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Sebastian St. Cyr #21
When the Wolves Are Silent
A brutal string of ritualistic killings terrorizes a city already shaken by economic and political turmoil in this chilling new historical mystery from C. S. Harris, USA Today bestselling author of Who Will Remember.
London, 1816: When a notorious young aristocrat is burned alive on a windswept hill popular with neo-Druids, former cavalry officer Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, finds himself plunged into a murder investigation shadowed by tales of ancient human sacrifices and long-buried secrets.
The victim, Marcus Toole, was the only son and heir of a prominent nobleman. His closest friend—Sebastian’s own nephew, Bayard—claims to have passed out drunk before the attack and remembers nothing. But when Sebastian and his brilliant wife, Hero, delve deeper into the sordid activities of Bayard and his friends, they come to realize that Bayard may not be as innocent as he pretends. Following a tangled trail that leads from a disaffected former soldier-turned-highwayman to a beautiful, courageous journalist and a Jamaican-born fencing master with ties to a radical political movement, Sebastian begins to suspect that Bayard and his friends are being targeting in revenge, by victims who believe they have no other recourse.
Then two more of Bayard’s friends are killed, their murders staged to echo the ritual sacrifices of the ancient Celts. With the palace shaken by the fear of riots and one horrifying death following another, Sebastian must race to stop a ruthless plot that threatens the lives of innocents and could rip his troubled nation apart.
London, 1816: When a notorious young aristocrat is burned alive on a windswept hill popular with neo-Druids, former cavalry officer Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, finds himself plunged into a murder investigation shadowed by tales of ancient human sacrifices and long-buried secrets.
The victim, Marcus Toole, was the only son and heir of a prominent nobleman. His closest friend—Sebastian’s own nephew, Bayard—claims to have passed out drunk before the attack and remembers nothing. But when Sebastian and his brilliant wife, Hero, delve deeper into the sordid activities of Bayard and his friends, they come to realize that Bayard may not be as innocent as he pretends. Following a tangled trail that leads from a disaffected former soldier-turned-highwayman to a beautiful, courageous journalist and a Jamaican-born fencing master with ties to a radical political movement, Sebastian begins to suspect that Bayard and his friends are being targeting in revenge, by victims who believe they have no other recourse.
Then two more of Bayard’s friends are killed, their murders staged to echo the ritual sacrifices of the ancient Celts. With the palace shaken by the fear of riots and one horrifying death following another, Sebastian must race to stop a ruthless plot that threatens the lives of innocents and could rip his troubled nation apart.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2026
329 people are currently reading
7579 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Harris
24 books3,065 followersCandice Proctor, aka C.S. Harris and C.S. Graham, is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than a dozen novels including the Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mystery series written under the name C.S. Harris, the new C.S. Graham thriller series co-written with Steven Harris, and seven historical romances. She is also the author of a nonfiction historical study of the French Revolution. Her books are available worldwide and have been translated into over twenty different languages.
Candice graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude with a degree in Classics before going on to earn an MA and Ph.D. in history. A former academic, she has taught at the University of Idaho and Midwestern State University in Texas. She also worked as an archaeologist on a variety of sites including a Hudson's Bay Company Fort in San Juan Island, a Cherokee village in Tennessee, a prehistoric kill site in Victoria, Australia, and a Roman cemetery and medieval manor house in Winchester, England. Most recently, she spent many years as a partner in an international business consulting firm.
The daughter of a career Air Force officer and university professor, Proctor loves to travel and has spent much of her life abroad. She has lived in Spain, Greece, England, France, Jordan, and Australia. She now makes her home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband, retired Army officer Steve Harris, her two daughters, and an ever-expanding number of cats.
Candice graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude with a degree in Classics before going on to earn an MA and Ph.D. in history. A former academic, she has taught at the University of Idaho and Midwestern State University in Texas. She also worked as an archaeologist on a variety of sites including a Hudson's Bay Company Fort in San Juan Island, a Cherokee village in Tennessee, a prehistoric kill site in Victoria, Australia, and a Roman cemetery and medieval manor house in Winchester, England. Most recently, she spent many years as a partner in an international business consulting firm.
The daughter of a career Air Force officer and university professor, Proctor loves to travel and has spent much of her life abroad. She has lived in Spain, Greece, England, France, Jordan, and Australia. She now makes her home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband, retired Army officer Steve Harris, her two daughters, and an ever-expanding number of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
April 26, 2026
I have read all the books in this series in order published. Mainly I have purchased the audiobook as I adore Davina Porter who retired in 2020(?) The last 2 books have been read by the current narrator Tom Kiteley who does a superb job that makes each character distinct and enjoyable. I do think this could be read as a stand-alone, but the early books were my favorites and so much background is threaded through the plot along with FANTASTIC historical information. The plot held my attention and I enjoyed it. I did guess a bit of the end (back pat here). The author has moved away from advancing the background storyline of the main characters which was a big part of my enjoyment in the early books. Look forward to next year's book.
April 24, 2026
The 21st book in this great series and it is still everything I expect for a really good read.
Of course after so many books I am totally invested in Sebastian and Hero and their joint fight for justice. In this book the murders come so thick and fast that Sebastian starts to believe he is looking for more than one killer, however there are so many possible suspects he cannot decide.
The plot is very complicated but I was quite happy to sit back and enjoy the fun and let Sebastian do the work, which he does in style. For 1816 I think his investigative methods are rather good as is his friend's skill at performing post mortems. It all makes for an excellent story, beautifully told and as always plenty of historical fact to fascinate and inform us. Five stars.
Of course after so many books I am totally invested in Sebastian and Hero and their joint fight for justice. In this book the murders come so thick and fast that Sebastian starts to believe he is looking for more than one killer, however there are so many possible suspects he cannot decide.
The plot is very complicated but I was quite happy to sit back and enjoy the fun and let Sebastian do the work, which he does in style. For 1816 I think his investigative methods are rather good as is his friend's skill at performing post mortems. It all makes for an excellent story, beautifully told and as always plenty of historical fact to fascinate and inform us. Five stars.
April 18, 2026
21 books later and I still love this series. This isn't your usual historical mystery. And I'd highly recommend reading all of them for context. And while I always love the plot, I eagerly await the author's note explaining which parts of history she decided to pull from.
None of these stories will ever horrify me as much as the one involving shipwrecked people resorting in cannibalism, but this comes close. When two of the new cast of characters were half Jamaican, I knew we were in for a treat. Perhaps a poor choice of words. They were fathered by their owners. One was ripped from his mother's breast and raised seemingly as a gentleman while his sisters were left in slavery.
In between all this we have Devlin's horrendous nephew, Bayard, who should've been murdered with his father. I don't say things like this lightly. I don't even remember Amanda's husband at this point, but I wouldn't be sad to see her go, either.
Bayard and his "pack of wolves" go around the more questionable parts of London aggravating, aggressing, and violating people. Take all of these at face value. They are the worst rich little white boys. Except they're not boys. Even though the ton seem to think this is okay at 18-19. They are 30ish. Some are married. All are completely awful.
And then we learn about their fathers and the same atrocities they committed in the American War. And you have to wonder. Is behavior inherited? Or is it learned?
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
None of these stories will ever horrify me as much as the one involving shipwrecked people resorting in cannibalism, but this comes close. When two of the new cast of characters were half Jamaican, I knew we were in for a treat. Perhaps a poor choice of words. They were fathered by their owners. One was ripped from his mother's breast and raised seemingly as a gentleman while his sisters were left in slavery.
In between all this we have Devlin's horrendous nephew, Bayard, who should've been murdered with his father. I don't say things like this lightly. I don't even remember Amanda's husband at this point, but I wouldn't be sad to see her go, either.
Bayard and his "pack of wolves" go around the more questionable parts of London aggravating, aggressing, and violating people. Take all of these at face value. They are the worst rich little white boys. Except they're not boys. Even though the ton seem to think this is okay at 18-19. They are 30ish. Some are married. All are completely awful.
And then we learn about their fathers and the same atrocities they committed in the American War. And you have to wonder. Is behavior inherited? Or is it learned?
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2026
5 stars - Historical Mystery
Wealthy, privileged, spoiled, and entitled men in power committing heinous abuse and getting away with it. It's hard reading about it happening in 1816 while still living in that reality now. Things really haven't changed much at all.
Wealthy, privileged, spoiled, and entitled men in power committing heinous abuse and getting away with it. It's hard reading about it happening in 1816 while still living in that reality now. Things really haven't changed much at all.
April 21, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley, and Ms. Harris for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
This series stands at 21 books now and, as I have said in my last SEVERAL reviews, Ms. Harris continues to turn out quality installments. The mysteries never seem recycled, the historical research is always fresh and well supported, the characters progress (albeit slowly, as they must in such a lengthy series), and my interest has not yet flagged. Considering how many long series I’ve let fall by the wayside, the St. Cyr series truly shines by comparison.
This one had more twists than usual, I thought, and a more labyrinthine solution. (In the interests of avoiding spoilers I’ll leave it at that.) I am still waiting on some plot advancement with regards to Jarvis, who has lurked menacingly in Sebastian’s periphery for years now. I’d also like to know what Amanda, Sebastian’s more-or-less estranged (more on her end than his) sister is going to do now. Sebastian’s assumption about her next move is pretty awful and I hope it’s resolved in the next book.
I WAS glad to see that Sebastian made an effort to help the orphan Jigger, who is my son’s age. That portion of the story made me so sad. I appreciate that the series does not shy away from the MANY aspects of historical life that make modern readers uncomfortable. Regency England was not all “dukes and pretty dresses” a la the Bridgertons and it’s fascinating to read about the way people actually lived back then. Ms. Harris has a real talent for making history come alive and, moreover, making it compelling.
Even though this wasn’t my favorite of the series it was still very, very good. I’d say 4.5 stars. For GR, I’m happy to round up.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This series stands at 21 books now and, as I have said in my last SEVERAL reviews, Ms. Harris continues to turn out quality installments. The mysteries never seem recycled, the historical research is always fresh and well supported, the characters progress (albeit slowly, as they must in such a lengthy series), and my interest has not yet flagged. Considering how many long series I’ve let fall by the wayside, the St. Cyr series truly shines by comparison.
This one had more twists than usual, I thought, and a more labyrinthine solution. (In the interests of avoiding spoilers I’ll leave it at that.) I am still waiting on some plot advancement with regards to Jarvis, who has lurked menacingly in Sebastian’s periphery for years now. I’d also like to know what Amanda, Sebastian’s more-or-less estranged (more on her end than his) sister is going to do now. Sebastian’s assumption about her next move is pretty awful and I hope it’s resolved in the next book.
I WAS glad to see that Sebastian made an effort to help the orphan Jigger, who is my son’s age. That portion of the story made me so sad. I appreciate that the series does not shy away from the MANY aspects of historical life that make modern readers uncomfortable. Regency England was not all “dukes and pretty dresses” a la the Bridgertons and it’s fascinating to read about the way people actually lived back then. Ms. Harris has a real talent for making history come alive and, moreover, making it compelling.
Even though this wasn’t my favorite of the series it was still very, very good. I’d say 4.5 stars. For GR, I’m happy to round up.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 25, 2026
Story: 4.5
Audio: 5
Narrator: Tom Kiteley
Available: Hoopla
Listen at 1.4 speed
This is another go-to series for me. All 21 books and they have all been really good. I have enjoyed watching these characters grow. I like the historical events & facts sprinkled throughout. History and murder mystery equals a perfect novel in my book. I am taking off a star on this one because there were A LOT of characters to keep track of & at points I was not sure who was who. Narration is well done, but think it would be just as enjoyable in print version. Hope this series never ends.
Audio: 5
Narrator: Tom Kiteley
Available: Hoopla
Listen at 1.4 speed
This is another go-to series for me. All 21 books and they have all been really good. I have enjoyed watching these characters grow. I like the historical events & facts sprinkled throughout. History and murder mystery equals a perfect novel in my book. I am taking off a star on this one because there were A LOT of characters to keep track of & at points I was not sure who was who. Narration is well done, but think it would be just as enjoyable in print version. Hope this series never ends.
May 2, 2026
When the Wolves are Silent (Sebastian St. Cyr #21) by C.S. Harris
Having read all twenty-one books in this series, I preorder the next installment the moment it appears. I always look forward to returning to this world, though as with any long-running series, some entries shine brighter than others.
In this installment, a tangled web of multiple murders poses a difficult riddle for Sebastian and his crew. While the mystery is complex, the sheer volume of suspects and victims takes up quite a bit of "screen time," leaving less room for the beloved characters to truly breathe.
Harris does a wonderful job letting the ensemble take a bow—from Tom the groom to Calhoun the valet—but I found myself missing the deeper interactions between Hero and Sebastian. I would have loved to see more of the romantic spark and partnership that defined the earlier books.
As always, Harris’s strength lies in her historical immersion. She holds up a mirror to our own times through the lens of the past without ever being heavy-handed. I’m already looking forward to the next book, and I’m hoping it finds Sebastian and Hero solving a mystery side-by-side once again.
Having read all twenty-one books in this series, I preorder the next installment the moment it appears. I always look forward to returning to this world, though as with any long-running series, some entries shine brighter than others.
In this installment, a tangled web of multiple murders poses a difficult riddle for Sebastian and his crew. While the mystery is complex, the sheer volume of suspects and victims takes up quite a bit of "screen time," leaving less room for the beloved characters to truly breathe.
Harris does a wonderful job letting the ensemble take a bow—from Tom the groom to Calhoun the valet—but I found myself missing the deeper interactions between Hero and Sebastian. I would have loved to see more of the romantic spark and partnership that defined the earlier books.
As always, Harris’s strength lies in her historical immersion. She holds up a mirror to our own times through the lens of the past without ever being heavy-handed. I’m already looking forward to the next book, and I’m hoping it finds Sebastian and Hero solving a mystery side-by-side once again.
April 23, 2026
4.5 stars
The writing is excellent as is the historical research. It is fair to say that I always learn something new.
I found this edition to the series a bit depressing, there didn't seem to be any counterpoint to the horrible weather or to the misery of 5 entitled men terrorising the populace. I know that rape and assault happened but prefer this authors stories that don't focus on the maltreatment of innocent womanfolk.
The characterisation of the secondary characters is very good. It's just a shame that I have gorged this book and have a whole year to wait for the next episode !!
The writing is excellent as is the historical research. It is fair to say that I always learn something new.
I found this edition to the series a bit depressing, there didn't seem to be any counterpoint to the horrible weather or to the misery of 5 entitled men terrorising the populace. I know that rape and assault happened but prefer this authors stories that don't focus on the maltreatment of innocent womanfolk.
The characterisation of the secondary characters is very good. It's just a shame that I have gorged this book and have a whole year to wait for the next episode !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2026
Part history lesson, part mystery, part visit with old friends. This series is a comfort read and I’ll probably continue to read as long as the author is inclined to write. However, I don’t feel the same way towards it as I did at the beginning of the series. Hero and Delvin have settled comfortably into a family life that balances the different things that are important to each. I just wish the story’s dynamic with Devlin’s life was the same as in the beginning because now it feels like a shadow of the way it stood out in the series before.
If I could get that feeling back then I would be so much more excited for the next installment. Either way, I’ll be reading it eventually.
If I could get that feeling back then I would be so much more excited for the next installment. Either way, I’ll be reading it eventually.
April 15, 2026
When The Wolves Are Silent by CS Harris is the latest in the Sebastian St Cyr series. Sebastian is Viscount Devin, heir to to the Earl of Hendon, his “father.” The story beigins when his reprobate nephew, the Honorable Bayard Wilcox, appeared with a rather unbelievable story of drinking with a friend, leaving to relieve himself, passing out, and returning to find his friend dead, lying in the fire they had made, burned beyond recognition. Devlin returned to the scene with him and verified what he had said. Was it possible his nephew had done this? This situation followed one murder and preceded several more, all while Devlin was investigating.
The thing about Devlin is that he never assumes, and never counts anyone out as a suspect until it is proven. A fair man. And the suspects were myriad in this suspenseful mystery that took Devlin into parts of London that he normally avoided. What he discovered made him like his nephew even less,, but he worried for his father, who would be heartbroken if his grandson were to be hanged. His wife, Hero, who was as bright and creative as he, participated in the investigation, using her contacts to gather information. Devlin is an engaging and well-written character. This was an enticing mystery with the solution coming as a surprise, even to him. But, he was not above blackmail to keep innocents out of the line of fire, and he did so when it was called for. Excellent read.
I was invited to read When The Wolves Are Silent by Berkley Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #CSHarris #WhenTheWolvesAreSilent.
The thing about Devlin is that he never assumes, and never counts anyone out as a suspect until it is proven. A fair man. And the suspects were myriad in this suspenseful mystery that took Devlin into parts of London that he normally avoided. What he discovered made him like his nephew even less,, but he worried for his father, who would be heartbroken if his grandson were to be hanged. His wife, Hero, who was as bright and creative as he, participated in the investigation, using her contacts to gather information. Devlin is an engaging and well-written character. This was an enticing mystery with the solution coming as a surprise, even to him. But, he was not above blackmail to keep innocents out of the line of fire, and he did so when it was called for. Excellent read.
I was invited to read When The Wolves Are Silent by Berkley Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #CSHarris #WhenTheWolvesAreSilent.
May 6, 2026
An Excellent Story
This was a worthy addition to the Sebastian St Cyr books. I was glad to see Hero got some notice in the book, continuing to do her interviews of the lower orders. Just as I was thinking that it’s a shame Hero wasn’t helping out Sebastian more, the two plot lines intersected. Very neatly done IMO.
This was well written and I enjoyed reading the book. Nice to see a few of the side characters, as well as the boys, in the book. I look forward to the day when Hero can be more involved in the plot. I so wish that Paul could kick his addiction to opium.
The theme of the book was how people in the aristocracy wield their power and can get away with murder (literally), blackmail, r*pe, etc. because of their position in society, who they are and who they know. It seems very pertinent to what is happening in certain countries these days.
The one thing I noticed was that I had a bit of difficulty with all the different names and relationships of the characters. I felt like there were more than usual … or maybe my memory isn’t as good s it used to be. Lol.
In any case, it was a good book and was worth the time and expense.
This was a worthy addition to the Sebastian St Cyr books. I was glad to see Hero got some notice in the book, continuing to do her interviews of the lower orders. Just as I was thinking that it’s a shame Hero wasn’t helping out Sebastian more, the two plot lines intersected. Very neatly done IMO.
This was well written and I enjoyed reading the book. Nice to see a few of the side characters, as well as the boys, in the book. I look forward to the day when Hero can be more involved in the plot. I so wish that Paul could kick his addiction to opium.
The theme of the book was how people in the aristocracy wield their power and can get away with murder (literally), blackmail, r*pe, etc. because of their position in society, who they are and who they know. It seems very pertinent to what is happening in certain countries these days.
The one thing I noticed was that I had a bit of difficulty with all the different names and relationships of the characters. I felt like there were more than usual … or maybe my memory isn’t as good s it used to be. Lol.
In any case, it was a good book and was worth the time and expense.
April 16, 2026
A horrific, fiery death just outside of London strikes close to Sebastian’s family when his nephew Bayard begs him to find out how his friend died. CS Harris‘ Sebastian St. Cyr series continues to captivate with this latest installment.
When the Wolves Are Silent is the twenty-first entry in a powerful, moving Regency era historical mystery series that must be read in order.
Sebastian has never been close to his older sister’s dissolute son Bayard, but when Bayard wakes up near his dead friend’s charred body with no recollection how it came about, Sebastian and his magistrate friend, Sir Henry Lovejoy begin the investigation. Was it a neo-druid group conducting a ritual sacrifice? Was it one of the enemies of Bayard’s band of six friends? Bayard’s circle of bullying, entitled bunch have angered and injured so many, Sebastian discovers when he has barely begun to investigate. There are hints of further evil this bunch has done and, worse, Bayard is afraid that he’ll be next because this was not the first of his friends to die in a dramatic fashion- and, there is more to come.
These are sons of the influential so naturally Sebastian’s father in law wants a perpetrator behind bars and tried for these crimes whether guilty or not- and, he has a plethora of potential suspects in the Spencean crowds critisizing the goverment for the way much of the country is starving and out of work after the war and being taxed hard on top of it all. Sebastian has to get answers before an innocent is charged for the crimes and an innocent rally is turned into a blood bath.
When the Wolves Are Silent continues the fascinating historical, social, and cultural background CS Harris gives her books along with the personable and complex characters and plots. I have loathed Bayard through several books and found I could feel that more strongly in this one when he and his bullying, malicious friends‘ actions were laid bare. Talk about indifference to a murder victim’s fate! I don’t condone killing, but I sure wasn’t in a rush for Sebastian to find the killer though getting answers was important. I like how Hero’s work researching and sending in news journaling about the poor’s situations gave background to what was going on to cause the groups criticizing the government and seeing her connections within society allowing her to help Sebastian’s investigation.
Sebastian remains one of my favorite all-time fictional characters for his heart for justice, keen mind, empathy, and determination to do the hard thing even when it might cost him dearly.
When the Wolves are Silent touched on hard topics, but was a strongly plotted story, too. I love this historical mystery series and dread each entry because I know its nearing its end. Definitely recommend to other historical mystery lovers.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 4.9.26.
When the Wolves Are Silent is the twenty-first entry in a powerful, moving Regency era historical mystery series that must be read in order.
Sebastian has never been close to his older sister’s dissolute son Bayard, but when Bayard wakes up near his dead friend’s charred body with no recollection how it came about, Sebastian and his magistrate friend, Sir Henry Lovejoy begin the investigation. Was it a neo-druid group conducting a ritual sacrifice? Was it one of the enemies of Bayard’s band of six friends? Bayard’s circle of bullying, entitled bunch have angered and injured so many, Sebastian discovers when he has barely begun to investigate. There are hints of further evil this bunch has done and, worse, Bayard is afraid that he’ll be next because this was not the first of his friends to die in a dramatic fashion- and, there is more to come.
These are sons of the influential so naturally Sebastian’s father in law wants a perpetrator behind bars and tried for these crimes whether guilty or not- and, he has a plethora of potential suspects in the Spencean crowds critisizing the goverment for the way much of the country is starving and out of work after the war and being taxed hard on top of it all. Sebastian has to get answers before an innocent is charged for the crimes and an innocent rally is turned into a blood bath.
When the Wolves Are Silent continues the fascinating historical, social, and cultural background CS Harris gives her books along with the personable and complex characters and plots. I have loathed Bayard through several books and found I could feel that more strongly in this one when he and his bullying, malicious friends‘ actions were laid bare. Talk about indifference to a murder victim’s fate! I don’t condone killing, but I sure wasn’t in a rush for Sebastian to find the killer though getting answers was important. I like how Hero’s work researching and sending in news journaling about the poor’s situations gave background to what was going on to cause the groups criticizing the government and seeing her connections within society allowing her to help Sebastian’s investigation.
Sebastian remains one of my favorite all-time fictional characters for his heart for justice, keen mind, empathy, and determination to do the hard thing even when it might cost him dearly.
When the Wolves are Silent touched on hard topics, but was a strongly plotted story, too. I love this historical mystery series and dread each entry because I know its nearing its end. Definitely recommend to other historical mystery lovers.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 4.9.26.
May 5, 2026
C.S. Harris is the best when it comes to writing Historical-Mystery. She does meticulous research and writes a twisty plot. Her characters are vivid and her plots blend seamlessly with the history of the era.
A group of six friends from Eton are being targeted, at least that is how it appears at first to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. When his nephew Bayard shows up on his doorstep in shock with the tale of a friend being burned to death, Sebastian is determined to get to the bottom of what happened and why. Was it just dumb luck that Bayard's friend, Marcus Toole, was attacked and Bayard, passed out at the time, survived or was it something darker.
Pressure mounts as another of the pack of friends dies in a ritualistic fashion resembling the ritual sacrifices of the ancient Celts. What Sebastian knows for sure is that Bayard isn't being entirely forthcoming with what he knows and that he could also be a target. Sebastian soon discovers that this pack of friends were a lot more than entitled young gentlemen behaving badly.
A group of six friends from Eton are being targeted, at least that is how it appears at first to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. When his nephew Bayard shows up on his doorstep in shock with the tale of a friend being burned to death, Sebastian is determined to get to the bottom of what happened and why. Was it just dumb luck that Bayard's friend, Marcus Toole, was attacked and Bayard, passed out at the time, survived or was it something darker.
Pressure mounts as another of the pack of friends dies in a ritualistic fashion resembling the ritual sacrifices of the ancient Celts. What Sebastian knows for sure is that Bayard isn't being entirely forthcoming with what he knows and that he could also be a target. Sebastian soon discovers that this pack of friends were a lot more than entitled young gentlemen behaving badly.
April 19, 2026
I see where this is going. Sooo, where's the next one lol?
April 21, 2026
If there’s one thing this series does exceptionally well, it’s proving that history can be just as brutal, volatile, and gripping as any modern thriller.
This is a review for When the Wolves Are Silent by C. S. Harris, book 21 in the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. I’ve read every instalment in this series, and this time I experienced it on audio, beautifully narrated by Tom Kiteley.
Set in London, 1816, Harris once again masterfully weaves real historical unrest into Sebastian’s personal world. When the friend of his nephew Bayard is murdered, it triggers a string of killings that may be linked to Celtic ritual sacrifice… or to the simmering political and class tensions of post-war England.
This is a society in flux. Returning soldiers, displaced workers, and a restless underclass all linger beneath the surface, and the novel leans into that unease beautifully. The result is a mystery that feels both intimate and expansive.
Bayard, Sebastian's nephew, is particularly well realised here, the embodiment of reckless privilege and youthful arrogance, drifting through life without much thought for consequence. We also see more of the political players, including the manipulative Lord Jarvis, whose presence always adds another layer of tension and intrigue.
The investigation itself is sharp, layered, and at times genuinely gruesome. It was also a pleasure to spend time again with familiar characters like Sir Henry Lovejoy, whose dynamic with Sebastian continues to be one of the quiet strengths of the series.
Hero remains, for me, the emotional heart of these books. Intelligent, compassionate, and formidable, she balances Sebastian perfectly. That said, she does take more of a backseat in this instalment than I would have liked. I found myself wishing for more of her presence, although what we do see is, as always, thoughtful and grounded.
The narration by Tom Kiteley is excellent. Rich, immersive, and perfectly suited to the tone and period, it elevates an already compelling story.
Another five-star entry in a consistently outstanding series. I’m already looking forward to the next, and very much hoping for more Hero.
This is a review for When the Wolves Are Silent by C. S. Harris, book 21 in the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. I’ve read every instalment in this series, and this time I experienced it on audio, beautifully narrated by Tom Kiteley.
Set in London, 1816, Harris once again masterfully weaves real historical unrest into Sebastian’s personal world. When the friend of his nephew Bayard is murdered, it triggers a string of killings that may be linked to Celtic ritual sacrifice… or to the simmering political and class tensions of post-war England.
This is a society in flux. Returning soldiers, displaced workers, and a restless underclass all linger beneath the surface, and the novel leans into that unease beautifully. The result is a mystery that feels both intimate and expansive.
Bayard, Sebastian's nephew, is particularly well realised here, the embodiment of reckless privilege and youthful arrogance, drifting through life without much thought for consequence. We also see more of the political players, including the manipulative Lord Jarvis, whose presence always adds another layer of tension and intrigue.
The investigation itself is sharp, layered, and at times genuinely gruesome. It was also a pleasure to spend time again with familiar characters like Sir Henry Lovejoy, whose dynamic with Sebastian continues to be one of the quiet strengths of the series.
Hero remains, for me, the emotional heart of these books. Intelligent, compassionate, and formidable, she balances Sebastian perfectly. That said, she does take more of a backseat in this instalment than I would have liked. I found myself wishing for more of her presence, although what we do see is, as always, thoughtful and grounded.
The narration by Tom Kiteley is excellent. Rich, immersive, and perfectly suited to the tone and period, it elevates an already compelling story.
Another five-star entry in a consistently outstanding series. I’m already looking forward to the next, and very much hoping for more Hero.
May 3, 2026
Some books should not be audiobooks. There were at least eight murders in this book and close to a dozen people involved. Even re-listening to certain chapters, it was hard to keep all the characters straight.
If I had read this as a regular book, I’m pretty sure I would’ve read it higher. Maybe I will reread before the next book comes out.
The last chapter was a fantastic set up for future story arcs.
If I had read this as a regular book, I’m pretty sure I would’ve read it higher. Maybe I will reread before the next book comes out.
The last chapter was a fantastic set up for future story arcs.
April 16, 2026
Epic ending.
November 29, 2025
Ooooh this one was twisty!! Sad too, but a really good mystery.
April 17, 2026
When the Wolves Are Silent is the 21st book of the Sebastian St. Cyr series by C. S. Harris. You would think a series would be going stale after being around that long, wouldn't you, but that certainly isn't the case here! I have quite a few books in this series in my TBR mountain, but I've only read book 16 so far. I need to amend that! First of all, from the two I've read, the cases stand alone, but enough backstory is given so one isn't lost. I loved book 16, and I loved this one as well...maybe even more so. I sped through the pages, needing to find out who was killing disreputable young lords. Let me tell you, my conclusions weren't even close! I was excited when I was given access to the ARC of this book, and I was thrilled with the story.
In 1816, London has been shaken by economic and political turmoil. When a notorious young aristocrat is burned alive on a windswept hill popular with neo-Druids, former cavalry officer Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, finds himself plunged into a murder investigation shadowed by tales of ancient human sacrifices and long-buried secrets.. Victim Marcus Toole was the only son and heir of a prominent nobleman. His closest friend—Sebastian’s own nephew, Bayard—claims to have passed out drunk before the attack and didn't see anything. But when Sebastian and his brilliant wife, Hero, dig deeper into the sordid activities of Bayard and his friends, they come to realize that Bayard may not be as innocent as he pretends. Following a tangled trail that leads from a disaffected former soldier-turned-highwayman to a courageous journalist and a Jamaican-born fencing master with ties to a radical political movement, Sebastian begins to suspect that his nephew and his friends are being targeted in revenge, by victims who believe they have no other way to get justice. Then two more of Bayard’s friends are killed, their murders staged to echo the ritual sacrifices of the ancient Celts. With the palace shaken by the fear of riots and one horrifying death following another, Sebastian must race to stop a ruthless plot that threatens the lives of innocents and could tear his troubled nation apart.
Once I started reading this story, I didn't want to stop for anything! At least I'm retired, so I didn't have to sneak reading pages underneath my desk at work like I used to do! I love historical mystery and thrillers, and after reading only two books in this series so far, Sebastian St. Cyr is one of may favorite heroes. He was a former calvary officer, but the war is over and he's no longer in battle. He has, however, been pulled into investigate mysterious murders, and this one is going to be tricky. His nephew Bayard (who, let's face it, is not a very nice man) asked Sebastian to help him find the murderer and keep the rest of his friends safe. But when he digs deeper, he finds out just how disreputable Bayard and his friends are; no wonder someone killed one, and seems to be going after the rest of them. It seemed that the murders were based on the way sacrifices were made to the old Celtic gods...was it Neo-Druids doing the murders, or someone trying to make it seem that way to distract investigators? The more people who were murdered, the more suspects there were. To make it more difficult, the government was trying to throw blame for the killings on seditious activities. Wasn't sure who was doing it? Just pick someone, blame them and have them put to death in the manner traitors were executed...and it isn't pretty. Sebastian doesn't think highly of his nephew to begin with, but when Bayard tells Sebastian to STOP his investigation, he begins to wonder what Bayard and his friends have truly been up to. Red herrings were all about the place, making it hard to figure out who were the bad guys were here. Sebastian is a wonderful leading man. I also adored his beautiful and highly intelligent wife Hero and their three adorable children. There were some great supporting characters; however, I especially liked Irish surgeon Paul Gibson, who autopsied the bodies. He lost a leg in the horror of war and later became an opium eater, yet he is great at what he does. I'm not going to give anything away as to whodunit; rest assured, however, that you will be shocked at what happens here in this exciting story. I'm so happy that I have some of the previous books in this series so I can see the development of Sebastian's investigations. You will not be disappointed in this book!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
In 1816, London has been shaken by economic and political turmoil. When a notorious young aristocrat is burned alive on a windswept hill popular with neo-Druids, former cavalry officer Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, finds himself plunged into a murder investigation shadowed by tales of ancient human sacrifices and long-buried secrets.. Victim Marcus Toole was the only son and heir of a prominent nobleman. His closest friend—Sebastian’s own nephew, Bayard—claims to have passed out drunk before the attack and didn't see anything. But when Sebastian and his brilliant wife, Hero, dig deeper into the sordid activities of Bayard and his friends, they come to realize that Bayard may not be as innocent as he pretends. Following a tangled trail that leads from a disaffected former soldier-turned-highwayman to a courageous journalist and a Jamaican-born fencing master with ties to a radical political movement, Sebastian begins to suspect that his nephew and his friends are being targeted in revenge, by victims who believe they have no other way to get justice. Then two more of Bayard’s friends are killed, their murders staged to echo the ritual sacrifices of the ancient Celts. With the palace shaken by the fear of riots and one horrifying death following another, Sebastian must race to stop a ruthless plot that threatens the lives of innocents and could tear his troubled nation apart.
Once I started reading this story, I didn't want to stop for anything! At least I'm retired, so I didn't have to sneak reading pages underneath my desk at work like I used to do! I love historical mystery and thrillers, and after reading only two books in this series so far, Sebastian St. Cyr is one of may favorite heroes. He was a former calvary officer, but the war is over and he's no longer in battle. He has, however, been pulled into investigate mysterious murders, and this one is going to be tricky. His nephew Bayard (who, let's face it, is not a very nice man) asked Sebastian to help him find the murderer and keep the rest of his friends safe. But when he digs deeper, he finds out just how disreputable Bayard and his friends are; no wonder someone killed one, and seems to be going after the rest of them. It seemed that the murders were based on the way sacrifices were made to the old Celtic gods...was it Neo-Druids doing the murders, or someone trying to make it seem that way to distract investigators? The more people who were murdered, the more suspects there were. To make it more difficult, the government was trying to throw blame for the killings on seditious activities. Wasn't sure who was doing it? Just pick someone, blame them and have them put to death in the manner traitors were executed...and it isn't pretty. Sebastian doesn't think highly of his nephew to begin with, but when Bayard tells Sebastian to STOP his investigation, he begins to wonder what Bayard and his friends have truly been up to. Red herrings were all about the place, making it hard to figure out who were the bad guys were here. Sebastian is a wonderful leading man. I also adored his beautiful and highly intelligent wife Hero and their three adorable children. There were some great supporting characters; however, I especially liked Irish surgeon Paul Gibson, who autopsied the bodies. He lost a leg in the horror of war and later became an opium eater, yet he is great at what he does. I'm not going to give anything away as to whodunit; rest assured, however, that you will be shocked at what happens here in this exciting story. I'm so happy that I have some of the previous books in this series so I can see the development of Sebastian's investigations. You will not be disappointed in this book!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
April 17, 2026
Holy cow-so good! Picked it up from the library after work and couldn’t put it down. I love this series. Great plots. Excellent writing. Characters that draw you in. And historical detail spot on. I had a feeling Bayard’s end would come about the way it did. And I’m curious about what we might learn about Fanny in future books…
February 12, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. First, I am a big fan of C.S. Harris. I binged the first 18 Sebastian books a few spring breaks ago.
When the Wolves are Silent was a twisty little mystery. I kept thinking I had an idea of who the killer was and I was wrong each time. Harris does a great job with her research regarding ancient celts and opening my eyes to their history, rituals, and beliefs. Overall, the theme and ideas from the book set in 1816 are still seen today with our wealthy and elite society. I always enjoy how Harris incorporates a real live person as a character in her stories, Herr Fredrich Accum is ours for this novel. Overall, good story. Good twists. Good message that is still relevant today.
As a fan of Sebastian mysteries, I missed his usual uses of his typical weapons. Didn’t get as much use out of our favorite valet, some but not as heavy as past novels. Still no inkling of answers for the most wanted question of true patronage of our main character. Little less Jarvis than usual and nothing really for our least favorite cousin. Hoping these answers come in the next books to follow.
When the Wolves are Silent was a twisty little mystery. I kept thinking I had an idea of who the killer was and I was wrong each time. Harris does a great job with her research regarding ancient celts and opening my eyes to their history, rituals, and beliefs. Overall, the theme and ideas from the book set in 1816 are still seen today with our wealthy and elite society. I always enjoy how Harris incorporates a real live person as a character in her stories, Herr Fredrich Accum is ours for this novel. Overall, good story. Good twists. Good message that is still relevant today.
As a fan of Sebastian mysteries, I missed his usual uses of his typical weapons. Didn’t get as much use out of our favorite valet, some but not as heavy as past novels. Still no inkling of answers for the most wanted question of true patronage of our main character. Little less Jarvis than usual and nothing really for our least favorite cousin. Hoping these answers come in the next books to follow.
April 26, 2026
London, 1816: We open with Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin's nephew Bayard Wilcox awakening from a drunken stupor to find his friend Marcus Toole's body burning up in the bonfire they had built as part of a raucous night. Despite the rift between his uncle and his mother, his first thought is to run to Devlin for help. Bayard claims that he and Marcus got rip-roaring drunk (as they are wont to do--usually with a larger group of friends) and thought it would be hilarious to build a bonfire up on Primrose Hill where people who believe in the druidic practices like to hold little get-togethers. He wandered off into the woods to relieve himself and the next thing he knew he was waking up to a strange smell coming from the clearing where he'd left Marcus and the fire.
While Devlin is waiting for Sir Henry Lovejoy and his Bow Street Runners to arrive, he searches the area and finds a wooden carving shaped like a wolf--on each flank is a Celtic knot. Was this part of some Celtic rite gone wrong? Or is there more to it? When Devlin learns that another of Bayard's friends was recently killed--stabbed and thrown into the river--he has to wonder if the men themselves hold the reason for the killings. In fact, he has to wonder if Bayard is telling him the whole truth or might be responsible himself. His investigation shows him that Bayard and his friends were not nice men. They picked fights, harassed, and destroyed the property of the powerless. All of the men were privileged sons of the wealthy and were never properly brought to account for their actions. Has someone decided to take justice into their own hands?
More deaths follow--including two of the groups victims--and one of the original six men has disappeared altogether. Now Devlin has to wonder if there is more than one killer at work. The crown (for which read Jarvis, the real power behind the throne) wants someone, anyone arrested and hung for the murders NOW. Preferably one of the riff-raff who are protesting the government. Devlin will have to work quickly if he doesn't want to see an innocent man (or men) hang.
I don't know why I do this to myself. I get the latest Sebastian St. Cyr mystery as soon as I possibly can, read it in a day, and then look around and bemoan the fact that I have to wait a whole year for the next one. You'd think I'd learn--to take my time, to savor the experience, to let it last as long as possible. But, no. These stories are so good. I just can't help gobbling them up. Harris writes an incredible story using her skills as a scholar to research the period, sprinkle interesting facts throughout the narrative (without boring us silly with minute details), and peopling the plot with both real personalities of the time as well as fictional characters with depth.
Devlin's wife Hero has played a role in his detective work occasionally throughout the series and it was nice to see her more involved in this latest case as well. Her contacts in the scholarly realm helped Devlin discover the meaning behind various Celtic and druidic symbols which cropped up along the way. Tom, his tiger, and Calhoun also had their moments to shine--tracking down important witnesses and bits of information that Devlin needed to unravel the case.
I will say that this is quite the complicated plot--far more than I realized while reading it. I can't say much without giving things away, but there are a number of threads to keep track of and I didn't manage keep hold of all of them. The ending was a surprise...but a satisfying surprise. I was a bit disappointed that we still haven't made any progress on finding out more about Devlin's heritage nor has there been a follow-through on a dangling issue from Hero's side of the family tree. Added to that, we now have to wonder about Sebastian's sister Amanda and if what he predicted for her future will come true. Her son Bayard may have been a nasty piece of work, but she's not far behind....I'm hoping that the next installment will bring some closure on at least one of these issues. ★★★★ and 1/2
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
While Devlin is waiting for Sir Henry Lovejoy and his Bow Street Runners to arrive, he searches the area and finds a wooden carving shaped like a wolf--on each flank is a Celtic knot. Was this part of some Celtic rite gone wrong? Or is there more to it? When Devlin learns that another of Bayard's friends was recently killed--stabbed and thrown into the river--he has to wonder if the men themselves hold the reason for the killings. In fact, he has to wonder if Bayard is telling him the whole truth or might be responsible himself. His investigation shows him that Bayard and his friends were not nice men. They picked fights, harassed, and destroyed the property of the powerless. All of the men were privileged sons of the wealthy and were never properly brought to account for their actions. Has someone decided to take justice into their own hands?
More deaths follow--including two of the groups victims--and one of the original six men has disappeared altogether. Now Devlin has to wonder if there is more than one killer at work. The crown (for which read Jarvis, the real power behind the throne) wants someone, anyone arrested and hung for the murders NOW. Preferably one of the riff-raff who are protesting the government. Devlin will have to work quickly if he doesn't want to see an innocent man (or men) hang.
I don't know why I do this to myself. I get the latest Sebastian St. Cyr mystery as soon as I possibly can, read it in a day, and then look around and bemoan the fact that I have to wait a whole year for the next one. You'd think I'd learn--to take my time, to savor the experience, to let it last as long as possible. But, no. These stories are so good. I just can't help gobbling them up. Harris writes an incredible story using her skills as a scholar to research the period, sprinkle interesting facts throughout the narrative (without boring us silly with minute details), and peopling the plot with both real personalities of the time as well as fictional characters with depth.
Devlin's wife Hero has played a role in his detective work occasionally throughout the series and it was nice to see her more involved in this latest case as well. Her contacts in the scholarly realm helped Devlin discover the meaning behind various Celtic and druidic symbols which cropped up along the way. Tom, his tiger, and Calhoun also had their moments to shine--tracking down important witnesses and bits of information that Devlin needed to unravel the case.
I will say that this is quite the complicated plot--far more than I realized while reading it. I can't say much without giving things away, but there are a number of threads to keep track of and I didn't manage keep hold of all of them. The ending was a surprise...but a satisfying surprise. I was a bit disappointed that we still haven't made any progress on finding out more about Devlin's heritage nor has there been a follow-through on a dangling issue from Hero's side of the family tree. Added to that, we now have to wonder about Sebastian's sister Amanda and if what he predicted for her future will come true. Her son Bayard may have been a nasty piece of work, but she's not far behind....I'm hoping that the next installment will bring some closure on at least one of these issues. ★★★★ and 1/2
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
April 20, 2026
I’m still reeling from that ending. It ends on a positive note, which you just never know with these books. But the revelation right before the last page? Really makes you think.
This book takes place roughly three months after the previous book, now November 1816.
This story does speak to the state of the world today, and it’s sad how timely it feels because that’s not really a good thing that history just keeps repeating itself. London is on the verge of a revolt with the economic downturn after the war with France. Soldiers returning home can’t find jobs, jobs sustained by the war have dried up. People are starving as the rich are getting richer. And on top of all that, we see the wealthy and powerful get away with a lot.
Content warnings include blackmail, death, misogyny, murder, opioid addiction, presumed suicides, racism, violence, and mentions of incest and rape that happens off-page.
I don’t know what I expected from a story I knew was going to involve Sebastian’s nephew, Bayard. We already knew all the heinous acts his father was doing and how his mother covered stuff up for them, or at the least turned a blind eye to. Now, Bayard and his five friends are the subject of a murder investigation because the friend group is getting killed off one by one by mysterious circumstances.
Look. There’s a lot of characters to keep track of and I don’t think the audiobook is the easiest way to try to keep track of each character, especially when you’re dealing with their actual birth names AND their peerage titles. We have our reoccurring characters who I do have a handle on, but also Bayard and his friend group, then all their fathers, and THEN everyone else that gets caught up in the investigation. It’s a lot of people in a relatively short book and people keep dying at every turn.
The reveals about who did what is quite convoluted to me and I’m going to need to re-read this to get a better picture of who did what and who knew what when. But the Celtic aspect and the druids were a fascinating bit thrown into the story. This book also addresses some of the last times London decides to hang, draw, quarter, and behead people, which comes across in this story as barbaric even in this era of history.
I love Sebastian and Hero’s relationship and that they’re still going strong as ever. Sebastian keeps doing his thing (solving murders) and Hero keeps doing her thing (interviewing the working poor of London and publishing their stories).
It does get brought up more directly for once to Hero about the child her and Sebastian have taken in who looks just like Sebastian (or rather his half brother). The ton thinks that Sebastian sired a bastard and how scandalous that she’s raising the child as her own. I would like to see this play out more in future books because you really don’t see their fathers addressing it or even Aunt Henrietta bringing it up in conversation but I know they’ve all got something to say.
I like that we have some closure to the child on the street Sebastian talks to as well. But what we never really got closure on is the bird Hero got into her possession in a previous book. It was here then it was not. I assume she gave it away at some point. But at least the cat is still around.
I do hope we get a story of the family going to Sebastian’s other estates. This book starts off with them coming back to town after being away for months at one of Sebastian’s other properties. I want to take an out of town trip! But I understand from a recent author interview that readers miss the whole cast of reoccurring characters you can’t simply just shift into stories that take place outside of London. So it is understandable she doesn’t write those often.
I’ve gotten more used to this newer male narrator Tom Kiteley now that I’ve had space from the rest of the series audiobooks for about a month. The voices he gives the characters don’t bother me as much like they did before. He’s also pretty good at accents. I hope he’s kept on as the permanent narrator for the books from now on.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series! But until then I’m going to have to find some other historical mysteries to read.
This book takes place roughly three months after the previous book, now November 1816.
This story does speak to the state of the world today, and it’s sad how timely it feels because that’s not really a good thing that history just keeps repeating itself. London is on the verge of a revolt with the economic downturn after the war with France. Soldiers returning home can’t find jobs, jobs sustained by the war have dried up. People are starving as the rich are getting richer. And on top of all that, we see the wealthy and powerful get away with a lot.
Content warnings include blackmail, death, misogyny, murder, opioid addiction, presumed suicides, racism, violence, and mentions of incest and rape that happens off-page.
I don’t know what I expected from a story I knew was going to involve Sebastian’s nephew, Bayard. We already knew all the heinous acts his father was doing and how his mother covered stuff up for them, or at the least turned a blind eye to. Now, Bayard and his five friends are the subject of a murder investigation because the friend group is getting killed off one by one by mysterious circumstances.
Look. There’s a lot of characters to keep track of and I don’t think the audiobook is the easiest way to try to keep track of each character, especially when you’re dealing with their actual birth names AND their peerage titles. We have our reoccurring characters who I do have a handle on, but also Bayard and his friend group, then all their fathers, and THEN everyone else that gets caught up in the investigation. It’s a lot of people in a relatively short book and people keep dying at every turn.
The reveals about who did what is quite convoluted to me and I’m going to need to re-read this to get a better picture of who did what and who knew what when. But the Celtic aspect and the druids were a fascinating bit thrown into the story. This book also addresses some of the last times London decides to hang, draw, quarter, and behead people, which comes across in this story as barbaric even in this era of history.
I love Sebastian and Hero’s relationship and that they’re still going strong as ever. Sebastian keeps doing his thing (solving murders) and Hero keeps doing her thing (interviewing the working poor of London and publishing their stories).
It does get brought up more directly for once to Hero about the child her and Sebastian have taken in who looks just like Sebastian (or rather his half brother). The ton thinks that Sebastian sired a bastard and how scandalous that she’s raising the child as her own. I would like to see this play out more in future books because you really don’t see their fathers addressing it or even Aunt Henrietta bringing it up in conversation but I know they’ve all got something to say.
I like that we have some closure to the child on the street Sebastian talks to as well. But what we never really got closure on is the bird Hero got into her possession in a previous book. It was here then it was not. I assume she gave it away at some point. But at least the cat is still around.
I do hope we get a story of the family going to Sebastian’s other estates. This book starts off with them coming back to town after being away for months at one of Sebastian’s other properties. I want to take an out of town trip! But I understand from a recent author interview that readers miss the whole cast of reoccurring characters you can’t simply just shift into stories that take place outside of London. So it is understandable she doesn’t write those often.
I’ve gotten more used to this newer male narrator Tom Kiteley now that I’ve had space from the rest of the series audiobooks for about a month. The voices he gives the characters don’t bother me as much like they did before. He’s also pretty good at accents. I hope he’s kept on as the permanent narrator for the books from now on.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series! But until then I’m going to have to find some other historical mysteries to read.
April 19, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advance copy of When the Wolves Are Silent by C.S. Harris.
This was my first foray into the world of Sebastian Cyr, but I don’t feel like I was lost along the way because of it. I will also say, I do foresee myself delving further into this series after finishing this one.
In When the Wolves Are Silent we find Sebastian drawn into a series of murders by his nephew Bayard. Bayard fears that he and his group of friends are being targeted by someone that wants them eliminated. As the story progresses and secrets are discovered it soon becomes clear that Bayard and his friends have given plenty of reason for a possible impending demise. Violence, destruction and fear are what Bayard and his friends enjoy spreading and it’s no surprise there are a good many possible suspects with valid reasons for hating them.
Things become more complicated when “the powers that be” decide this series of events could be twisted to their advantage from a political standpoint. Why not try and frame some people for murder to prove your own superiority? That’s not a completely horrible thing to do at all!
Harris leads us through a twisty, turny labyrinth that Sebastian must navigate, at times somewhat blindly, in an effort to find the actual truth of the matter. There were certainly a lot of bits to keep readers guessing along the way, but for some reason I felt that a lot of it was a little flat. The characters don’t really seem to show much emotion and just go about the business from one step to the next. I love a mystery, especially of the historical variety but I think I was just hoping for a little bit more from this.
I know this opinion may not be the most popular, but I am fully aware that this is a truly loved series and won’t be judging based solely on this one alone. I will definitely be ready more of the series and continue to follow Sebastian’s adventures.
This was my first foray into the world of Sebastian Cyr, but I don’t feel like I was lost along the way because of it. I will also say, I do foresee myself delving further into this series after finishing this one.
In When the Wolves Are Silent we find Sebastian drawn into a series of murders by his nephew Bayard. Bayard fears that he and his group of friends are being targeted by someone that wants them eliminated. As the story progresses and secrets are discovered it soon becomes clear that Bayard and his friends have given plenty of reason for a possible impending demise. Violence, destruction and fear are what Bayard and his friends enjoy spreading and it’s no surprise there are a good many possible suspects with valid reasons for hating them.
Things become more complicated when “the powers that be” decide this series of events could be twisted to their advantage from a political standpoint. Why not try and frame some people for murder to prove your own superiority? That’s not a completely horrible thing to do at all!
Harris leads us through a twisty, turny labyrinth that Sebastian must navigate, at times somewhat blindly, in an effort to find the actual truth of the matter. There were certainly a lot of bits to keep readers guessing along the way, but for some reason I felt that a lot of it was a little flat. The characters don’t really seem to show much emotion and just go about the business from one step to the next. I love a mystery, especially of the historical variety but I think I was just hoping for a little bit more from this.
I know this opinion may not be the most popular, but I am fully aware that this is a truly loved series and won’t be judging based solely on this one alone. I will definitely be ready more of the series and continue to follow Sebastian’s adventures.
May 3, 2026
It’s the usual Sebastian, investigating a crime that hits close to home. Very enjoyable and easy to read; unfortunately, there aren’t many interactions between him and Hero, but that’s okay. At the end of the book, as usual, the author provides a wealth of information that’s very helpful for fully understanding the historical context in which the novel is set.
Il solito Sebastian che indaga su un crimine che lo riguarda da vicino. Molto piacevole e scorrevole, purtroppo poche interazioni tra lui ed Hero, ma ok. Alla fine del libro e come al solito, l'autrice fornisce una serie di informazioni molto utili per capire appieno il contesto storico nel quale é stato ambientato il romanzo appena finito.
Il solito Sebastian che indaga su un crimine che lo riguarda da vicino. Molto piacevole e scorrevole, purtroppo poche interazioni tra lui ed Hero, ma ok. Alla fine del libro e come al solito, l'autrice fornisce una serie di informazioni molto utili per capire appieno il contesto storico nel quale é stato ambientato il romanzo appena finito.
May 4, 2026
I love this series! I just wish I could have several every year. I recently got all of the audiobooks so I can relisten to the entire series. Regency era mysteries. Very well written!
April 21, 2026
I always enjoy books in this series. The research is top-notch, the writing is good, and the characters are great. I can't believe there are 21 of these! For the past couple of books, though, I'm starting to feel that the characters are not really progressing in their own overarching storylines. Things are a little stagnant right now, it seems. I've been waiting for ages for something to happen between Hero and Victoria. I remain convinced that Victoria killed Hero's mother, but nothing came of the hintsthat the author dropped several books ago. And when is something going to change with regard to Gibson's addiction? All that being said, I still really like this series.
May 2, 2026
I feel like every book gets more and more disturbingly creepy. Really heebie-jeebies stuff this time.
May 7, 2026
Not only does Harris write engaging mysteries. Not only is her yellow-eyed, see-in-the-dark protagonist gorgeously handsome and highly principled. Not only is his 6-foot tall wife, Hero, truly a hero in her own right. Not only are regularly appearing minor characters also compelling. Not only has she maintained my interest through 21 books in the series. And not only does the author's social justice ring!
I learn so much about history, and places, with each novel. With my Kindle in one hand, I keep my phone nearby, and I visit those places like any world traveler. (How far has technology widened Stevenson's Land of Counterpane, that a bedridden reader can now travel the planet in situ! We needn't address the terrible costs right now, although they're ever-present.)
This is a reminder that Amazon owns these ebooks--we do not--as they continue to tighten the noose we've bought into and their new rules keep shortchanging us. THANK GOODNESS I CAN NOW ACCESS 29,000 EBOOKS THROUGH MY LOCAL LIBRARY AND LIBBY. I'm currently listening to, and loving, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. Try the switch!
I learn so much about history, and places, with each novel. With my Kindle in one hand, I keep my phone nearby, and I visit those places like any world traveler. (How far has technology widened Stevenson's Land of Counterpane, that a bedridden reader can now travel the planet in situ! We needn't address the terrible costs right now, although they're ever-present.)
This is a reminder that Amazon owns these ebooks--we do not--as they continue to tighten the noose we've bought into and their new rules keep shortchanging us. THANK GOODNESS I CAN NOW ACCESS 29,000 EBOOKS THROUGH MY LOCAL LIBRARY AND LIBBY. I'm currently listening to, and loving, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. Try the switch!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
In the fall of 1816, when this 21st book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series opens, Regent’s Park was new – and mostly vacant – and Primrose Hill was outside even the outskirts of London. Also outside the bounds in other ways, as recently revived interest in Druidic myths and legends – and the scams that inevitably grew up around them – seemed to center in the area.
The story itself opens as St. Cyr’s nephew, Bayard, bursts into his grandfather’s study in a search for Devlin himself. Bayard needs the assistance that only his uncle can provide. Because Devlin investigates murders – much to the disgust of Bayard’s mother, Devlin’s older sister – and Bayard has just run away from the site of a friend’s murder.
A murder that looks an awful lot like one of those Druidic sacrifices that so many people are suddenly so interested in.
But Bayard isn’t in such a lather because he ran away from the scene of a crime and fears any consequences for that act whatsoever. After all, Bayard is “the Right Honorable Bayard Wilcox, Thirteenth Lord Wilcox” and he knows full well that no one is going to visit any consequences on the likes of him.
Except possibly the murderer, as the smoking log that used to be his friend Marcus Toole isn’t the first of Bayard’s friends to die in mysterious – and possibly sacrificial – circumstances. Bayard fears for his own life – and so he should. Because it’s starting to look to Devlin as if Bayard’s chickens have finally come home to roost – and that some of those chickens have turned out to be hawks.
But there are vultures circling overhead, as the hue and cry in the press over the sensational deaths of a pack of young lords and lordlings has to be calmed down. The government doesn’t care ‘whodunnit’; their only interest is in spinning the crime – and the punishment – to protect its own agenda. Even if the guilty are lionized by the press and only the innocents are condemned. Unless Devlin can stall the encircling raptors long enough to save those who can still be saved – even from themselves.
Escape Rating A+: I’m a bit early with this one, but I simply couldn’t resist. Last week’s reviews ended with two marvelous A+ mysteries, Legacy of the Dead and The Politician, and I went scrabbling through the virtually towering TBR pile for a book that would be in the same spirit and deliver the same chills and thrills AND compulsion to find out ‘whodunnit’ and how and why it was done. I knew that St. Cyr would deliver, because he’d already done just that through 20 books and I expected this 21st book to be every bit as much of a compelling read as its predecessors – and it absolutely was.
As with many of the books in this series, this is a story about the corruption of power and the well-known and oft-proven saying that ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’. In this particular entry in the series, that truism is multiplied and even exacerbated by two other equally correct aphorisms, the one about the apple not falling far from the tree, and the one about those who don’t remember the past being condemned to repeat it – even if the latter phrase won’t be coined for nearly another century.
This is a story that begins and ends in darkness. It’s not just that the murder occurs on a dark – if not stormy – night, but that the circumstances that surround it are dark, the implications – and revelations – for St. Cyr’s family are dark, and the entire world is shrouded in darkness.
That last bit is literal, as this story takes place in the autumn of 1816, the famous – and historically quite real – ‘Year Without at Summer’. Crops have failed all over Europe, food prices have risen beyond the average person’s ability to pay, people are dying of starvation and/or freezing to death all over the country, and that’s only the beginning of the devastation. The Napoleonic Wars have finally ended, as have Britain’s ambitions to take back the former American Colonies, and ALL the surviving soldiers have returned home to add to the unemployment rolls.
Meanwhile the government is cutting back every expense except the Prince Regent’s excesses, and calling it austerity when that’s obviously a hypocritical lie. It’s no longer just avowed ‘Radicals’ calling for vast, sweeping change in how the country is governed, because there are too many people who have nothing left to lose and know precisely who to blame for most of the problem. (No one at the time knew the cause of the sudden lack of summer in 1816 – nor did they know that 1817, 1818 and even 1819 weren’t going to be much better.)
There is so much ‘Radical’ foment that the Crown, in the person of “Prinny”, and those who are propping him up, in the (fictional) person of Lord Jarvis but also in the historical personage of the Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth among others, were seeding ‘agents provocateurs’ among the Radicals in order to start riots and then ruthlessly suppress the movement. They feared a French Revolution in Britain that would sweep all of them to a hangman’s noose – if not a guillotine. And they were not wrong to fear such an outcome under the circumstances.
Even though their methods were utterly appalling and often outright criminal in themselves. But history is written by the victors, which they were because they held all the levers of power and used them ruthlessly.
It’s into this tenuous situation that Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called to investigate a murder scene. By his nephew, who is caught in the thick of the mess. Someone is killing lords and lordlings just like Devlin’s nephew Bayard, men who know that no one will call them to account for any misbehavior – even criminal misdeeds – as long as they confine their depredations to the “lower classes”.
The more Devlin learns about the crimes committed by his nephew and his friends, the more sympathy Devlin – and the reader – have for their victims. Justice seems to be getting served – even if it is vigilante justice. BUT the government needs a scapegoat for the crimes – and they don’t care who gets hanged as long as someone does AND if they can use that hanging to take out a Radical or two. Meanwhile, the murder spree expands from Devlin’s nephew and his aristocratic pack of wolves (even though that comparison is an insult to wolves), to their victims.
What makes this series so endlessly fascinating – and why I keep coming back to it over and over again – is that they take the exact opposite tack from the glittering portrait of the Regency that we read in Georgette Heyer’s stories and even Jane Austen, or stories like the Bridgerton series.
Because it wasn’t nearly as bright as the popular imagery would make it. The way that we tend to think of history as being made up of separate periods obscures the fact that the glittering Regency and the blood and mud of the Napoleonic Wars took place at the same time. That Britain was in economic shambles when the war ended, that there was a huge wealth gap that kept getting wider, AND that people were starving and freezing because the climate went crazy.
Devlin, and his wife Hero, are characters who straddle both worlds. They were both born into the halls of power and privilege, but their life experiences have permitted – or required – them to see that the world is not all glitter and that their aristocratic peers are no better – and frequently much worse – than anyone in the supposed ‘lower classes’ they believe they are superior to. They are outsiders from both sides, and it makes them excellent observers and investigators.
This entry in the series is particularly fascinating because it doesn’t shy away from either the way that privilege enables terrible villainy, the way that war brings out the worst in those who are already villainous, and the way that privilege warps even the most upright of people. At the same time, the series as a whole dives deeply into the motives of the powers-that-be on a broader level, shows just how the sausage of government and politics and the press are made and reinforce each other, and how defense of the status quo operates in service of protecting its own privileges first – no matter that defense is dressed up in patriotism and stability.
And it always tells a cracking good story, through characters that are endlessly fascinating to follow. I look forward, as eagerly as ever, to Devlin’s next adventure, hopefully this time next year.
Originally published at Reading Reality
The story itself opens as St. Cyr’s nephew, Bayard, bursts into his grandfather’s study in a search for Devlin himself. Bayard needs the assistance that only his uncle can provide. Because Devlin investigates murders – much to the disgust of Bayard’s mother, Devlin’s older sister – and Bayard has just run away from the site of a friend’s murder.
A murder that looks an awful lot like one of those Druidic sacrifices that so many people are suddenly so interested in.
But Bayard isn’t in such a lather because he ran away from the scene of a crime and fears any consequences for that act whatsoever. After all, Bayard is “the Right Honorable Bayard Wilcox, Thirteenth Lord Wilcox” and he knows full well that no one is going to visit any consequences on the likes of him.
Except possibly the murderer, as the smoking log that used to be his friend Marcus Toole isn’t the first of Bayard’s friends to die in mysterious – and possibly sacrificial – circumstances. Bayard fears for his own life – and so he should. Because it’s starting to look to Devlin as if Bayard’s chickens have finally come home to roost – and that some of those chickens have turned out to be hawks.
But there are vultures circling overhead, as the hue and cry in the press over the sensational deaths of a pack of young lords and lordlings has to be calmed down. The government doesn’t care ‘whodunnit’; their only interest is in spinning the crime – and the punishment – to protect its own agenda. Even if the guilty are lionized by the press and only the innocents are condemned. Unless Devlin can stall the encircling raptors long enough to save those who can still be saved – even from themselves.
Escape Rating A+: I’m a bit early with this one, but I simply couldn’t resist. Last week’s reviews ended with two marvelous A+ mysteries, Legacy of the Dead and The Politician, and I went scrabbling through the virtually towering TBR pile for a book that would be in the same spirit and deliver the same chills and thrills AND compulsion to find out ‘whodunnit’ and how and why it was done. I knew that St. Cyr would deliver, because he’d already done just that through 20 books and I expected this 21st book to be every bit as much of a compelling read as its predecessors – and it absolutely was.
As with many of the books in this series, this is a story about the corruption of power and the well-known and oft-proven saying that ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’. In this particular entry in the series, that truism is multiplied and even exacerbated by two other equally correct aphorisms, the one about the apple not falling far from the tree, and the one about those who don’t remember the past being condemned to repeat it – even if the latter phrase won’t be coined for nearly another century.
This is a story that begins and ends in darkness. It’s not just that the murder occurs on a dark – if not stormy – night, but that the circumstances that surround it are dark, the implications – and revelations – for St. Cyr’s family are dark, and the entire world is shrouded in darkness.
That last bit is literal, as this story takes place in the autumn of 1816, the famous – and historically quite real – ‘Year Without at Summer’. Crops have failed all over Europe, food prices have risen beyond the average person’s ability to pay, people are dying of starvation and/or freezing to death all over the country, and that’s only the beginning of the devastation. The Napoleonic Wars have finally ended, as have Britain’s ambitions to take back the former American Colonies, and ALL the surviving soldiers have returned home to add to the unemployment rolls.
Meanwhile the government is cutting back every expense except the Prince Regent’s excesses, and calling it austerity when that’s obviously a hypocritical lie. It’s no longer just avowed ‘Radicals’ calling for vast, sweeping change in how the country is governed, because there are too many people who have nothing left to lose and know precisely who to blame for most of the problem. (No one at the time knew the cause of the sudden lack of summer in 1816 – nor did they know that 1817, 1818 and even 1819 weren’t going to be much better.)
There is so much ‘Radical’ foment that the Crown, in the person of “Prinny”, and those who are propping him up, in the (fictional) person of Lord Jarvis but also in the historical personage of the Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth among others, were seeding ‘agents provocateurs’ among the Radicals in order to start riots and then ruthlessly suppress the movement. They feared a French Revolution in Britain that would sweep all of them to a hangman’s noose – if not a guillotine. And they were not wrong to fear such an outcome under the circumstances.
Even though their methods were utterly appalling and often outright criminal in themselves. But history is written by the victors, which they were because they held all the levers of power and used them ruthlessly.
It’s into this tenuous situation that Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called to investigate a murder scene. By his nephew, who is caught in the thick of the mess. Someone is killing lords and lordlings just like Devlin’s nephew Bayard, men who know that no one will call them to account for any misbehavior – even criminal misdeeds – as long as they confine their depredations to the “lower classes”.
The more Devlin learns about the crimes committed by his nephew and his friends, the more sympathy Devlin – and the reader – have for their victims. Justice seems to be getting served – even if it is vigilante justice. BUT the government needs a scapegoat for the crimes – and they don’t care who gets hanged as long as someone does AND if they can use that hanging to take out a Radical or two. Meanwhile, the murder spree expands from Devlin’s nephew and his aristocratic pack of wolves (even though that comparison is an insult to wolves), to their victims.
What makes this series so endlessly fascinating – and why I keep coming back to it over and over again – is that they take the exact opposite tack from the glittering portrait of the Regency that we read in Georgette Heyer’s stories and even Jane Austen, or stories like the Bridgerton series.
Because it wasn’t nearly as bright as the popular imagery would make it. The way that we tend to think of history as being made up of separate periods obscures the fact that the glittering Regency and the blood and mud of the Napoleonic Wars took place at the same time. That Britain was in economic shambles when the war ended, that there was a huge wealth gap that kept getting wider, AND that people were starving and freezing because the climate went crazy.
Devlin, and his wife Hero, are characters who straddle both worlds. They were both born into the halls of power and privilege, but their life experiences have permitted – or required – them to see that the world is not all glitter and that their aristocratic peers are no better – and frequently much worse – than anyone in the supposed ‘lower classes’ they believe they are superior to. They are outsiders from both sides, and it makes them excellent observers and investigators.
This entry in the series is particularly fascinating because it doesn’t shy away from either the way that privilege enables terrible villainy, the way that war brings out the worst in those who are already villainous, and the way that privilege warps even the most upright of people. At the same time, the series as a whole dives deeply into the motives of the powers-that-be on a broader level, shows just how the sausage of government and politics and the press are made and reinforce each other, and how defense of the status quo operates in service of protecting its own privileges first – no matter that defense is dressed up in patriotism and stability.
And it always tells a cracking good story, through characters that are endlessly fascinating to follow. I look forward, as eagerly as ever, to Devlin’s next adventure, hopefully this time next year.
Originally published at Reading Reality
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