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Sebastian St. Cyr #14
Who Slays the Wicked
The death of a fiendish nobleman strikes close to home as Sebastian St. Cyr is tasked with finding the killer to save his young cousin from persecution in this riveting new historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Why Kill the Innocent....
When the handsome but dissolute young gentleman Lord Ashworth is found brutally murdered, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called in by Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy to help catch the killer. Just seven months before, Sebastian had suspected Ashworth of aiding one of his longtime friends and companions in the kidnapping and murder of a string of vulnerable street children. But Sebastian was never able to prove Ashworth's complicity. Nor was he able to prevent his troubled, headstrong young niece Stephanie from entering into a disastrous marriage with the dangerous nobleman.
Stephanie has survived the difficult birth of twin sons. But Sebastian soon discovers that her marriage has quickly degenerated into a sham. Ashworth abandoned his pregnant bride at his father's Park Street mansion and has continued living an essentially bachelor existence. And mounting evidence--ranging from a small bloody handprint to a woman's silk stocking--suggests that Ashworth's killer was a woman. Sebastian is tasked with unraveling the shocking nest of secrets surrounding Ashworth's life to keep Stephanie from being punished for his death.
When the handsome but dissolute young gentleman Lord Ashworth is found brutally murdered, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called in by Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy to help catch the killer. Just seven months before, Sebastian had suspected Ashworth of aiding one of his longtime friends and companions in the kidnapping and murder of a string of vulnerable street children. But Sebastian was never able to prove Ashworth's complicity. Nor was he able to prevent his troubled, headstrong young niece Stephanie from entering into a disastrous marriage with the dangerous nobleman.
Stephanie has survived the difficult birth of twin sons. But Sebastian soon discovers that her marriage has quickly degenerated into a sham. Ashworth abandoned his pregnant bride at his father's Park Street mansion and has continued living an essentially bachelor existence. And mounting evidence--ranging from a small bloody handprint to a woman's silk stocking--suggests that Ashworth's killer was a woman. Sebastian is tasked with unraveling the shocking nest of secrets surrounding Ashworth's life to keep Stephanie from being punished for his death.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
675 people are currently reading
6801 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Harris
23 books3,014 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 565 reviews
May 4, 2019
Who Slays the Wicked by C. S. Harris is a 2019 Berkley publication.
Well, naturally, I didn’t shed any tears over Ashworth’s demise. Good riddance, if you ask me. But the evidence tends to point to Sebastian’s niece, a development that made me as nervous as it did Sebastian.
It then becomes of utmost importance to keep suspicion away from Stephanie, if at all possible, in hopes of finding another viable suspect- of which there are plenty. However, more political intrigue develops when the Russian Grand Duchess arrives in London several months ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, Hero is doing research on the poorest people of London, which has her interviewing rag and bone pickers and night soil men. Also, Hero finally begins to connect the dots when it comes to her dear, clever and conniving cousin, when a few more interesting details emerge. I can't wait for this thread to develop further!!
As always, there is a lot going on in this latest chapter in the series. As desperately as Sebastian hopes his niece is not guilty, he remains mostly unbiased, occasionally over compensating, following the clues, making calm, yet worrying deductions. He also had to put up with the Russian connection, which quickly becomes more of a personal concern, as Sebastian's inquires are not exactly welcome.
It is hard to find fault in this book anywhere, especially the way Harris weaves the intricate details of this enthralling mystery. But, as a long- time reader of the series, I was a bit disappointed in the chemistry between Hero and Sebastian- and Hero’s reduced role. I, also, at this point in the series, really wouldn’t miss Kat all that much, if Sebastian left off visiting her for a while. Her role in this installment felt more like a contrivance or token appearance anyway.
That said, Hero’s research is eye-opening. As a history lover, I have read about the extremely distasteful occupations the poor acclimated themselves to and the lengths they would go just to survive, but Hero’s research humanizes the poverty- which is extreme, and hard to imagine. These segments may make a few readers feel a bit squeamish- and grateful for modern plumbing.
(Although it is worth noting that Rag & Bone men made a resurgence in the 2000’s due to the cost of scrap metal.)
Overall, this was another incredibly tense and deeply engrossing installment in one of my very favorite series!!
4 stars
Well, naturally, I didn’t shed any tears over Ashworth’s demise. Good riddance, if you ask me. But the evidence tends to point to Sebastian’s niece, a development that made me as nervous as it did Sebastian.
It then becomes of utmost importance to keep suspicion away from Stephanie, if at all possible, in hopes of finding another viable suspect- of which there are plenty. However, more political intrigue develops when the Russian Grand Duchess arrives in London several months ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, Hero is doing research on the poorest people of London, which has her interviewing rag and bone pickers and night soil men. Also, Hero finally begins to connect the dots when it comes to her dear, clever and conniving cousin, when a few more interesting details emerge. I can't wait for this thread to develop further!!
As always, there is a lot going on in this latest chapter in the series. As desperately as Sebastian hopes his niece is not guilty, he remains mostly unbiased, occasionally over compensating, following the clues, making calm, yet worrying deductions. He also had to put up with the Russian connection, which quickly becomes more of a personal concern, as Sebastian's inquires are not exactly welcome.
It is hard to find fault in this book anywhere, especially the way Harris weaves the intricate details of this enthralling mystery. But, as a long- time reader of the series, I was a bit disappointed in the chemistry between Hero and Sebastian- and Hero’s reduced role. I, also, at this point in the series, really wouldn’t miss Kat all that much, if Sebastian left off visiting her for a while. Her role in this installment felt more like a contrivance or token appearance anyway.
That said, Hero’s research is eye-opening. As a history lover, I have read about the extremely distasteful occupations the poor acclimated themselves to and the lengths they would go just to survive, but Hero’s research humanizes the poverty- which is extreme, and hard to imagine. These segments may make a few readers feel a bit squeamish- and grateful for modern plumbing.
(Although it is worth noting that Rag & Bone men made a resurgence in the 2000’s due to the cost of scrap metal.)
Overall, this was another incredibly tense and deeply engrossing installment in one of my very favorite series!!
4 stars
September 21, 2022
4 wicked stars for another excellent addition to the Sebastian St Cyr series by C.S. Harris, and with an historical backdrop that is vividly depicted and atmospheric, a plot that is forensically constructed and mysterious, and with characters that are well developed, both new and those constant to the story, this remains a favourite series.
Whilst part of a long running series, this, like all the others, is a self-contained mystery with some common threads that run through the series - like the regency period, with the Prince Regent connected through Jarvis – Sebastian’s self-righteous father-in-law and the social structures and customs of the times.
I am a huge fan of this author, and this is another excellent book, although arguably not her best of the series, but still captivating and rich with history and menace.
The plot
The husband of Sebastian’s niece, Lord Ashworth, is found brutally murdered in his bed. However, when Sebastian delves deeper into the couple’s lives, what is unveiled about Ashworth and Stephanie is anything but the adoring and virtuous married couple that is portrayed in their aristocratic circle. Ashcroft is a profligate sexual predator who indulges in violence to subjugate women and she an adulteress who has become linked to another man who might actually be the father of her twins. Reason, cause, and opportunity – well of course !!! but alongside Stephanie there are so many other suspects that want to see the demise of the ‘wicked’ Ashcroft.
Other Comments
The author’s style is to immerse us in the historical period from the beginning, which she achieves again in this book. Harris then creates the suspense that is penetrating and accretive throughout the book with lots of red herrings and subtle connections to real historical events and people, as she attempts to disguise the villain until the end.
My favourite type of books are murder mystery set in an historical context, which makes Harris one of my preferred authors at the moment. There is an authenticity about the scenes she creates that transports the reader back to the time and place, in London. For example, Covent Garden with its flower stalls and vendors selling fresh produce give way to the evening entertainers who bring the place to life – even today. A metropolis within a capital and with architecture and an ambiance that has survived the test of time and clearly visible today.
Whilst I do love this author this was not my favourite of the series. Other books did better at incorporating the European context, integrating more subplots to the story and the extra characters had a bit more depth. For example, the Russian connection whilst referenced in the story was weak and could have offered so much more.
Nevertheless, I will continue to read the series. In fact, I have read some of the later books in the series already because these do not have to be read in sequence and are standalone mysteries.
Excellent, absorbing and 'wickedly' satisfying especially with the rich historical context of Regency London.
Whilst part of a long running series, this, like all the others, is a self-contained mystery with some common threads that run through the series - like the regency period, with the Prince Regent connected through Jarvis – Sebastian’s self-righteous father-in-law and the social structures and customs of the times.
I am a huge fan of this author, and this is another excellent book, although arguably not her best of the series, but still captivating and rich with history and menace.
The plot
The husband of Sebastian’s niece, Lord Ashworth, is found brutally murdered in his bed. However, when Sebastian delves deeper into the couple’s lives, what is unveiled about Ashworth and Stephanie is anything but the adoring and virtuous married couple that is portrayed in their aristocratic circle. Ashcroft is a profligate sexual predator who indulges in violence to subjugate women and she an adulteress who has become linked to another man who might actually be the father of her twins. Reason, cause, and opportunity – well of course !!! but alongside Stephanie there are so many other suspects that want to see the demise of the ‘wicked’ Ashcroft.
Other Comments
The author’s style is to immerse us in the historical period from the beginning, which she achieves again in this book. Harris then creates the suspense that is penetrating and accretive throughout the book with lots of red herrings and subtle connections to real historical events and people, as she attempts to disguise the villain until the end.
My favourite type of books are murder mystery set in an historical context, which makes Harris one of my preferred authors at the moment. There is an authenticity about the scenes she creates that transports the reader back to the time and place, in London. For example, Covent Garden with its flower stalls and vendors selling fresh produce give way to the evening entertainers who bring the place to life – even today. A metropolis within a capital and with architecture and an ambiance that has survived the test of time and clearly visible today.
Whilst I do love this author this was not my favourite of the series. Other books did better at incorporating the European context, integrating more subplots to the story and the extra characters had a bit more depth. For example, the Russian connection whilst referenced in the story was weak and could have offered so much more.
Nevertheless, I will continue to read the series. In fact, I have read some of the later books in the series already because these do not have to be read in sequence and are standalone mysteries.
Excellent, absorbing and 'wickedly' satisfying especially with the rich historical context of Regency London.
March 20, 2019
It must be incredibly difficult for an author to maintain the high standards of a series the longer it lasts. Harris has done just that, and more. Each consecutive book, in my opinion, keeps getting better and better. Impressive, to say the least.
In this outing, a high ranking, though despicable member of the aristocracy in murdered, in the most dissolute of fashions. Although despised by many, including himself, Sebastian is called on to investigate. He is a ranking member of the aristocracy himself, but unlike many of his class he has deep sympathies for the underdogs, the lower class. He also has a personal reason to find the killer.
Such a great mix of personal, Sebastian has had a varied life, to crime solving, and the political times.
So much in their series is based on fact, it is very well researched, and one does feel like the are back in the early 1800s. The period details are amazingly well written.
At books end, one quote struck me, " Rank and wealth can cover a multitude of sins." Seems much hasn't changed in that regard.
ARc from Netgalley.
In this outing, a high ranking, though despicable member of the aristocracy in murdered, in the most dissolute of fashions. Although despised by many, including himself, Sebastian is called on to investigate. He is a ranking member of the aristocracy himself, but unlike many of his class he has deep sympathies for the underdogs, the lower class. He also has a personal reason to find the killer.
Such a great mix of personal, Sebastian has had a varied life, to crime solving, and the political times.
So much in their series is based on fact, it is very well researched, and one does feel like the are back in the early 1800s. The period details are amazingly well written.
At books end, one quote struck me, " Rank and wealth can cover a multitude of sins." Seems much hasn't changed in that regard.
ARc from Netgalley.
April 23, 2019
I loved every word of this beautiful book. Of course after the previous 13 books in the series I love Sebastian and his little family and the author can do no wrong in my eyes!
This episode had a large number of murders starting with the death of someone everyone wanted dead anyway. The only problem was that Sebastian's own niece became a suspect so of course he has to find the true killer. People then started to drop like flies, including quite a few at the hand of Sebastian himself.
As usual we enjoy the wonder of the author's knowledge of London at that time. She describes places we know today as they were then and it is fun to visualise the way things used to be. Hero is busy interviewing people who did some pretty awful jobs like night soil workers and Sebastian is shooting people and not even being interviewed by the police. It was definitely a time when being rich was the only way to be.
I totally failed to guess the guilty parties but was happy to note that many aspects of the story were left up in the air at the end of the book. This should be a guarantee that there is another book in the works for next year. I for one cannot wait!
This episode had a large number of murders starting with the death of someone everyone wanted dead anyway. The only problem was that Sebastian's own niece became a suspect so of course he has to find the true killer. People then started to drop like flies, including quite a few at the hand of Sebastian himself.
As usual we enjoy the wonder of the author's knowledge of London at that time. She describes places we know today as they were then and it is fun to visualise the way things used to be. Hero is busy interviewing people who did some pretty awful jobs like night soil workers and Sebastian is shooting people and not even being interviewed by the police. It was definitely a time when being rich was the only way to be.
I totally failed to guess the guilty parties but was happy to note that many aspects of the story were left up in the air at the end of the book. This should be a guarantee that there is another book in the works for next year. I for one cannot wait!
April 27, 2019
These Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries are so good! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Sebastian is tasked with finding the real killer when his cousin is accused of murder.
Sebastian’s cousin, Stephanie, married this handsome but unsettling nobleman against Sebastian’s wishes. Sebastian could never prove Ashworth did anything untoward, but he had strong suspicions. Stephanie was abandoned by Ashworth while pregnant, and evidence is found at the scene of his murder suggesting the killer is a woman.
Oh, I was completely lost in Who Slays the Wicked. This story hitting so close to home for Sebastian just connected it to me all the more. Stephanie is extremely sympathetic here and I wanted the real killer to be found.
I don’t really want to say too much more, but I’ll close with his. Sebastian has a brilliant analytical mind, and these books get you right inside. They make you think the way he does, and it’s so engrossing. The writing is completely transportive and brilliant. If you are a fan of historical mysteries, this is hands-down one of the best series I’ve tried. Jonetta was right!
I received a complimentary copy of each. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Sebastian is tasked with finding the real killer when his cousin is accused of murder.
Sebastian’s cousin, Stephanie, married this handsome but unsettling nobleman against Sebastian’s wishes. Sebastian could never prove Ashworth did anything untoward, but he had strong suspicions. Stephanie was abandoned by Ashworth while pregnant, and evidence is found at the scene of his murder suggesting the killer is a woman.
Oh, I was completely lost in Who Slays the Wicked. This story hitting so close to home for Sebastian just connected it to me all the more. Stephanie is extremely sympathetic here and I wanted the real killer to be found.
I don’t really want to say too much more, but I’ll close with his. Sebastian has a brilliant analytical mind, and these books get you right inside. They make you think the way he does, and it’s so engrossing. The writing is completely transportive and brilliant. If you are a fan of historical mysteries, this is hands-down one of the best series I’ve tried. Jonetta was right!
I received a complimentary copy of each. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
October 25, 2019
This is such a great series, with interesting and accurate historical research and details woven into the plot, wonderful, strong characters as well as glimpses of the underbelly of Regency London.
This fourteenth episode opens with the death of a nobleman, Lord Ashworth, husband of Sebastian St Cyr's cousin Stephanie. Ashworth is a vile and depraved man who gambles, doesn't pay his bills and likes to play sexual games with women from all levels of society. Sebastion also suspected he was involved in the deaths of some street children the previous year but could never prove it. He has abandoned his young wife by sending her to live with his father after the birth of her twins so he can continue to live a bachelor existence. Needless to say he has many enemies and no one is too upset at the news of his death, including his wife. However, some of the evidence points to the possibility that the killer is a woman and Sebastian is anxious that Stephanie not be falsely implicated, while not ruling out the possibility that she could have killed him in a fit of rage at his treatment of her.
The strength in these novels is not so much the murder mystery (and there a lot of bodies in this novel) but the way the conditions and politics of the time are woven into the plot. Sebastian and his wife Hero make such a great couple, with Sebastian able to gain entrance to the highest levels of society with ease and also able to dress in old clothes and venture into London's slums and poorest quarters. As a courageous voice for social injustice through her work in writing about the poor of London, Hero adds valuable colour and information (in this novel we learn about rag and bone men and night soil collectors) and can often help Sebastian with information he couldn't get otherwise.
Now I have to wait impatiently for the next episode to be published next year. There were a few plot threads that I'm interested to see followed up (What will Stephanie do now? and What is Hero's cousin Victoria up to?) and we still have to find out about the secrets surrounding Sebastian's heritage so I'm hoping there will be some progress there in the next book.
This fourteenth episode opens with the death of a nobleman, Lord Ashworth, husband of Sebastian St Cyr's cousin Stephanie. Ashworth is a vile and depraved man who gambles, doesn't pay his bills and likes to play sexual games with women from all levels of society. Sebastion also suspected he was involved in the deaths of some street children the previous year but could never prove it. He has abandoned his young wife by sending her to live with his father after the birth of her twins so he can continue to live a bachelor existence. Needless to say he has many enemies and no one is too upset at the news of his death, including his wife. However, some of the evidence points to the possibility that the killer is a woman and Sebastian is anxious that Stephanie not be falsely implicated, while not ruling out the possibility that she could have killed him in a fit of rage at his treatment of her.
The strength in these novels is not so much the murder mystery (and there a lot of bodies in this novel) but the way the conditions and politics of the time are woven into the plot. Sebastian and his wife Hero make such a great couple, with Sebastian able to gain entrance to the highest levels of society with ease and also able to dress in old clothes and venture into London's slums and poorest quarters. As a courageous voice for social injustice through her work in writing about the poor of London, Hero adds valuable colour and information (in this novel we learn about rag and bone men and night soil collectors) and can often help Sebastian with information he couldn't get otherwise.
Now I have to wait impatiently for the next episode to be published next year. There were a few plot threads that I'm interested to see followed up (What will Stephanie do now? and What is Hero's cousin Victoria up to?) and we still have to find out about the secrets surrounding Sebastian's heritage so I'm hoping there will be some progress there in the next book.
September 5, 2021
4 stars for another entertaining historical fiction mystery. This is book 14 in the series and the only one that I have not read. I have read them mostly in order, with the exception of a few advanced release review books that I received. This book has Devlin, aka Sebastian St. Cyr, investigating the murder of his niece's husband, Lord Ashworth. Devlin is independently wealthy because of his father, the Earl of Hendon. Devlin believes that Ashworth was responsible for the rape, torture and murder of several street children. Ashworth has many enemies. Possible suspects include Stephanie, his niece, who realized what a truly terrible man her husband was after she was married.
Devlin does solve the murder, but not before several more people are killed.
The author has done some research into the clothing and society conditions of the time. She describes in vivid detail hows wretched life is for the poor of England during the period. It is spring of 1814. Among other things, Hero, Devlin's wife, decides to chronicle what life is like for poor people. She interviews the poor, including those people who collect dog poop and sell it for fertilizer.
Two quotes: Devlin outfit: "He was wearing a buff-colored coat with a cascade of capes at the shoulders and had his high-crowned hat tipped at a rakish angle,..."
Devlin on evil; "I met an Egyptian holy man once who told me they believe evil has no existence in and of itself but is simply a lack of good-the same way darkness is a lack of light."
I read this library book in 3 days.
Devlin does solve the murder, but not before several more people are killed.
The author has done some research into the clothing and society conditions of the time. She describes in vivid detail hows wretched life is for the poor of England during the period. It is spring of 1814. Among other things, Hero, Devlin's wife, decides to chronicle what life is like for poor people. She interviews the poor, including those people who collect dog poop and sell it for fertilizer.
Two quotes: Devlin outfit: "He was wearing a buff-colored coat with a cascade of capes at the shoulders and had his high-crowned hat tipped at a rakish angle,..."
Devlin on evil; "I met an Egyptian holy man once who told me they believe evil has no existence in and of itself but is simply a lack of good-the same way darkness is a lack of light."
I read this library book in 3 days.
December 8, 2019
Well, the day of reckoning for the despicable and detestable Lord Ashworth has arrived. The husband of Sebastian St. Cyr’s niece Stephanie was found brutally murdered in a compromising position at one of the homes he used for his sordid activities. Sebastian is assisting Chief Magistrate Henry Lovejoy in the investigation, as he does when a case involves a member of the aristocracy. With a long list of enemies, including himself, Sebastian, Viscount Devlin hates that his niece is the primary suspect, even in his own opinion. The man who assisted in the numerous murders of poor, young boys several months ago and had a reputation for raping countless women wasn’t mourned by anyone other than his father but his position required that someone be held accountable for his demise. Sebastian didn’t want an innocent to be accused for the sake of expediency.
I have to admit to being excited to see Ashworth finally meet his end. He was an awful man protected by his station so he was never held to account for any of his misdeeds even though no one disputed his culpability. Following Sebastian’s investigation and assembly of clues was incredibly interesting, even the ones that led to red herrings or futility. They all told you something about the people affected by Ashworth and the extent of his misbehavior. I gave up trying to figure out whodunit but in the end, had my initial suspicions (which I dispelled) validated! I was engrossed in this story and it surpassed my expectations. There’s a little bit of everything, from political intrigue to the underbelly of the city, literally. All combined to make this an outstanding story.
Hero St. Cyr’s research also bears mentioning as she interviews the poor, impoverished and invisible citizens of the city who handle jobs that I never imagined but were critical to the city’s infrastructure working. It was a real education about the era, typical of this series but extraordinary in its scope. It loosely connects to the story but it wouldn’t have mattered to me if it didn’t as it was illuminating. This is one of my most favorite stories in the series.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
I have to admit to being excited to see Ashworth finally meet his end. He was an awful man protected by his station so he was never held to account for any of his misdeeds even though no one disputed his culpability. Following Sebastian’s investigation and assembly of clues was incredibly interesting, even the ones that led to red herrings or futility. They all told you something about the people affected by Ashworth and the extent of his misbehavior. I gave up trying to figure out whodunit but in the end, had my initial suspicions (which I dispelled) validated! I was engrossed in this story and it surpassed my expectations. There’s a little bit of everything, from political intrigue to the underbelly of the city, literally. All combined to make this an outstanding story.
Hero St. Cyr’s research also bears mentioning as she interviews the poor, impoverished and invisible citizens of the city who handle jobs that I never imagined but were critical to the city’s infrastructure working. It was a real education about the era, typical of this series but extraordinary in its scope. It loosely connects to the story but it wouldn’t have mattered to me if it didn’t as it was illuminating. This is one of my most favorite stories in the series.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
August 18, 2024
5★
“He stood beside the two graves for a long time, his hat in his hands, the wind ruffling his hair and thrashing the limbs of a nearby row of maples and horse chestnuts heavy with the fresh green growth of spring. When he’d watched the children laid to rest last September, the trees’ wet, dying leaves had painted the churchyard with yellow and scarlet. For seven months, he had sought to bring their second murderer to justice. But in the end, someone else had done it for him.”
Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin, had tried unsuccessfully to put a stop to the sadistic activities of handsome young Lord Ashworth, whose tastes generally ran to ‘the younger the better’, and ‘all’s fair in sex and torture’.
Now he seeks to discover who, indeed, slayed the wicked. Ashworth had so many enemies, including Sebastian himself, that London is full of suspects. It’s April, 1814, and there is a visiting Russian princess who has taken over an entire hotel in the city with her entourage, one of whom, also a princess, is known to enjoy the same dangerous, sadistic activities as the late Viscount Ashworth.
Sebastian’s concern is that immediate suspicion falls on his newly widowed niece, Stephanie, who had married Ashworth only seven months earlier after Ashworth had raped her at Lady Cowper’s ball.
Ashworth’s father, the Marquis of Lindley, had cut off his son’s allowance until he married and produced an heir, so when Stephanie announced she was pregnant, it suited the son’s purpose to marry her.
When she gave birth to twin boys, the old Marquis was delighted -two heirs! - and Ashworth simply lived elsewhere and continued his usual pursuits until he ended up hacked to death in his bed.
After Sebastian’s old army friend, surgeon Paul Gibson, had done the post-mortem, there is an inquest held at the White Hart in Clarges Street. (We don’t see much of Gibson in this. Pity.)
“Because no official venue for such inquiries existed, inquests were typically convened in whatever nearby pub or inn was large enough to accommodate the crowds so often attracted by the titillating opportunity to view a bloody, mutilated corpse.”
As Sebastian seeks to interview Ashworth’s staff and creditors, some of them turn up dead as well, one stripped naked. Then a bundle of bloody women’s clothing is found in the Thames. As suspicion moves from creditors to the Russians to Stephanie to another creditor, Sebastian, as always, discusses the case with Hero, his wife and mother of their toddler son, Simon.
Hero is the daughter of the Prince Regent’s righthand man, Lord Jarvis, arguably the most powerful man in Britain and an avowed enemy of Sebastian. He dotes on his brilliant, independent daughter, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t order the assassination of his annoying son-in-law.
Harris paints wonderful historical pictures of England during the war with Napoleon, and the fluctuating royal marriage matches as countries vie for alliances to cement strategic partnerships. Princesses are pawns in this, yet they wield power of their own, and the Russian royal guests and their bodyguards are not to be upset. Allegations of murder are not likely to go down well.
As well as the aristocracy, Harris describes the poverty of England that we see later in Dickens. Hero is an influential advocate for the poor, interviewing and writing articles about the children who sweep the road crossings, the nightsoil men, and those who make their living collecting and selling dog droppings to the tanneries. Hero makes some smelly friends.
Some of the pubs are just about as bad. Sebastian sometimes disguises himself in rags and rubs lard and ash into his hair as he investigates.
“Sebastian found the common room of the Black Swan thick with tobacco smoke and reeking with the usual foul combination of spilled ale, bad teeth, and rank body odor. The dim light from a scattering of guttering tallow dips flickered over a roaring throng of rough men, their faces shiny with a desperate kind of excitement or sunken into hopeless despair.
. . .
This was a world of unshaven faces and furtive glances, of men who’d steal the pennies off a dead man’s eyes and kill you for the clothes off your back if given a chance.
. . .
Outside, the night was cold, the air heavy with the stench of coal smoke, roasting meat, and overflowing boghouses.”
This is a terrific historical mystery series with complex characters, complicated mysteries, and excellent historical detail and settings. Only occasionally do I stumble across a word or phrase that sounds ‘modern’ to me, but I suspect I’m the one who’s wrong.
Below is a link to my reviews of the previous books and those I have yet to read.
My list of Sebastian St. Cyr Historical Mysteries with reviews.
“He stood beside the two graves for a long time, his hat in his hands, the wind ruffling his hair and thrashing the limbs of a nearby row of maples and horse chestnuts heavy with the fresh green growth of spring. When he’d watched the children laid to rest last September, the trees’ wet, dying leaves had painted the churchyard with yellow and scarlet. For seven months, he had sought to bring their second murderer to justice. But in the end, someone else had done it for him.”
Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin, had tried unsuccessfully to put a stop to the sadistic activities of handsome young Lord Ashworth, whose tastes generally ran to ‘the younger the better’, and ‘all’s fair in sex and torture’.
Now he seeks to discover who, indeed, slayed the wicked. Ashworth had so many enemies, including Sebastian himself, that London is full of suspects. It’s April, 1814, and there is a visiting Russian princess who has taken over an entire hotel in the city with her entourage, one of whom, also a princess, is known to enjoy the same dangerous, sadistic activities as the late Viscount Ashworth.
Sebastian’s concern is that immediate suspicion falls on his newly widowed niece, Stephanie, who had married Ashworth only seven months earlier after Ashworth had raped her at Lady Cowper’s ball.
Ashworth’s father, the Marquis of Lindley, had cut off his son’s allowance until he married and produced an heir, so when Stephanie announced she was pregnant, it suited the son’s purpose to marry her.
When she gave birth to twin boys, the old Marquis was delighted -two heirs! - and Ashworth simply lived elsewhere and continued his usual pursuits until he ended up hacked to death in his bed.
After Sebastian’s old army friend, surgeon Paul Gibson, had done the post-mortem, there is an inquest held at the White Hart in Clarges Street. (We don’t see much of Gibson in this. Pity.)
“Because no official venue for such inquiries existed, inquests were typically convened in whatever nearby pub or inn was large enough to accommodate the crowds so often attracted by the titillating opportunity to view a bloody, mutilated corpse.”
As Sebastian seeks to interview Ashworth’s staff and creditors, some of them turn up dead as well, one stripped naked. Then a bundle of bloody women’s clothing is found in the Thames. As suspicion moves from creditors to the Russians to Stephanie to another creditor, Sebastian, as always, discusses the case with Hero, his wife and mother of their toddler son, Simon.
Hero is the daughter of the Prince Regent’s righthand man, Lord Jarvis, arguably the most powerful man in Britain and an avowed enemy of Sebastian. He dotes on his brilliant, independent daughter, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t order the assassination of his annoying son-in-law.
Harris paints wonderful historical pictures of England during the war with Napoleon, and the fluctuating royal marriage matches as countries vie for alliances to cement strategic partnerships. Princesses are pawns in this, yet they wield power of their own, and the Russian royal guests and their bodyguards are not to be upset. Allegations of murder are not likely to go down well.
As well as the aristocracy, Harris describes the poverty of England that we see later in Dickens. Hero is an influential advocate for the poor, interviewing and writing articles about the children who sweep the road crossings, the nightsoil men, and those who make their living collecting and selling dog droppings to the tanneries. Hero makes some smelly friends.
Some of the pubs are just about as bad. Sebastian sometimes disguises himself in rags and rubs lard and ash into his hair as he investigates.
“Sebastian found the common room of the Black Swan thick with tobacco smoke and reeking with the usual foul combination of spilled ale, bad teeth, and rank body odor. The dim light from a scattering of guttering tallow dips flickered over a roaring throng of rough men, their faces shiny with a desperate kind of excitement or sunken into hopeless despair.
. . .
This was a world of unshaven faces and furtive glances, of men who’d steal the pennies off a dead man’s eyes and kill you for the clothes off your back if given a chance.
. . .
Outside, the night was cold, the air heavy with the stench of coal smoke, roasting meat, and overflowing boghouses.”
This is a terrific historical mystery series with complex characters, complicated mysteries, and excellent historical detail and settings. Only occasionally do I stumble across a word or phrase that sounds ‘modern’ to me, but I suspect I’m the one who’s wrong.
Below is a link to my reviews of the previous books and those I have yet to read.
My list of Sebastian St. Cyr Historical Mysteries with reviews.
December 13, 2019
I can't be the only one who cheered after that first chapter..
Not going to lie, I'm happy to be done with this binge. It's been a great ride, with some stories better than others, but in hindsight I don't know if this is the best series to go back to back for all fourteen (or even more than a handful). The repetitions, the phrasings, the fact that I'm now realizing that Harris might have written each book in a way that could allow it to stand on it's own (or at least allow readers to pop in mid-series despite the obvious spoilers for some things) makes some of the passages and rehashings a little boring. Also the same song and dance RE a particular sorta-villain does eventually get tiresome because it's just the same old same old.
That said, some of the individual mysteries are hella engrossing, but even when they aren't, it's the recurring cast of characters that actually get some character growth (so, like, three or four of them..) that are worth pushing through the rest of it. It doesn't mean they don't have their own same-ness in some ways, but. Still worth it.
So, yes, happy for the break until.. April or whenever the next one is out. But not regretting the experience of devouring these. I'm glad I finally got around to reading them and have loved interacting with all my friends who are fans via reviews.
Not going to lie, I'm happy to be done with this binge. It's been a great ride, with some stories better than others, but in hindsight I don't know if this is the best series to go back to back for all fourteen (or even more than a handful). The repetitions, the phrasings, the fact that I'm now realizing that Harris might have written each book in a way that could allow it to stand on it's own (or at least allow readers to pop in mid-series despite the obvious spoilers for some things) makes some of the passages and rehashings a little boring. Also the same song and dance RE a particular sorta-villain does eventually get tiresome because it's just the same old same old.
That said, some of the individual mysteries are hella engrossing, but even when they aren't, it's the recurring cast of characters that actually get some character growth (so, like, three or four of them..) that are worth pushing through the rest of it. It doesn't mean they don't have their own same-ness in some ways, but. Still worth it.
So, yes, happy for the break until.. April or whenever the next one is out. But not regretting the experience of devouring these. I'm glad I finally got around to reading them and have loved interacting with all my friends who are fans via reviews.
April 8, 2019
I love how constant is the good writing in this series! The author thoroughly researched the period and you can "feel" how life was in London in that period! It's just wonderful!
The mystery part is, as usual, very interesting and convoluted and I kept guessting (wrongly) who did it! LOL
What I missed more here is family time between Sebastian and Hero and Sebastian's "meetings" with Jarvis and what Jarvis is doing with Victoria.
Don't get me wrong, we get all that, but it's too short for my taste!
We get to know a little bit in depth who is Victoria and the author gave some juicy bits about her past that could be explored in the next books! I hope they'll be explored, because I'm very curious about her and if Jarvis will marry her and survive! LOL
I also got the feeling that Hero and Sebastian and settled nicely in their family life and, if not for Sebastian's involvement with crime-solving, they'll be living a quiet and loving life! But thanfully the author didn't do that to us and we get to see Sebastian in his sleuth mode!
I love the interviews Hero does with the poor. It were the most touching moments of the book! It was heart wrenching to read how huge was the gap between the aristocracy and the other less fortunate.
Even when the end came and the culprit was discovered I closed the book with the thought that Justice is not equal for all. It is a lot more "equal" for the rich!!! And that left me a bad taste in my mouth, since nothing has changed in all this time!
This is an excellent book where not only you got a nice story, but also makes you think about deeper things than romance or crime!
The mystery part is, as usual, very interesting and convoluted and I kept guessting (wrongly) who did it! LOL
What I missed more here is family time between Sebastian and Hero and Sebastian's "meetings" with Jarvis and what Jarvis is doing with Victoria.
Don't get me wrong, we get all that, but it's too short for my taste!
We get to know a little bit in depth who is Victoria and the author gave some juicy bits about her past that could be explored in the next books! I hope they'll be explored, because I'm very curious about her and if Jarvis will marry her and survive! LOL
I also got the feeling that Hero and Sebastian and settled nicely in their family life and, if not for Sebastian's involvement with crime-solving, they'll be living a quiet and loving life! But thanfully the author didn't do that to us and we get to see Sebastian in his sleuth mode!
I love the interviews Hero does with the poor. It were the most touching moments of the book! It was heart wrenching to read how huge was the gap between the aristocracy and the other less fortunate.
Even when the end came and the culprit was discovered I closed the book with the thought that Justice is not equal for all. It is a lot more "equal" for the rich!!! And that left me a bad taste in my mouth, since nothing has changed in all this time!
This is an excellent book where not only you got a nice story, but also makes you think about deeper things than romance or crime!
March 19, 2019
Great story with many twists to get lost in!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say I love her covers! They are just perfectly matched to the story and add so much to the intrigue of the book. And this new release has a lot of intrigue!
One thing that strikes me when I start getting into this type of story is that you really have to give it several chapters to get into the mood, culture, and time-frame of the story. Setting up the story is critical for this book.
That is one of the strong points with this author. She writes in such a manner that you are transported to that time in history. You can feel the oppression of the bleak and fearful, and complex vibe of the city. You can see the story in your mind, page by page. It is a magical ability.
Because of that ability, this book comes alive with the violent acts, brutal nature of the crime, and the methodical step-by-step crime solving abilities of St. Cyr. With bits and pieces of evidence and interviewing techniques, we never know until the end what is critical in the investigation and who is the one that did the crimes.
This is the second book in the series I have read and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Brilliantly written and keeps your brain guessing all the way through!
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/who-slays-th...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say I love her covers! They are just perfectly matched to the story and add so much to the intrigue of the book. And this new release has a lot of intrigue!
One thing that strikes me when I start getting into this type of story is that you really have to give it several chapters to get into the mood, culture, and time-frame of the story. Setting up the story is critical for this book.
That is one of the strong points with this author. She writes in such a manner that you are transported to that time in history. You can feel the oppression of the bleak and fearful, and complex vibe of the city. You can see the story in your mind, page by page. It is a magical ability.
Because of that ability, this book comes alive with the violent acts, brutal nature of the crime, and the methodical step-by-step crime solving abilities of St. Cyr. With bits and pieces of evidence and interviewing techniques, we never know until the end what is critical in the investigation and who is the one that did the crimes.
This is the second book in the series I have read and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Brilliantly written and keeps your brain guessing all the way through!
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/who-slays-th...
March 14, 2019
Choosing the word "enthralled" to describe my feelings toward this historical mystery - especially since it's full of murder, mayhem and some very nasty people - might seem a bit strange, but that's exactly how I felt from the first page to the last. It's also my first of 14 books in this series, so another prime emotion I felt when I finished is sadness that I hadn't read the predecessors. What an attention-holding, well-written book!
It's also well-researched, and that adds substantially to the "flavor." Set in London circa 1814, the story is greatly enhanced by descriptions of the city, what was happening elsewhere in the world (Paris had just sent Napoleon packing, for instance) and terminology appropriate to the time. The characters spoke and acted the way I'd expect from that time period - although I must say that Sebastian St. Cyr and his wife, Hero, are far less stodgy than their family and friends (which only made me like them all the more).
As this one begins, Sebastian is called in to help find out who murdered and pretty thoroughly mutilated Lord Ashworth, a man who not long ago married Sebastian's young niece Stephanie. Ashworth has a long history of abusing anyone who tickles his fancy (or refuses to) - most notably children and young ladies - so while no one owns up to the murder, neither does anyone express sorrow that he bit the dust. That widespread attitude, of course, makes the suspect pool grow as each new clue is revealed; the consensus, though, is that the killer is female (with Stephanie, who recently gave birth to twins but is estranged from Ashworth, at the top of the list).
Sebastian desperately hopes to prove her innocence, but first he must convince himself. Complicating matters is that other dead bodies are turning up, thought to be somehow connected to Ashworth's murder. Besides that, a Russian delegation, including a snobbish high-ranking princess, is in town for what may be nefarious purposes - and before long, entanglements with Ashworth are unearthed and members of their entourage are added to the suspects' list as well. The more Sebastian digs in, the more it becomes clear that the hole he's creating may be the perfect size for his own grave.
This story stands alone well, although there were a few allusions to people and events that no doubt would be better understood by those who read previous books. Also, the fact that some of the characters were called by different names or titles here and there was a bit confusing to me at times(Sebastian is also known as Viscount Devlin, for example). But honestly, none of that really got in the way. I found this book absolutely delightful - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
It's also well-researched, and that adds substantially to the "flavor." Set in London circa 1814, the story is greatly enhanced by descriptions of the city, what was happening elsewhere in the world (Paris had just sent Napoleon packing, for instance) and terminology appropriate to the time. The characters spoke and acted the way I'd expect from that time period - although I must say that Sebastian St. Cyr and his wife, Hero, are far less stodgy than their family and friends (which only made me like them all the more).
As this one begins, Sebastian is called in to help find out who murdered and pretty thoroughly mutilated Lord Ashworth, a man who not long ago married Sebastian's young niece Stephanie. Ashworth has a long history of abusing anyone who tickles his fancy (or refuses to) - most notably children and young ladies - so while no one owns up to the murder, neither does anyone express sorrow that he bit the dust. That widespread attitude, of course, makes the suspect pool grow as each new clue is revealed; the consensus, though, is that the killer is female (with Stephanie, who recently gave birth to twins but is estranged from Ashworth, at the top of the list).
Sebastian desperately hopes to prove her innocence, but first he must convince himself. Complicating matters is that other dead bodies are turning up, thought to be somehow connected to Ashworth's murder. Besides that, a Russian delegation, including a snobbish high-ranking princess, is in town for what may be nefarious purposes - and before long, entanglements with Ashworth are unearthed and members of their entourage are added to the suspects' list as well. The more Sebastian digs in, the more it becomes clear that the hole he's creating may be the perfect size for his own grave.
This story stands alone well, although there were a few allusions to people and events that no doubt would be better understood by those who read previous books. Also, the fact that some of the characters were called by different names or titles here and there was a bit confusing to me at times(Sebastian is also known as Viscount Devlin, for example). But honestly, none of that really got in the way. I found this book absolutely delightful - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
April 19, 2019
Sebastian St. Cyr is not especially sad when Lord Ashworth is found brutally murdered. The man was a menace and Sebastian suspects that he was involved with the kidnapping and murder of Street Children. He just couldn't prove anything. And, he couldn't stop his niece Stephanie from marrying him. Stephanie has given birth to two healthy sons, but the marriage was far from a happy one. Ashworth pretty much just abandoned his wife at his father's mansion and continued to live as he did before he married. A lot of parties and women. And, he amounted a lot of enemies...
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
September 13, 2021
These are just a few random thoughts about Who Slays the Wicked
As always I am in absolute awe of the historical details in this series. These details are brought forth both through St Cyr's investigations and through his wife Hero's series of newspaper articles.
It's always fun to cheer the death of a villain who lived too long.
I hope we were are reading part of the set up for the next book. The cousin has been around too long.
I wish there had been more of Paul Gibson.
Basically I loved Who Slays the Wicked
As always I am in absolute awe of the historical details in this series. These details are brought forth both through St Cyr's investigations and through his wife Hero's series of newspaper articles.
It's always fun to cheer the death of a villain who lived too long.
I hope we were are reading part of the set up for the next book. The cousin has been around too long.
I wish there had been more of Paul Gibson.
Basically I loved Who Slays the Wicked
January 21, 2023
Reread/listened to audiobook 1/20/23:
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
This series is absolutely fantastic and one of my top favorites. Davina Porter's narration is phenomenal.
Original rating/review Dec'20:
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
Some of the most powerful moments in this series are when it reveals the ugly cruelties of such an unfair and unjust society. The scene where Hero interviewed a “pure finder” woman who collects dog feces from the streets of London to try and sell to tanners for her livelihood had me in tears because her life was so horribly sad.
And the scene where Sebastian and Dr. Gibson are looking over the murdered body of a very young girl who had to prostitute herself just to eat and survive was also heartbreakingly tragic.
Sebastian:
“What the bloody hell is wrong with us? What kind of society turns its back on the neediest amongst them? They call themselves Christians. They smugly go to church every Sunday and pat themselves on the back for being so damn holy. And then they allow this?”
Dr. Paul Gibson:
“For I was hungered, and you gave me no meat,” quoted Gibson softly. “I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.” “I was a stranger and you took me not in.”
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
This series is absolutely fantastic and one of my top favorites. Davina Porter's narration is phenomenal.
Original rating/review Dec'20:
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller
Some of the most powerful moments in this series are when it reveals the ugly cruelties of such an unfair and unjust society. The scene where Hero interviewed a “pure finder” woman who collects dog feces from the streets of London to try and sell to tanners for her livelihood had me in tears because her life was so horribly sad.
And the scene where Sebastian and Dr. Gibson are looking over the murdered body of a very young girl who had to prostitute herself just to eat and survive was also heartbreakingly tragic.
Sebastian:
“What the bloody hell is wrong with us? What kind of society turns its back on the neediest amongst them? They call themselves Christians. They smugly go to church every Sunday and pat themselves on the back for being so damn holy. And then they allow this?”
Dr. Paul Gibson:
“For I was hungered, and you gave me no meat,” quoted Gibson softly. “I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink.” “I was a stranger and you took me not in.”
December 8, 2020
Just fantastic...!
March 13, 2020
Take Two Review
Last year in April, I read this installment of the Sebastian St Cyr series and I while I thought it was good, it was only my fourth book of the series I had read so naturally I was missing a substantial amount of the character nuances.
This series as a whole, can be read as a stand alones for the most part, but there are a couple of books where the mysteries overlap and this being one of them. There are many characters from an earlier book, Where the Dead Lie, which was the first Sebastian book that I had read. The first time I read this installment, I felt as though I understood some of the back story.
But now that I have gone back and re-read the entire series beginning to end so that I can better understand the characters and such, I felt as though I enjoyed this one much better this time around given the scope of the character arcs and backstories.
This time around I felt like I understood the relationship between Sebastian and his sister as well as his niece Stephanie much better. Though it didn’t change how I felt about Stephanie as a character, I felt as though there was a deeper understanding of the relationship thanks to the previous books in the series.
Lord Ashworth is a terrible person and I was not sorry to see him dead but I loved how this book called back to Where the Dead Lie. There were many of the same characters from that book as well as threads of the story that continued into this book. So if you haven’t read the series or at the very least read Where the Dead Lie, then I suggest waiting on this one as there are lots of little threads from that book. Initially I felt like it would read fine as a standalone book, but after considering it now that I have read the series all together, I think not.
As with all of Harris’s books in this series, they are well researched, historically authentic, and full atmosphere and grit. This one read more like a Law and Order SVU episode set in the 1800s and I loved it so much, in fact I loved it even more this time around than I did the first. I am now fully prepared for the upcoming release of the next book and I can’t wait to see what mystery Sebastian gets pulled into next!
See my full review here
Last year in April, I read this installment of the Sebastian St Cyr series and I while I thought it was good, it was only my fourth book of the series I had read so naturally I was missing a substantial amount of the character nuances.
This series as a whole, can be read as a stand alones for the most part, but there are a couple of books where the mysteries overlap and this being one of them. There are many characters from an earlier book, Where the Dead Lie, which was the first Sebastian book that I had read. The first time I read this installment, I felt as though I understood some of the back story.
But now that I have gone back and re-read the entire series beginning to end so that I can better understand the characters and such, I felt as though I enjoyed this one much better this time around given the scope of the character arcs and backstories.
This time around I felt like I understood the relationship between Sebastian and his sister as well as his niece Stephanie much better. Though it didn’t change how I felt about Stephanie as a character, I felt as though there was a deeper understanding of the relationship thanks to the previous books in the series.
Lord Ashworth is a terrible person and I was not sorry to see him dead but I loved how this book called back to Where the Dead Lie. There were many of the same characters from that book as well as threads of the story that continued into this book. So if you haven’t read the series or at the very least read Where the Dead Lie, then I suggest waiting on this one as there are lots of little threads from that book. Initially I felt like it would read fine as a standalone book, but after considering it now that I have read the series all together, I think not.
As with all of Harris’s books in this series, they are well researched, historically authentic, and full atmosphere and grit. This one read more like a Law and Order SVU episode set in the 1800s and I loved it so much, in fact I loved it even more this time around than I did the first. I am now fully prepared for the upcoming release of the next book and I can’t wait to see what mystery Sebastian gets pulled into next!
See my full review here
November 15, 2019
Enjoyed it, as always. Sometimes with long-running series, the books start to go downhill, but that is not the case with the Sebastian St. Cyr books. I always, always enjoy them! Love the characters, love the description of that time, love the mystery. Looking forward to the next one!
August 10, 2021
5 STARS
Well thank fuck that waste of human flesh is finally out of the way! And honestly... I was ready to provide a reward for his extermination. Thank you CSH for finally ridding us of that filth. I think that little street urchin had it right when he said that there are demons parading around like respectable people in the world, and getting away with god-awful things. Good riddance!
Seriously... another great episode. I expect much to happen in the next two books. As Devlin is still no closer to finding his parents. Don't even know why this is significant... but somehow, I'm thinking it is. I was surprised in this one. I thought I had the killer all picked out... I thought I was so clever. Well I was WRONG! LOL. I'll have to plan something just as dreadful for this character that needs to be reckoned with. The one I thought was the killer in this one. Well... karma is coming for you... and you know who you are!
On to 15.
Well thank fuck that waste of human flesh is finally out of the way! And honestly... I was ready to provide a reward for his extermination. Thank you CSH for finally ridding us of that filth. I think that little street urchin had it right when he said that there are demons parading around like respectable people in the world, and getting away with god-awful things. Good riddance!
Seriously... another great episode. I expect much to happen in the next two books. As Devlin is still no closer to finding his parents. Don't even know why this is significant... but somehow, I'm thinking it is. I was surprised in this one. I thought I had the killer all picked out... I thought I was so clever. Well I was WRONG! LOL. I'll have to plan something just as dreadful for this character that needs to be reckoned with. The one I thought was the killer in this one. Well... karma is coming for you... and you know who you are!
On to 15.
August 15, 2023
I don't think there is anyone who is reading this series who wasn't cheering to read that Lord Ashworth is dead. But now Sebastian has to figure out who done it. And he has to prove that it wasn't his niece, Stephanie. I had no clue and there were a lot of really good suspects. This is a wonderful series, and this audio book was great. Davina Porter is an awesome narrator for this series.
Lord Ashworth is a nasty SOB, and a lot of people don't like him very much, including his wife Stephanie, who has just given birth to twin boys. Her pregnancy is the reason she had to marry Ashworth to begin with, even though her uncle Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin told her he was a bad, bad person. No one, except maybe his father, morns his passing. Sebastian has a lot of suspects and a Russian princess or two included. Sebastian's main goal is to prove that Stephanie didn't kill him. But Stephanie isn't being totally truthful with Sebastian. She hasn't lived with Ashworth since their marriage when Ashworth dumped her at his father's and that was fine with Stephanie.
Being married didn't cramp Ashworth's style. He continued just like he wasn't married at all. His latest involvement is with a Russian princess, lady in waiting to the Tsar's sister. These two were made for each other, both as depraved as the other. But all was not totally in tune with these lovers and Sebastain knows that. Also, in the running for the prize of being Ashworth's killer is a merchant Ashworth stiffed for his fees and the mother of a girl he raped who killed herself. I think whoever killed him deserved a medal. If Ashworth weren't ton, no one would care who killed him, but his connected daddy wants the killer found, but he may not like who ends up being the killer.
Lord Ashworth is a nasty SOB, and a lot of people don't like him very much, including his wife Stephanie, who has just given birth to twin boys. Her pregnancy is the reason she had to marry Ashworth to begin with, even though her uncle Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin told her he was a bad, bad person. No one, except maybe his father, morns his passing. Sebastian has a lot of suspects and a Russian princess or two included. Sebastian's main goal is to prove that Stephanie didn't kill him. But Stephanie isn't being totally truthful with Sebastian. She hasn't lived with Ashworth since their marriage when Ashworth dumped her at his father's and that was fine with Stephanie.
Being married didn't cramp Ashworth's style. He continued just like he wasn't married at all. His latest involvement is with a Russian princess, lady in waiting to the Tsar's sister. These two were made for each other, both as depraved as the other. But all was not totally in tune with these lovers and Sebastain knows that. Also, in the running for the prize of being Ashworth's killer is a merchant Ashworth stiffed for his fees and the mother of a girl he raped who killed herself. I think whoever killed him deserved a medal. If Ashworth weren't ton, no one would care who killed him, but his connected daddy wants the killer found, but he may not like who ends up being the killer.
March 22, 2019
Series: Sebastian St. Cyr #14
Publication Date: 4/2/19
Number of Pages: 352
Yet another Sebastian St. Cyr book that engrossed me to the point that I couldn’t put it down. Once I started reading, I didn’t stop until the last word on the last page was finished – at about 5 AM. My kidneys are grateful that there won’t be another new release in the series for several more months. This is a wonderful series and if you haven’t read the prior books, you really should. Sebastian’s life has taken a lot of twists and turns and I’m sure there are many more to come. As always, the writing is excellent, the research is right-on-the-money, the plot is tightly woven and well executed, and you won’t know who the villain is until the very end! Way to go!
Where the Dead Lie, book 12, was a chilling case where one of the villains of the piece managed to escape justice. That really bothered me even though I knew the author would eventually get around to taking care of him. While justice doesn’t get Anthony Marcus Ledger, Viscount Ashworth, someone does. On April Fools Day, 1814, two maids in Anthony’s household discover his bloody, mutilated body tied with red silk cords to the four bedposts.
Sir Henry Lovejoy, one of three magistrates attached to Bow Street’s Public Office always asks for Sebastian St Cyr’s assistance in cases involving the aristocracy. As a Viscount and heir to an Earl, Sebastian has access to circles that the Bow Street investigators wouldn’t be allowed into. Sir Henry will definitely need Sebastian for this one – the victim is not only a Viscount, but he is also heir to a Marquis – a very rich and powerful Marquis. Then you add in Russian royalty and – well – sometimes even Sebastian can’t get access.
Sebastian was thoroughly convinced that Anthony took an active part in the heinous crimes he had investigated months earlier, but he had no solid proof. He had been working all of those months since to find the proof he needed. Now, the man is dead and Sebastian is very, very afraid that his niece may have done the deed. When he interviews her, she won’t be honest with him. Then, other bodies associated with the case begin to show up. Leads take Sebastian to the visiting Russian royalty, his niece, his niece’s lover, a tarot card reader, a for-hire assassin, and almost anybody who has ever met Anthony. Sebastian is led on a merry chase around London and the more he learns about Anthony, the sicker Sebastian becomes. The world is definitely a better place without Anthony in it – and Sebastian might almost have let things go if Anthony was the only victim. But those other victims – they were innocent and didn’t deserve to die just because they knew something that might help catch the murderer.
I can highly recommend this fast-paced, action-packed, well-written book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 4/2/19
Number of Pages: 352
Yet another Sebastian St. Cyr book that engrossed me to the point that I couldn’t put it down. Once I started reading, I didn’t stop until the last word on the last page was finished – at about 5 AM. My kidneys are grateful that there won’t be another new release in the series for several more months. This is a wonderful series and if you haven’t read the prior books, you really should. Sebastian’s life has taken a lot of twists and turns and I’m sure there are many more to come. As always, the writing is excellent, the research is right-on-the-money, the plot is tightly woven and well executed, and you won’t know who the villain is until the very end! Way to go!
Where the Dead Lie, book 12, was a chilling case where one of the villains of the piece managed to escape justice. That really bothered me even though I knew the author would eventually get around to taking care of him. While justice doesn’t get Anthony Marcus Ledger, Viscount Ashworth, someone does. On April Fools Day, 1814, two maids in Anthony’s household discover his bloody, mutilated body tied with red silk cords to the four bedposts.
Sir Henry Lovejoy, one of three magistrates attached to Bow Street’s Public Office always asks for Sebastian St Cyr’s assistance in cases involving the aristocracy. As a Viscount and heir to an Earl, Sebastian has access to circles that the Bow Street investigators wouldn’t be allowed into. Sir Henry will definitely need Sebastian for this one – the victim is not only a Viscount, but he is also heir to a Marquis – a very rich and powerful Marquis. Then you add in Russian royalty and – well – sometimes even Sebastian can’t get access.
Sebastian was thoroughly convinced that Anthony took an active part in the heinous crimes he had investigated months earlier, but he had no solid proof. He had been working all of those months since to find the proof he needed. Now, the man is dead and Sebastian is very, very afraid that his niece may have done the deed. When he interviews her, she won’t be honest with him. Then, other bodies associated with the case begin to show up. Leads take Sebastian to the visiting Russian royalty, his niece, his niece’s lover, a tarot card reader, a for-hire assassin, and almost anybody who has ever met Anthony. Sebastian is led on a merry chase around London and the more he learns about Anthony, the sicker Sebastian becomes. The world is definitely a better place without Anthony in it – and Sebastian might almost have let things go if Anthony was the only victim. But those other victims – they were innocent and didn’t deserve to die just because they knew something that might help catch the murderer.
I can highly recommend this fast-paced, action-packed, well-written book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 25, 2019
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Sebastian St. Cyr is called in when a corrupt sadistic Lord is murdered. It turns out St. Cyr's niece was his wife, and she becomes an instant suspect, not that there are a shortage of those. To know the corpse was to hate him. He was involved in human trafficking and assorted other crimes.
St. Cyr pokes around and finds connections to the Royals, a French fortune teller, and a visiting Russian duchess. There's also all kinds of descriptions of how terrible the Victorian era was for the poor.
Not bad, some tension and suspense.
Sebastian St. Cyr is called in when a corrupt sadistic Lord is murdered. It turns out St. Cyr's niece was his wife, and she becomes an instant suspect, not that there are a shortage of those. To know the corpse was to hate him. He was involved in human trafficking and assorted other crimes.
St. Cyr pokes around and finds connections to the Royals, a French fortune teller, and a visiting Russian duchess. There's also all kinds of descriptions of how terrible the Victorian era was for the poor.
Not bad, some tension and suspense.
January 14, 2020
3.5
I'm having some bittersweet emotions now that I am up to date with the series. For the first time I await a new release to continue my reading obsession with the Sebastian St. Cyr books.
I’m also though feeling just a little letdown by this 14th book. And it's even stranger because this one represents the conclusion to Where the Dead Lie (Book 12), which has probably been my favorite of all the St. Cyr books. In that earlier one I was applauding Harris's choice to end the 12th book with the cliffhanger and a killer still at large and Sebastian’s rage nearly overtaking him. Dare I say that the return to the killer’s story here in comparison felt a bit boring and anticlimactic and lacks the bleak atmosphere that pervaded the earlier story. Though the killer’s death provides the opening to a new murder mystery, he remains almost just another body in the morgue for Sebastian and his trusted friend, Gibson, to examine and speculate on the details. We learn nothing new about him, and so all that is left is to review his enormous crimes against humanity that felt so horribly tangible in the previous book. For new readers just picking up the series, it’s definitely best to go back to the 12th book and read the events as they unfolded rather than get the synopsis of them here.
The list of suspects quickly piles up, and there are enough false leads and distractions to throw the reader off. When the killer is finally revealed, it is a compelling and clever choice. However, throughout the book, I felt that the overall story lacked the usual depth I expect from Harris’s books. There are not many themes to consider. Even the parallel story/mystery of the Russian royalty arriving in town seemed superficial and never really held my interest.
Tidbits about Hero’s relationship with her cousin Victoria though kept me guessing, and I hope the upcoming book develops this intriguing new character in the series.
I'm having some bittersweet emotions now that I am up to date with the series. For the first time I await a new release to continue my reading obsession with the Sebastian St. Cyr books.
I’m also though feeling just a little letdown by this 14th book. And it's even stranger because this one represents the conclusion to Where the Dead Lie (Book 12), which has probably been my favorite of all the St. Cyr books. In that earlier one I was applauding Harris's choice to end the 12th book with the cliffhanger and a killer still at large and Sebastian’s rage nearly overtaking him. Dare I say that the return to the killer’s story here in comparison felt a bit boring and anticlimactic and lacks the bleak atmosphere that pervaded the earlier story. Though the killer’s death provides the opening to a new murder mystery, he remains almost just another body in the morgue for Sebastian and his trusted friend, Gibson, to examine and speculate on the details. We learn nothing new about him, and so all that is left is to review his enormous crimes against humanity that felt so horribly tangible in the previous book. For new readers just picking up the series, it’s definitely best to go back to the 12th book and read the events as they unfolded rather than get the synopsis of them here.
The list of suspects quickly piles up, and there are enough false leads and distractions to throw the reader off. When the killer is finally revealed, it is a compelling and clever choice. However, throughout the book, I felt that the overall story lacked the usual depth I expect from Harris’s books. There are not many themes to consider. Even the parallel story/mystery of the Russian royalty arriving in town seemed superficial and never really held my interest.
Tidbits about Hero’s relationship with her cousin Victoria though kept me guessing, and I hope the upcoming book develops this intriguing new character in the series.
April 11, 2020
I love this series! And I thought this one was a lot of fun. The murder victim was a bit of a disappointment considering prior interactions. But the politics were interesting and the murderer was satisfying.
Hero was on point here. Just top freakin notch.
There was a good bit of set up on the Victoria front, and I’m looking forward to resolution in the final book.
And that said - I have a lot of emotion about being on the cusp of ending things with Sebastian. He’s been a steady source of reliable and enjoyable murder fun - even when I roll my eyes at the Jarvis posturing or the inevitable try-to-kill-sebastian-chase-fight-scene. What will i do without him?
Hero was on point here. Just top freakin notch.
There was a good bit of set up on the Victoria front, and I’m looking forward to resolution in the final book.
And that said - I have a lot of emotion about being on the cusp of ending things with Sebastian. He’s been a steady source of reliable and enjoyable murder fun - even when I roll my eyes at the Jarvis posturing or the inevitable try-to-kill-sebastian-chase-fight-scene. What will i do without him?
April 6, 2019
My copy of C. S. Harris’ Who Slays the Wicked (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery #14) arrived two days ago, and being a Sebastian St. Cyr fanatic, what else could I do except take a quick look?! That quick look translated into reading straight through the book - beginning to end to author’s notes. Sebastian, am I ever glad you, Hero, and your son, Simon are back! Ms. Harris begins this book with such a descriptive murder scene that the reader just has to keep reading! I truly had no choice. (I apologize to the other books that I am reading. I’ll be reading you momentarily!) Sebastian is asked to assist in the investigation of a violent murder of a ‘sadistic’ viscount who just happens to be married to his niece. The author describes Regency London so well, I felt that I was actually strolling in Hyde Park or watching the construction of The New Street which becomes Regents Street. Read it! Loved it! Highly Recommend it! 5 beautiful stars!
April 2, 2019
Although this is the 14th book in the series, it certainly hasn't gone stale. It can also be easily read as a stand alone so you can dip in even if you haven't read any other books. This mystery is just too delicious to miss.
Lord Ashworth is brutally murdered and found in a despicable state. He is well known for his terrible appetites for unacceptable behaviors, he is found ties to his bedpost with red ties and women's clothes scattered around him. St. Cyr is called in to investigate and he has a vested interest. Ashworth is married to his niece, Stephanie, and they have recently found themselves to be parents of twin boys. Because of Ashworth's appetites, they do not live together and Stephanie becomes a suspect. St. Cyr is under even more pressure to find the killer.
No one else is much interested in finding the killer. Ashworth is a universally known despicable man who treats young women, tradesmen and really everybody badly. Still St. Cyr wants to clear the suspicion off Stephanie's name so he plunges into the cesspool of people who hold a grudge against the Lord. This list is long and includes a Russian princess and travelling party.
St. Cyr's wife is writing an interesting series of articles on people who hold terrible jobs that I found fascinating. There was the bones people, the rags people and even the people who collected the night's wastes (who had to drink gin) to do their work. I know I would. It was incredibly interesting.
The mystery killer took me by surprise and that's the sign of a good novel. St. Cyr rocks again.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Lord Ashworth is brutally murdered and found in a despicable state. He is well known for his terrible appetites for unacceptable behaviors, he is found ties to his bedpost with red ties and women's clothes scattered around him. St. Cyr is called in to investigate and he has a vested interest. Ashworth is married to his niece, Stephanie, and they have recently found themselves to be parents of twin boys. Because of Ashworth's appetites, they do not live together and Stephanie becomes a suspect. St. Cyr is under even more pressure to find the killer.
No one else is much interested in finding the killer. Ashworth is a universally known despicable man who treats young women, tradesmen and really everybody badly. Still St. Cyr wants to clear the suspicion off Stephanie's name so he plunges into the cesspool of people who hold a grudge against the Lord. This list is long and includes a Russian princess and travelling party.
St. Cyr's wife is writing an interesting series of articles on people who hold terrible jobs that I found fascinating. There was the bones people, the rags people and even the people who collected the night's wastes (who had to drink gin) to do their work. I know I would. It was incredibly interesting.
The mystery killer took me by surprise and that's the sign of a good novel. St. Cyr rocks again.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
June 14, 2019
Who Slays the Wicked
4 Stars
Sebastian St. Cyr is more than eager to assist Bow Street when his niece's malevolent husband is found brutally murdered in his own bed. Who besides Stephanie could have wanted to depraved cur dead?
A solid installment with some much-needed closure for Stephanie whose marriage to the diabolical Lord Ashworth was more than a little cringe-inducing. The details surrounding Stephanie's childhood add to her characterization and make her all the more sympathetic to the reader.
The mystery itself is intriguing and Harris once again skillfully incorporates historical figures and events into the plot. This time the focus is on the visit of Catherine Pavlovna, sister to Tsar Alexander I, to England and her antagonistic relationship with the Prince Regent. Despite several promising red-herrings, it is ultimately easy to guess the identity of the killer.
Unfortunately, there are still no developments in the ongoing arcs surrounding the question of Sebastian's biological father and the fate of his mother. There is some progress with regard to Hero's manipulative cousin Victoria, but not as much as one would like. These issues really need closure sooner rather than later as this reader, in particular, is getting a little angsty!
4 Stars
Sebastian St. Cyr is more than eager to assist Bow Street when his niece's malevolent husband is found brutally murdered in his own bed. Who besides Stephanie could have wanted to depraved cur dead?
A solid installment with some much-needed closure for Stephanie whose marriage to the diabolical Lord Ashworth was more than a little cringe-inducing. The details surrounding Stephanie's childhood add to her characterization and make her all the more sympathetic to the reader.
The mystery itself is intriguing and Harris once again skillfully incorporates historical figures and events into the plot. This time the focus is on the visit of Catherine Pavlovna, sister to Tsar Alexander I, to England and her antagonistic relationship with the Prince Regent. Despite several promising red-herrings, it is ultimately easy to guess the identity of the killer.
Unfortunately, there are still no developments in the ongoing arcs surrounding the question of Sebastian's biological father and the fate of his mother. There is some progress with regard to Hero's manipulative cousin Victoria, but not as much as one would like. These issues really need closure sooner rather than later as this reader, in particular, is getting a little angsty!
July 20, 2021
Another wonderfully read book with Davina Porter. I enjoyed this one a great deal and the mystery had a satisfying end. I thought the mystery was more interesting than the last book. Hero appeared more in this book and it was interesting to read about the horrible conditions of the people and the class differences of the people that she interviews.
April 6, 2019
Four and a half stars. Another really engaging story about Sebastian St. Cyr. I’m not sure if it is the historical details or the characters in these books but I really like them.
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