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Sebastian St. Cyr #1
What Angels Fear
It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George III's England. Then a beautiful young woman is found raped and savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey. A dueling pistol discovered at the scene and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experience in the Napoleonic Wars.
Now a fugitive running for his life, Sebastian calls upon his skill as an agent during the war to catch the killer and prove his own innocence. In the process, he accumulates a band of unlikely allies, including the enigmatic beauty Kat Boleyn, who broke Sebastian's heart years ago. In Sebastian's world of intrigue and espionage, nothing is as it seems, yet the truth may hold the key to the future of the British monarchy, as well as to Sebastian's own salvation....
Now a fugitive running for his life, Sebastian calls upon his skill as an agent during the war to catch the killer and prove his own innocence. In the process, he accumulates a band of unlikely allies, including the enigmatic beauty Kat Boleyn, who broke Sebastian's heart years ago. In Sebastian's world of intrigue and espionage, nothing is as it seems, yet the truth may hold the key to the future of the British monarchy, as well as to Sebastian's own salvation....
410 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2005
1991 people are currently reading
26495 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Harris
23 books3,013 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 2,031 reviews
May 27, 2025
Audiobook narrated by the well known Davina Porter
Since I am almost done with the 2nd volume, I guess I should find the time to write a few words about the book which started the Sebastian St. Cyr adventures, What Angels Fear.
The series starts in 1811, just before the Regency began and King George was still in power. The Napoleonic Wars were going strong. One lovely day, a young actress is found dead in a church with a duel pistol beside her. The pistol belongs to Sebastian St Cyr, a rebellious viscount who gets accused of murder, obviously innocent. With an experience as an agent in the War, a uncanny perfect eyesight, lots of brains and more luck than it should be possible, the nobleman gets involved in a race to find the real killer before he is sent to the gallows. It is tale of murder, spies, French and English, plots over plots and many secrets. I enjoyed the novel enough to read the 2nd in the series, which is better IMO.
There is also a love interest, a young actress with secrets, who, a few years before refused to marry our hero in order to save his honor and status. Somehow, they meet again and they realise that their love is still strong.
It was fast, easy and fun. I admit, there were too many times when Sebastian managed to get away from people trying to catch or kill him. All in all, a solid start of a (long) historical mystery series.
Since I am almost done with the 2nd volume, I guess I should find the time to write a few words about the book which started the Sebastian St. Cyr adventures, What Angels Fear.
The series starts in 1811, just before the Regency began and King George was still in power. The Napoleonic Wars were going strong. One lovely day, a young actress is found dead in a church with a duel pistol beside her. The pistol belongs to Sebastian St Cyr, a rebellious viscount who gets accused of murder, obviously innocent. With an experience as an agent in the War, a uncanny perfect eyesight, lots of brains and more luck than it should be possible, the nobleman gets involved in a race to find the real killer before he is sent to the gallows. It is tale of murder, spies, French and English, plots over plots and many secrets. I enjoyed the novel enough to read the 2nd in the series, which is better IMO.
There is also a love interest, a young actress with secrets, who, a few years before refused to marry our hero in order to save his honor and status. Somehow, they meet again and they realise that their love is still strong.
It was fast, easy and fun. I admit, there were too many times when Sebastian managed to get away from people trying to catch or kill him. All in all, a solid start of a (long) historical mystery series.
January 26, 2018
4 stars
I won book 10 in this series 2 years ago and liked it enough that I decided to go back and read more of the series. This book 1 in the series takes place in January, 1811, in London, England. The author uses a familiar formula,i.e., an innocent person is accused of murder and sets out to find the real murderer in order to clear himself.
Sebastian St Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is accused of killing Rachel York, a beautiful actress, found dead in a church with her throat slashed so severely that she is almost decapitated. A pistol with St. Cyr's coat of arms is found at the scene.
The author has woven a tangled web of deceit and lies, encompassing French spies, sexual peccadilloes, blackmail and murder. St Cyr does untangle the web. At times his numerous escapes from constables seem to stretch reality, but the book reads very well, with a fast moving plot and well drawn characters. I read it in 4 days.
I recommend this book to historical fiction/mystery fans. I borrowed it from the library.
I won book 10 in this series 2 years ago and liked it enough that I decided to go back and read more of the series. This book 1 in the series takes place in January, 1811, in London, England. The author uses a familiar formula,i.e., an innocent person is accused of murder and sets out to find the real murderer in order to clear himself.
Sebastian St Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is accused of killing Rachel York, a beautiful actress, found dead in a church with her throat slashed so severely that she is almost decapitated. A pistol with St. Cyr's coat of arms is found at the scene.
The author has woven a tangled web of deceit and lies, encompassing French spies, sexual peccadilloes, blackmail and murder. St Cyr does untangle the web. At times his numerous escapes from constables seem to stretch reality, but the book reads very well, with a fast moving plot and well drawn characters. I read it in 4 days.
I recommend this book to historical fiction/mystery fans. I borrowed it from the library.
January 2, 2016
I am always a fan of a good historical mystery so I believe I have just found myself a new series! In this first book we meet Sebastian St Cyr, a young man who is good looking, charming, a little bit dangerous and of course rich. The setting is Regency England which is another big plus for me. Add to all this a good, fast paced story, an interesting mystery and several other sympathetic characters and you have yourself an excellent read. Looking forward to the next one.
January 30, 2016
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George III's England. Then a beautiful young woman is found raped and savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey. A dueling pistol discovered at the scene and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experience in the Napoleonic Wars.
Now a fugitive running for his life, Sebastian calls upon his skill as an agent during the war to catch the killer and prove his own innocence. In the process, he accumulates a band of unlikely allies, including the enigmatic beauty Kat Boleyn, who broke Sebastian's heart years ago. In Sebastian's world of intrigue and espionage, nothing is as it seems, yet the truth may hold the key to the future of the British monarchy, as well as to Sebastian's own salvation....
My Review: BOOK ONE OF ADDICTIVE SERIES
You've been warned.
It's amazing how involving I *still* find the Regency, even after many and various outrages perpetrated on its remnant mummy corpse. People with ultramod unprejudiced 'tudes bearing titles like Lord Shavingrazorden and the Duchess of Murkwatter,entertaining. People traveling to far points without seeming to spend the required months. I mean seriously, how did all those East Indiamen get to Fort Thingummy in Malaya in a twinkling? Ye Olde Concorde?
*ahem*
This book does its share of anachronism-perpetuating. Devlin, our hero, is a straight (in all senses)-ahead 21st century romance hero. Doesn't make him unappealing; it makes me a little impatient, I guess.
What makes this book so appealing to me is the atmosphere, the evocation of the London that one writer characterized as "...diamonds gleaming in the manure pile." Rich was better than poor by right; titles better than all the masses by right; royalty? Fuhgeddaboudit.
The characters around Devlin are all very clearly delineated, and several recur (no spoiler in that, since it's a series mystery) with evolving storylines that tie them into a unit in some unexpexcted and, honestly, some surprising and upsetting ways. Of course the female characters are single-emotion placeholders. I say of course because a first mystery usually has this minor and female character flaw, giving them shorter shrift than is advisable early on.
Withal the book is very worthy of your shelf space; the series is high quality reading; and the price of entry paltry compared to the pleasures you'll get.
The Publisher Says: It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George III's England. Then a beautiful young woman is found raped and savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey. A dueling pistol discovered at the scene and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experience in the Napoleonic Wars.
Now a fugitive running for his life, Sebastian calls upon his skill as an agent during the war to catch the killer and prove his own innocence. In the process, he accumulates a band of unlikely allies, including the enigmatic beauty Kat Boleyn, who broke Sebastian's heart years ago. In Sebastian's world of intrigue and espionage, nothing is as it seems, yet the truth may hold the key to the future of the British monarchy, as well as to Sebastian's own salvation....
My Review: BOOK ONE OF ADDICTIVE SERIES
You've been warned.
It's amazing how involving I *still* find the Regency, even after many and various outrages perpetrated on its remnant mummy corpse. People with ultramod unprejudiced 'tudes bearing titles like Lord Shavingrazorden and the Duchess of Murkwatter,entertaining. People traveling to far points without seeming to spend the required months. I mean seriously, how did all those East Indiamen get to Fort Thingummy in Malaya in a twinkling? Ye Olde Concorde?
*ahem*
This book does its share of anachronism-perpetuating. Devlin, our hero, is a straight (in all senses)-ahead 21st century romance hero. Doesn't make him unappealing; it makes me a little impatient, I guess.
What makes this book so appealing to me is the atmosphere, the evocation of the London that one writer characterized as "...diamonds gleaming in the manure pile." Rich was better than poor by right; titles better than all the masses by right; royalty? Fuhgeddaboudit.
The characters around Devlin are all very clearly delineated, and several recur (no spoiler in that, since it's a series mystery) with evolving storylines that tie them into a unit in some unexpexcted and, honestly, some surprising and upsetting ways. Of course the female characters are single-emotion placeholders. I say of course because a first mystery usually has this minor and female character flaw, giving them shorter shrift than is advisable early on.
Withal the book is very worthy of your shelf space; the series is high quality reading; and the price of entry paltry compared to the pleasures you'll get.
June 6, 2025
4.5★
“He hauled on the reins, wrenching the bays sideways. The horses plunged, snorting, hooves striking sparks from the edge of the footpath. The joints of the old landau squealed. Wood snapped. The coach body crashed to the pavement, the box skewing sideways.”
There’s a fair bit of derring-do in this excellent historical murder mystery. Lots of politics, too. And blackmail. And spies. This is 1811 in England, just as the Prince of Wales is about to take over the reins (and reign) of mad King George III. England is fighting Napoleon in France.
Sebastian Viscount Devlin is the remaining son of Lord Hendon, Chancellor of the Exchequer and prime ministerial confidante, hence, a Tory.
The Tories are in power, while the Whigs are promoting peace with France to direct some of the war money to the poor who are starving. (Not exactly, but you get the idea.) Anyone promoting peace may be accused of spying, and indeed, some are. Spying, I mean.
A beautiful young woman is found brutally murdered on the steps of a chapel altar.
“She'd been pretty, once, this woman. And young. Any untimely death was tragic, of course. But no man who'd ever loved a woman, or watched with pride and fear the tentative first steps of a child, could look upon that youthful loveliness and not experience an added weight of sorrow, an extra edge to his sense of outrage.”
I couldn’t agree more. There is something about youthful faces, pretty or not, that seems so hopeful and appealing that they automatically cheer me up. It may be just the youth, as with puppies and kittens, but it certainly makes harming them unforgiveable.
Unfortunately for Sebastian, the police find evidence at the scene that he’s the murderer. We have already seen him perform in a duel and seen how clever he is. Fortunately for him, he’s no novice at investigation.
“Out there, somewhere, was the man who had killed Rachel York,- Sebastian's only hope lay in discovering precisely who that killer was. Five years in army intelligence had taught Sebastian that the first thing he needed was information.”
The weather features heavily, or perhaps I should say the heavy weather features. Whatever, it is mostly miserable, smelly, foggy, cold, and slippery.
Sebastian is arrested, as expected, but on the way to prison, the conditions contrive to upset plans.
“Days of stinking fog had left the stone steps slippery with a combination of coal soot and freezing condensation. One foot shooting off the edge of the first step, the constable spun around, his back slamming against the iron handrail as he scrambled to catch himself, missed, and went down on one knee on the second step. His top hat landed beside him.”
A knife is pulled, a man is critically injured, and Sebastian takes off at speed. This is full of atmosphere and drama. There’s a small boy (the obligatory Dickensian urchin?) who runs messages and appears at odd moments. There’s a beautiful former lover who is as clever and intelligent as Sebastian, and there’s a mystery involving Sebastian’s mother. That’s on top of all the politicking.
Sebastian hides, in various disguises and in seedy parts of London. Even when injured, he leaps from windows, clambers across rooftops, and generally makes use of his other soldierly skills.
I don’t know how I happened to read this right after reading Fortune by Lenny Bartulin, where a man was trying to talk to recently decapitated heads at the foot of the guillotine, but suddenly I ran across this conversation here.
“Pierrepont sat silent for a moment, his chin sunk onto his chest, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere. ‘When I was a young man, I watched my father's head roll in the Place de la Concorde. Did you know that a decapitated head remains conscious for some twenty seconds after it is separated from its body? Twenty seconds. Think about that. It's a long time, no? Do you think Rachel knew that? That horror?’”
I sure hope not.
There is a big cast of characters and possible suspects, but only a few whose fate interested me. There are some information dumps, but the author successfully manages to contain most to more or less natural conversations. We do need to be aware of the (always?) fractious nature of the relationship between England and France.
Good story, good writing, good characters, plenty of red herrings. All in all, I enjoyed a satisfying introduction to this popular historical mystery series.
“He hauled on the reins, wrenching the bays sideways. The horses plunged, snorting, hooves striking sparks from the edge of the footpath. The joints of the old landau squealed. Wood snapped. The coach body crashed to the pavement, the box skewing sideways.”
There’s a fair bit of derring-do in this excellent historical murder mystery. Lots of politics, too. And blackmail. And spies. This is 1811 in England, just as the Prince of Wales is about to take over the reins (and reign) of mad King George III. England is fighting Napoleon in France.
Sebastian Viscount Devlin is the remaining son of Lord Hendon, Chancellor of the Exchequer and prime ministerial confidante, hence, a Tory.
The Tories are in power, while the Whigs are promoting peace with France to direct some of the war money to the poor who are starving. (Not exactly, but you get the idea.) Anyone promoting peace may be accused of spying, and indeed, some are. Spying, I mean.
A beautiful young woman is found brutally murdered on the steps of a chapel altar.
“She'd been pretty, once, this woman. And young. Any untimely death was tragic, of course. But no man who'd ever loved a woman, or watched with pride and fear the tentative first steps of a child, could look upon that youthful loveliness and not experience an added weight of sorrow, an extra edge to his sense of outrage.”
I couldn’t agree more. There is something about youthful faces, pretty or not, that seems so hopeful and appealing that they automatically cheer me up. It may be just the youth, as with puppies and kittens, but it certainly makes harming them unforgiveable.
Unfortunately for Sebastian, the police find evidence at the scene that he’s the murderer. We have already seen him perform in a duel and seen how clever he is. Fortunately for him, he’s no novice at investigation.
“Out there, somewhere, was the man who had killed Rachel York,- Sebastian's only hope lay in discovering precisely who that killer was. Five years in army intelligence had taught Sebastian that the first thing he needed was information.”
The weather features heavily, or perhaps I should say the heavy weather features. Whatever, it is mostly miserable, smelly, foggy, cold, and slippery.
Sebastian is arrested, as expected, but on the way to prison, the conditions contrive to upset plans.
“Days of stinking fog had left the stone steps slippery with a combination of coal soot and freezing condensation. One foot shooting off the edge of the first step, the constable spun around, his back slamming against the iron handrail as he scrambled to catch himself, missed, and went down on one knee on the second step. His top hat landed beside him.”
A knife is pulled, a man is critically injured, and Sebastian takes off at speed. This is full of atmosphere and drama. There’s a small boy (the obligatory Dickensian urchin?) who runs messages and appears at odd moments. There’s a beautiful former lover who is as clever and intelligent as Sebastian, and there’s a mystery involving Sebastian’s mother. That’s on top of all the politicking.
Sebastian hides, in various disguises and in seedy parts of London. Even when injured, he leaps from windows, clambers across rooftops, and generally makes use of his other soldierly skills.
I don’t know how I happened to read this right after reading Fortune by Lenny Bartulin, where a man was trying to talk to recently decapitated heads at the foot of the guillotine, but suddenly I ran across this conversation here.
“Pierrepont sat silent for a moment, his chin sunk onto his chest, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere. ‘When I was a young man, I watched my father's head roll in the Place de la Concorde. Did you know that a decapitated head remains conscious for some twenty seconds after it is separated from its body? Twenty seconds. Think about that. It's a long time, no? Do you think Rachel knew that? That horror?’”
I sure hope not.
There is a big cast of characters and possible suspects, but only a few whose fate interested me. There are some information dumps, but the author successfully manages to contain most to more or less natural conversations. We do need to be aware of the (always?) fractious nature of the relationship between England and France.
Good story, good writing, good characters, plenty of red herrings. All in all, I enjoyed a satisfying introduction to this popular historical mystery series.
August 29, 2016
This was fantastic! 4.5 stars. I think the series is probably a 5 star one. This Regency period murder mystery was very interesting to me. I know a lot about the Victorian era, but believed that everything I knew about the Regency period came from Georgette Heyer novels.
I am British. I studied history. I do not consider myself stupid. I saw 'The Madness of King George' and have visited the Regents Palace in Brighton. I first started reading Jane Austen novels when I was sixteen. Vanity Fair is one of my favourite books of classic British literature.
And yet it took this novel to put this historical period into context. Yes, I have ONLY JUST REALISED that it was called the Regency period because there was a Prince Regent! DOH!!
Somehow this book has pulled into focus all the different knowledge I had of the Napoleonic wars and the historical and international context. Wow. Maybe it deserves 5 stars afterall! What a treat to discover a whole new series of books to dive into! Lucky me :)
I am British. I studied history. I do not consider myself stupid. I saw 'The Madness of King George' and have visited the Regents Palace in Brighton. I first started reading Jane Austen novels when I was sixteen. Vanity Fair is one of my favourite books of classic British literature.
And yet it took this novel to put this historical period into context. Yes, I have ONLY JUST REALISED that it was called the Regency period because there was a Prince Regent! DOH!!
Somehow this book has pulled into focus all the different knowledge I had of the Napoleonic wars and the historical and international context. Wow. Maybe it deserves 5 stars afterall! What a treat to discover a whole new series of books to dive into! Lucky me :)
April 24, 2016
4.5* London’s cobblestone streets in 1811 are flickering with gas lamps through an endless blanket of yellow foul smelling fog. Inside an ancient church, Rachel York is sprawled across an altar quite dead with her throat violently slashed several times leaving the young woman surrounded by a significant amount of blood. Once the crime scene has been searched, a pistol is found close by belonging to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, placing him at the top of the list as the slayer. Having the resources of title, wealth, and connections, Sebastian could flee the county and avoid his certain arrest. However, he is determined to clear his name and discover the person responsible for Rachel’s death. C.S. Harris has done a wonderful job with her writing skills by drawing the reader into a well written plot, strong fascinating characters, along with the atmospheric setting of London during the 1800’s. Highly recommended!
May 22, 2025
I’ve had this one on my to-read list since Dec2022, which will make it a part of my “Cleaning Out the Closet” challenge. When I noticed that GR friend, PattyMacDotComma had selected it for a May Group read, I thought that now was as good a time as any to finally getting around to reading it. I love good historical fiction stories, and I am currently a big fan of a few series right now. I am going to add this to my current list of historical fiction series.
This one takes place during the London Regency period and the MC, Sebastian St Cyr, has been home from the war for less than a year and is probably suffering from PTSD. Even though that was not a recognized disorder back then, Sebastian appears to have many of the symptoms. As the youngest and only remaining son of his father, the Earl, Sebastian was never supposed to be the heir apparent to the family’s legacies in politics and business. Sebastian has no interest in the family business and has indicated that he does not share his father’s politics; Sebastian has liberal Whig leanings and the Earl has conservative Tory attitudes.
The book summary introduces the two storylines, the primary one being the death of an actress, Rachel, that Sebastian has been accused of killing because one of his pistols was found at the scene. By the way, Rachel wasn’t shot, her throat was slashed. In the process of being arrested, one of the constables accidentally stabbed the other constable, who was severely wounded and now in critical condition. The constable who stabbed his partner accused Sebastian of doing it, and, of course, there were no witnesses to refute that. There is also a storyline of the Prince of England, who is taking over as Regent for his father, King George, who has been deemed crazy. The Prince has leanings toward the Whigs and the King has leanings toward the Tories so there is some backroom, political, machinations going on throughout the story.
Most of the story revolves around Sebastian investigating what happened to Rachel and who really killed her; there are several suspects, as far as Sebastian is concerned. He paired up with a former lover, Kat, who is also an actress and was very good friends with Rachel. Kat and Sebastian have a tumultuous history. Six years earlier, Sebastian wanted to marry her, but his father forbade it because Kat was a commoner so, Kat left him. Sebastian still carries a torch for Kat. These days, Kat is now a well-known actress with suitors, admirers and lovers that she shares her bed with. There is also an Inspector Lovejoy, who is investigating Rachel’s death. Lovejoy is a bit of an odd duck, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but he reminded me a little of Det. Columbo; highly intelligent, and a master at detection in spite of his odd behavior.
It's around the halfway point that I begin to lean towards two different suspects. It’s not long that I realize that I’ve missed the mark on that – just a little. The end comes fast in a flurry of scary and intense scenes as the storylines collide. The ending leaves some small cliffhangers that I look forward to seeing addressed in future installments.
The character development for the MC’s and a few of the supporting characters was well done, especially Sebastian and Kat. LOVE TOM!!! I really hope to see more of him in future installments. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline interesting. The writing was well done too, especially with some of the historical facts for the time period. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.
This one takes place during the London Regency period and the MC, Sebastian St Cyr, has been home from the war for less than a year and is probably suffering from PTSD. Even though that was not a recognized disorder back then, Sebastian appears to have many of the symptoms. As the youngest and only remaining son of his father, the Earl, Sebastian was never supposed to be the heir apparent to the family’s legacies in politics and business. Sebastian has no interest in the family business and has indicated that he does not share his father’s politics; Sebastian has liberal Whig leanings and the Earl has conservative Tory attitudes.
The book summary introduces the two storylines, the primary one being the death of an actress, Rachel, that Sebastian has been accused of killing because one of his pistols was found at the scene. By the way, Rachel wasn’t shot, her throat was slashed. In the process of being arrested, one of the constables accidentally stabbed the other constable, who was severely wounded and now in critical condition. The constable who stabbed his partner accused Sebastian of doing it, and, of course, there were no witnesses to refute that. There is also a storyline of the Prince of England, who is taking over as Regent for his father, King George, who has been deemed crazy. The Prince has leanings toward the Whigs and the King has leanings toward the Tories so there is some backroom, political, machinations going on throughout the story.
Most of the story revolves around Sebastian investigating what happened to Rachel and who really killed her; there are several suspects, as far as Sebastian is concerned. He paired up with a former lover, Kat, who is also an actress and was very good friends with Rachel. Kat and Sebastian have a tumultuous history. Six years earlier, Sebastian wanted to marry her, but his father forbade it because Kat was a commoner so, Kat left him. Sebastian still carries a torch for Kat. These days, Kat is now a well-known actress with suitors, admirers and lovers that she shares her bed with. There is also an Inspector Lovejoy, who is investigating Rachel’s death. Lovejoy is a bit of an odd duck, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but he reminded me a little of Det. Columbo; highly intelligent, and a master at detection in spite of his odd behavior.
It's around the halfway point that I begin to lean towards two different suspects. It’s not long that I realize that I’ve missed the mark on that – just a little. The end comes fast in a flurry of scary and intense scenes as the storylines collide. The ending leaves some small cliffhangers that I look forward to seeing addressed in future installments.
The character development for the MC’s and a few of the supporting characters was well done, especially Sebastian and Kat. LOVE TOM!!! I really hope to see more of him in future installments. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline interesting. The writing was well done too, especially with some of the historical facts for the time period. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.
January 19, 2016
A young actress is found brutally murdered at the altar in a church and all evidence seems to point to Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin. It soon becomes clear to him that there are multiple forces at play, some powerful and political, and he goes on the run to investigate the crime to clear his name.
This is a well written historical mystery with a strong sense of place and Regency setting. The characterizations are outstanding as all of them have multiple layers and dimensions. We also watch Sebastian transform throughout the story as he lives the realities of the chasm between commoners and the aristocracy. There's so much subterfuge and intrigue, which makes it very difficult to shorten the list of suspects.
I very much enjoyed the introduction to what promises to be an interesting series. While the mystery surrounding the identity and motive of the murderer is solved, there's still much more that isn't resolved. My only criticism is the abundance of description of time, setting and place. I'm one of those readers who savors just about every word so I got bogged down, slowing the pace typical for a mystery. I finally, reluctantly, had to skim more than I would have liked in order to move forward but I guess that's a good problem.
This is a well written historical mystery with a strong sense of place and Regency setting. The characterizations are outstanding as all of them have multiple layers and dimensions. We also watch Sebastian transform throughout the story as he lives the realities of the chasm between commoners and the aristocracy. There's so much subterfuge and intrigue, which makes it very difficult to shorten the list of suspects.
I very much enjoyed the introduction to what promises to be an interesting series. While the mystery surrounding the identity and motive of the murderer is solved, there's still much more that isn't resolved. My only criticism is the abundance of description of time, setting and place. I'm one of those readers who savors just about every word so I got bogged down, slowing the pace typical for a mystery. I finally, reluctantly, had to skim more than I would have liked in order to move forward but I guess that's a good problem.
June 1, 2024
Actually it would have been a full 5 stars, the story has been so engaging and so well written, but something annoyed me in the end, so I removed 1 star ( better explanations at the bottom of my review ).
Let's start telling something about ____ the PLOT :
We are in England in 1811, when King George III is about to be deposed due to his madness and a regent is about to be appointed. The rivalry between the two main political parties is increasingly heated and with it espionage, political pressure and blackmail are always at work.
In the midst of this turmoil, a brutal murder of a prostitute occurs in a church and the suspect seems to be the one who will be the hero of the story: Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars .
In normal times a noble would have gotten away without problems, but political forces need an exemplary punishment to offer to the people and it matters little whether the man is innocent or not. Sebastian's only chance is to escape and look for the real culprit on his own.
Everything becomes more complicated when on Sebastian's path also appear an old romantic disappointment, family members with whom he has difficult relationships, corrupt politicians, bad policemen and a large host of suspects.
Luckily a little cut-purse rascal will become a good friend for Sebastian, as is a young doctor, a long-time comrade in arms.
_______________ MY OPINION :
THE CHARACTERS : I liked all the characters and the author manages to describe them so well in their facial expressions, in their movements, in their thoughts, in the relationships that exist between them. The characters are three-dimensional, so much so that you feel like you know them as if they were real people.
What I hate in some regency novels or mystery series set in the 1920s is the meticulous description of how they are dressed in the latest fashion... Hey, how boring and what do I care??? !!
---> This is not the case, in fact by the descriptions of this author we are able to enter into every thought of bitterness, anger, fear, envy, love, tenderness, hope, irony etc... that the characters are feeling within themselves and which they pour out onto the other characters.
__ Each character is perfect in its particular way to be, I hated every bad guy and felt great sympathy for every good character.
__ I love Sebastian because not only is he young and handsome, but he is noble at heart, he manages to feel empathy for others and he realizes how the world he lives in is generous towards some and too unfair towards many others.
I also appreciated the fact that he does not choose the easy way out and decides to risk his life in order not to reveal secrets of people he is fond of, do justice for a victim, even if she is a prostitute, and to clear his name from a 'unjust accusation.
I already have a medieval book boyfriend and now I also have a regency one, I am completely in love with Sebastian.
__ I liked the rekindled relationship between Sebastian and his old love (no I wasn't jealous, I'm rooting for Kat Bolein who was a victim of the divide between nobles and poor. In fact, what I'm sorry about is already knowing that .
---> There are sex scenes between them that are not explicit and not at all vulgar, but warm and tender at the same time.
--> Another sex scene involving another person may seem a little vulgar but there isn't too much of a description. Nothing shocking, just maybe not suitable for very young people.
__SCENES AND DIALOGUES__ each scene of the story is described meticulously.
While I was reading I could see in my mind the images of places, characters and situations scrolling like in a film.
The author makes us breathe in a humid and foggy, dark and dangerous London.
The dialogues are brilliant and, depending on the scenes, offer the reader suspense and tension alternated from time to time with lightness and fun irony.
---> Frenetic action scenes, daring escapes with a lot of adrenaline, desperate rescues, intriguing interrogations, playful and ironic jokes, moments of strong tension and fear that everything could fall apart... A clever mix of all these elements kept my attention alive from the first page to the last one!!!!!!!
___THE MYSTERY___ This fast-paced mystery was really complicated to solve not only for our hero but also for us readers.
The suspects alternate in a web of lies and subterfuges and each from the way they answer Sebastian's questions they all seem to have uncovered truths about the murder and they all appear to be sincere.
In fact, I never even suspected who the murderer turns out to be and I was really surprised when one of the characters guessed it.
The intertwining of politics, espionage and personal interests in the search for those involved is truly compelling and even more compelling is the way in which Sebastian manages to extricate himself from the meshes of this network.
___ If you love action thrillers, with an intelligent and stubborn hero with a good heart, then I recommend this read.
___ WHAT MADE ME ANGRY ____The only flaw in the whole story was
_______ *** ____
__ A small difficulty that readers may encounter in this story is the enormous quantity of names not only of characters, but of streets, buildings and places... I admit that it was confusing at times.Furthermore, being Italian, it was difficult for me to understand many dialect phrases uttered by Sebastian's protégé.
It's not the first time I've read truncated or distorted words to indicate the common language of the poor, and I usually understand it anyway, but this time it was a little more complicated.
___ This is the book #1 in a series and as I said, except one particular, I loved it and I will definitely read the next 18 books already published.
You can also read it as a stand alone, there are no final cliffhangers.
Thank you all for reading my opinion and please forgive my English, it's not my native language.
Let's start telling something about ____ the PLOT :
We are in England in 1811, when King George III is about to be deposed due to his madness and a regent is about to be appointed. The rivalry between the two main political parties is increasingly heated and with it espionage, political pressure and blackmail are always at work.
In the midst of this turmoil, a brutal murder of a prostitute occurs in a church and the suspect seems to be the one who will be the hero of the story: Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars .
In normal times a noble would have gotten away without problems, but political forces need an exemplary punishment to offer to the people and it matters little whether the man is innocent or not. Sebastian's only chance is to escape and look for the real culprit on his own.
Everything becomes more complicated when on Sebastian's path also appear an old romantic disappointment, family members with whom he has difficult relationships, corrupt politicians, bad policemen and a large host of suspects.
Luckily a little cut-purse rascal will become a good friend for Sebastian, as is a young doctor, a long-time comrade in arms.
_______________ MY OPINION :
THE CHARACTERS : I liked all the characters and the author manages to describe them so well in their facial expressions, in their movements, in their thoughts, in the relationships that exist between them. The characters are three-dimensional, so much so that you feel like you know them as if they were real people.
What I hate in some regency novels or mystery series set in the 1920s is the meticulous description of how they are dressed in the latest fashion... Hey, how boring and what do I care??? !!
---> This is not the case, in fact by the descriptions of this author we are able to enter into every thought of bitterness, anger, fear, envy, love, tenderness, hope, irony etc... that the characters are feeling within themselves and which they pour out onto the other characters.
__ Each character is perfect in its particular way to be, I hated every bad guy and felt great sympathy for every good character.
__ I love Sebastian because not only is he young and handsome, but he is noble at heart, he manages to feel empathy for others and he realizes how the world he lives in is generous towards some and too unfair towards many others.
I also appreciated the fact that he does not choose the easy way out and decides to risk his life in order not to reveal secrets of people he is fond of, do justice for a victim, even if she is a prostitute, and to clear his name from a 'unjust accusation.
I already have a medieval book boyfriend and now I also have a regency one, I am completely in love with Sebastian.
__ I liked the rekindled relationship between Sebastian and his old love (no I wasn't jealous, I'm rooting for Kat Bolein who was a victim of the divide between nobles and poor. In fact, what I'm sorry about is already knowing that .
---> There are sex scenes between them that are not explicit and not at all vulgar, but warm and tender at the same time.
--> Another sex scene involving another person may seem a little vulgar but there isn't too much of a description. Nothing shocking, just maybe not suitable for very young people.
__SCENES AND DIALOGUES__ each scene of the story is described meticulously.
While I was reading I could see in my mind the images of places, characters and situations scrolling like in a film.
The author makes us breathe in a humid and foggy, dark and dangerous London.
The dialogues are brilliant and, depending on the scenes, offer the reader suspense and tension alternated from time to time with lightness and fun irony.
---> Frenetic action scenes, daring escapes with a lot of adrenaline, desperate rescues, intriguing interrogations, playful and ironic jokes, moments of strong tension and fear that everything could fall apart... A clever mix of all these elements kept my attention alive from the first page to the last one!!!!!!!
___THE MYSTERY___ This fast-paced mystery was really complicated to solve not only for our hero but also for us readers.
The suspects alternate in a web of lies and subterfuges and each from the way they answer Sebastian's questions they all seem to have uncovered truths about the murder and they all appear to be sincere.
In fact, I never even suspected who the murderer turns out to be and I was really surprised when one of the characters guessed it.
The intertwining of politics, espionage and personal interests in the search for those involved is truly compelling and even more compelling is the way in which Sebastian manages to extricate himself from the meshes of this network.
___ If you love action thrillers, with an intelligent and stubborn hero with a good heart, then I recommend this read.
___ WHAT MADE ME ANGRY ____The only flaw in the whole story was
_______ *** ____
__ A small difficulty that readers may encounter in this story is the enormous quantity of names not only of characters, but of streets, buildings and places... I admit that it was confusing at times.Furthermore, being Italian, it was difficult for me to understand many dialect phrases uttered by Sebastian's protégé.
It's not the first time I've read truncated or distorted words to indicate the common language of the poor, and I usually understand it anyway, but this time it was a little more complicated.
___ This is the book #1 in a series and as I said, except one particular, I loved it and I will definitely read the next 18 books already published.
You can also read it as a stand alone, there are no final cliffhangers.
Thank you all for reading my opinion and please forgive my English, it's not my native language.
June 20, 2016
The
Sebastian St. Cyr
series is one I’ve meant to get around to reading for ages. I like historical mysteries, especially when there’s an intelligent, handsome, damaged hero on offer, so these sounded like they’d hit the spot. There are eleven books in the series now, and there’s no way I’m going to be able to catch up with them all in print, so I did what I usually do in this situation and turned to the audiobook version instead. Narrator Davina Porter is someone I’ve listened to before and enjoyed, so I knew I was going to be in safe hands – so to speak.
This first book in the series introduces our hero, a former soldier whose wartime experiences continue to haunt his dreams and his waking moments. Now Viscount Devlin, he is the heir to the Earl of Hendon, Chancellor of the Exchequer, confidante of the Prime Minister and thus an extremely important figure in the government of the day. Father and son do not have an especially cordial relationship for a number of reasons, some of which are strongly hinted at in this story and which I am sure will play out in future books. Since his return, Sebastian has been reckless and has acquired himself a reputation as a bit of a ladies man, both of which annoy his father, who wants him to settle down and take a seat in Parliament.
As the story is a mystery, I’m not going to say much about the plot, save that it begins when a young woman – a beautiful actress named Rachel York – is discovered to have been raped and brutally murdered in the Lady Chapel of St. Matthew’s of the Fields church. Lying beside the body is a pistol that bears the insignia of Viscount Devlin, making him the prime suspect, and naturally the chief magistrate, Sir Henry Lovejoy wants to bring him in for questioning. A misadventure sees Sebastian having to run for his life and then determining that he needs to discover the identity of the killer in order to prove his innocence; while the authorites think he’s their man, they won’t bother to look at alternatives. With the help of a street-urchin named Tom, his friend, ex-army surgeon Paul Gibson and his former lover, actress Kat Boleyn, Sebastian utilises the skills gained as a spy during the war in order to interrogate witnesses, find clues and put the pieces of the puzzle together.
As the first in a series, there is a fair bit of setting up to be done, but C.S. Harris manages to do that without holding up the progress of the story or indulging in huge info-dumps. The story is well-paced and deliciously complex, weaving the murder investigation through a tapestry rich with historical detail and political intrigue. There’s sex, blackmail, grave-robbing and espionage, and the author does a splendid job of recreating the dingier, seedier side of Regency London, although I did have to remind myself at times that the book is set in 1811 rather than the 1840s or later, because some of the descriptions reminded me more of the London of Dickens or the Whitechapel murders. That said, Ms. Harris still succeeds in drawing an evocative picture that puts the reader/listener firmly on those dank, smelly streets, and gives her story a very strong sense of place.
On a negative note, which can also perhaps be attributed to the fact that this is the first in a series, the characterisation could have been a bit stronger, especially of Sebastian himself. The story is told in the third person (thankfully!) so we’re not in his head the whole time, but I would have appreciated a little more insight into his thought processes. His father and utterly awful sister are also somewhat underdeveloped, but again, I’m hoping that perhaps that will be rectified as the series progresses. As I’ve already said, the reasons behind Sebastian’s strained relationship with Hendon become clear, so I’m keen to see where that plotline takes us. I’m afraid I didn’t care much for Sebastian’s love-interest, though. Six years earlier, Sebastian fell head-over-heels with Kat Boleyn, a beautiful Irish actress, and wanted to marry her. Knowing she wasn’t a suitable bride for the son of an earl, Kat refused and broke Sebastian’s heart, continuing her stage career and having several wealthy protectors along the way. The couple resume a physical relationship in this book, and it’s clear that they both still care for each other, but I didn’t like that Kat had her own agenda which led to her keeping secrets from Sebastian which could have aided him in his search for the killer. She does help him in other ways, it’s true, but the fact that she hides information in order to protect someone else didn’t sit well with me.
I’m not a great reader of mysteries, so even in books where the identity of the killer is fairly obvious, I don’t always see it (!), but here I’d be surprised if even veteran mystery fans had worked it out! It’s not that it doesn’t make sense or that there are no clues as to his identity, but they’re well hidden, and I can’t quite work out whether to think they should have been just a teeny bit more obvious or to applaud the author for keeping things so well under wraps.
The author’s style is very readable and although there are the seemingly obligatory smattering of Americanisms and a few anachronisms in the language, the story is strong enough for those to be fairly easily overcome.
Davina Porter’s narration is well-paced and expressive, and she differentiates effectively between all the characters. Her voice falls naturally into the contralto range, so she doesn’t have to lower the pitch overly much to portray the male characters, although sometimes there isn’t a lot of difference in register between the men and the women. Kat Boleyn, for example, is performed at more or less the same pitch as Sebastian, but is easy to identify because of the Irish lilt in her voice. It’s a good and nuanced performance overall, and fortunately she’s been retained to narrate the other books in the series, so I expect to be proceeding to the next book fairly soon.
This first book in the series introduces our hero, a former soldier whose wartime experiences continue to haunt his dreams and his waking moments. Now Viscount Devlin, he is the heir to the Earl of Hendon, Chancellor of the Exchequer, confidante of the Prime Minister and thus an extremely important figure in the government of the day. Father and son do not have an especially cordial relationship for a number of reasons, some of which are strongly hinted at in this story and which I am sure will play out in future books. Since his return, Sebastian has been reckless and has acquired himself a reputation as a bit of a ladies man, both of which annoy his father, who wants him to settle down and take a seat in Parliament.
As the story is a mystery, I’m not going to say much about the plot, save that it begins when a young woman – a beautiful actress named Rachel York – is discovered to have been raped and brutally murdered in the Lady Chapel of St. Matthew’s of the Fields church. Lying beside the body is a pistol that bears the insignia of Viscount Devlin, making him the prime suspect, and naturally the chief magistrate, Sir Henry Lovejoy wants to bring him in for questioning. A misadventure sees Sebastian having to run for his life and then determining that he needs to discover the identity of the killer in order to prove his innocence; while the authorites think he’s their man, they won’t bother to look at alternatives. With the help of a street-urchin named Tom, his friend, ex-army surgeon Paul Gibson and his former lover, actress Kat Boleyn, Sebastian utilises the skills gained as a spy during the war in order to interrogate witnesses, find clues and put the pieces of the puzzle together.
As the first in a series, there is a fair bit of setting up to be done, but C.S. Harris manages to do that without holding up the progress of the story or indulging in huge info-dumps. The story is well-paced and deliciously complex, weaving the murder investigation through a tapestry rich with historical detail and political intrigue. There’s sex, blackmail, grave-robbing and espionage, and the author does a splendid job of recreating the dingier, seedier side of Regency London, although I did have to remind myself at times that the book is set in 1811 rather than the 1840s or later, because some of the descriptions reminded me more of the London of Dickens or the Whitechapel murders. That said, Ms. Harris still succeeds in drawing an evocative picture that puts the reader/listener firmly on those dank, smelly streets, and gives her story a very strong sense of place.
On a negative note, which can also perhaps be attributed to the fact that this is the first in a series, the characterisation could have been a bit stronger, especially of Sebastian himself. The story is told in the third person (thankfully!) so we’re not in his head the whole time, but I would have appreciated a little more insight into his thought processes. His father and utterly awful sister are also somewhat underdeveloped, but again, I’m hoping that perhaps that will be rectified as the series progresses. As I’ve already said, the reasons behind Sebastian’s strained relationship with Hendon become clear, so I’m keen to see where that plotline takes us. I’m afraid I didn’t care much for Sebastian’s love-interest, though. Six years earlier, Sebastian fell head-over-heels with Kat Boleyn, a beautiful Irish actress, and wanted to marry her. Knowing she wasn’t a suitable bride for the son of an earl, Kat refused and broke Sebastian’s heart, continuing her stage career and having several wealthy protectors along the way. The couple resume a physical relationship in this book, and it’s clear that they both still care for each other, but I didn’t like that Kat had her own agenda which led to her keeping secrets from Sebastian which could have aided him in his search for the killer. She does help him in other ways, it’s true, but the fact that she hides information in order to protect someone else didn’t sit well with me.
I’m not a great reader of mysteries, so even in books where the identity of the killer is fairly obvious, I don’t always see it (!), but here I’d be surprised if even veteran mystery fans had worked it out! It’s not that it doesn’t make sense or that there are no clues as to his identity, but they’re well hidden, and I can’t quite work out whether to think they should have been just a teeny bit more obvious or to applaud the author for keeping things so well under wraps.
The author’s style is very readable and although there are the seemingly obligatory smattering of Americanisms and a few anachronisms in the language, the story is strong enough for those to be fairly easily overcome.
Davina Porter’s narration is well-paced and expressive, and she differentiates effectively between all the characters. Her voice falls naturally into the contralto range, so she doesn’t have to lower the pitch overly much to portray the male characters, although sometimes there isn’t a lot of difference in register between the men and the women. Kat Boleyn, for example, is performed at more or less the same pitch as Sebastian, but is easy to identify because of the Irish lilt in her voice. It’s a good and nuanced performance overall, and fortunately she’s been retained to narrate the other books in the series, so I expect to be proceeding to the next book fairly soon.
February 22, 2019
Okay. I’m hooked. My favorite brew — mystery, history, and romance, delivered by the excellent narrator Davina Porter. The best part is there are twelve more books to binge on!
August 4, 2021
4.5 stars. I loved Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin from the moment he appeared on page. 😍 The third and youngest of his father’s sons, and after several terrible family tragedies, now the heir to the earldom. Only Sebastian has never followed the expectations of either the aristocracy in general or his father in particular, and being the heir is the last thing he wants.
The grisly murder of a young well known actress coincides with some political maneuvering and some rather questionable circumstantial evidence, and Sebastian finds himself accused of her murder. An unfortunate incident during his “arrest” makes it clear to Devlin that the only way he will be found innocent is to find the real murderer himself. So he escapes the inspectors and hides in the roughest parts of London, looking for the killer.
The story and the characters, not only Sebastian, were completely engaging, I loved every minute! The mystery was damn good and the period setting was very well done and lent fabulous atmosphere to the story. I’m genuinely looking forward to every book in this series! Thanks to the lovely Karen for the rec. 😘
The audio is narrated by Davina Porter, who is a new reader for me. I have to admit that her narration took me a bit to get used to. As a female reader, she had a very large male character cast to voice but before long, I was completely wrapped up in listening. Tremendous job by her and I’m already into the next one. ❤️
The grisly murder of a young well known actress coincides with some political maneuvering and some rather questionable circumstantial evidence, and Sebastian finds himself accused of her murder. An unfortunate incident during his “arrest” makes it clear to Devlin that the only way he will be found innocent is to find the real murderer himself. So he escapes the inspectors and hides in the roughest parts of London, looking for the killer.
The story and the characters, not only Sebastian, were completely engaging, I loved every minute! The mystery was damn good and the period setting was very well done and lent fabulous atmosphere to the story. I’m genuinely looking forward to every book in this series! Thanks to the lovely Karen for the rec. 😘
The audio is narrated by Davina Porter, who is a new reader for me. I have to admit that her narration took me a bit to get used to. As a female reader, she had a very large male character cast to voice but before long, I was completely wrapped up in listening. Tremendous job by her and I’m already into the next one. ❤️
April 9, 2022
I loved how the suspects kept jumping on the list, then off the list, then back on again. It made for a really interesting book. I'm glad that Sebastian could keep it all straight, because I lost track of the real baddie. There is so much to love about this book, and I like forward to continuing the series.
Into the political upheaval of the appointment of a Regent and the specter of a new government that might not be favorable to the ruling class, a beautiful actress is found brutally murdered and the son of an Earl is the prime suspect. At this time, it just would not do for the son of an Earl to be shown any deference and the authorities go out of their way to treat Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin as they would anyone else.
But Sebastian values his life and doesn't trust the authorities, so he escapes. Having served his country as an intelligence officer, Sebastian proceeds to conduct his own investigation with the help a band of allies and a love he lost long ago, actress Kat Boleyn, who has numerous secrets of her own. The more Sebastian peels away the layers of the life of Rachel York the more the trail leads Sebastian to a world of intrigue and espionage.
Into the political upheaval of the appointment of a Regent and the specter of a new government that might not be favorable to the ruling class, a beautiful actress is found brutally murdered and the son of an Earl is the prime suspect. At this time, it just would not do for the son of an Earl to be shown any deference and the authorities go out of their way to treat Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin as they would anyone else.
But Sebastian values his life and doesn't trust the authorities, so he escapes. Having served his country as an intelligence officer, Sebastian proceeds to conduct his own investigation with the help a band of allies and a love he lost long ago, actress Kat Boleyn, who has numerous secrets of her own. The more Sebastian peels away the layers of the life of Rachel York the more the trail leads Sebastian to a world of intrigue and espionage.
June 15, 2018
Unfortunately I'm not very positive about this first book in the series. The protagonist reminded me of James Bond, but then situated in 1811. I had difficulty to stay focussed all those 341 pages. I doubt if I will pick up a next one very soon.
November 5, 2018
I must thank many of my friends (Caz, Ira, Blackjack, Laura... just to mention a few!) for urging me to read this series because it's really, really good!
I loved the story and I was cheering Sebastian (Devlin) to discover who did it to save himself.
Every kind of problem happened to Devlin and I loved how and what he did to solve them!
He met some very interesting secondary characters, Tom, the stree urchin, Gibson, the ex army surgeon with whome Sebastian fought against the French, Lord Jarvis, the astute behind the throne force, Amanda, his incredibly envious and bitter sister, Sir Henry Lovejoy, the chief magistrate....
And we have also a love interest, Kat, the beautiful Irish actress. Even if this is not a romantic mystery, she's been very present in Devlin's life since his youth.
He even went to war, just because he was rejected when he offered marriage to Kat.
But what he doens't know is his father's involvement in that rejection.
But don't think that Kat has changed her mind. No, Sir, she didn't. She still doesn't want to marry Devlin.
Just to add to the mystery, the period is very unsteady: the king is mad and his son is a pampered profligate.
Devlin is also suffering from PTSD, but his soldier's past is what will help him solving the murder and ultimately saving himself!
A wonderful book!
I loved the story and I was cheering Sebastian (Devlin) to discover who did it to save himself.
Every kind of problem happened to Devlin and I loved how and what he did to solve them!
He met some very interesting secondary characters, Tom, the stree urchin, Gibson, the ex army surgeon with whome Sebastian fought against the French, Lord Jarvis, the astute behind the throne force, Amanda, his incredibly envious and bitter sister, Sir Henry Lovejoy, the chief magistrate....
And we have also a love interest, Kat, the beautiful Irish actress. Even if this is not a romantic mystery, she's been very present in Devlin's life since his youth.
He even went to war, just because he was rejected when he offered marriage to Kat.
But what he doens't know is his father's involvement in that rejection.
But don't think that Kat has changed her mind. No, Sir, she didn't. She still doesn't want to marry Devlin.
Just to add to the mystery, the period is very unsteady: the king is mad and his son is a pampered profligate.
Devlin is also suffering from PTSD, but his soldier's past is what will help him solving the murder and ultimately saving himself!
A wonderful book!
December 22, 2014
This was a proper old school murder mystery and I loved every second of it! Move over Sherlock Holmes and meet Sebastian St. Cyr. 4 Stars!
I was imaging this book as I TV series and thought hmm how about Tom Hiddleston after chatting with Rachel Adien Turner's name came up and he is soooo much better.
Sebastian St. Cyr has been accused of murdering a young actress Rachel York in a most vulgar way. He is an Alpha with extraordinary talents both in and out of the bedroom.
When I first read the scene with the magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy and the scene had been compromised I wanted shout FINGERPRINTS get them now.
CALL MORGAN, GARCIA AND THE TEAM FROM THE BAU! Then I remembered it was the wrong time.
The one thing where I had problems was although I'm English understanding the East End, Cockney was a pain but a lot of fun.
Amazing Characters with a great plot based on the ordeals of the time. In 1811 where England was at war with the French where there were spies everywhere and people were trying to find out all the secrets to be blackmailed. The Whigs wanted to push the Tories out and the Tories would do anything to stay in power. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn't guess what was going to happen and I love that in a book.
Need to read the next book, fabulous Ms. Harris. Good job well done.
I was imaging this book as I TV series and thought hmm how about Tom Hiddleston after chatting with Rachel Adien Turner's name came up and he is soooo much better.
Sebastian St. Cyr has been accused of murdering a young actress Rachel York in a most vulgar way. He is an Alpha with extraordinary talents both in and out of the bedroom.
When I first read the scene with the magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy and the scene had been compromised I wanted shout FINGERPRINTS get them now.
CALL MORGAN, GARCIA AND THE TEAM FROM THE BAU! Then I remembered it was the wrong time.
The one thing where I had problems was although I'm English understanding the East End, Cockney was a pain but a lot of fun.
Amazing Characters with a great plot based on the ordeals of the time. In 1811 where England was at war with the French where there were spies everywhere and people were trying to find out all the secrets to be blackmailed. The Whigs wanted to push the Tories out and the Tories would do anything to stay in power. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn't guess what was going to happen and I love that in a book.
Need to read the next book, fabulous Ms. Harris. Good job well done.
November 21, 2021
Reread rating/review January'2021
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
I love this remarkable series so much that I wanted to almost immediately restart and reread all the books again from the beginning. I enjoyed this even more the second time around! 5 stars!
Original rating/review November'2020
4.5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
This is a great historical mystery with a couple of gruesome murders and lots of twists and turns. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is such an intriguing character. I'm looking forward to more of this series!
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
I love this remarkable series so much that I wanted to almost immediately restart and reread all the books again from the beginning. I enjoyed this even more the second time around! 5 stars!
Original rating/review November'2020
4.5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
This is a great historical mystery with a couple of gruesome murders and lots of twists and turns. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is such an intriguing character. I'm looking forward to more of this series!
April 20, 2017
4.25 stars.
It's a very good book to start a new series.
Our hero is 28y ex soldier viscount who accidentally became a detective, he was wrongly accused killed a young woman.
His choices either leave the country or try to find the real killer.
The mystery was good, and eventhought I don't like the heroine, she didn't ruin the storyline for me much!
So yeah, I'm hop to book #2.
I wonder how he will get involves with that case because when the magistrate asked him if he interested helping them in solving some cases, he said no, so let's see, shall we?:)
It's a very good book to start a new series.
Our hero is 28y ex soldier viscount who accidentally became a detective, he was wrongly accused killed a young woman.
His choices either leave the country or try to find the real killer.
The mystery was good, and eventhought I don't like the heroine, she didn't ruin the storyline for me much!
So yeah, I'm hop to book #2.
I wonder how he will get involves with that case because when the magistrate asked him if he interested helping them in solving some cases, he said no, so let's see, shall we?:)
November 6, 2010
Changing it up, I started reading this series, a Regency mystery series with a dashing protagonist. Definitely melodramatic, but I truly enjoyed the pace and the characters. I adore period mysteries, so this was a win for me!
December 3, 2019
Interesting start to a series. This mystery was much darker than expected and I actually kind of liked that gritty aspect, horrible as it was. I do like Sebastian, and I'm already super enamoured of Tom, and there's a whole cast of characters I'm sure we'll be seeing more of along the way. I'm excited to finally start this binge.
My major gripes were that the dialogue felt a tad too.. modern? I didn't feel quite as immersed into the setting for some reason. And also the running too and fro to the same suspects did get a little frustrating. And, like, Amanda is horrible? Holy wow. My god.
Also, is it bad I'm already hoping for something that is likely to be hella unlikely? I don't even want to mention it for fear of jinxing myself but. B u t. Anyway, onwards.
My major gripes were that the dialogue felt a tad too.. modern? I didn't feel quite as immersed into the setting for some reason. And also the running too and fro to the same suspects did get a little frustrating. And, like, Amanda is horrible? Holy wow. My god.
Also, is it bad I'm already hoping for something that is likely to be hella unlikely? I don't even want to mention it for fear of jinxing myself but. B u t. Anyway, onwards.
April 30, 2009
Pure escapism. Not extremely well-written, but I am a sucker for mysteries, especially when they are set in a foreign country. It is a weird mix of bodice-ripper and detective novel, though. I was kind of surprised by the sex scenes, they seemed unnecessary for the plot development. I guess it was to make sure you understood the relationship between two of the characters, but I think I got it before they rekindled their physical relationship. Maybe it was just meant to satisfy the usual audience of historical novels. Also, I am not clear when Lister realized that infection was the cause of so many deaths, but I think that it might have been after 1811? Some of the dialogue was very 20th/21st-century, and yet the author threw in a lot of period-speak, so it was jarring to have the characters go back and forth like that. It was like Law and Order meets Masterpiece Theatre, in a way.
April 28, 2014
This book worked quite well as an action/mystery hybrid set in Regency London (on the cusp of Regency, at any rate, as the Prince is made Regent near the end of the novel). Sebastian is an awesome protagonist in the competence-porn vein. There are politics, machinations, and murder with a hero motivated to get his hands dirty and dig to the bottom of some particularly gruesome murders.
This would have been a solid four stars if it weren't for the hero's motivations—or rather, lack thereof, outside of blind authorial intervention. Harris wields chance like a ten-ton (or would that be ten-tonne?) club to force Sebastian into hiding while solving the crimes he's accused of committing. Bad enough as a starting point, but she doubles down on the manipulation further on with it reaching a surfeit by the final confrontation with the actual killer.
Anyway, I liked Sebastian and I look forward to some of the next stories—assuming they don't continue with the appearance of the ten-ton hammer of random manipulation. I'm minorly interested in developments with Kat Boleyn, though I'm not really a fan of her or their relationship as it stands. She's a little too fast on the "for your own good" trigger and completely unrepentantly so—which bodes ill for a lasting relationship as I rather hate the use of "manipulative love" as a foil mechanism. But I'm mostly interested in Sebastian's personal development as he settles into civilian life. Since it's a mystery series, we can assume he'll be surrounded by extraordinary events and I'd like to see where Harris takes it from here. Plus, there's obviously some background details just itching to come out and I can't wait to see them take shape.
A note about Steamy: There are some lightly explicit love scenes in the book that aren't terribly long, but explicit enough to tag. The central murders also involve some sexual deviancy that isn't at all light so that deserves a note of its own...
This would have been a solid four stars if it weren't for the hero's motivations—or rather, lack thereof, outside of blind authorial intervention. Harris wields chance like a ten-ton (or would that be ten-tonne?) club to force Sebastian into hiding while solving the crimes he's accused of committing. Bad enough as a starting point, but she doubles down on the manipulation further on with it reaching a surfeit by the final confrontation with the actual killer.
Anyway, I liked Sebastian and I look forward to some of the next stories—assuming they don't continue with the appearance of the ten-ton hammer of random manipulation. I'm minorly interested in developments with Kat Boleyn, though I'm not really a fan of her or their relationship as it stands. She's a little too fast on the "for your own good" trigger and completely unrepentantly so—which bodes ill for a lasting relationship as I rather hate the use of "manipulative love" as a foil mechanism. But I'm mostly interested in Sebastian's personal development as he settles into civilian life. Since it's a mystery series, we can assume he'll be surrounded by extraordinary events and I'd like to see where Harris takes it from here. Plus, there's obviously some background details just itching to come out and I can't wait to see them take shape.
A note about Steamy: There are some lightly explicit love scenes in the book that aren't terribly long, but explicit enough to tag. The central murders also involve some sexual deviancy that isn't at all light so that deserves a note of its own...
March 9, 2025
I can see the appeal of this book but it never quite clicked for me. The MC, Sebastian St. Cyr, is a member of the English aristocracy struggling with PTSD after having volunteered time in the British army during the seemingly endless war with Napoleon.
When, back in London, he goes underground to escape false accusations of a grisly murder and find the man who was actually responsible, he develops a new awareness of the conditions of the impoverished. The presentation of this enhanced sensitivity to the social inequities of early 19th century London seemed heavy handed. It wasn’t that the story lacked “show”; there was plenty of that. But we didn’t need the “tell” as well.
There was also too much romance for my personal tastes, although it was clearly necessary to drive parts of the plot.
With all that said, if you have an interest in Regency England this could be the series for you. Harris describes and explains in detail the politics and social life of London, and she’s set up a number of colorful characters who will serve the story well in coming volumes. If only I cared about Sebastian St. Cyr!
When, back in London, he goes underground to escape false accusations of a grisly murder and find the man who was actually responsible, he develops a new awareness of the conditions of the impoverished. The presentation of this enhanced sensitivity to the social inequities of early 19th century London seemed heavy handed. It wasn’t that the story lacked “show”; there was plenty of that. But we didn’t need the “tell” as well.
There was also too much romance for my personal tastes, although it was clearly necessary to drive parts of the plot.
With all that said, if you have an interest in Regency England this could be the series for you. Harris describes and explains in detail the politics and social life of London, and she’s set up a number of colorful characters who will serve the story well in coming volumes. If only I cared about Sebastian St. Cyr!
July 25, 2016
I have had C.S. Harris's 'Sebastian St. Cyr' historical mystery series on my GRs to-read list off and on for several years. I have read five of the writer's earlier romances under the name Candice Proctor and enjoyed her style of writing. Still, I was hesitant to start this series about forbidden love and second chances during Regency times.
And now I could kick myself.
WHAT ANGELS FEAR was an interesting introduction to the seamy side of London in the early 1800s. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, had returned home from the war after selling out ten months earlier. He appeared to have a death wish and was biding his time when a young prostitute was murdered. Too soon, he became aware that an unknown person had chose him as the fall guy.
Except the villain did not realize that he picked the wrong man.
Like so many first-books in a series, a good amount of the story was spent setting up introductions to various characters. Some people that I am sure will return in the following mystery-thrillers. And while I slowly read each chapter capturing names and their importance, I found myself tempted to peek at the end of the story. But I didn't.
Mrs. Harris's PhD in European history, her time spent at archeology sites around the world and having travelled abroad, gave her an edge when writing WHAT ANGELS FEAR. I felt I was actually with St. Cyr when he was jumping over roofs while escaping the constable and his men. Or at his side while making his way at the Rag Fair to acquire clothes to disguise himself. Or listening to his young protégée in the cold, frosty air.
The author dropped little info-nuggets about the political battle between the Tories and Whigs before Prinny was placed on the throne. Maneuvers, subterfuge and ploys were found everywhere. But the murders that took place were gruesome and graphic; something I could have read with less detail.
The 'Who Murdered Whom And Why' question provided plenty slivers of friction. Sebastian's socially-impaired family, an unforgotten love and some governmental conspiracies dripped from the pages. Watch for the clues!
~"When one lived a life that was, essentially, a lie, appearances were everything.~
And now I could kick myself.
WHAT ANGELS FEAR was an interesting introduction to the seamy side of London in the early 1800s. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, had returned home from the war after selling out ten months earlier. He appeared to have a death wish and was biding his time when a young prostitute was murdered. Too soon, he became aware that an unknown person had chose him as the fall guy.
Except the villain did not realize that he picked the wrong man.
Like so many first-books in a series, a good amount of the story was spent setting up introductions to various characters. Some people that I am sure will return in the following mystery-thrillers. And while I slowly read each chapter capturing names and their importance, I found myself tempted to peek at the end of the story. But I didn't.
Mrs. Harris's PhD in European history, her time spent at archeology sites around the world and having travelled abroad, gave her an edge when writing WHAT ANGELS FEAR. I felt I was actually with St. Cyr when he was jumping over roofs while escaping the constable and his men. Or at his side while making his way at the Rag Fair to acquire clothes to disguise himself. Or listening to his young protégée in the cold, frosty air.
The author dropped little info-nuggets about the political battle between the Tories and Whigs before Prinny was placed on the throne. Maneuvers, subterfuge and ploys were found everywhere. But the murders that took place were gruesome and graphic; something I could have read with less detail.
The 'Who Murdered Whom And Why' question provided plenty slivers of friction. Sebastian's socially-impaired family, an unforgotten love and some governmental conspiracies dripped from the pages. Watch for the clues!
~"When one lived a life that was, essentially, a lie, appearances were everything.~
April 13, 2022
I enjoy historical mysteries, and this is one of the better ones that I have read. The storyline was good, and the mystery kept me guessing. I really liked the main character, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. I am looking forward to reading the other three novels that are currently part of this series.
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is a rather mysterious young nobleman with uncanny vision and hearing. Rumors have abounded about him since his return from the Napoleonic Wars. When a young actress is brutally murdered and a pistol engraved "St. Cyr" is found at the scene, Sebastian is immediately implicated. An arrest warrant is very quickly issued, and as Sebastian is arrested, an unfortunate accident occurs which appears to seal his guilt. Realizing that his situation is dire, Sebastian takes the opportunity to escape. He decides that the only way to clear his name is to conduct his own investigation. His background in military intelligence serves him well as he delves into the lives of the murdered actress and those who could have wished her harm. Sebastian has allies on his quest for the truth as he seeks help from both a loyal surgeon and an actress he once loved. He also inadvertently acquires the loyalty and assistance of a young boy. As determined authorities search for Sebastian, he must sort through individuals and information to uncover the identity of the killer.
I thought that What Angels Fear was a very interesting and fast paced book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and had difficulty putting it down. This is the first book that I have read by C.S. Harris, but I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is a rather mysterious young nobleman with uncanny vision and hearing. Rumors have abounded about him since his return from the Napoleonic Wars. When a young actress is brutally murdered and a pistol engraved "St. Cyr" is found at the scene, Sebastian is immediately implicated. An arrest warrant is very quickly issued, and as Sebastian is arrested, an unfortunate accident occurs which appears to seal his guilt. Realizing that his situation is dire, Sebastian takes the opportunity to escape. He decides that the only way to clear his name is to conduct his own investigation. His background in military intelligence serves him well as he delves into the lives of the murdered actress and those who could have wished her harm. Sebastian has allies on his quest for the truth as he seeks help from both a loyal surgeon and an actress he once loved. He also inadvertently acquires the loyalty and assistance of a young boy. As determined authorities search for Sebastian, he must sort through individuals and information to uncover the identity of the killer.
I thought that What Angels Fear was a very interesting and fast paced book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and had difficulty putting it down. This is the first book that I have read by C.S. Harris, but I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
April 4, 2012
Couldn't finish this book. It started off well, a solid crime, a touch of history. But then Harris wrote a scene that struck me as bad farce and I couldn't get back into the story. Eventually I gave up.
At about pg 40,
At about pg 40,
May 20, 2021
4.5 STARS
Loved it! I have been wanting to dive into this series for quite some time, and I am thrilled to have finally taken the plunge. Sebastian St Cyr is shaping up to be quite the hero. A tortured soul, third son of an earl and an embittered ex-soldier; almost the makings of a perfect male specimen. And what throws him over the top is his broken heart. Especially since he has lost it to a broken woman. A woman who could have never been his social equal.
I loved the story. It was a very intriguing mystery. My only complaint, if you could call it that, was that I felt it dragged on a bit near the end. I did guess the killer, quite early, actually, but that didn't in any way detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Excellent writing. Excellent narration by Davina Porter. I can't wait to see what is coming in the next book! I sure hope Tom will be in it!
There was something about the act of killing that could bring out everything primitive and not quite human within a man."
Loved it! I have been wanting to dive into this series for quite some time, and I am thrilled to have finally taken the plunge. Sebastian St Cyr is shaping up to be quite the hero. A tortured soul, third son of an earl and an embittered ex-soldier; almost the makings of a perfect male specimen. And what throws him over the top is his broken heart. Especially since he has lost it to a broken woman. A woman who could have never been his social equal.
I loved the story. It was a very intriguing mystery. My only complaint, if you could call it that, was that I felt it dragged on a bit near the end. I did guess the killer, quite early, actually, but that didn't in any way detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Excellent writing. Excellent narration by Davina Porter. I can't wait to see what is coming in the next book! I sure hope Tom will be in it!
May 14, 2017
Fantastic historical mystery!
I wouldn’t go into the plot description as the blurb described it accurately and, since it’s a mystery, the less it said about the plot, the better. Let me just say, don’t pick up the book if you only have time to read few chapters. It’s addictive and every chapter brings new turn and twist to the mystery. The author masterfully created a web that caught all echelons of British society -from the cockney lad to Prince Regent himself. I loved the attention to detail and the level of historic research that went into this book, bringing the period to life. The mystery kept me turning the page, although given it's a long running series I was fairly comfortable that the hero, Sebastian Sr. Cyr, would clear his name... somehow!
It is definitely not a "cozy" mystery, but neither is it bogged down by procedural minutiae or ever-increasing levels of violence intended to shock jaded readers.
Was it a perfect book? No, it was not. I wish for a little more characterization of the hero and the important characters in his life. But it’s also the beginning of the series and it makes me want to read further to see further relationship and character development.
I wouldn’t go into the plot description as the blurb described it accurately and, since it’s a mystery, the less it said about the plot, the better. Let me just say, don’t pick up the book if you only have time to read few chapters. It’s addictive and every chapter brings new turn and twist to the mystery. The author masterfully created a web that caught all echelons of British society -from the cockney lad to Prince Regent himself. I loved the attention to detail and the level of historic research that went into this book, bringing the period to life. The mystery kept me turning the page, although given it's a long running series I was fairly comfortable that the hero, Sebastian Sr. Cyr, would clear his name... somehow!
It is definitely not a "cozy" mystery, but neither is it bogged down by procedural minutiae or ever-increasing levels of violence intended to shock jaded readers.
Was it a perfect book? No, it was not. I wish for a little more characterization of the hero and the important characters in his life. But it’s also the beginning of the series and it makes me want to read further to see further relationship and character development.
March 12, 2016
London, 1811, King George III is descending into madness and his son is about to be crowned Prince Regent. When a young actress is found raped and murdered in a church with the note "St Cyr" in her appointment book and a pistol bearing the St Cyr crest near her body, young man about town, Sebastian St Cyr is immediately suspected of the crime. He manages to escape arrest but instead of fleeing the country goes undercover in an attempt to find the real murderer and clear his name.
This was an excellent fast paced historical mystery with an intrigue that uncovers spies and blackmailers in the hunt for the killer. Regency London springs from the pages, depicting the both the lives led by rich and titled and those in the seamier underside that Sebastian inhabits during his time on the run. This promises to be an excellent series with a handsome, swashbuckling hero in Sebastian.
This was an excellent fast paced historical mystery with an intrigue that uncovers spies and blackmailers in the hunt for the killer. Regency London springs from the pages, depicting the both the lives led by rich and titled and those in the seamier underside that Sebastian inhabits during his time on the run. This promises to be an excellent series with a handsome, swashbuckling hero in Sebastian.
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