The Seven Dials Affair

Rannoch Fraser Mysteries #17

by Tracy Grant

London, 1821. Former spies Malcolm and Mélanie Rannoch have been friends with Bow Street runner Jeremy Roth since they all met in the intrigues of the Peninsular War. Now settled in London, they frequently collaborate. On a chilly night, an urgent summons from Roth takes Malcolm to a tavern in the slums of Seven Dials. He finds Roth standing over the body of a murdered woman. Malcolm offers his assistance with the case, but Roth says Malcolm must investigate alone. When Malcolm asks why, Roth replies—because this is my wife.

Malcolm and Mélanie plunge into the secrets of Roth’s estranged wife Allegra. Why did she disappear from England? Where has she been for five years? And why did she return now to the husband she abandoned? Their investigation is a race against time as another Bow Street runner is all too eager to arrest Roth for the murder. And though Malcolm and Mélanie are both convinced Jeremy Roth is not a killer, his story keeps changing.

Secrets are nothing new for the Rannochs. But this investigation will force them to question everything they thought they knew about some of those closest to them. And to re-examine the secrets at the heart of their own marriage—before someone else they love falls victim...

Genres: Mystery, Regency, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction

456 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2023

About the author

Tracy Grant studied British history at Stanford University and received the Firestone Award for Excellence in Research for her honors thesis on shifting conceptions of honor in late fifteenth century England. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her young daughter and three cats. In addition to writing, Tracy works for the Merola Opera Program, a professional training program for opera singers, pianists, and stage directors. Her real life heroine is her daughter Mélanie, who is very cooperative about Mummy’s writing. Tracy is currently at work on her next book chronicling the adventures of Malcolm and Mélanie Suzanne Rannoch.

Reviews

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This next adventure in the Rannoch Fraser mystery series starts off with a bang! Malcolm is summoned to the dangerous Seven Dials district of London by his friend Bow Street runner Jeremy Roth, who has just discovered the body of his estranged wife. And so the investigations begin. This book is filled with political, personal, and international intrigue! One of the main characters is an Argentine revolutionary, Marco Esquivel, who has had ties with London since he was a boy. Of course the suspects abound, the investigation is intense, and many surprises unfold. I was left speechless when the murderer was revealed.

Although I would generally recommend reading the previous books in a series, especially this one, Tracy does an excellent job of crafting enough back story so that a new reader would be able to feel engaged. I really enjoyed learning about a different part of the world. Tracy includes an extensive Dramatis Personae that helps the reader. I also enjoyed the new characters that were introduced. Very enjoyable!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracy - we are going to need a chart of who belongs to who or is it whom? This time our story involves Jeremy Roth when he discovers the body of his missing wife and calls the Rannoch group to help him discover who killed her. Jeremy is our Bow Street runner who has appeared in many of the books but this is his story along with Kitty because there are always secrets even when you think there aren't. Jeremy is called to meet his wife when he discovers her dead, but is he innocent? After all she abandoned him and his boys earlier, what could she possibly want? Malcom is called in and he in turn calls in Kitty and Julien. But Jeremy is hiding some secrets of his own which makes helping him all the more challenging. Kitty is also attacked on the same night, but what is her connection to Jeremy's wife and why is she attacked. We discover that her first husband may not have died a natural death; which Kitty is determined to find out why. Wasn't he just a cheating spouse who died of an attack after fencing? The whole mystery is wrapped around Argentina which is called the Argentine in the book, when so many of our spies and assassins were living. Naturally this unusual group work together to figure out who killed Jeremy's wife and why.
To make sense of this book, you do need to start with book 1 otherwise the people and events will make no sense. I have followed Tracy for many years and always look forward to seeing what the rannoch are up to and usually along the way you get a history lesson; which I personally enjoy. The series is quite interesting and if you can keep everyone straight ( which is why I am telling Tracy we need a chart and I know everyone) then you will enjoy this eclectic group of people who ultimately become one giant family who have each other's back.

[Daniella Bernett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layers of deception, betrayal and political maneuvering lead to murder in Regency London. Even those closest to one turn out to be spies on a mission. The reader will not be able to put the book down.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another investigation for Malcolm and Mélanie Rannoch and their circle of friends and family. Only this time, it’s personal; Jeremy Roth has sent urgently for Malcolm, who arrives to discover Roth standing over the dead body of a woman; his wife, Allegra. Did he kill her? The investigation goes back to the Argentine and the time Kitty and Julien were there, where they knew Allegra Roth as Alejandra Vargas, the mistress of Marco Esquivel, a revolutionary leader. It involves love affairs, silver mines, betrayal and the usual danger and intrigue. And, we get two new misalliances and more additions to the Rannoch’s circle of friends and family. A must read for Tracy Grant fans!