thinking on A Dangerous Madness.....


I found the plot itself, down at it's bare bones, to be a very good one. This is my first real foray into Regency set fiction so it's a time period I'm not overly familiar with which is one of the reasons why I decided to give the book a go in the first place. The basis for the story is a real story which gives the book legitimacy and gives it backbone and the story threads running from that backstory are perfectly believable and felt completely genuine.

The Regency setting itself was a little lacking for me personally, I found myself struggling to get the feel for the time period as there wasn't enough detail about the time and place. I think Regency London should provoke a certain feel and emotion from the reader, like Tudor London does but with this book I just didn't really get it if you know what I mean. It felt like the past but nothing stuck out particularly as obviously Regency.

The characters are likeable enough and are easy enough to root for and empathise with but I just didn't feel like there was opportunity to get to know them properly and they felt a little thin to me, I found that I wanted.... no NEEDED to know more about both Phoebe and James. On paper they have the potential to be really great characters but I didn't get the feeling that they lived up to their true potential which I found to be a shame. I needed to feel a much deeper connection with them both.

In general the writing was fine but again it just felt a bit lacking to me but maybe my tastes are for bigger and more in depths historical fiction with the emphasis on the time period rather that the romance. A Dangerous Madness definitely felt more of a romance book than I would usually go for and I'm not ashamed to admit that I was expecting a different book to what I read. I don't read historical book for the romance, I read them for the time period, for the feel it and with the romance side of them taking a backseat. Saying that doesn't make this a bad book but maybe it just shows that this book isn't for me and maybe this author may not be for me either if they are all in a similar vein but only reading another will answer that one for me.

When it came to predictability I can say that it was obvious from the get-go which direction this book was going to be taking and I did find it very predictable which didn't enthrall me to the book as even when I know the basis for the story (such as with Tudor set books for example) I still need my books to give me a surprise on two, to shock me but I didn't find that here.The romance between the two lead was obvious from the moment they met and I found it a bit boring to be honest and just wanted them to get it over and done with so we could get into the mystery plot a bit more but it didn't happen, there should have been more of an emphasis on the mystery rather than the romance to get my attention. I needed more detail on the who's, where's and why's to the assassination, to know the ramifications of the act and how it would effect the city and the country but it was sadly nowhere to be seen, a real shame.

Would I recommend this book to others..... hmmmmm, if I knew they liked romance focused books then yes but if like me they need more from their historical fiction then maybe not. With hindsight, if I had know it would focus on the romance over the substance I may not have chosen it for myself and that's probably my own fault for expecting something different and not the fault of the book itself. It's a good book in it's own right but it turned out to not be the book for me, I needed something different from it and it simply wasn't that kind of book. A Dangerous Madness does work as a stand-alone novel but maybe it needs to read as part of a series to get the real feel for the time period and maybe that is why I didn't feel it, who knows but I will read another Diener's book to see if it is down the book or if it's just me not getting it so we'll see.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dangerous Madness is Diener’s third book in her Regency London historical mystery series. I haven’t read the previous two books in the series; however, I don’t feel that it impacted my reading of A Dangerous Madness. There were some small references to previous books and the characters from them, but this one can be read as a stand-alone novel.

The Duke of Wittaker has recently stepped back at the ripe old age of twenty-seven (if I calculated correctly) from his career as a spy. At his father’s urging, James ingratiated himself with a certain set of people in order to gain information to pass onto the government. As a result, James has a reputation as a rake and all-around disreputable guy. At the beginning of the novel, he’s pulled back into the spy game when the Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval is assassinated in 1812, by John Bellingham.

Through the course of his investigation James runs into Miss Phoebe Hillier, a wealthy heiress that has just been abandoned by her unwanted fiancé. It seems that the fiancé may be involved in the assassination. Due to James rather tarnished reputation, Phoebe is reluctant to trust James and initially doesn’t provide him with all the information that she has. All that changes when her life is threatened. Both James and Phoebe will need to trust and work with the other to find the truth behind Bellingham’s motives for the assassination, and protect Phoebe’s life.

I think the copy description of A Dangerous Madness is slightly misleading. The synopsis does make you think this is going to be your standard historical romance with an intrigue subplot. However, I argue that this is more of historical mystery than a romance. The mystery tackles a possible conspiracy behind the assassination of Spencer Perceval, attributing a much more sinister plot than one man’s perceived injustice. Not knowing a whole lot of about this event; I felt that it was well plotted and believable. For me the mystery was well done, but it was quieter and less action-packed than I was expecting.

For me, what really stood out was the character of Phoebe. She was an interesting young woman and I really liked how she was portrayed. She was constrained by her status as a woman in society and I liked that this frustration was continually brought up. She was quietly fighting for her place in society, for her right to be an individual, for the right to independence:

Impotent rage, her old friend, ran a familiar hand down her back and she stiffened under its hot, prickly fingers. Why shouldn’t she speak with someone? With whomever she pleased? She was twenty-four years old, responsible, intelligent. (p. 58)

This will not the first time Phoebe expresses a quiet rebellion and I thought this was very well done. She’s not dumb, she’s aware that she has had a life of privilege, but despite all that, she yearns for more:

She knew she was privileged. That she lived in surely one of the most beautiful houses in London, and had everything she could ask for. But she would give up much of what she had for some acknowledgement of herself. Of her worth. Of her capabilities. (p. 74).

Fortunately, Phoebe is able to get the acknowledgement of her worth when she starts working with James and starts to trust in his view of her. At first, she’s shocked that he allows her to become involved and values her opinion, but she soon comes to trust in James’ unique view of her self. While the romance was rather understated in A Dangerous Madness, I really liked this idea of each character trusting in the intelligence of the other. James and Phoebe were partners and treated each other as equally as possible. Ultimately, this was the strong point for me and what will make me go back to the previous two books in the series. I want to know if the author can do the same for other characters.

A Dangerous Madness was a quiet historical mystery and romance. It drew on true events and imagined the machinations that led to that one event. For me, it was a light read and I think it would be a good fit for fans of C.S. Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr series and my oft recommended Lady Darby series.

For similar reads, check out my blog.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly conceived historical romance that takes a sliver of fact and builds an intriguing romantic encounter around same. While the basic facts can not be ignored they provide the impetus for the initial meeting and growing love story between the two principals. A well told tale that, if you enjoy history as I do, will provide a very pleasant reading interlude.


I have rated this book 5 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format. Frank You Frank for your review.

[Dean Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Dangerous Madness” was filled with the kind of conversational situations I’ve always loved, those where one party rises above a perceived (or real) “situational disadvantage,” revolting against conventional expectation to secure a foothold in a matter of minutes, sometimes seconds.

For me, one of the most memorable “conversational power shifts” occurs in the 1995 romantic comedy-drama movie, “The American President.” The scene itself takes place in the Oval Office, where two parties are present, one, is the President of the United States Andrew Shepherd, (Michael Douglas), the other is a lobbyist for an environmental organization named the Global Defense Council named Sydney Ellen Wade, (Annette Bening).

Moments earlier, Wade was in a White House meeting between members of the GDC and the President’s Chief of Staff. Part way through, the President drops in just as Wade is rather vigorously explaining that the President’s “mockery of environmental leadership” is something the GDC will no longer tolerate, and if the President thinks they’ll just stand by and do nothing about it, then he’s the “chief executive of Fantasyland.” Wade says all this before she realizes that the President has entered the room.

Upon realizing the president was part of her audience, she becomes rather flustered.

Then to top it off, President Shepherd asks Wade if she’ll join him for a private discussion in the Oval Office. Everyone’s jaw drops as they watch this lobbyist exit the meeting, walking in the direction of the Oval Office, side-by-side with the president himself. As they walk to his office, Wade is under the impression that the President wants to chide her for her disrespectful comments, meanwhile the President has decided that he likes this lady, and since he’s a widower, he would like to get to know this woman who intrigues him.

They enter the Oval Office, and on Wade’s prompting, the conversation turns to an environmental bill that the President is planning to put before Congress, one that will reduce overall polluting emissions by 10%. Wade advocates that the President should put the “full weight of the White House” behind a bill that would require a 20% reduction. The President then explains to her that a 20% reduction bill would come up 34 votes short in the House, and that even a 10% reduction bill is a long shot.

It’s at that point he suddenly decides to make a deal with the intriguing lobbyist when he says:

“But I’ll tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. If you can get 24 votes, I’ll get you the last 10.”

“Twenty-four votes?” Wade asks.

“Yes, if you can swing 24 votes by The State of the Union, I will promise you full White House support.”

Wade is flabbergasted, “Do I have your word on that, sir?”

“Absolutely,” The President promises with a smile.

Then it becomes clear that the “business” portion of the President’s interest is concluding, and the “intriguing lady” part is taking over. He’s probably thinking that since he’s President, and since she might be awed by the trappings of the Oval Office, she might be readily willing to sit for what he imagines is a “breakfast date,” here’s how he approaches it:

“Listen, are you hungry? I skipped breakfast…you want to have a doughnut? Coffee or something?”

Wade stands there momentarily stunned, but she soon gathers her wits, responding to the President this way:

(Narrows her eyes), “Sir, I’m a little intimidated by my surroundings…and yes, I have gotten off to a somewhat stilted beginning…but don’t let that diminish the weight of my message. The G.D.C. has been at every president for the last decade and a half, global warming is a calamity, the effects of which will be second only to nuclear war. The best scientists have given you every reason to take the G.D.C seriously, but I’m going to give you one more…

If you don’t live up to the deal you just made…we’re going to go shopping for a new candidate!”

The lobbyist puts her foot down, speaking truth to power, then exits out the door. The President, as might be expected by now is more interested than ever…

If you haven’t seen the film, I recommend it!

Back to Michelle Diener’s “A Dangerous Madness,” the protagonist, Miss Phoebe Hillier reminded me so much of Sydney Ellen Wade of “The American President.” She knows who she is, and what she believes in. She also has not problem speaking frankly “to power.”

Phoebe is speaking to the Duke of Wittaker, a man of great standing in society, who wishes to know what she knows about the assassination of Prime Minister Spencer Percival. The Duke begins this way:

“Miss Hillier. One more time. What were you doing outside Newgate Prison?”

“I don’t want to tell you,” she replies, jerking her gaze from his face to lean over and snap off a fennel stalk, now twirling it in her fingers.

“I’m well aware of that.” He replies, “But will you tell me anyway?”

“Why should I?” Phoebe answers as the aniseed flavor of the fennel scented the air around them.

We’re then told by the narrator that she wasn’t being coquettish, nor petulant, but was deadly serious.

The Duke found himself forced to consider her question, “You have no reason to, beyond that I am asking you.” And even as he says this, he knows that his title, money and influence are almost always more than enough to get people to give him the information he wants.

But none of these things seemed to motivate Miss Hillier.

“You aren’t asking, your demanding,” Phoebe replies as she throws the now shredded fennel stalk to the garden and picks another.

“If you were to explain yourself to me, I would consider explaining myself to you.” She then tells him.

“How about the other way around?” The Duke insists.

Phoebe then gives him an indelicate snort, “You’re the one who wants information from me. While I’ll admit you’ve made me curious about you, I’m not as desperate for your story as you seem to be for mine.”

The narrator then tells us that she picked up the basket that lay near her feet, and began to work her way down a row, snipping sprigs of herbs.

She’s serene. Completely serene and at ease while she waited for him to decide if he would explain to her or not.

“I don’t have time for this,” the Duke thinks to himself.

“You drive a hard bargain, Miss Hillier.” He finally says.

Phoebe responds to this by shaking her head, “No, I just really don’t want to tell you.”

The Duke finds himself choking back a laugh, and at the same time making a decision.

The scene ends with her informing him she has a function to attend. He asks if he can drop by to discuss the matter further, at nine that evening. To this she agrees.

He’s thinking how he’s never met this kind of woman before, and while frustrated at his inability to get her to reveal what she knows, he finds himself looking forward to later that evening when he’ll see her again.

It was this aspect of the story alone that piqued my interest, and thankfully Phoebe and the Duke continue in their intriguing conversational and situational “tennis match” till the end of the book.

In addition to the appealing dialogue between Whittaker and Hillier is the five-day whirlwind of mysterious activity immediately following the assassination of the Prime Minister of Britain. The one and only time in history this has occurred.

Exquisite storytelling, from start to finish!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

En commençant ce livre, je m'attendais à une RH classique, avec des bals, des mains effleurées, des héros cachant des secrets, une romance qui démarre peu à peu et monte en puissance.
Au final, j'ai bien eu ma romance, mais j'ai surtout une fantastique intrigue politique basée en plus sur des faits réels et des personnes ayant vraiment existé.
On suit ainsi l'enquête sur l'assassinat du Premier ministre (fait réel) par un Bellingham (autre fait réel). Le héros, le Duke de wittaker, est persuadé que Bellingham a été poussé par un noble à commettre ce crime en raison des mesures impopulaires prises par le Premier ministre.
Au cours de son enquête, il rencontre phoebe, fille d'un baronnet et richissime héritière.

Ce livre n'est finalement pas totalement une RH, ni un livre policier.
Cela peut surprendre car l'enquête prend rapidement le pas sur la RH pure.

Pour autant, j'ai adoré suivre cette enquête et j'ai eu mon lot de couinements.

Je préviens, il n'y a pas de scène de sexe (too bad)...

A la fin, l'auteur revient sur cette enquête et énumère tous les faits réels (et ils sont nombreux) repris dans son livre.

Une vraie bonne surprise :)

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a perfect blend of romance, real history, and mystery...not to mention a dashing hero that I even fell for.

I didn't realize until a quarter thru the story that the murder of the British Prime Minister Perceval shot dead by a John Bellingham in front of the House of Commons really did happen. The entire mystery in this story revolves around a real incident.

That just made the story even more appealing for me than it already was.

We have the Duke of Wittaker..and I was quite charmed by him. To the public eye, he's a drunkard and womanizer, but it's really all an act, to cover what he's up to--undercover/spy work/the gathering of information. In reality, he's charming, sweet, and I found--and this is very unusual for me--that I didn't mind most of the story following him instead of the heroine. I'm normally all about heroines, especially Ms. Diener's.

This heroine, Phoebe, isn't as "tough" as Diener's other heroines, but neither is she a weakling. She not only places herself in the middle of an assassination investigation, but holds her head up in a society that considers her ruined and treats her as such. She also isn't afraid to break rules and say what she wants...and she wants the Duke of Wittaker. Can't blame her.

She shows a different kind of bravery than Diener's other heroines, and that's okay. Courage comes in many forms. The story doesn't focus on her as much though.

Anyway, Wittaker and Phoebe run around questioning people while dodging bullets and trying to handle their growing attraction for one another. Piece by piece we get to the bottom of who is behind the murder of the PM, who was really pulling the strings. My only quibble about this story is that I very nearly had to write everyone's name down and how they were connected to the case, as I began to forget who was who and who had done what. Just a lot of people involved.

Full review: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the adventures of James and Phoebe, they were somewhat more by the book than the previous two novels in Diener's series, making this feel much more ordinary. Basing the novel around the murder of the Prime Minister in 1812 was fascinating, however, and certainly made me want to do more research into that aspect of Regency politics. The mystery felt a bit better thought out in this book, although I thought the romance was lacking. If another book in the series comes out, I will read it, but I'm not sure I'll be looking into Diener's other books.

[Gaufre · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 31%

I did not care about the political intrigue and a lot of the book is about exactly that. The writing is good so it is worth reading if you enjoy some suspense.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story and the series as a whole. The intrigue, investigation, and overall plot were great. However, what I found a little weak was the relationship between the MCs. It felt rushed and consequently underwhelming. Also, the fact that the H had lived the life of a "kind of" rake for eight years (he had to make it believable, after all) disappointed me. I went into this book thinking that it was all an elaborate ruse. And to make matters worse, the h, when she felt like she wanted to be brave and free decided to offer herself up as the H's lover, made me kind of loathe her. Being brave and free doesn't mean being stupid. She didn't even consider unwanted pregnancy until after a day or so passed. Le sigh.

Overall, this was a solid read. I went directly after I finished this to Google the only prime minister ever assassinated. Super interesting.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, my largest concern with Michelle Diener's style is that I feel like there is SO MUCH more story than we're getting. She's taking these really interesting historical events and doing a great job crafting characters and story around them. But, by now, the characters do feel a bit surface and in service to only the plot. It was an enjoyable story but I just felt like there could have been so much more. At this point, there's only a nod that this is a series and it would have been a great opportunity to follow other characters we'd been introduced to and make up for the abrupt endings, which happened again. Would still read other things by Diener though and would recommend this series if you like strong female characters, regency london or spy stuff.

[PAMpublish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely an excellent suspense mystery, despite being relatively short in the romance area, but missing the concluding chapter to bring it altogether. Without a 'The End', it goes right into the author's note about the historical facts surrounding the book. Otherwise, it was mesmerizing throughout for someone who enjoys a good mystery, but leaves on a rather empty note. If it ended with some closure within the book, it would have been five stars for sure.

[Lynn]

I liked it. It wouldn't read it for authentic behavior for the time but I don't like too realistic historicals because I don't enjoy reading about what now feels like misogyny. It's a fictionalized version of events with a mild romance side plot,

[farR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough

The book was interesting enough for me to keep turning the pages to know what happens next. The historical mystery was good but the romance between the main characters was not concluded, in my opinion, satisfactorily. Thus losing one star in this review.