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Lady Trent Mystery #2
A Conspiracy of Ravens
Lady Trent's sleuthing skills are put to the test in a Victorian mystery about mischief, murder, and a lost heir.
With the aid of her partner Dylan Tremayne, Lady Serafina Trent aims to help her neighbors--the Haydens--determine who the true heir is to their sizable estate. After some investigating, she shocks the Haydens when she reveals that the child they believed had died at birth is actually alive and living as a criminal in London's worst slum.
Then the Hayden's butler is murdered and the stakes are dangerously raised. Lady Serafina must employ her famous scientific reasoning to help her discover answers before foul play strikes again--though her beloved reason fails to explain her growing attraction to Dylan . . .
Enjoy Victorian England through the eyes of Christian Fiction's most beloved author.
With the aid of her partner Dylan Tremayne, Lady Serafina Trent aims to help her neighbors--the Haydens--determine who the true heir is to their sizable estate. After some investigating, she shocks the Haydens when she reveals that the child they believed had died at birth is actually alive and living as a criminal in London's worst slum.
Then the Hayden's butler is murdered and the stakes are dangerously raised. Lady Serafina must employ her famous scientific reasoning to help her discover answers before foul play strikes again--though her beloved reason fails to explain her growing attraction to Dylan . . .
Enjoy Victorian England through the eyes of Christian Fiction's most beloved author.
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
32 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
About the author
Gilbert Morris
550 books561 followersalso published under the name Gilbert L. Morris
Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris
Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*
Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris
Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 25, 2022
4⭐️
Serafina and Dylan are tasked to find the missing son & heir of the Hayden family. They find him in the most unexpected place, living a destitute life in awful living conditions.
Shortly after he is brought into the family, most of whom resent his existence, a murder occurs.
I think Gilbert Morris could’ve used more variation in naming his characters as a few of them have similar sounding names….and Dylan has some strange one liners sometimes, but over all, I really enjoyed this!
Serafina and Dylan are tasked to find the missing son & heir of the Hayden family. They find him in the most unexpected place, living a destitute life in awful living conditions.
Shortly after he is brought into the family, most of whom resent his existence, a murder occurs.
I think Gilbert Morris could’ve used more variation in naming his characters as a few of them have similar sounding names….and Dylan has some strange one liners sometimes, but over all, I really enjoyed this!
October 13, 2014
I have not read a Christian mystery before. It was all right. I felt that the depiction of Victoria England was not accurate, especially manners and dress.
Read
April 9, 2020If Gilbert Morris wrote it, it’s a great read.
August 4, 2016
The book started off very slowly, but it really began to pick up steam and finished very well. I've really enjoyed this book series, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
March 28, 2024
I hate how in books where women are fighting against societal expectations and the patriarchy, the author will be like she is just a strong boss women-but let me start by telling you how beautiful she is. Literally goes against what you say you are trying to do. You can be a success women and be beautiful, but your identity and worth shouldn't be how you look.
Literally in the very first paragraph,
"She was a striking woman of twenty-seven with strawberry blonde hair and violent eyes (does that even exist. Great more impossible beauty standards). Her face was squarish, and her mouth was a sensuous softness. She was not a woman who paid a great deal of attention on her appearance, her beauty naturally elegant (she might not care about her looks but the author seems too)."
I really don't even know why the author feels like the reader wants to know about her lips! Sorry don't go around staring at people's lips but that's just me.
In the next paragraph, the book then talks about how she lost her husband. Guess what the author felt like we needed to know in order to fully understand Serafina's loss. "As she looked out over the grounds, a fleeting memory came to her as she though of how she had come, as a young bride, to Trentwood House. She remembered the joy and the anticipation that had been hers when she had married Charles Trent, but then a trembling, not caused by the temperature, shook her. She thought of her husband now dead and buried in the family cemetery and then forced the thought away." So once again, I am expect to envision something without any real description. This part would be much more impactful if it actually detailed a specific memory. Books are all about getting in character's heads and hearts and feeling with them, but I can't really feel anything when given just a rushed so he's dead.
Later on in the chapter, Serafina is romantical thinking about and describing the male love interest. "Serafina stared at the miniature painting of Dylan Tremayne, and, as always, she was struck by the good looks of the man who had come to play such a vital part in her life. She studied the glossy black hair with the lock over the forehead as usual, the steady wide-spaced and deep-set eyes and then the wedge-spaced face, the wide mouth, the mobile features. With these beautiful eyes, he's almost too handsome to be a man." So once again the author is describing a character just by their hair, face structure, and lips. No idea what mobile features even means!
The book than finally has some dialogue and movement in the story line, but it just feels so forced. " David, this book isn't true. It's made up, a story book. It's not like a dictionary where words mean certain things. It's not like a book of mathematics where two plus two is always four. It isn't even like a history book when it gives the date of a famous person's birth-those are facts." There are books that better describe a female mathematician who doesn't get emotion or the interest in a world outside of cold hard facts. This just felt way too forced.
Literally in the very first paragraph,
"She was a striking woman of twenty-seven with strawberry blonde hair and violent eyes (does that even exist. Great more impossible beauty standards). Her face was squarish, and her mouth was a sensuous softness. She was not a woman who paid a great deal of attention on her appearance, her beauty naturally elegant (she might not care about her looks but the author seems too)."
I really don't even know why the author feels like the reader wants to know about her lips! Sorry don't go around staring at people's lips but that's just me.
In the next paragraph, the book then talks about how she lost her husband. Guess what the author felt like we needed to know in order to fully understand Serafina's loss. "As she looked out over the grounds, a fleeting memory came to her as she though of how she had come, as a young bride, to Trentwood House. She remembered the joy and the anticipation that had been hers when she had married Charles Trent, but then a trembling, not caused by the temperature, shook her. She thought of her husband now dead and buried in the family cemetery and then forced the thought away." So once again, I am expect to envision something without any real description. This part would be much more impactful if it actually detailed a specific memory. Books are all about getting in character's heads and hearts and feeling with them, but I can't really feel anything when given just a rushed so he's dead.
Later on in the chapter, Serafina is romantical thinking about and describing the male love interest. "Serafina stared at the miniature painting of Dylan Tremayne, and, as always, she was struck by the good looks of the man who had come to play such a vital part in her life. She studied the glossy black hair with the lock over the forehead as usual, the steady wide-spaced and deep-set eyes and then the wedge-spaced face, the wide mouth, the mobile features. With these beautiful eyes, he's almost too handsome to be a man." So once again the author is describing a character just by their hair, face structure, and lips. No idea what mobile features even means!
The book than finally has some dialogue and movement in the story line, but it just feels so forced. " David, this book isn't true. It's made up, a story book. It's not like a dictionary where words mean certain things. It's not like a book of mathematics where two plus two is always four. It isn't even like a history book when it gives the date of a famous person's birth-those are facts." There are books that better describe a female mathematician who doesn't get emotion or the interest in a world outside of cold hard facts. This just felt way too forced.
October 12, 2022
The first book was okay, but I almost didn't finish this one. Something that was prominent enough to catch my notice was that the only recurring overweight characters in the book were antagonists, their weight and/or way of eating was harped on repeatedly, and one of them . It was very reminiscent of portrayals of the Dursley family in the Harry Potter books. There was also some language about mental health near the end that I found ignorant and inappropriate. The mystery had an interesting plot twist, but I couldn't really connect with the love story in this one like I did in the first. I don't have a copy of book three and I don't plan to look for one.
August 24, 2019
Pretty average. I just can't believe that Trevor wouldn't fall back on his life of crime during his intense bouts of doubt. Or that he wouldn't be rougher. Or some of his old friends would put the pinch on him or try to blackmail him or SOMETHING. Trevor seems too eager to please... too eager to show that he's the Earl's son. He has plenty of inducements - his parents are loving and kind; Gervase, his cousin, is beautiful and kind to him, too; Lady Trent and her crew believe in him. But somehow, Trevor seemed to be tamed too easily. Wild horses must be broken first, and I didn't see any of that happening here.
May 21, 2017
After reading the first book in this series, which was just okay, I wasn't sure how I'd like the second one. It was actually better than the first one. Serephina Trent resumes her role as detective with help from her actor friend Dylan Tremayne and Inspector Matthew Grant, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. While end wrapped up a little too neatly for my tastes, but overall I really liked this book.
January 29, 2020
This was a pretty good book. It's about Serafina Trent who helps her friends, the Haydens, find the son they thought had died at birth. But then there's a murder and Serafina and her friend Dylan need to find out who did it before the murderer strikes again.
I liked this book. It's not my favorite; mystery books aren't my favorite genre. But I did enjoy reading this. I didn't read the first book, but this one kind of mentioned what happened in it, and it wasn't confusing at all.
I liked this book. It's not my favorite; mystery books aren't my favorite genre. But I did enjoy reading this. I didn't read the first book, but this one kind of mentioned what happened in it, and it wasn't confusing at all.
January 26, 2024
Historical Inaccuracies are too distracting
If one sets out to write historical novels, I think the first thing he should do is spend (a considerable amount of) time immersing himself in the period about which he intends to write. Enough, at least, to avoid laughable errors in, for example, language, clothing, and custom.
I couldn’t finish this book.
If one sets out to write historical novels, I think the first thing he should do is spend (a considerable amount of) time immersing himself in the period about which he intends to write. Enough, at least, to avoid laughable errors in, for example, language, clothing, and custom.
I couldn’t finish this book.
August 2, 2017
I enjoyed this followup very much, though in some ways I felt like it lacked some of the intrigue and mystery of the first installment. I still look forward to reading #3, and hold a high esteem for Morris' writing ability and historical knowledge.
February 28, 2018
Better than the first one in the series IMO.
September 30, 2018
rating: 3.5
January 4, 2019
This book was Amazing, why must it end?*cries*
November 16, 2020
A bit slower moving and harder to follow than Mermaid, the first book in the series, but overall pretty good sequel.
May 18, 2022
Good read
February 6, 2023
Super great book! I found this book at a local Goodwill and now I need more!! This is the second book of a series, and I am hooked!!!❤️
October 6, 2011
Not much of a whodunnit, but a well-rounded 2nd book. I enjoyed reading more about Lady Trent, Dylan, David, Dora, Inspector Grant, and Lady Trent's family.
In this book, a man finds out that he was switched at birth -- he's really an Earl. The man, now called Trevor Hayden, has been raised in the roughest parts of London and has quite a record of petty theft and minor disturbances. The current Earl has been having one too many near-misses: a gunshot close by and a saddle that was cut during a fox hunt. Now the Earl's trusted butler has turned up dead while making the Earl's nightly drink. Lady Trent and her father quickly discover that the butler was poisoned...
Great new characters that I expect we'll see and hear more about. Plenty of red herrings and twists to the story. But there's one thing that really bothered me: I just can't believe that Trevor wouldn't fall back on his life of crime during his intense bouts of doubt. Or that he wouldn't be rougher. Or some of his old friends would put the pinch on him or try to blackmail him or SOMETHING. Trevor seems too eager to please... too eager to show that he's the Earl's son. He has plenty of inducements - his parents are loving and kind; Gervase, his cousin, is beautiful and kind to him, too; Lady Trent and her crew believe in him. But somehow, Trevor seemed to be tamed too easily. Wild horses must be broken first, and I didn't see any of that happening here. Too much was too easily wrapped up with a nice neat bow.
But it's an enjoyable read, especially as the romances are more developed. And it certainly makes you want to read the next book!
In this book, a man finds out that he was switched at birth -- he's really an Earl. The man, now called Trevor Hayden, has been raised in the roughest parts of London and has quite a record of petty theft and minor disturbances. The current Earl has been having one too many near-misses: a gunshot close by and a saddle that was cut during a fox hunt. Now the Earl's trusted butler has turned up dead while making the Earl's nightly drink. Lady Trent and her father quickly discover that the butler was poisoned...
Great new characters that I expect we'll see and hear more about. Plenty of red herrings and twists to the story. But there's one thing that really bothered me: I just can't believe that Trevor wouldn't fall back on his life of crime during his intense bouts of doubt. Or that he wouldn't be rougher. Or some of his old friends would put the pinch on him or try to blackmail him or SOMETHING. Trevor seems too eager to please... too eager to show that he's the Earl's son. He has plenty of inducements - his parents are loving and kind; Gervase, his cousin, is beautiful and kind to him, too; Lady Trent and her crew believe in him. But somehow, Trevor seemed to be tamed too easily. Wild horses must be broken first, and I didn't see any of that happening here. Too much was too easily wrapped up with a nice neat bow.
But it's an enjoyable read, especially as the romances are more developed. And it certainly makes you want to read the next book!
July 26, 2016
While I did enjoy this book, I found that I liked the first one in the series "The Mermaid in the Basement" (Lady Trent Series #1) just a little better. I'd give this one about a 3.75 star rating, so I rounded it up to 4 stars.
Most of the original characters from the first book are back again, Serafina Trent and her family, Dylan, and even Matthew Grant. A new noble family is introduced to us, the Haydens. They were unable to have children except for one infant who died shortly after his birth 18 years ago....or so they thought. Evidence comes to light about a baby switch, which means their son Trevor is actually alive and living in the slums of London with no idea who he really is. Serafina and Dylan are enlisted to find him, and the search begins...
There's quite a few people in the Hayden family, and at first I found it difficult to keep them all straight. I had trouble "clicking" with some of them, although there were a few that I liked. It seems like the first book (The Mermaid in the Basement) had more of Serafina and Dylan sneaking around doing detective work, which I thought was a really fun part of the story, and I missed that here.
Overall, I did enjoy "A Conspiracy of Ravens", but for some reason the storyline of the previous book just hooked me a little more. I have already started the next (and last?) book in the series, "Sonnet to a Dead Contessa" (Lady Trent Mystery Series #3), and I'm looking forward to seeing where the characters go next.
Most of the original characters from the first book are back again, Serafina Trent and her family, Dylan, and even Matthew Grant. A new noble family is introduced to us, the Haydens. They were unable to have children except for one infant who died shortly after his birth 18 years ago....or so they thought. Evidence comes to light about a baby switch, which means their son Trevor is actually alive and living in the slums of London with no idea who he really is. Serafina and Dylan are enlisted to find him, and the search begins...
There's quite a few people in the Hayden family, and at first I found it difficult to keep them all straight. I had trouble "clicking" with some of them, although there were a few that I liked. It seems like the first book (The Mermaid in the Basement) had more of Serafina and Dylan sneaking around doing detective work, which I thought was a really fun part of the story, and I missed that here.
Overall, I did enjoy "A Conspiracy of Ravens", but for some reason the storyline of the previous book just hooked me a little more. I have already started the next (and last?) book in the series, "Sonnet to a Dead Contessa" (Lady Trent Mystery Series #3), and I'm looking forward to seeing where the characters go next.
April 26, 2024
Oh I love this book for many many reasons I’m reason number one it’s kind of not only is it a mystery which I’ll love mysteries. I love watching mysteries reading mysteries I am in particularly I really liked the character Lady Trent and Dylan. One of the other reasons I love this is was it’s a regency Romance and I love regency romances I love the tutors the Bridgerton movie Queen of Scots so like I’m totally down for like a good regency romance and definitely will be reading more. It’s funny because I started in the second book so I missed the first ones not to go back and try to find the first lady Trent mystery. Say Christian mystery and I was kind of hesitant at first because I had read other Christian fiction and didn’t really like it but I love Gilbert Morris’ writing and it’s just a great overall book. The banter between lady Trent and Dylan is so funny. One of the reasons I loved this book was because it has a lot of mentions of Edgar Allan Poe I love love love Edgar Allan Poe so that for me was super super fun. And then another reason I highly enjoyed and definitely recommend this book if you love King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable or the TV show Merlin because this book mentions a lot of that and I just I love Merlin and I love Edgar Allan Poe I love Jesus his book is perfect I also love mysteries and regency time. So this book is literally everything and you know what I loved it.
July 10, 2014
I did not read the first book (because I didn't know this book was the second book in a series. whoops) but I feel like I did not need to because the only thing they talk about from the previous book is that Clive was almost executed and was found guilty for something he didn't do, and Lady Serafina Trent, Dylan Tremayne, and Matthew Grant proved his innocence. But anyway, this book was so good and adorable. I love all the romance in it. I also really love that this is a Christian book. I did not know that before I read the book. (I didn't do any research, if you couldn't tell.) But it was just so cute. I loved Dylan and Serafina, and Matthew and Dora, and Trevor and Gervase! They were adorable! The only thing I did not like was that the real "mystery" was really late. It was about 70 pages (this is an estimate, don't judge if I'm wrong) from the end of the book. I understand that finding Trevor was part of the "mystery", but they found him so fast. That probably doesn't make any sense but oh well. I really liked this book and can't wait to read the next book!
April 7, 2010
I wasn't very impressed with this book. The first book he wrote, A Mermaid in the Basement was excellent, a great plot, believable characters and everything. But this book had hardly ANY plot. The only high point was in the last 7 chapters or so. I was disipointed with Trevor Hayden. He lived a terrible life as a gangster and a thief, but as soon as he was put in a house of wealth in a high position, he became the perfect son who wanted to do everything right.
A VERY UNBELIEVABLE BOOK!
I hope the next book is better.
A VERY UNBELIEVABLE BOOK!
I hope the next book is better.
October 12, 2012
Great read in a genre I enjoy, Christian Fiction. Actually, this book has multiple sub-genres. I believe in addition to being Christian Fiction, the author, Dr. Gilbert Morris, has done a wonderful job of incorporating historical fiction and mystery fiction. I have been fascinated by Victorian England since high school; thus, the mysterious Victorian England setting was an added bonus for me. A Conspiracy of Ravens is a very worthwhile addition as Book Two in A Lady Trent Mystery.
August 24, 2013
Serafina & Dylan are working together again, and still fighting their attraction to each other. Serafina is still baffled by Dylan's faith in God, while Dylan's values are put to the test as he must choose between employment and his Christian values. An interesting mystery with a twist towards the very end. I enjoyed this book, although I didn't really feel the characters were completely "fleshed out".
September 13, 2015
A pathetically vague, very late starting mystery with a title that still doesn't make sense to me. There were a few good characters, mainly Trevor, and a few points where it could be good, but honestly I think Morris is just as squeamish as his characters sometimes. To really write a good mystery you need to love the gore and he's more interested in hymns and prayers books, I say stick to what you know. Or be a Catholic mystery writer, G.K. Chesterton and Andrew Greely never had that problem.
December 31, 2016
DNF. Everything was wrong for Victorian England. The vernacular was off for the servants. Ocassionaly it placed me in the plantations of the deep South and certainly not England. The diologue and mannerisms of the "upper crust" were more twentieth century than the exceedingly prim & proper mid-nineteenth century we were supposed to be visiting. Pah! I have enough books on my pile I'll not waste my time plugging through this one.
July 26, 2009
An enjoyable Victorian era mystery novel. I liked the main characters. The geneology of one of the families was so confusing to me, but eventually one character explained the whole situation to another and then I felt more in touch. I was already planning to track down the first book and then this book advertised that there will a third this summer, so it's time to do a little hunting!
November 30, 2011
I liked the relationship between the two leads -- and thought they were both such quirky characters that they carried the story for me for the whole series. I cared enough about them that they made almost everything else around them disappear. I just wanted to see what would happen for them. The rest was just bonus.
November 2, 2016
Having read the first book in this series, I was excited to come back and visit Lady Serafina and Dylan for another exciting mystery to be solved. There were lots of people in this story who had motive and opportunity. How would they figure out who was guilty? I was definitely guessing through most of the book. (Full review at my website)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews