I stumbled on this series a couple of years ago and instantly fell in love. I loved how sassy and sardonic Wrexford is and even if Mrs Sloane is overly pig headed at times, she’s independent and sassy and I can’t get enough of them together!
Reading these books is always such a delight. There is clearly this romantic tension between Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane, but it doesn’t overtake the prime focus of the books which is the murder mystery.
Because of that I think it makes the romance so much more sweet. The little morsels of romance sprinkled in make the reader eager to see what happens between them, but ultimately it’s the well written mystery that holds their attention late into the night.
So when I finally saw this one on Netgalley I begged to read it! I couldn’t wait and read it in a couple of fast sittings!
Summary
Though Charlotte Sloane’s secret identity as the controversial satirical cartoonist A.J. Quill is safe with the Earl of Wrexford, she’s ill prepared for the rippling effects sharing the truth about her background has cast over their relationship. She thought a bit of space might improve the situation. But when her cousin is murdered and his twin brother is accused of the gruesome crime, Charlotte immediately turns to Wrexford for help in proving the young man’s innocence. Though she finds the brooding scientist just as enigmatic and intense as ever, their partnership is now marked by an unfamiliar tension that seems to complicate every encounter.
Despite this newfound complexity, Wrexford and Charlotte are determined to track down the real killer. Their investigation leads them on a dangerous chase through Mayfair’s glittering ballrooms and opulent drawing rooms, where gossip and rumors swirl to confuse the facts. Was her cousin murdered over a romantic rivalry . . . or staggering gambling debts? Or could the motive be far darker and involve the clandestine scientific society that claimed both brothers as members? The more Charlotte and Wrexford try to unknot the truth, the more tangled it becomes. But they must solve the case soon, before the killer’s madness seizes another victim. (summary from Goodreads)
Review
This book definitely held my attention late late late into the night on more than one occasion. I read it in a couple of sittings but both of those sittings ran late into the evening. There was definitely a Jack the Ripper element to the story and I thought that made it so much more intriguing and shocking.
There were a number of people with motive and like the characters I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how everything worked together and what pieces of evidence were relevant. I thought I had an idea who the killer was but then there would be a piece of evidence discovered that made me question if that person was really the culprit or not. Great use of red herrings! I especially loved how well the author incorporates science into the story too. It really adds to the mystery in my opinion!
It’s been really fun to see how the characters in the book have grown since the first story. Both of the main characters, Wrexford and Charlotte have changed so much and their walls have come down to reveal genuinely beautiful and caring individuals. I love how their relationship has evolved into this wonderful friendship with the promise of something deeper to come and I love that the author is in no way eager to rush it into reality. At times it maddening because I desperately want them to declare their feelings but at the same time I savor the little bits that we get and am excited to see what the next book brings.
These are characters that I have grown to care about and can’t wait to see what’s in store for their future! If you love historical mysteries, this is a team you don’t want to miss. The mystery is well done with wonderfully colorful characters and it easily kept me interested and reading late into the night! It can be read as a stand lone but why would you want to miss out on all the fun back story? The answer is, you don’t! Each book is fantastic and a quick read so go pick them up!
The Lit Bitch 