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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9780451225122
ISBN number: 0451225120
Label: NAL Hardcover
Manufacturer: NAL Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: November 04, 2008
Publishing house: NAL Hardcover
Sale Popularity Level: 11770
Studio: NAL Hardcover
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Fourth in the “moody and atmospheric” historical mystery series starring “a troubled but compelling antihero.”(Booklist)
London, 1812. The brutal slaughter of eight young prostitutes in a house of refuge near Covent Garden leaves only one survivor—and one witness: Hero Jarvis, reform-minded daughter of the Prince Regent’s cousin, Lord Jarvis. When the Machiavellian powerbroker quashes any official inquiry that might reveal his daughter’s unorthodox presence, Hero launches an investigation of her own and turns to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for help.
Working in an uneasy alliance, Hero and Sebastian follow a trail of clues leading from the seedy brothels and docksides of London’s East End to the Mayfair mansions of a noble family with dark secrets to hide. Risking both their lives and their reputations, the two must race against time to stop a killer whose ominous plot threatens to shake the nation to its very core.
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Rated by buyers -
The Sebastian St Cyr novels are currently the only ones I buy in hardcover simply because I cannot wait to get my hands on them; waiting for the paperbacks would drive me insane. I adore the (anti)hero, Sebastian, and the very real relationships drawn in these books.
This one pulled out all the stops, especially in characterization. Miss Hero Jarvis, daughter of Sebastian's enemy, is delineated just perfectly-- just the right amount of vulnerability peeked through her intriguing hard exterior. Kat Boleyn, in her new role, did not appear as much as in previous novels, but enough to show the exquisite agony of impossible love between herself and Sebastian. The other place in which Ms Harris succeeds incredibly well is in atmosphere-- her research is impeccable, the descriptions evocative without being overly detailed (and therefore detracting.)
The mystery works well, as does the way in which Sebastian becomes drawn into it. (There is little in the way of moving forward in the over-arching mystery which surrounds Sebastian's mother, but it is mentioned.) The plot is self-contained, but I would highly recommend reading the previous books first, and it clearly leaves doors open for future novels as well (which I want immediately, personally.)
I hated to leave the world of this book, but I was so drawn in that I finished it in just two sittings.
Rated by buyers -
This is the fourth entry in a series that just keeps getting better with each book. The central character, Viscount Devlin is prompted to investigate the mysterious deaths of eight prostitutes at a house of refuge. He is at a crossroads in his life (since finding his lover is actually his half-sister)and confused about the meaning and purpose in his life. When the strong-willed daughter of his political enemy, Lord Jarvis brings him the circumstances of the crime, he is drawn back into the investigative world he thought he'd left behind. The mystery is interesting and well-developed, and the indications that Hero Jarvis will play a significant role in subsequent books makes me eagerly anticipate the subsequent book in series.
Rated by buyers -
Like previous reviewers, I've been a huge fan of this series from the beginning. Sebastian St. Cyr is easily one of my favorite historical mystery heroes: he's smart and witty, but extremely human in that he has to combat his demons from the past and his feelings of inadequacy around his father. He also has freakishly keen senses, which makes him even more interesting! In the last installment, Why Mermaids Sing, he had something extremely traumatic happen to him, and I was anxious and excited to see how he would deal with it in Where Serpents Sleep.
We find out right off that he's been drinking and gambling himself into oblivion, and it's a request from his arch enemy's daughter, Hero Jarvis, to help solve a string of murders at a Magdalene House that pulls him out of his vicious cycle to destroy himself.
The mystery takes the reader into the underworld of prostitution and exposes the utter indifference that the upper classes felt for those women, despite the fact that one of the murdered prostitutes was well born. It also touches on a possible conspiracy behind the assassination of Spencer Perceval and an England desperately trying to hold itself together while clashes with both France (under Bonaparte) and the U.S. threaten to unravel everything.
Sebastian is as well written as ever. He's battling a lot more in this book than usual, but it only drives him to work harder at solving the case. When he does get lost in those dark and traumatic thoughts, it's heartbreaking.
I had a sneaking suspicion that, after the events of Why Mermaids Sing, Hero Jarvis would be brought to the forefront. She and Sebastian were very evenly matched and perfectly aware of how to use each other and drive each other crazy. I loved watching them work together, and I hope to see some more of that in the subsequent book.
I could not put down this book, and now I'm kicking myself for finishing it so fast, because though Harris is working on the fifth book, there's no indication yet of when it will be available. I need to know what happens! Now!
Rated by buyers -
In this fourth book featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin (previous: WHAT ANGELS FEAR, WHEN GODS DIE, WHY MERMAIDS SING), Sebastian is still shaken by the personal events that occurred in the previous book, drinking too much, sleeping too little and unable to forgive his father for the last episode in a long-troubled relationship.
Hero Jarvis, the very independent daughter of Sebastian's enemy, the manipulator behind the scenes of Regency power and politics, Lord Jarvis, comes to Sebastian to ask him to look into the deaths of eight prostitutes--murders that the authorities are not interested in pursuing. One of the dead was a prostitute who was obviously of gentle birth. It is her situation that intrigues Hero. She and Sebastian investigate her past, separately and together, in hope it will lead to the killer or killers.
Hero was introduced in the earlier books, but never played more than a small part until now, but she was always intriguing. She and Sebastian have a charged relationship, with more elements of dislike than like, which makes their pairing interesting.
Sebastian has his dark side, but his interest in solving murder mysteries and finding some sort of justice for the victims remains foremost in his life, no matter what else is going on, which happily keeps him from ever seeming to mope or become angst-ridden. The main characters, as well as the secondary characters, are all well-drawn and fascinating.
The mystery is also involving, with glimpses into the London underworld of prostitution houses and procurers and patrons, and also into private lives of the well-to-do that could lead a woman to fall into the life. There are also plenty of action scenes and threats of death and bodily harm. Amazing that the characters could be at Almack's or a Picnic at some time in the day and then battling for their lives in the taverns and deserted roads only hours later.
The historical details are all convincing and the overall writing quality is excellent.
I found this book less intense and complex than the last book (which remains a favorite), but it was still a page-turner. I adore this series and hope it continues for a long, long time.
Rated by buyers -
The plot in this fourth Sebastian St Cyr novel develops well, with Hero Jarvis paying a greater role. As in all the books in the series, CS Harris draws you in with both the vivid pictures of Regency England and the complex relationships between the characters.
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