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His Lordship’s Mysteries #3
His Lordship's Return
For Dominick and Alfie, it feels like they've only just settled into life at Balcarres House when an urgent letter from an old friend has them racing back to London. However, they're not returning to Alfie's swirling ton of money and nobility, but to the dark underside of the city that Dominick knows all too well.
In a desperate race against time, they'll have to walk streets that Alfie barely remembers and Dominick hoped to forget. Their return brings up terrors better left in the past and for one of them, the strain may be too much to bear.
Under the shadow of the workhouse, they'll have to act quickly to stop a killer or the lives lost may be their own.
His Lordship’s Return is the third novel in the His Lordship’s Mysteries series.
In a desperate race against time, they'll have to walk streets that Alfie barely remembers and Dominick hoped to forget. Their return brings up terrors better left in the past and for one of them, the strain may be too much to bear.
Under the shadow of the workhouse, they'll have to act quickly to stop a killer or the lives lost may be their own.
His Lordship’s Return is the third novel in the His Lordship’s Mysteries series.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 13, 2022
Oh this had a really interesting premise which cleverly pulled Alfie and Dominick back into the stews of London and their old life.
This gave excellent reasons for the tension to build up not only with the suspense part of the plot, but also with Alfie and Nick's relationship.
The mystery itself turns out to be a fairly prosaic one, greed and desperation are powerful motivators after all, but it was still enjoyable.
Alfie and Nick continue to be a mix of super swoony, seriously sexy and annoyingly stubborn at times but I truly love them as a pairing.
There's some super interesting information about Nick's background revealed towards the end of this book so I'm eager to learn more.
As has been the case with all three books, some excellent research means you get a very clear picture of the time and location the story takes place in.
I hope Sam continues on with Alfie and Nick's adventures as amateur sleuths.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This gave excellent reasons for the tension to build up not only with the suspense part of the plot, but also with Alfie and Nick's relationship.
The mystery itself turns out to be a fairly prosaic one, greed and desperation are powerful motivators after all, but it was still enjoyable.
Alfie and Nick continue to be a mix of super swoony, seriously sexy and annoyingly stubborn at times but I truly love them as a pairing.
There's some super interesting information about Nick's background revealed towards the end of this book so I'm eager to learn more.
As has been the case with all three books, some excellent research means you get a very clear picture of the time and location the story takes place in.
I hope Sam continues on with Alfie and Nick's adventures as amateur sleuths.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
January 19, 2023
His Lordship’s Return (His Lordship’s Mysteries 3)
By Samantha SoRelle
Published by Balcarres Books, 2022
Five stars
Alfie and Nick. It’s been a while since the last book, and I’d forgotten that Dominick Trent, aka Nick Tripner, has only been reunited with Alfie (aka the Earl of Crawford) for something over a year. Alfie and Nick, who grew up in the workhouse in London, until Alfie was adopted by a childless earl and countess, had been lost to each other for a decade. Then Alfie’s childhood protector in the slums of London became his best friend and lover when they found each other again.
In this, the third episode of His Lordship’s Mysteries, they go back to Spitalfields, and unwittingly get caught up in a grisly mystery. Alfie’s old housekeeper, who saw the street rat transformed into an earl’s heir, needs his support, and he and Nick take the arduous journey from Balcarres House in Scotland back to London (we forget what that voyage meant when all you had was coaches).
The special pleasure of this book is watching the dynamic in Alfie and Nick’s relationship. Nick’s transformation isn’t nearly so far along, and the brutality of his life in London is still vivid. His need to shield Alfie from all that is still powerful, and Nick forgets how strong his beloved “Lord of the Mud” really is. Alfie is used to the ways of being a lord, but the scared little boy has never really disappeared.
The Dickensian presentation of class difference in London is interesting and important. The dichotomy between the London “ton” and the filth of Spitalfields pushes Alfie hard, as he remembers where he came from in order to make sure that he doesn’t lose Nick to it again.
By Samantha SoRelle
Published by Balcarres Books, 2022
Five stars
Alfie and Nick. It’s been a while since the last book, and I’d forgotten that Dominick Trent, aka Nick Tripner, has only been reunited with Alfie (aka the Earl of Crawford) for something over a year. Alfie and Nick, who grew up in the workhouse in London, until Alfie was adopted by a childless earl and countess, had been lost to each other for a decade. Then Alfie’s childhood protector in the slums of London became his best friend and lover when they found each other again.
In this, the third episode of His Lordship’s Mysteries, they go back to Spitalfields, and unwittingly get caught up in a grisly mystery. Alfie’s old housekeeper, who saw the street rat transformed into an earl’s heir, needs his support, and he and Nick take the arduous journey from Balcarres House in Scotland back to London (we forget what that voyage meant when all you had was coaches).
The special pleasure of this book is watching the dynamic in Alfie and Nick’s relationship. Nick’s transformation isn’t nearly so far along, and the brutality of his life in London is still vivid. His need to shield Alfie from all that is still powerful, and Nick forgets how strong his beloved “Lord of the Mud” really is. Alfie is used to the ways of being a lord, but the scared little boy has never really disappeared.
The Dickensian presentation of class difference in London is interesting and important. The dichotomy between the London “ton” and the filth of Spitalfields pushes Alfie hard, as he remembers where he came from in order to make sure that he doesn’t lose Nick to it again.
September 8, 2022
Dominick and Alfie continue to be a delightful pair, and the author keeps finding new things to explore in their relationship despite their being together for more than two whole books now. The balance between romance and mystery was excellent, and I liked how seamlessly the relationship development/conflicts tied in with the investigation, making it all the same plot instead of an A plot and a B plot. The historical setting was detailed and immersive as well.
The previous books have focused more on Alfie’s family and past, so I appreciated that this one showed us more of where Dominick came from and the people who were important to him before he reunited with Alfie. The author did a good job humanizing the various Spitalfields side characters (which shouldn’t be noteworthy, but unfortunately is, because of the way many authors write poor characters) and cleverly used Dominick and Alfie’s POVs of the same events to show how their very different lives in young adulthood have shaped their perspectives.
I did struggle a bit with the contrast between how Dominick and Alife were able to easily leave behind the poverty of Spitalfields whenever they wished, versus how the other characters—including some of their friends—were left in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Realistically, there’s not a whole lot the author could have done about that because it’s not as though Alfie and Dominick could have ended poverty on their own, but it did put a damper on the ending for me. The resolution felt a bit anticlimactic in general, especially because of the ever-present escape hatch of simply returning to their normal lives, but overall the mystery was well-crafted.
I highly recommend this series to any fans of investigator husbands!
The previous books have focused more on Alfie’s family and past, so I appreciated that this one showed us more of where Dominick came from and the people who were important to him before he reunited with Alfie. The author did a good job humanizing the various Spitalfields side characters (which shouldn’t be noteworthy, but unfortunately is, because of the way many authors write poor characters) and cleverly used Dominick and Alfie’s POVs of the same events to show how their very different lives in young adulthood have shaped their perspectives.
I did struggle a bit with the contrast between how Dominick and Alife were able to easily leave behind the poverty of Spitalfields whenever they wished, versus how the other characters—including some of their friends—were left in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Realistically, there’s not a whole lot the author could have done about that because it’s not as though Alfie and Dominick could have ended poverty on their own, but it did put a damper on the ending for me. The resolution felt a bit anticlimactic in general, especially because of the ever-present escape hatch of simply returning to their normal lives, but overall the mystery was well-crafted.
I highly recommend this series to any fans of investigator husbands!
July 8, 2023
I loved this!
The premise felt more dire feeling than previous books and a lot darker as we got to see more into Dominick and his past (it was often alluded to what he had to do to survive on the harsh undercity but seeing first hand not only what he came from but how it has affected him long term - oof.
As usual Alfie and Dominick are adorable and snappy and Alfie, as per usual, runs into trouble without looking both ways first.
The premise felt more dire feeling than previous books and a lot darker as we got to see more into Dominick and his past (it was often alluded to what he had to do to survive on the harsh undercity but seeing first hand not only what he came from but how it has affected him long term - oof.
As usual Alfie and Dominick are adorable and snappy and Alfie, as per usual, runs into trouble without looking both ways first.
September 9, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
His Lordship’s Return is the third full book in the His Lordship’s Mysteries series and I think it’s fairly importantly to read these books in order. The overall plots are only mildly connected, but to fully appreciate the depth of Alfie and Nick’s romance, it’s best to start with the first book, His Lordship’s Secret.
His Lordship’s Return reads as a longer, more mature entry into the series and, as a result, I found it incredibly enjoyable. That said, it came with a few snags, most notably some pacing issues.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
His Lordship’s Return is the third full book in the His Lordship’s Mysteries series and I think it’s fairly importantly to read these books in order. The overall plots are only mildly connected, but to fully appreciate the depth of Alfie and Nick’s romance, it’s best to start with the first book, His Lordship’s Secret.
His Lordship’s Return reads as a longer, more mature entry into the series and, as a result, I found it incredibly enjoyable. That said, it came with a few snags, most notably some pacing issues.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
October 22, 2022
I enjoyed the first two, but started reading this two weeks ago and haven't managed to get past the third scene...
September 20, 2023
I wasn't planning to read the rest of this today, but once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.
A more full review will be posted soon 💙💙
A more full review will be posted soon 💙💙
September 9, 2022
I love this pair of MCs and was thrilled to see the author bring back one of my favorite characters from Book 1. Taking the plot back to the seedier streets/life of London where our boys originated certainly ratcheted up the dramatic tension/drama; I was fully engaged from the first chapter. I did find the motivation and modus operandi for the antagonists/killer a little convoluted at book's end though.
October 29, 2022
Third book in series, investigator husbands, good mystery, so good. I really enjoyed learning more about Nick's past and the little hints that were sprinkled about what we might learn in the future. Highly recommend entire series.
September 9, 2022
Delightful to be reading of Dominic and Alfie again, the love and passion these two have for each other is quite captivating. Unfortunately, for me, as much as I was loving this tale it slowly became a little mundane around 75%, it just seemed a little repetitive. I did persevere and it did perk up again into quite an adventure, so, luckily, it was just a small blip for me. My apologies to the author, I take full blame for my own fussiness and impatience, you have a magical mind.
June 9, 2023
HIS LORDSHIP'S RETURN is the third full-length novel in this series; Alfie and Nick are back and in London. Although they prefer the freedom they have in Scotland, Mrs Hirkin's husband has passed away and they return to be there for her. Unfortunately, they also find her granddaughter's fiance with a slit throat, which is NOT suicide as suggested. This takes them back to Spitalfields, in more ways than one.
The love between these two is palpable and fairly leaps off the page, even when they disagree. Nick wants to protect Alfie from ever having to return to Spitalfields and everything that holds. Alfie feels the same way, especially when he sees how the place and memories are affecting Nick. The mystery side of things was pretty clear, I thought, but although this is a mystery, it wasn't was drove the story for me. It's the connection between these two, plus the places and other characters that make it such a great read.
Absolutely recommended and I can't wait for the next one. I would definitely recommend you read this as a series though as you need to understand the predicament they are in and the feelings it evokes.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 9, 2023
The love between these two is palpable and fairly leaps off the page, even when they disagree. Nick wants to protect Alfie from ever having to return to Spitalfields and everything that holds. Alfie feels the same way, especially when he sees how the place and memories are affecting Nick. The mystery side of things was pretty clear, I thought, but although this is a mystery, it wasn't was drove the story for me. It's the connection between these two, plus the places and other characters that make it such a great read.
Absolutely recommended and I can't wait for the next one. I would definitely recommend you read this as a series though as you need to understand the predicament they are in and the feelings it evokes.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 9, 2023
August 24, 2022
This series continues to be such a fun joyride. This installment starts off with a bang*wink wink* and continues on a high from there. I also thought that this was somewhat of a relaxing breather for Alfie and Nick. The danger this time is less personal to them, instead they're trying to solve a murder for their beloved cook. But in other ways it's even more personal because they have to go back to the harsh environment they were raised in.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first 2 books. The series is a very fun combination of both historical romance and detective stories. At the end of this book we even get the hint that there's more books to come and I can't wait.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first 2 books. The series is a very fun combination of both historical romance and detective stories. At the end of this book we even get the hint that there's more books to come and I can't wait.
August 30, 2022
One of my favourite couples returns again! Only this time it was a little regressive.
Our two leads get a letter from their old cook (a major part of Alfie's life and the story in book 1) down in London about her husband being deathly ill. Out of their respect for her, they leave the countryside immediately to try and assist. Unfortunately, he's already passed by the time they arrive and are instead attending a funeral. After returning home from the services, they find the cook's granddaughter's fiancé dead in the living room. Alfie tries to use his influence as a duke to get the Metro police to help but because of the low status of the fiancé, it's no use. Doing a little investigating of their own gets them back deep into an underground they both thought was long behind them.
I didn't enjoy the return back to London because it was almost a repeat of the first book, only with a little more self-pity because they've returned AGAIN back to the slums they thought they'd freed themselves from. I'm not sure what other stories these two will have without leaving the country if they're just going back and forth from London to Scotland, getting themselves involved in murder mysteries. However, despite the lacklustre plot, I really like SoRelle's writing and characters so I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. This made me what to re-read the series from the start so SoRelle's got it right.
Our two leads get a letter from their old cook (a major part of Alfie's life and the story in book 1) down in London about her husband being deathly ill. Out of their respect for her, they leave the countryside immediately to try and assist. Unfortunately, he's already passed by the time they arrive and are instead attending a funeral. After returning home from the services, they find the cook's granddaughter's fiancé dead in the living room. Alfie tries to use his influence as a duke to get the Metro police to help but because of the low status of the fiancé, it's no use. Doing a little investigating of their own gets them back deep into an underground they both thought was long behind them.
I didn't enjoy the return back to London because it was almost a repeat of the first book, only with a little more self-pity because they've returned AGAIN back to the slums they thought they'd freed themselves from. I'm not sure what other stories these two will have without leaving the country if they're just going back and forth from London to Scotland, getting themselves involved in murder mysteries. However, despite the lacklustre plot, I really like SoRelle's writing and characters so I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. This made me what to re-read the series from the start so SoRelle's got it right.
June 6, 2025
3.5⭐
It has been a few years for me since I read the last book in the series, so it took me a good 40% of the book to get back into it. But once I was there, the book came alive for me. Historical Romances are not normally my go to, but SoRelle does a really good job with them.
There were points where I got so upset with Nick and Alfie, I couldn’t connect with their reasons to investigate Larry’s murder. Everything we learn about the man, doesn’t make it feel worth the risk. Once Nick’s
By the end of the story I was able to appreciate the book as a whole. Ready for the next one.
It has been a few years for me since I read the last book in the series, so it took me a good 40% of the book to get back into it. But once I was there, the book came alive for me. Historical Romances are not normally my go to, but SoRelle does a really good job with them.
There were points where I got so upset with Nick and Alfie, I couldn’t connect with their reasons to investigate Larry’s murder. Everything we learn about the man, doesn’t make it feel worth the risk. Once Nick’s
By the end of the story I was able to appreciate the book as a whole. Ready for the next one.
September 6, 2026
These books are addicting. One moment, you could be at 49% and the next 87%.
What also keeps my interest high is that the settings are never quite the same. Which keeps things refreshing. So you're never in the same exact location per book.
And don't even get me started on these mysteries. Because this author has a way of making things connect that you had no way of knowing they could. My keeps dropping whenever the reveal hits. This book in particular did an amazing job at keeping things in suspense.
What also keeps my interest high is that the settings are never quite the same. Which keeps things refreshing. So you're never in the same exact location per book.
And don't even get me started on these mysteries. Because this author has a way of making things connect that you had no way of knowing they could. My keeps dropping whenever the reveal hits. This book in particular did an amazing job at keeping things in suspense.
September 13, 2022
Dominick and Alfie are back! Again! I'm such a fan of these two characters and SoRelle didn't disappoint with this latest installment. This time, the two are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery in their old neighborhood -- a place Alfie barely remembers and Dominick would love to forget. As they strengthen the bond between them, they have to interact with some fairly vile characters in order to get to the bottom of what's going on. A fun and sexy read!
July 1, 2023
I do enjoy this series, with Alfie and Dominick.
The boys leave Scotland for London and both soon drop into the desperate world they left behind.
A death then a murder close to home lead them on a dirty foray back into Spitalfields, highlighting the distance they have each travelled from their rough beginnings.
There is always someone willing to exploit people and in this case, murder to profit from the pennies.
The boys leave Scotland for London and both soon drop into the desperate world they left behind.
A death then a murder close to home lead them on a dirty foray back into Spitalfields, highlighting the distance they have each travelled from their rough beginnings.
There is always someone willing to exploit people and in this case, murder to profit from the pennies.
August 25, 2022
Alfie and Nick are back trying to solve a murder in their old Spitalfields stomping ground.
Interesting mystery and more light is shown on Nicks life with the 2 taking off for Bath to investigate further.
Interesting mystery and more light is shown on Nicks life with the 2 taking off for Bath to investigate further.
September 12, 2022
Very fun and sweet mystery series
I very much enjoyed this series and am hopeful for more. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I very much enjoyed this series and am hopeful for more. I look forward to reading more from this author!
September 18, 2022
Love the characters and the mischief they become involved in. The whole feel of the novel is imbued with humour and sadness in equal measure - much like life. A wonderful and fulfilling read!
March 16, 2023
A good addition to the series. Giving very much kj Charles slippery creatures energy without feel like it’s being plagiarized or anything. What a good series really. I can’t wait for the next one.
April 18, 2024
4.25 stars
I love how each book has shown the relationship between Alfie and Nick growing. I can't wait to see what she has planned for them (and Nick's family?) in Bath!
I love how each book has shown the relationship between Alfie and Nick growing. I can't wait to see what she has planned for them (and Nick's family?) in Bath!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews