Murder in the Eternal City

Captain Lacey #16

by Ashley Gardner, Jennifer Ashley

When I agree to take my family to visit Grenville in his villa near Rome, I hardly imagine that I immediately will become embroiled in mystery and mayhem. James Denis has requested that I purchase an antique from a collector, one Conte de Luca. Before I can approach this count, I am recruited by a Roman a man to help rescue his daughter from a cool aristocrat, and then asked to solve a murder of an Englishman—by a man who is already dead.

These tasks do not keep me from traveling to the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum and exploring to my heart’s content, but trouble follows me in the form of a man bent on killing me—for what reason I cannot fathom.

All this is compounded by another murder back in Rome, and I am commanded by James Denis, as well as the aristocrat who stole my new Roman friend’s daughter and a captain of the police, to find out who committed the deed and what dire secrets the murdered man kept, secrets with the potential to destroy them all.

Probing into these puzzles lead me to the past, present, and future troubles of the Italian peninsula, a beautiful but deadly place in the spring of 1820.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Regency

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2022

About the author

Ashley Gardner is the pseudonym for NY Times bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Ashley and nationally bestselling and award-winning author Allyson James. Her award-winning Captain Lacey Regency mysteries have garnered top reviews and an enthusiastic following. These books are now available as digital editions. More about the series can be found at http://www.gardnermysteries.com

Reviews

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh, the ground covered! The number of people Gabriel encounters just on a walk! This takes us from Rome to Herculaneum, Pompei, and then back to Rome. There are Italian aristocrats, a slew of ex-pats, Denis…and then the Lacey and Grenville families at the end. The only people missing are Marcus and the Bow Street runners.

This was a whirlwind in a fun way. And there’s a new character introduced at the very end.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite. Murder in the Eternal City was an exquisite read from the detailed travelogue through Rome (I was reminded of my travel to Rome many years ago, walking along the ancients streets, the plethora of churches, exploring the Colosseum and the Forum) and feeling constant anxiety for Captain Lacey as he once again becomes embroiled in murder and intrigue.

I realized how much I missed Captain Lacey and when his lady wife, Donata showed up, I was over the moon happy. Donata is a wonderful heroine and she brings such balance to Gabriel. It’s great to see their relationship get stronger over time yet the revelation that Donata is grappling with past hurt and sadness made me root for her.

The secondary characters are superb, protective Brewster, enigmatic criminal mastermind James Denis, and especially young Joseph Cockburn…I loved the inclusion of a hearing-impaired character who can look after himself and so devoted to his murdered bother’s memory.

I feel for so bad for Gabriel; similar to Proietti, he’s losing a daughter to circumstances. Infant Gabriella was taken from Captain Lacey by his first wife and her French lover. Gabriel despaired of ever seeing his child again. Now, after meeting her again as an adult, she is set on marrying some lowly Frenchman and live in France…this must tear more at Gabriel’s heart. But he’s always gracious even in loss.

I was so relieved that Grenville’s trollop of a wife, Maryann, barely appeared in the story. Grenville’s terrible choice in choosing such an unsuitable woman for his wife greatly lowers him in esteem for me. He’s also a horrible father to his own daughter; ignoring his child to fawn all over Maryanne’s simpleton of a son is despicable. At least neither Maryann nor her son can inherit Grenville’s title or entailed estates.

Nevertheless, despite some irritation, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest Captain Lacey book and look forward to his next adventure.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Captain Lacey #16
Publication Date: 9/20/22
Period: Regency (1820)
Number of Pages: 314

Goodness, it has been a long dry spell since we’ve had a new Captain Lacey to read – almost two years – 1 year and 10 months actually – but who is counting? The Regency period was much more formal in thought, speech, dress, and actions, and I love how this author holds true to that without the story feeling overly formal or stilted. She really does an outstanding job of conveying the feel of the time without making us feel all prim and starched. This author also writes a great mystery and she’s outdone herself again.

Captain Lacey’s good friend Mr. Grenville has rented a villa in Italy for himself and his family, and he has graciously invited Captain Lacey and his family to join them. The plan is for them all to stay at the villa for a while and then Lacey and Grenville will head south to view the ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum since the ladies aren’t interested in ruins.

Poor Lacey – he never met a mystery he didn’t want to solve or a person he didn’t want to help. That, of course, always gets him entangled in many troubles. So, that is what happened during their stop-over in Rome. Lacy saw someone he thought he knew, got lost in the backstreets while he was pursuing the man, and then ran smack-dab into another man. Whew! The man he runs into gets Lacey embroiled in his family affairs and the man he thought he knew – well – that man has been dead for over a year. Welcome to Rome Captain Lacey! As if that isn’t enough, Lacey is supposed to make a purchase for Mr. Denis – a major crime boss in London. Whew - again! Things are already so busy you wonder if they’ll ever get to even see the ruins. They do.

There are attempts on Lacey’s life, a man is murdered, the domestic situation still isn’t under control, and everyone keeps wanting Lacey to help them. Danger abounds and Lacey, Brewster, and Grenville are all placed in grave danger at one time or another. Can Lacey figure it all out before someone murders him? Where did all of those antiquities at the murdered man’s house come from? Who was the man he thought he knew? What does a deaf man have to do with any of it?

This was such an interesting and exciting story that I read it all the way through in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. You’ll never guess who the murderer is – nor why? It is a tightly woven mystery with many threads to pull and pulling only one thread won’t get you all of the answers.

I highly recommend this book, this author, and this series. It was lovely to visit with all of the series regulars as well – especially Brewster because he always tickles me with his grumbling about Lacey. Yes, it was an exciting, fun read, and I sincerely hope you’ll give the book a read and love it as much as I did. I also sincerely hope it won’t be two years before we get the next book.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Sentence: The first English Person I encountered as I wandered the vast city of Rome in February of 1820 was a man I already knew.

Captain Gabriel Lacey, and his loyal bodyguard Brewster, are in Rome with Lord Grenville. He has been commissioned by James Denis, criminal overlord of London, to obtain a small marble statue while he is there. In the process, he encounters a man he thought to be dead who asks for his help. Lacey is also asked to help prevent Conte Trevisan, an aristocrat, from ruining his daughter. Lacey is further tasked with discovering the murderer of Conte De Luca, the man who owns the statue Denis desires.

One is always a bit afraid that a series, by the 16th book, may become repetitive or stale. There is no fear of that with Gardner. Her books are very much character-driven, and what great characters they are. Their lives continue to develop and change with time. And what wonderful characters they are. One of the best things about Lacey is that he is not a superhero. He doesn’t win every fight or always comes to the correct conclusion. But he is surrounded by those who support him, and he’s willing to change his mind. Brewster, Lacey’s bodyguard, is a pleasure. More than simply muscle, he is intelligent, well read, and clever.

Lord Grenville does play a role, albeit less than in some books, as does Lacey’s wife Donata, who appears later in the story. One appreciates that Gardner has avoided the trope of having the wife become actively involved in the investigation.

Gardner’s descriptions create a visual picture of place and time, even including the earthquakes which are common in Italy. She does an excellent job of switching from the gentility of the drawing room to the danger of the streets. Although most of the story is set in Rome, one is also taken to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Napoli, bringing the locations to life and seamlessly incorporating their history. Art is an important element of the story, along with the rising popularity of opera, and the looting of ancient treasures. In fact, it is a piece of art that provides the final twist at the end.

MURDER IN THE ETERNAL CITY is a delightfully twisty book, where one never knows who can be trusted and people are not always what they seem. It is exciting and suspenseful, tempered by scenes of Lacey and his much-loved wife, Donata. One hopes this series will continue for many books to come.

MURDER IN THE ETERNAL CITY (HisMys-Captain Lacey-Italy-Regency/1800s)
Ashley Gardner - 16th book in the series
JA/AG Publishing, Sept 2022, 314 pp.
RATING: VG/A-

[Moriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this title, but all opinions are my own. The Captain Lacey series continues to be at the top of my short list of historical mystery series and this entry is no exception. Captain Lacey and his family travel to Rome at the invitation of his good friend Grenville, but most of the action features Lacey, Brewster, and Grenville and not Lacey's wife or children. After arriving in Rome and spending a few days getting acclimated, the lan is for Lacey and Grenville to travel to Naples to explore Pompeii and Herculaneum to determine it the area is suitable for their families. Before they can depart, Lacey finds himself drawn into a conflict involving a father who wants his daughter to come home and a man believed to be dead after being accused of running the equivalent of a modern day Ponzi scheme. Throw in a murder and a commission by Dennis to obtain a specific object from the murder man, and Lacey clearly has his hands full.

The various mysteries are interesting and well done, but my favorite part of the story was the depiction of Pompeii and Herculaneum during this period as archeology of the period is very different from today. Herculaneum in particular seems to be very unknown during this period and the description of how little was accessible compared to today was fascinating and helps explain why it reminded so well preserved. I recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys mystery series and look forward to future titles to see what adventures await Lacey and his friends.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I's been awhile since I read this series, but I loved it.

[David Stimpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Wait

Captain Lacey is back in the latest of the Series .This adventure is set in Rome and has some intriguing story's. A very good Story

[Valerie A Saul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing. Couldn’t wait for this to come out. But it didn’t hold up to earlier books about Capt. Lacey.

[Linda Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read all of the Captain Lacey books and "Murder in the Eternal City" was the slowest and most uninteresting of all the series.

[Ruby Bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

-In another highly interesting adventure, Captain Lacey has now taken a vacation to Italy with Grenville, their wives and Lacey’s children. Brewster, the former employee of the notorious Denis, is again accompanying the Captain as his bodyguard.
-Lacey has a knack for finding trouble and this time, he involved himself in the affairs of multiple other people, which actually merged into one affair as proceedings went on. Lacey had gone for a walk on his own in Rome and, because of the many small and irregularly arranged streets, had lost his way. He stopped a man, who seemed to be a native of Rome, for directions. Though the man seemed distraught, he caught himself and helped guide Lacey. In return, Lacey offered his assistance to the man. Pondering the offer for a few moments, the man accepted as he had an unpleasant task and he needed “backup”. Brewster happened upon them at the moment, and Lacey with Brewster went with the man, Signor Alessandro Proietti, to the home of Conte Trevisan, a middle aged wealthy man who had come down to Rome from Milan. Enraged, Proietti stormed into the house, where his young daughter was staying and had believed that Trevisan loved her and would marry her, while it was also known that Trevisan was already married to a woman in Milan. It was only through the cool interjection by Lacey, who said that this should be discussed at a later date with only Proietti and Trevisan, as to the intentions of Trevisan in regard to Proietti’s daughter, that an altercation was averted.
-While in Rome, Lacey also spotted a man he believed to be an Englishman he thought he recognized, a Mr. Broadhurst. According to Grenville, this Mr. Broadhurst was killed in London and it was believed that he and his partner, Cockburn, had scammed many people out of large sums of money. Though Broadhurst had been killed, Cockburn had disappeared with whatever money they had stolen. As Lacey and Grenville were touring, Lacey spotted the man again and gave chase, but this time, the man allowed himself to be caught. Though the man at first claimed to be someone else, he said in a low voice to Lacey that he was, indeed, Broadhurst, but he needed Lacey to clear his name. Though he and Cockburn had taken money, they had a change of heart and were in the process of arranging for sums to be returned to the investors, when Cockburn was killed. Because they were similar in appearance, it was believed that Broadhurst had been killed, but Broadhurst knew that if he stayed in London, he would be killed as well, and so, he ran. He still wanted to return whatever he could, but now, someone had discovered that Broadhurst was in Rome and was sending him threatening letters. Broadhurst was afraid for his life, and he had heard of Captain Lacey and was now asking for his help to discover the potential killer.
-The plot thickens, as Denis had commissioned Lacey with a task, to purchase a particular statue from a well known dealer in Rome, Conte de Luca. The statue, it turns out, was known to be a forgery, so why Denis considered it to be so valuable was a mystery in itself.
-Proietti has taken a liking to Lacey, and vice versa, as both were military men whose wealth had dwindled from what it once was, and both had daughters of marriageable age that they were trying to protect. Trevisan, meanwhile, is a mystery. To Proietti, he’s a “blackguard”, because he’s keeping Proietti’s daughter in his home with the assumption of a future marriage, (though he hadn’t made an improper move to her while she was in his home) while to others, he’s an upstanding citizen who’s known for being principled in all that he does. There’s also a mystery attacker who very nearly subdues and kills Lacey, and it’s only because Brewster was nearby that the attacker failed. But the man managed to escape, without revealing why he attacked Lacey at all.
-While de Luca is alone in his home, and before he had a chance to give the statue requested by Denis to Lacey, he’s killed. The murder of de Luca causes even Denis to travel to Rome, to insure that Lacey can complete the purchase of the statue. More questions than answers seem to surface, as Denis still wants the statue, even though de Luca had insisted that it was a forgery.
-For his own reasons, Denis wants Lacey to discover who killed de Luca. Oddly enough, even though Trevisan seems to bear no good will towards Lacey, he also asks for Lacey’s help in solving the murder, but this mission comes with more dangers than anyone realized.
-Though much is happening, it all occurs at a pace where it’s easy to follow exactly what’s happening. There is plenty of danger that Lacey faces, and Brewster is a perfect partner who does all he could to protect Lacey, but who also joins with Lacey without needing instruction, when Lacey risks his life to save the lives of others. The addition of Lacey’s wife, Lady Breckinridge, is very fitting, as she’s needed in her own way to discover what Lacey cannot. The author, who had traveled to the parts of Italy described in the story, gives an excellent description of both the buildings, their interiors, and the ruins that the group investigate. The plot has many unexpected turns, but everything makes sense in the end.

[AlwaysV · Rating 5 out of 5]

💎 Spectacular Location ~ Heart pounding mystery ~ Gripping story line ~ Suspenseful clues ~ Captivating historical background ~ and The Best ➡️ Superior Investigative Team of Lacey ~ Lucius ~ Brewster ~ plus all of the worthy supporting cast❣️ Have I mentioned 💎 Spectacular Location💎?

Side Note: I rarely appreciated the blurbs ~ but this one ~ WOW ❣️

Captain Lacey was an action hero. So yeah ~ all the heart stopping fights were mesmerizing! I wasn't panic~ much~ because I knew he would turn out okay! Yet, in this mystery, I felt like he suffered the worst in the entire series! He was practically at the losing ends of almost all of the attacks! Brewster, his bodyguard was also losing! Lord Grenville was luckier to have only lost once, without much bodily harm!

The historical background in the Italian peninsula in the Spring of 1820 was rich beyond words! The author succeeded in weaving fascinating gems of facts into the plot line and presented us readers with the most precious mystery!

The singular piece in the story I totally hated was the same thing we had to accept in our real world. A white collar villain who also committed a vicious murder would receive a fair justice (or not), while the victims would never receive anything to make their lives better, to soothe their excruciating pains . . .

Sharing a glimpse of the ancient city of Pompeii,
one of the many haunting scenes:

Once upon a time these walls would have been lined with marble or travertine . . . I gawped at the perfect arches, the columns that rose startlingly from the ground, the capitals on those columns preserved in fine detail . . .

“Because it was buried in ash. Some of what these men are unearthing are skeletons.” . . .

“Poor blokes.”

“Indeed. It is difficult to walk in the place of tragedy.”

“We do it every day, guv. London’s full of ghosts. . . Any old city will have sad tales. And plenty of things worth purloining. Not here, though. It’s all gone.” . . .

“But there is so much more to uncover. Secrets of the past. It is tantalizing.”

“I nearly lost you—and me—in a tomb in Egypt, scrabbling after secrets of the past. No more of that." Brewster spoke firmly. He hadn’t liked Herculaneum and its underground passageways, but at lease here, most of what we walked on had already been uncovered.

[sabagrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

BEFORE: I admit I'm sceptical ... so far the one "traveling mystery" in the series (Egypt) was disappointing: as if Egypt of around 1817 was the Egypt of cheap gothic novels of the time - full to the brim with stereotyped absurdities and implausible horrors. A letdown. So let's see what Rome has to offer in 1820.

AFTER: All my misgivings are confirmed, alas. I had to force myself to finish, and did so only for continuity's sake - to know whether there was anything about the private lives of our characters to carry on to the next instalment which will, I hope, take us back to London and to a better story.

I don't know what it is that the "Lacey abroad" volumes of the series are so very, very weak. The author overwhelmed by touristic interest, to the point of being unable to provide a believable, entertaining plot beside it?

The worst thing is that for long stretches, she also seems unable to carry on with the individuality of her characters. They are reduced to run-of-the-mill sleuths. The plot is kept up by lots of questions, and needs much explaining at the end, which is always a sign of weakness.

I'll give the series one more chance - if the next volume is set in London, if not, I'm out. If the author is running out of ideas for London mysteries combined with some progress in the respective private relationships of the protagonists - the key formula which has made this series a success - isn't it time to come to an end? Of course there's the financial incentive to carry on with it, but I wonder whether today's mass-producing writers have lost any sense of self-esteem when they keep flogging a dead horse.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an electronic ARC of this book and immediately read it as a huge fan of the series. It didn't disappoint. Lacey travels to Italy with Grenville and both bring their wives and children. The purpose is the view the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Lacey being Lacey finds himself embroiled in a family dispute regarding a young lady, a dead man who isn't dead, and the murder of a collector of antiquities. All this happens in Rome where all Lacey wanted to do was purchase a small statue on the behest of Mr Denis. The plot is complex and skillfully woven and there are some hair-raising moments in dark alleys and the Coliseum ruins that kept me turning the pages well into the night. Murder in the Eternal City is a rich tapestry of a book that kept me riveted until the end. Another triumph for Ashely Gardner/Jennifer Ashley.

[Kim Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astounding series.

As it was a while since I had read book 15, I decided to binge read the series. It takes extraordinary skill to keep the reader engaged over sixteen books. So what makes Ashley extraordinary? For me it’s multi-faceted, complex characters, twisty plots, a remarkable ability for context and world building. I don’t want to employ spoilers, so I’ll just say that I hope Capt. Lacey, Lady Donata, Grenville, Marianne, Brewster, and their households continue to enthrall us, even Mr Denis. I have only one small caveat. In the later books it seemed to me that the women are kept away from most of the action. And I do wonder how much longer a man with a badly crippled knee can continue to fight like a berserker. 🤔🤔 Perhaps his problem solving will become more cerebral. Thank you Ms Ashley.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t the best of the series (which I LOVE overall). How many times can Lacey be knocked unconscious, beaten, kicked, punched, stabbed and rebound like he just ate pudding?

And now Donata is joining in the fighting? Really?

How many times can Brewster fail to be with Lacey when he’s attacked? and the attacker gets away? I thought Brewster was a top notch guy on Denis’s squad but he seems like a doofus.

Why did Denis appear? I never understood why he showed up. Because the treasure hoarder was murdered? Did he fly there? That entire plot line was very weak.

Overall, a very loosely tied together story. There have DEFINITELY been better. I can’t believe I’m giving this one two stars, but it wasn’t on the same caliber as others.

[Colour Me Purple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Eternal City. Jennifer Ashley
Ms. Ashley never disappoints, and this latest Captain Lacey Mystery is no exception. Book 16 in this clever and captivating series takes our redoubtable Captain, his friend Grenville, their families, and the ever-faithful Brewster, deep into a complex mystery set in the beautiful city of Rome.

Every good mystery needs a solid plot line, and Murder in the Eternal City certainly has such a plot. Full of twists and turns, moments of high suspense and danger, the plot weaves and wends its way through the highways and backways of Rome. Just as the reader might surmise where the story is leading, yet another of a diverse cast of interesting characters in introduced to throw us off the scent.

It is, however, far more than just a clever plot and fascinating characters that makes all Ms. Ashley’s mysteries so engrossing. As we follow the Captain and his cronies on their adventures, her words brings alive in vivid detail the ruins of ancient Rome, the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, Pompeii, Herculaneum and more. This is a story that both entertains and educates.

And what would any good Captain Lacey mystery be without the presence of James Denis, who further complicates the Captain’s travels by requesting what would seem a simple favour. Those who have read this series will know that nothing is ever simple in the relationship between Lacey and Denis.

As always, the quiet and deep love between Lacey and his lady love shines through and is a beautiful thing. And I cannot end this review without adding that the dogged Brewster is fast becoming one of my favourite characters in this series. I have no hesitation in recommending this series to any lover of historical mysteries.

Thanks to Ms. Ashley for providing me with an ARC of Murder in the Eternal City.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to believe this is 16th in this historical mystery series.

Captain Lacey finds himself in Rome with his family/friends, when he is tasked with solving a murder, uncovering missing priceless art and sending another murderer/swindler back to justice in London.

Lots of great locale descriptions/historical detail. However, as much as I liked it, it didn’t stand up to previous efforts for me. Maybe not as much suspense? Or the absence of some of that great character interaction that I’m so fond of? Still a good read and looking forward to the next one.

[John Beaderstadt]

Intrigue in Rome

Capitain Lacey and her is family are in Italy to see the sights. However, two strangers involve him with their intrigues and he reluctantly agrees. He is falsely accused of assault, almost stabbed and followed constantly by threatening strangers.

The mysteries are resolved, but in his 16th adventure, Captain Lacey is shown as a loving husband and father, a loyal friend and an acute observer of political unrest in post Napoleonic italy. Molto grazie Ashley Yard ner.

[Myrna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lacey in la Città Eterna

This was a wonderful mystery. I have enjoyed most of Captain Lacey’s adventures, but I felt that one or two recent ones were a little long-winded—as if Gardner was wandering about textually to get the page count up. This one, however, has all the good elements I’ve come to expect from the series, including a much better use of Grenville, Brewster and Donata, as well as side characters that were well drawn and believable.

[Joan Ney Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Lacey... The hero I am jealous of the characters who get to adventure with him.

I miss Captain Lacey every time an adventure ends,but am never disappointed when I see a new book .and it's way into.the kindle format. I would highly recommend these books to lovers of history,romance,adventure,unabashed swashbuckling of the past. Start from the beginning of the series you won't regret spending time with our dear Captain.

[Kat Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lacey and Grenville are in Rome where Lacey is on an errand for Mr. Denis. Of course it’s a good old fashioned detective story with twists and turns in every direction. By the end of the story, Lacey solves the intricate puzzle of clues to discover the murderer and I admit I didn’t see this one coming.
I love Capt. Lacey’s character, but would be intrigued to read an unexpected love story for Mr. Denis also. Perhaps one day in the future. 😊

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I always enjoy the Captain Lacey novels, they are well researched and well written. I feel like they find a flavor of the time in which they are set without being too bogged down in details. The characters move the story which I also enjoy. I look forward to the next story.

[Laura Ahrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I love the Captain Lacey mystery series! I discovered it early on and have bought every book and also the audiobooks. Ashley Gardner is a wonderful writer. The characters are so real and I get lost in the story and hate when it ends. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

[Becky Almon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good yarn

I have been reading the Capt. Lacey mysteries since they began years ago. I still have the original paperbacks of those early books on my "keepers" bookcase. I now have all 16 of the books on my Kindle.
I enjoy the Captain's adventures, and the continuing characters. They are not heavy but I find them a satisfying read.

[Inés · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intricate mystery for Captain Lacey and some of his accolades, here mainly Brewster and Grenville, this time in Rome. One of the side stories was "solved" perhaps too expeditiously (probably because there was too much going on) and, much as I like the character of James Denis, it felt a bit forced to make him appear in this story. However, as a whole I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[Barbara Waire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery Within A Mystery

Captain Lacey great adventures were full of mysterious happenings. It appears he cannot enjoy a vacation without
being included into a murder investigation. Great adventure
throughout the book.

[Laura L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining outing for Captain Lacey and Co.

A thoroughly readable tale of Lacey, Greenville, and Brewster navigating two seemingly unsolvable murders. I look forward to Captain Lacey’s continuing adventures.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This art theft/murder mystery is fun for its glimpse into 1820 Rome, Pompeii and Herculaneum. When Captain Lacey and his close friend Grenville travel to Rome for the winter, they encounter thieves, assassins, thwarted lovers and irate fathers.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really good story from Jennifer Ashley

I really do enjoy these Captain Lacey Regency mysteries. I feel like I am joining up with old friends when I start reading one. I'm even warming to James Denis!

[Lyndal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

The series on Captain Lacey is such a good read I enjoy how the characters have developed over the series and how each character is enveloped into the stories. The new character of the boyfriend leaves new opening together with the old for many more stories.