| Title | : | Murder at Queens Landing (A Wrexford Sloane Mystery #4) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1496722841 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781496722843 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published September 29, 2020 |
When Lady Cordelia, a brilliant mathematician, and her brother, Lord Woodbridge, disappear from London, rumors swirl concerning fraudulent bank loans and a secret consortium engaged in an illicit—and highly profitable—trading scheme that threatens the entire British economy. The incriminating evidence mounts, but for Charlotte and Wrexford, it’s a question of loyalty and friendship. And so they begin a new investigation to clear the siblings’ names, uncover their whereabouts, and unravel the truth behind the whispers.
As they delve into the murky world of banking and international arbitrage, Charlotte and Wrexford also struggle to navigate their increasingly complex feelings for each other. But the clock is ticking—a cunning mastermind has emerged . . . along with some unexpected allies—and Charlotte and Wrexford must race to prevent disasters both economic and personal as they are forced into a dangerous match of wits in an attempt to beat the enemy at his own game.
Murder at Queens Landing (A Wrexford Sloane Mystery #4) Reviews
-
Murder at Queens Landing is the 4th installment in the Wrexford and Sloan Mystery series by Andrea Penrose, published by Kensington Books. The story is set in the early nineteenth century London and we get to follow Alexander Wrexford and Charlotte Sloan as they investigate the murder of an East India Company clerk who has gotten too close to a secret web of financial crime within the company and gets murdered to cover it up. As Charlotte secretly makes satirical drawings exposing hypocrisy and injustice among the rich and powerful, her life is in danger if the culprits find out who she is.
Main character Earl Alexander Wrexford seems to have a volatile temper. I was pleased to follow his development from a self-sufficient brusque person not caring if he puts himself in danger, into a man with a heart for family and friends.
Supporting character earl’s daughter and satirical cartoonist Charlotte Sloan, is a widow who has chosen to distance herself from Society to make a living fighting against hypocrisy and injustice by publishing satirical drawings. I found her an impressive and interesting character of her time, working to carve out a new life, while still living by all the rules. She is my favorite of this story.
This is the first book I have read by Andrea Penrose. It included plenty of hints to events in other books in the series, which made me want to add them to my TBR. I found this story read perfectly as a standalone mystery where nothing was as it seemed. I loved the Dickensian vibe I got from the parts about street urchins and flower girls working to survive on the streets of London. I particularly enjoyed how Charlotte had a heart for street children and took care of two orphan brothers.
The plot included descriptions of mathematical and technical inventions I have not read about before; which fascinated me.
The writing felt light and easy with very entertaining dialogue. The parts where Charlotte and Alexander interacted were my particular favorites. Their relationship developed while they tried to be professional and became confused feelings had grown when they were not looking.
I felt a surprised and impressed by how Wrexford and Sloan found who was “at the top of the food chain” of this complicated scheme and managed to beat the criminals at their own game.
If you enjoy a great historical murder mystery with conspiracy and a twist of technical inventions thrown in, this would be just the thing for you. Similar authors to explore might be Anna Lee Huber or Clara McKenna.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.
Conclusion: This is the exiting and satisfying 4th installment, where Wrexford and Sloan get to solve a murder meant to cover up financial crime within the East India Company where powerful and dangerous people are willing to do whatever it takes to build fortunes – including murder.
Rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: engaging and entertaining plot, satisfying conclusion to series, enjoyable dialogue. -
I've given this a C+ at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars
The fourth book in Andrea Penrose’s series of Regency-era mysteries featuring the Earl of Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane, Murder at Queen’s Landing once again finds our two amateur sleuths drawn into a murder investigation – this time, one that could have far-reaching consequences not just for themselves but for the entire nation. If you’ve read the earlier books in the series, you’ll already know exactly how the cynical, logical and scientifically-minded Earl of Wrexford became acquainted with Mrs. Charlotte Sloane (aka A.J. Quill, London’s premier satirical cartoonist) and the Weasles (two street urchins); if you haven’t then I’d suggest starting with
Murder on Black Swan Lane, as this is a series in which the mysteries in each book are solved, but the relationship and character development are on-going.
The mystery kicks off when Wrexford is approached by Griffin, the Bow Street Runner with whom he and Charlotte have worked on previous investigations, and asked if the word Argentum means anything to him. He can’t think of anything, other than it being the Latin word for silver, but his curiosity is piqued when Griffin tells him that it was the final word uttered by a murder victim – a clerk with the East India Company. At the same time as Griffin is informing Wrexford of the crime, Charlotte is hearing about it from Skinny, a crossing sweeper and friend of her two wards, Hawk and Raven. She’s saddened by the news of course – any life lost to violence is a terrible thing – but doesn’t think it’s something she and Wrexford can help with.
A day or so later, Charlotte learns that her friend Lady Cordelia – a mathematical genius – and her brother the Earl of Woodbridge have suddenly left London without a word to anyone, and Griffin informs Wrexford that the murder victim was tangentially connected to Woodbridge through the his cousin David Mather, who is employed at Hoare’s bank, one of the city’s major financial institutions. It seems that Mather and Woodbridge had some recent business dealings, and although Griffin can’t find any connection between the disappearance of the earl and his sister and the murder, he can’t help being curious, especially as Lady Cordelia and Wrexford’s friend Kit Sheffield recently opened an account at Hoare’s for a newly formed company.
Tenuous these connections may be, but the more Charlotte and Wrexford ponder them, the more likely it seems that the murder at Queen’s Landing and the disappearances of Lady Cordelia and her brother are connected in some way. In the way that has become a hallmark of this series, Andrea Penrose incorporates elements of contemporary technological advancement and discovery into the story – in this case the development of mathematical machines and steam powered vehicles – and provides an obviously well-researched historical background. The workings of complex financial systems and how they were being exploited via a worldwide network of corrupt merchant banks and how it all related to the opium trade did, however, go over my head – and as that seemed to be the major impetus behind the mystery plot, it meant that I spent part of the book scratching my head trying to work out exactly why the villains were doing what they did.
I really enjoyed the earlier books in this series, but this one didn’t work as well, for a number of reasons. The mystery didn’t really grab me, and the set up in the first half of the book simply dragged. The premise is interesting, but as I’ve said above, the principal plot point is overly complex (which led to a lot of info-dumping and repetition) and unlike in the last book, where a personal connection with the investigation was quickly established and the stakes were clearly high, here, I never felt as though the stakes for any of the characters were as high as I was being told they were. This wasn’t helped by the fact that we don’t really know Lady Cordelia all that well – or her brother at all – and I found it difficult to become invested in their troubles as a result. And while the author does a really good job of throwing in the red herrings and concealing the identity of the villain right up until the reveal, that person’s motivations are so detached and unemotional that the mystery as a whole lacks any feeling of peril or excitement. Action scenes are eschewed in favour of discussions of what happened after the event, there’s a lot of repetition of thoughts and feelings (Charlotte worries that her re-joining the world of the ton will change her and Wrexford’s preference for logic over emotion is hammered home several times); plus having now reached book four in the series, Ms. Penrose falls into the trap that befalls many authors of series, namely that of too much exposition (and yet more info-dumping) concerning the characters. I know most authors do this, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying or repetitious for readers who have followed the series from the beginning.
The best part of the story is that which focuses on the undercurrent of attraction that’s been running between Charlotte and Wrexford since book one, and those readers who, like me, have been awaiting developments in their burgeoning romance will be pleased at the way things progress. But unfortunately, that can’t make up for the book’s deficiencies – an overly complex and ultimately unengaging mystery, uneven pacing, too much telling-and-not-showing and characterisation that seems to have remained largely static.
I dithered a bit over a final grade for Murder at Queen’s Landing because in spite of my reservations, once the pacing picks up in the second half it’s a relatively entertaining read. But I’m not sure I can recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who isn’t already following the series – and even then, I can only recommend it to those who have been following it and may want to pick it up for the sake of completeness. Nonetheless, I’ll be looking out for book five and hoping for a tighter mystery with higher stakes and a bit more action. -
A bit slow, this time.
But the mystery is still good.
And at last, Charlotte and Alexander is an item now! ❤️🥰😘
I also love what Wrexford’s plan for those street urchins, how kind and generous 😍☺️.
Book #5 won’t publish until September 🥴.
Oh well 😬.
❤️❤️❤️ -
3.5 stars for the latest Wrexford/Sloane mystery., bumped up to 4 because I love the main characters.
I will admit to becoming confused at various points in this one. Financial skullduggery is not my strong suit. Nor was I fond of the way Wrexford and Lady Charlotte were so quick to assume the worst when their friends, Lady Cordelia and her brother Lord Stanhope, disappeared so suddenly.
Of course all is made right by the end, but it was a rocky journey.
This read like the final book in the series. I hope that it isn't, as I am fond of the characters and would like to see them again.
ETA 6/27/2021--Yay!! there is another book on its way.
Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens -
** I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! **
In Murder at Queen's Landing, Charlotte and Wrexford find themselves drawn into a murder investigation that could lead to dire consequences not only for their friends, but for the future of the British empire. Following Andrea Penrose's established pattern of incorporating contemporary intellectual advancements into the mystery du jour, the novel follows Charlotte and Wrexford as they attempt to reconcile complex mathematics, engineering, and principles of commerce in their pursuit of justice.
By the time I finished the third instalment in this series, I'd come to the conclusion that these books were not meant to be read back-to-back. That's not a criticism in itself; the formulaic nature of mystery novels can get tiresome after reading several of them in quick succession (as I discovered while burning through, like, six Sebastian St. Cyr books a month or so ago!). I was hoping that the break I'd taken from this series, and the books I'd read in the intervening time, would have refreshed me, but I struggled to enjoy Murder at Queen's Landing for many of the same reasons why I struggled to enjoy its predecessors.
Character-establishing moments, adjectives, and pieces of dialogue from previous books are recycled so often that there is little forward momentum in any of the characters' arcs and little distinction between characters' voices. Consider the point-of-view characters, Charlotte and Wrexford, both of whom are very limited in their narration and dialogue. For Charlotte, for example, everything always comes back to her distaste for the beau monde, her fear that it will change her (which really seems unfounded, as almost all of her friends are aristocrats who share her opinions and think highly of her and thus far she's never had to sacrifice her morals), her concern for Raven's and Hawk's futures, and her confused feelings for Wrexford. Beyond these worries, which are unchanged from the previous books, we really know very little about Charlotte's thoughts and motivations and desires, aside from rather simplistic and vague deliberations on good and evil. Wrexford suffers from a similar problem, though in his case he cycles between thinking about science (also simplistically and vaguely), his confused feelings for Charlotte, and his concern for his friends.
When it comes to secondary characters, we are reminded almost every time Griffin appears that he likes to coerce Wrexford into buying him expensive dinners. Sheffield always quips that he didn't sleep through every lecture at Oxford, or that he knows he's a fool. Tyler always nags Wrexford for being moody and mercurial (which... where are the receipts?). References such as these might be helpful for new readers and I wouldn't be bothered by them if they were only made when a character is first introduced. But frequent and almost identical references throughout the novel undermine development and complexity.
Similarly, there's a great deal of repetitive and circular dialogue in scenes which are not deliberately moving the story forward. We don't need to be reminded in every conversation that Wrexford prioritizes logical thinking, and we don't need it constantly explained to us that acting on unproven assumptions contradicts the scientific method. We don't need Charlotte and Wrexford to keep bringing to attention their "fundamental" difference in philosophy, i.e. logic vs intuition, in exactly the same way. It's jarring when multiple unconnected characters from different backgrounds employ the same figures of speech or cultural references. It's especially jarring when conversations consist of characters describing each other's personalities as though they're psychologists. I want to see them reacting authentically to each other, not listing attributes! I want them to evolve beyond archetypes! This contributes to a sense of stagnation that I also identified in the previous book. I like these characters; when they're not pontificating or repeating a thought for the tenth time they are extremely engaging; but I want them to be, consistently, more than impressions. Much of this could be improved with tighter editing. Excising the redundancies would leave much more room for the characters to grow, internally and interpersonally, in a more organic and complex way.
As for the mystery, I have to confess that it didn't really grab me. The intrigue didn't pick up until partway through, and though I was interested in the machinations of the East India Company, they was only included to contextualize the mystery, and I was disappointed that the author didn't take the chance to introduce any significant Indian or Chinese characters. The computing machine that Lady Cordelia was helping to improve was certainly interesting, but I found the link between it and the commerce element to be tenuous. I just didn't feel the tension that the characters were telegraphing; there wasn't enough of a personal connection for me. Cf. the previous book, Murder at Kensington Palace, which established a clear personal connection with the investigation and serious stakes. The initial murder is quickly overshadowed (and essentially forgotten) by the race to reveal the penumbral and wide-reaching schemes of the antagonist, because of the danger to Charlotte and Wrexford's friends. I never took that danger to be fatal, however: Woodbridge and Cordelia might be ruined, but I wasn't convinced their lives were at stake (and they never were, directly at least). And we don't know Woodbridge at all, and Cordelia very little; to elicit more than a detached interest in their struggle, the trajectory of the plot and the intense reactions and fears of the POV characters had to align, and I found them instead to be at odds. There needed to be either a more apparent, material danger to Woodbridge or Cordelia, or a better balance between the investigative and interpersonal elements of the story.
Overall, I think the slow start, the sheer volume of exposition--much of which reads as though it belongs in an undergraduate research paper--through dialogue, general emotional disconnect, and the ultimately dispassionate nature of the villain's motivations kept the mystery from seeming exciting or dangerous. I think the lack of urgency also comes down to the author's choice to omit crucial investigation and action scenes in favour of having the characters review what they learned/what happened post factum.
I didn't dislike this book. I didn't love it. I liked parts of it. Hawk and Raven remain my favourite characters, and even though Charlotte didn't get the chance to contribute much to the plot (and not at all as A.J. Quill, disappointingly) she made some nice progress with Alison. I would have liked a response to her brother's letter, but that seemed forgotten. I still think Sheffield and Cordelia should get together. I'll probably look for the next book when it's released and be able to enjoy it more knowing what to expect! -
Matters of science and mystery!
A further step into the lives of Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford. This time murder plays a part and the pair find themselves tapping at the doors of the powerful East India company. The wonderful Weasles are growing and developing but still maintain there delightful urchin ways. Tyler, Wrexford's unconventional valet is still as acerbic as ever. Others are being added to their coterie, and I am charmed. Penrose dots her pages with well humored incidents, easing the tensions.
A clerk is murdered down by the docks, and almost at the same time Charlotte's friend, the brilliant mathematician Lady Cordelia, and her brother, Lord Woodbridge, disappear from London. Unusual! To all appearances the two aren't connected but as things move on that viewpoint changes. It appears Cordelia and Woodbridge might be in the thick of some nebulous unsavory circumstances. But what"
Charlotte and Wrexford's relationship edges towards something other than friendship.
The perfidy off the East India company introducing opium to China to open up trade is well documented and Penrose has used this to advantage in rather nail biting Regency thriller. As is the well researched background to trading based on international arbitrage. The invention of a computer like machine to help in trading and more, highlights the Achilles heel of new developments where good and evil use vie. I highly commend her closing author's notes for a clearer look at these issues.
Once more we're given a fabulous Sloane and Wrexford novel, where in Penrose's words, she's woven "an important development in Regency science/ technology as a main element in the mystery."
A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change -
Series: Wrexford & Sloane #4
Publication Date: 9/29/20
Number of Pages: 304
OOOOOOOOOH – an excellent addition to the series. We have a much less acerbic and more emotional Wrexford along with a softer Charlotte Sloane. Who would have thought it! I like it very well – as long as they don’t lose their edge. As always, the writing is excellent, the story is fast-paced, and the characters are fun, interesting, and fully developed. This case takes the whole cast of characters to keep each other safe.
A murder happens at the docks – Queens Landing – but it isn’t something in which Wrexford and Charlotte would normally become involved. They didn’t know the man, but his death was gruesome. Then, when Bow Street starts asking questions about Sheffield and two of their friends disappear … Is it all related? Was one (or more) of their friends involved in the death? If so, why would that be?
As they quietly begin to investigate, Wrexford and Charlotte realize just how dangerous this investigation might become – not just to them, but to their friends and family as well. They soon come to understand that the solution to this crime might shake the very foundations of the British economy and their foe is very, very powerful with far-reaching tentacles. Can they unmask this villain before he closes in on them?
Of course, I require a bit of romance along with my mysteries – and this story just made me smile. If you’ve read the previous books, you have long known that Wrexford and Charlotte love each other – they were just too stubborn to realize it themselves. Wrexford was thinking he was too cold and analytical for such frivolous feelings as love and Charlotte was terrified of love because of her previous experiences. It was wonderful to see them start to realize that love might not be such a bad thing.
I always love the Author’s Notes at the back of the book. She always tells us the historical facts about the tale she’s just told and the real circumstances upon which the details of the story are based. This author does intensive research and those Author’s Notes are almost as interesting as the book itself.
This is a wonderful adventure and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. The Weasels (Charlotte’s wards) are their normal delightful selves, Sheffield grows and matures, and we have a wonderful dog added to the story. I mean – it was a great read and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. -
After an initial slow start with a
Murder at Queen's Landing, there was a large info dump of introducing characters. This would have been interesting if I hadn’t already read the previous three stories in this series. I cannot fault Ms. Penrose because this is what most writers do, but it was well over halfway in before things picked up speed. Before then, I found an overload of telling and not showing that caused me to struggle with the storyline.
Besides solving the murder, Lady Charlotte aka A.J. Quill or Magpie was contemplating what to tell her great-aunt Alison, Lady Peake, about her past. I was reminded of the importance of friendships at every chapter. The amount of history and fascination with math was strongly felt within the plot. And though there were musings from Wrex and Charlotte, I missed a chemistry.
A brief and interesting ending enticed me to look forward to the fifth story. I want a tighter mystery with more action, Wrex and Charlotte working side by side AND more vibes with affection and no more new characters. All in all,
Murder at Queen's Landing earned three stars.
Thank you to Net Galley, Andrea Penrose and Kensington Publications for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
You don't know it, but mathematics and finance are not my thing!! When I read or when somebody tries to explain them to me my eyes just cross and my mind wanders to much more inetersting subjects! LOL
So maybe that was the reason why I didn't like this book as much as I liked the others in this series...
Financial manipulations were the core of the mystery!
There was too much information given for this that the other much more interesting parts suffered.
I enjoyed how the things were going with Wrexford and Charlotte and how Charlotte's aunt Alice was included. Also the Weasels and Tyler were great as usual.
I also liked how Sheffield was smitten with Lady Cordelia - it was fun! LOL
As for Lady Cordelia and her brother Lord Stanhope... they were just pale characters here. I found Stanhope to be just a stupid man who didn't deserve to be helped! He was just TSTL!
So, IMHO, the mystery was too much complicated (for me) and I didn't feel involved with neither the victim nor the villain. The villain seemed to me like a today's fincance sharks, who, as we all know, just get richer and richer and financial acumen and manipulations are not outlawed... sadly...
The victim, as I said, was just TSTL and I didn't feel his victim-ness... he felt like a poor investor who cries because he lost his money.
If not for the murders, this would not have been a huge crime... just extreme manipulation and probably treason or theft...
So it pains me but I'm giving it just 3 stars... and hoping the next will be much more interesting! -
Oh the Weasels! Andrea Penrose’s Murder at Queen’s Landing (Wrexford & Sloane Mystery #4) is an unputdownable mystery. I have missed the characters of Lady Charlotte, Wrexford, McCellan, Tyler - all of them especially the Weasels. These characters get into such delicious and dangerous situations when investigating a murder. The author certainly did her homework for Murder at Queen’s Landing as early attempts of technology are incorporated into the plot, but the author also illustrates compassion, friendship, and family “ ..... had sent his private carriage to collect a ragged-taggle band of street urchins for a stay at his country estate.” as Wrexford and Sloane set their path for justice. I felt as though I was in Regency London with these beautifully written characters. And what is this? Wrexford and Sloane as they search for justice, they find - now, what is the other thing they discover? 5 stars.
-
Murder at Queen's Landing by Andrea Penrose was another enthralling mystery for me. I was pulled into the story from the first page and hated to put it down until the end.
Ms. Penrose's descriptive writing and meticulous research presented a story that involves deceit, blackmail, smuggling and multiple murders. The relationship between Lady Charlotte and the Earl of Wrexford has slowly progressed throughout the series which has given readers the opportunity to relate to both of them on a personal level. The Weasels, Raven and Hawk, are excellent support characters as they are unique and often add that touch of humor to lighten the drama. As the series has grown so have the secondary characters and they, too, have grown into individuals that I would enjoy meeting and spending time with as they contribute to the sleuthing. A intricate plot that is quickly paced with a few devilishly twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Bottom line is that I love this series and look forward to each new release.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own. -
The writing in this book is so tragic, as a coping mechanism I started to keep a tally of all the ridiculousness. The number of times “dastards” is said? 24! “Beau monde”? 19! “Havey-cavey”? 8! “Argle-bargle”, “habble-babble”, and “quiffy-niffy” also make appearances. Also, at least four characters speak in Latin phrases. That’s three too many. And just about everyone in this book is now expertly speaking in metaphors. All of this means that there isn’t a single unique character in this book. Everyone sounds like everyone else. Coupled with a boring plot, this is a dud.
-
4-1/2*
This is #4 in a series and each one has been interesting, intriguing and entertaining with some very fascinating characters. That is if you are a fan of the era, a good mystery and the language of the time.
It begins with the murder of a shipping clerk, not something that the beau monde would concern themselves with, that is until close friends of Charlotte and Wrexford go missing and all indications are that they may have been connected in some manner with the murdered man.
The murder mystery this time involves a convoluted scheme related to banking, fraud and illicit trading which becomes so confusing that it loses its edge. Thus my deducting half a star.
The author has made mention of some of the background that has brought Charlotte and Wrexford to this point but it would be so much more enjoyable if you have read the series from the beginning. And from the ending I suspect this might be the end of the series. (??) Although I hope not. -
Interesting mystery with some interesting friends, glad to see more characters from the previous books and a growth in trust between every one. And a growth in the romance, but just barely. They do have a lot of "The answer is always love and family" which is weird and has been showing up in the past couple books, doesn't really fit with the characters.
-
I love these characters so much...I kind of wish there was even more of the relationship and less of the mystery because I adore them. It seemed like there were a few opportunities for Charlotte and Wrexford to have sweet moments (like when they are wedged into a hiding spot, in danger of being discovered), but they passed. Nothing like increasing the tension even more!
The mystery was great and I appreciate the research that went into crafting all the layers of it. I gobbled this one up in one day!
Upon reread: this book is such a slam dunk. The mystery is complicated - there’s a lot to understand. The character development is beautiful. There are so many scenes, even very short ones, that are lovely and heart warming. I completely forgot about Harper! And that Alice, Skinny, and some other urchins get a nice ending. -
Really enjoyable mystery. Very twisty. I do admit I did skim over some of the mathematical explanations. Wrexford and Charlotte’s slow-burning romance continues apace. The Weasels educations are in hand and the ending of this was really delightful, with a proposal of marriage, homes and positions for Raven and Hawk’s friends Skinny, Alice the Eel Girl, Pudge and One-Eye Harry. Also a huge Scottish deerhound named Harper and puppies. It doesn’t get better than that.
-
I am rating this 3.5* and rounding up. I just was not that invested in the book till the end. I found myself lost in a lot of the financial parts of the plot and the action was not there for me. I understand having family and friends but, its getting to be soooo many characters. I do have to say I did not guess who the villain was till the end. I enjoy this author and look there will be another mystery.
-
they make an amazing team. and the delicate balance of the period is well done. and i am a sucker for eccentric aristocrats.
-
Another great book by Andrea Penrose. I do enjoy this series very much. The way the author mixes fact with fiction is enticing and entertaining and at this point in the series, I’m invested in the characters’ future. The only thing that could’ve been better was the emotional part of the story. I was hoping for more developments throughout the story, more balance between the mystery and personal developments. But alas, we had to wait until the very end and the ending was a bit obvious.
I’m happy with how the story is developing but… I feel like this installment could’ve been more balanced out. -
More a 3.7
I feel invested in these characters, without a doubt, but I've felt this installment wasn't as balanced as it could. -
I absolutely fell in love with this series when I read the very first book. I can’t believe the series is only on book 4, I feel like so much has happened in these four books. It’s been quite the journey.
When I saw this one on Netgalley, I immediately downloaded it and couldn’t wait to dive in. The book wasn’t due to come out until September and I downloaded the book in June…..needless to say I read it in June because I couldn’t wait to see what happened between Wrexford and Sloane in this book!
I read this book in only a couple of sittings and couldn’t put it down! Another winner from Penrose!One of the things I love most about this series is the complex relationship between Wrexford and Sloane. It’s clear to the reader that they are in love with each other but neither are prone to bold, emotional declarations of love. In the previous books there has been a lot of hinting at their emotions but the investigation always seems to come between them just before they can examine how they feel about one another.
I expected their relationship to take a turn in this book considering it was heavily hinted at in the previous books and while their relationship did change by the end of the book, I was still hoping and waiting for a bold, emotional declaration of love and feelings. I can’t say I am surprised though because it would be wildly out of character for either of them but a girl can still hope. In the end I felt satisfied with how their relationship progressed and culminated in this book and am looking forward to seeing how things proceed in future books.
The other thing that I love about this author is she incorporates science of the historical period. In this book it’s about financial science and while there were times that I felt completely lost in the financial side of the story, there were characters there that helped the lay reader navigate the complex financial terrain. I loved how much the mystery shifted and cast uncertainty across many characters. Penrose always does such a smashing job with her mysteries and red herrings and it’s one of the things I love best about this series.
These books could mostly be read as standalone novels as the author does a nice job orientating the reader in the later plot without giving anything away, but you will get a lot more out of it by reading the books in order. Whenever I pick up one of her books I am never disappointed and always finish the book feeling excited for the next and eager to see what ways each of our beloved characters shifts and changes in new and exciting ways.
Last little thought—-I am so in love with this cover. While I love the other covers in this series, I think this one is my absolute favorite so far! It’s elegant and mysterious. I can’t stop staring at it!
See my full review here -
I love the Wrexford and Sloane series. Andrea Penrose puts the reader right into the Regency realm and gives a more earthy perspective than lords and ladies doing their thing. Mrs. Sloane, while part of the aristocracy, made her living as a caricaturist until the last book where she had to rejoin her kind. Lord Wrexford is a scientist whose pursuits sometimes take him into danger. They've become friends and friends don't let friends solve murders alone, especially when there is a growing attraction.
Penrose has created a cast of characters to aid her hero and heroine. My favorites are two urchins Mrs. Sloane has adopted, affectionately called, "the weasels."
With lots of action and excellent writing, this series has become one of my favorites. This particular book does bog down at a few points while the author explains, in too much detail, some ponderous economic terms and scientific principles. But it's still a good read and I highly recommend it. -
Full disclosure—Andrea is a friend of mine. That said, I only review books I absolutely love, so I’m not doing this out of just friendship. Andrea’s books can be devoured by an experienced reader of historical romance and mystery or anyone looking for a good story. Fully developed, sometimes curmudgeonly characters with flaws and quirks, a continuing romance (with a lovely twist in this book!), history that beautifully sets the story (including Ada Lovelace’s computing machine), and a twisty, atmospheric mystery—what’s not to love?
-
After reading all the books in a row... what can I say? I really enjoyed them, especially the last two! I loved all the characters (Wrexford and his sarcasm ❤️) and in each book I grew fond of them. I also appreciated the mysteries and murders, which were well plotted! The romance was well developed too and I adored Charlotte and Wrex's relationship! I love Historical Mysteries and this series is really, really good! Can't wait to read the next book!
-
This was the weakest of the series so far. Some interpersonal things were advanced near the end so that bumped what would have been a two-star read up to a three-star.
-
To be honest, I no longer read these books for the mystery - I might in book #1 and #2. It felt rather repetitive, with the "sinister" prologue (which results in a dead body). Then Wrexford and Charlotte ended up investigating with their two different approaches in seeing the problems. At one point (or most) Sheffield and the Weasels will help, along with Tyler the valet and Henning the doctor.
So no, I am more interested with the development of these characters and the wonderful friends and family that they gather along the way. Like in this book, with James, Earl of Woodbridge and his sister Lady Cordelia now in the needs of Wrexford and Charlotte's wits. Sheffield getting hit quite hard because I am CERTAIN that he has feelings for Cordelia, but facing the fact that she might betray him for his money -- WHICH IS NOT TRUE, of course!! Then Charlotte informing her great-aunt as well about her real identity as A.J. Quill and their involvement in murder cases.
I loved all of these. Oh, and this family might expand with a DOG (as well as legally being a family, of course since Wrexford proposed to Charlotte) -
4 stars.
In this instalment, the author looked at the beginning of the invention of the calculator. It's interesting when you hear the inventor and Wrexford both agreeing that they wouldn't see an automated calculator in their lifetime. But we've sure come a long way in the 100 years or so, especially in the last couple of decades!!!
It's another intricate case with a lot of different threads and Kit Sheffield and the boys definitely did their share of bringing the culprits to justice. I'm not sure how I feel about what Wrexford did at the end there . I guess we'll see how things work out in the next book. -
Another fun mystery. It was great to see how the boys got introduced to the earl's estate. And finally his relationship with Charlotte moved forward!
-
I've made no secret of the fact that I love how Andrea Penrose writes. She's good at highlighting a "found family." Also, Wrexford snarking at the Weasels will never get old. Nor will the Weasels being enamoured of his massive dog. I also quite liked the visit to his country estate, and the discussions of the "difference engine."
