The Thunder of Stones: Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery, Book 8

A Lady Arianna Regency Mystery #8

by Andrea Penrose, Mary Sarah (Narrator)

The winds of change have brought great joy to Lady Arianna and Saybrook, who have recently welcomed an infant son to their family. They are still adjusting to their new life when a letter arrives from Arianna's dearest friend and former comrade-in-chicanery inviting them to a gala fiftieth birthday celebration in Switzerland. With the blessing of their surgeon friend, they decide to make the trip, only to find themselves once again drawn into a dangerous web of political intrigue that may ignite war throughout Europe.

However, once in Geneva, Arianna and Saybrook learn that her half-brother is missing and feared dead while on a clandestine government mission to Greece, where revolutionary fervor is rising against the rule of the Ottoman Empire. What to do? They are saved from having to make an agonizing choice when their friends offer to care for their son while they undertake the perilous journey to learn the truth . . .

But Truth proves dauntingly difficult to unravel. Nothing is as it seems, leaving Arianna and Saybrook uncertain of whom to trust as they seek to help the British government prevent war from breaking out in the region. And when explosives go missing from the armory atop the Acropolis, they are in a race against time, with their lives hanging in the balance . . .

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Audiobook, Regency, Cozy Mystery, Historical

Audible Audio

First published May 14, 2024

About the author

Andrea Penrose is the USA Today bestselling author of Regency-era historical fiction, including the acclaimed Wrexford & Sloane mystery series, as well as Regency romances written under the names Cara Elliott and Andrea Pickens. Published internationally in ten languages, she is a three-time RITA Award finalist and the recipient of numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery and two Gold Leaf Awards.

A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era’s swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks.

Reviews

[Jeannine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It pains me to remember how delightful this author’s early books were in both this series and see how her writing style has changed. The writing has become overwrought. The info dumping is tedious and forced. Characters who know each other speak as if they are reference books. In this one, Sandro and Wolfie talk about Geneva like they’re teaching a class instead of getting reacquainted.

I had hoped that the new family situation for Arianna and Sandro would mean they’d be more human in this installment, but they are as stilted and overly-dramatic as before.

Sadly, I’m done with this series. The writing is so tedious. I’m glad I own the first three books.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Lady Arianna series. At book 8 and I enjoyed this installment just as much as all the books that have come from before.

Andrea Penrose is a wonderful author. She combines all the best aspects of Regency mystery with an interesting history lesson as a bonus in each of her books. What's not to like?

I particularly love that all of Penrose's female characters a fabulous! Whip-smart, tough as nails, yet kind and loving and willing to consider all aspects . . . before frequently kicking some clueless male butt while also often solving the mystery right under the noses of said males. I absolutely love her view on the world and characterizations - of both female and male characters.

This series is simply delightful. Entertaining, thoughtful, fun and engaging.

P.S. If you like this series and haven't yet checked out Penrose's other series - Wrexford & Sloane, I highly recommend that one as well.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series keeps getting better

Very good series, though this book can be read as a stand alone. The series is well written, with interesting characters and a plus for this latest book is that it's set in Greece.

If you have not read Andrea Penrose, you are in for a treat. Both of her Regency mystery series are very enjoyable.

[Yvonne Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was an enjoyable story but the narrator has the worst faux British accent since Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins!

[Mony · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read every book in this series, I was looking forward to this one. However, this story couldn't seem to get going. The story dragged, the characters felt stale & the wordy mathematics jargon the author likes to insert, has maxed out for me. It's one of the reasons, I stopped reading the author's Wexford & Charlotte series. Too much crapping on about maths, fine if your into pages of maths ramblings. If not, causes one too zone out & wish for it to end soon. The second reason I stopped reading the Wexford & Charlotte series, seems to have ruined this one for me too. The essence of what made these characters, interesting & compelled the reader to want read the next book. Seems to have evaporated! The characters seem to have lost their personality, their sparkle. The balance between light & dark, has slipped into, over anxious, drudgery & dullness. Which saddens me, I really enjoyed these characters.

[Cy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thunder of Stones #8 in the Lady Arianna Mystery by Andrea Penrose. Summer 1816 After the birth of their son Lucas Arianna and Sandro are off to Greece where they hear Richard has been killed in a cave-in (he wasn’t). Together with the addition of Catherine who plays a Greek oracle they try to find the persons attempting to foment Greek independence to the undermine world peace and to find out who has been smuggling Greek antiquities during the controversy of Elgin Marbles.
Interesting, nice that Sandro got to display his intelligence in this entry.

[Sue Allyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

While overall the plot and action are decent, development of characters, particularly that of Saybrook, are quite poor. I made it all the way to book 8, at which point I totally lost any interest in the protagonists. I simply couldn't make a connection with such a lousy set of parents as Arianna and Saybrook. Really? To leave a newborn baby to go off on an "adventure", all the while excusing their actions, both to themselves and readers of the series, as being integral to their personalities, is simply beyond comprehension. I sincerely hope that was the last of that series.

[Jacquie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm getting tired of the series. Such a pity because it started quite well with some intriguing caracters. The more the series advances, the more the caracters blend into each other to become all the same. The male caracters are fading away to become only the testimonies of the ladies courage and intelligence... Boring...
In this book, the author even forgets about the color of Saybrooks eyes as she gives the child blue eyes, the same color as Saybrooks, who was always depicted as having dark eyes shimmering with gold...

[Doris Brase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greek Misadventures

The Earl and Arianna and staff journey to Switzerland to attend a celebration of the life of an old friend. While there, they are contacted about a dangerous political situation in Greece. The situation is full of potential explosive events. Ruled by the Ottoman Empire, courted by Russia, and under the thumb of England, the local population had factions promoting Greek independence. It a convoluted mess that the agents were tasked with solving.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avid Reader

It took me longer to read this book than the others, but I finished it. Lady Arianna and her brother Fitzroy along with his her husband and Fritz dog's lady love find themselves in Greece trying to keep everyone from starting another war, which isn't easy with so many competing factions. The number of characters made my head spin. It was an interesting history lesson!

[Annette Meier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting time in British history, at such an historic locale. I liked how they all split-up and played to their strengths to contribute to the solving of this plot and mystery. Also loved the mentions of surgeon/friend Baz, and Saybrook's friend Lord Wrexford. Might there be more crossovers in future books for either series? One can only hope!

[Donna J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to reread the series

It’s another great mystery with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Since it has been a year or more since I read the last book, I would like to start from the beginning and read through them
all. I will not be disappointed!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always enjoy the unexpected twists and turns of the plots. Characte development also is interesting.

[Jane Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of history and intrigue

Enjoyed the book but it did bog down in the local politics and intrigue. Would have liked to see more interplay between Arianna and her brother.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much politics, not enough character development. I love this series, but was disappointed in this book.

[John B Affleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I've enjoyed all of Andrea Penrose books. The Thunder of Stones did not disappoint. Penrose style of writing is a page turner!

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not as bad as some reviewers made it sound. But it is weaker than the previous books.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Yawwwwwwwwn 😴

[Kaushalya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al way learn something interesting historically from her books

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book in the series…but I will still read the next one.

[K McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

do I truly enjoy this series, or do I read each one because it is a series ...