Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (Wrexford \u0026 Sloane, #6) by Andrea Penrose


Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (Wrexford \u0026 Sloane, #6)
Title : Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (Wrexford \u0026 Sloane, #6)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1496732537
ISBN-10 : 9781496732538
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 361
Publication : First published September 27, 2022

For fans of Bridgerton looking for a mysterious twist on the glittering ballrooms of the Regency—a masterfully plotted story from a USA Today bestselling author that combines engaging protagonists with rich historical detail and international intrigue, plus a touch of romance that readers of Amanda Quick and Deanna Raybourn will savor.

Charlotte, now the Countess of Wrexford, would like nothing more than a summer of peace and quiet with her new husband and their unconventional family and friends. Still, some social obligations must be honored, especially with the grand Peace Celebrations unfolding throughout London to honor victory over Napoleon.

But when Wrexford and their two young wards, Raven and Hawk, discover a body floating in Hyde Park’s famous lake, that newfound peace looks to be at risk. The late Jeremiah Willis was the engineering genius behind a new design for a top-secret weapon, and the prototype is missing from the Royal Armory’s laboratory. Wrexford is tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands. But there are unsettling complications to the case—including a family connection.

Soon, old secrets are tangling with new betrayals, and as Charlotte and Wrexford spin through a web of international intrigue and sumptuous parties, they must race against time to save their loved ones from harm—and keep the weapon from igniting a new war . . .


Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (Wrexford \u0026 Sloane, #6) Reviews


  • Merry

    I sometimes think I march to the beat of a different drummer. I found the first half of the book slow and had little action. I guessed who the culprit was (my reasoning was off as to the why). The second half of the book was fast paced and enjoyable, but it never regained the tension needed for an enjoyable mystery. A lot of ballroom and social settings took away from the action for me. I was tepid on the last book but am willing to try the next one. I know faint praise. I give it 3.25*

  • Neehaa

    kit and lady cordelia need to get their shit together, they deserve happiness 🥺


    edit:

  • eyes.2c

    Another intriguing mystery from Penrose.

    Prototypes and plans for multi shot long guns, and the threat of nations outjockeying each other in their pursuit for dominance, dog the steps in this latest tale of Wrexford and Charlotte. Threads throughout the investigation all point to a treasonous government insider being part of a plot of stolen prototypes, and a secret bidding war being conducted for interested parties. The ruthless Lord Grentham sits at the center of it all trying to curtail the reach of friends who might be enemies. He demands Wrexham’s assistance, using the tactics of blackmail, with veiled references hinting at exposing Charlotte’s activities as A.J. Quill, one of London’s most famous satirical artists. But is it smoke and mirrors? Charlotte and Wrexford can’t take the chance.
    The man who invented the gun action, Jeremiah Wilson has been found dead, fallen into the Serpentine. Murder or an accident?
    Coincidentally, they are attend a family house party at the Belmont estate. The Belmonts’s are relatives by marriage to Charlotte’s brother.
    The weasels have a new friend Peregrine, or Falcon as they call him. In reality he’s Lord Lampson, a title he’s inherited much to his uncle’s disgust. The uncle, Thurston Belmont, a diplomat, sees a tainted line. Charlotte sees a young talented boy whose becoming fast friends with her peculiar lot.
    Wrexford has been strong armed by Pierson into assisting with the Governement inquiry. What he doesn’t reckon on is how this will effect all members of his vey different family.
    A twisted tale of acceptance, diversity and state secrets gone awry.

    A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
    Many thanks to the author and publisher.

  • Teresa

    I have been reading and enjoying this series since the first book. The last one wasn't the best so I was wondering how this one would pan out. I'm delighted to say the author is well back on track. It was an excellent read. The research done is staggering.
    The back drop to the story of the Gala and celebrations in England after the defeat of Napoleon was fantastically depicted. I learned so much about all this from the novel. The writer's descriptive writing has blown me away from the start.
    I was keen to see how the dynamic would change with Wrexford and Sloane now being married. It actually made it better. I love their relationship. This is not a love story. It's a murder mystery with a love story running through it. Their unconventional family is still going strong and there is a new addition to it in this book.
    Sheffield is back and it was great to have him in the circle again. Cordelia not so much but I think she will feature in the next one more.
    There is a large cast of characters and you need to concentrate to follow the story. The last few chapters are thrilling and the wind up exciting.
    So looking forward to the next in the series. I'd just like to add that the covers for these books are simply gorgeous.

    Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an early copy of this book to read.


  • Morgan

    I have enjoyed this series from book #1.
    H/ever, each book has become more and more complicated.

    This time events are taking place when all heads of state are present for the Peace Celebrations in London 1814.

    Trouble begins with the murder of the inventor of a multi-shot pistol, the search for the drawings and the search for the killer.

    This is the kind of weapon that every country would kill for and Wrexford has been asked to assist the British in locating the drawings & the murderer.

    The whole matter becomes very complicated involving a secret auction, the details of which made my head spin.

    Charlotte has acquired a relative with a nephew of mixed race and the boy is being treated badly so she invites him to stay with her family which turns out to be a happy event for the Weasels who take him under their wings and name him Falcon. It also happens that the boy’s uncle was the inventor of the much desired weapon.

    In this instalment it was the Weasels – Raven and Hawk and Falcon that made the book enjoyable. Also (finally) it would seem that Kit and Cordelia are going to get together.

  • Barbara Rogers

    Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
    Series: Wrexford & Sloane #6
    Publication Date: 9/27/22
    Period: Regency London
    Number of Pages: 304

    Andrea Penrose has certainly come up with a winning series! The characters, both main and supporting, are likable, fully formed, and someone you’d want to call friends if you met them in real life. The writing is excellent and the solution to the mystery leads you through a labyrinth of clues and red herrings until the villain is finally revealed. Excellently done!

    Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford have only just recently married and they are looking forward to some quiet time to get accustomed to their combined household and to living together. That, of course, isn’t going to happen because Wrex and the ‘weasels’ (two street urchins Charlotte and Wrex have taken guardianship of) have found a body in the Serpentine. Wrex has absolutely no intention of getting involved in the investigation and reports finding the body to the constabulary. After all, they are all leaving to attend a house party and there is no time for such inquiries.

    Ah! The best of intentions often go awry. After arriving at the house party, they learn the identity of the victim – and his relationship to the people who are hosting the party. Still – it is best to leave it to Bow Street. At least, it is best until they return home to find a summons for Wrex to meet with a high-ranking government official who is asking for his help. It seems the victim was a gifted engineer who was developing a revolutionary new weapon for the government. Now, the engineer is dead and the prototype along with the plans are missing. The government thinks the perpetrator might be someone within the higher ranks of government and they can't trust themselves to investigate.

    As Charlotte, Wrex, and their myriad mix of friends and informants spread out through all of London, the clues begin to pour in. Some they eliminate, some they have to investigate further until the exciting climax at a naval re-enactment held where it all began – on the Serpentine.

    With danger around every corner, and more bodies showing up, Charlotte and Wrex are more and more determined to find the culprit and protect those they love.

    I loved this latest addition to the series and I enjoyed seeing how Charlotte (a reformer through and through) is settling into her new, more constrained role as the Countess of Wrexford. I also loved meeting a new character, Peregrine (Lord Lampson) who is the young nephew of the first victim. It is going to be fun to watch how Peregrine blossoms under the love, care, and acceptance he receives from those in the Wrexford household.

    All in all, it is a great read and a great series. I hope you will read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

    I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

  • Jeannine

    What a delight these characters are. I have loved seeing Charlotte and Wrex’s little family evolve over the course of the series.

    This book takes place during the peace celebrations after Napoleon is exiled. The design for a new weapon is up for auction and our little team has to find out who is behind the auction and find the designs while keeping the nephew of the murdered inventor safe.

    As usually, Raven and Hawk steal the show and initiate the nephew into their flock as Falcon.

    Charlotte is still frustrated by the constraints placed on her now that she’s back in the role of an aristocrat, but she gets to take on her alter persona, Magpie, once at the end.

    One bonus for readers of Andrea Penrose’s other series is that Wrentham plays a part in this story, though he never actually appears in person. There’s a book with Ariana and Sandro that take place during this same celebration…I kind of want to read it again to see if I can spot any other crossover material.

  • Cara Putman

    I continue to really enjoy this series.

  • Lorraine

    Regency Era. London, England. June 1814. Peace Celebrations. Andrea Penrose’s Murder at the Serpentine Bridge (Wrexford & Sloane #6) begins when the Peace Celebrations of Napoleon’s defeat are about to begin in London. Prinny (Prince George) has invited the Allied Coalition which included Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia. The Prince Regent had invited Tsar Alexander of Russia, the King of Prussia, the King of Austria, Allied generals, and key ‘international’ dignitaries for a month long “series of lavish balls, concerts, entertainments, and fireworks.” Of course, the Duke of Wellington would be present. The Earl of Wrexford, Raven, Hawk, and their dog, Harper, enter Hyde Park, and with permission Hawk releases Harper from his leash. “Nooooo!” Wrex runs, and then he sees Harper
    pulling a “dark shape” through the water towards shore. As Wrex thought, Harper brings a body to Wrex. Thus, it starts! The author makes dynamic use of actual events to create her mystery. Her fictional characters and some of their actions fit perfectly into this new historical puzzle and time period.
    “There was, reflected Wrexford, a certain lethal beauty to the implements of death.” This thought crosses Wrex’s mind as he enters a gunsmith’s shop. The author’s prose also pinpoints a topic that is as prevalent today as it was in 1814.
    ”There are all-too-many people who feel that those of African descent are inferior simply by the virtue of their skin color.” A finely crafted mystery among actual historical events. The reader, at least this reader, feels as though she is present and a part of ‘the team’with the historical descriptions so vivid! Loved this. Excellent!! 5 stars.

  • Lucinda

    I loved this one! This series keeps getting better and better!

    Wrexford and Charlotte, of course, are the best, but so are all their friends and family, the ones we've come to know and love by now. Watching Raven and Hawk grow is a special treat, and I love how they've added Falcon to their family.

    This was an especially embroiled mystery, full of politics and devious people with really nefarious purposes. I enjoyed reading the author's notes on the real history of this time period and where she got the inspiration.
    I would have loved to see more moments between Wrex and Charlotte.

    Looking forward to the the next one in this series!

    I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

  • Kathy

    I was offered this book at 3.99 vs the $14 regular price, so I was happy to jump on board for my sixth Wrexford & Sloane book. The couple's family grows by one, adding another young man to their number due to protection they felt he needed and they could provide when his father was killed over a new design for artillery. Russia and others wanted to obtain this new device, a bidding war was rumbling in the background whilst all the major players lined up as other major cultural events were being planned. In the end it was a very "explosive" climax with non-stop action for Lord Wrexford and his friends.
    I find this Regency era series entertaining and quite different from any other Regency book series. I have read them all in order and would recommend that be done rather than as a stand alone.

  • Barb in Maryland

    Another marvelous entry in this historical mystery series. I wasn't expecting Charlotte and Wrexford to settle into hum-drum domesticity once they married, and I was right.
    The story opens with Wrexford, accompanied by young Raven, Hawk, and wolfhound Harper, on an early morning walk in Hyde Park. Harper drags a body from the water near the Serpentine Bridge, and the game is afoot! The dead man is Jeremiah Willis, a brilliant engineer and inventor, employed at the Royal Arsenal. It seems Willis was working on a new weapon and now the prototype and plans are missing--rumored to be in the hands of parties unknown who want to auction them off to the highest bidder. With representatives of several Allied powers in London for the victory celebrations, the possibility exists for these items to end up in foreign hands.
    Wrexford has his arm twisted by British government 'higher ups' to join their investigation. Soon all of our regulars are in the hunt for the baddies. There are lots of lovely twists and turns, one of which introduces a young companion for Raven and Hawk into the Wrexford household. It does get rather grim at times. However, we have Kit Sheffield's fraught courtship of Cordelia Woodbridge to lighten the mood.
    All ends well, of course--the baddies vanquished, and our friends ready to face whatever else life has in store for them. I have hopes that there will be more adventures. I'll be waiting to read about them.

  • Sophia

    The war is over and the victorious coalition of countries are come to London to celebrate. Then a brilliant inventor is murdered and the race is on to get their hands on his innovative weapon plans. Newlyweds, Wrexford and Charlotte get dragged into the intrigue and danger when England’s top spy pleas upon their sense of justice for the dead man.

    My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy TBA.

  • ☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer)

    Love this series. Full RTC

  • Patricia Rice

    Another brilliant historical mystery in the Wrexford and Sloane series. . . Conducted against the pageantry of the 1814 Peace Celebrations in London, the intrepid earl and his artist countess unwind a treasonous plot involving the plans for a revolving pistol every nation wants to lay hands on. So much for celebrating peace! In the process of investigating the murder of the pistol’s inventor, the pair acquire the inventor’s brilliant nephew, Peregrine, as a companion for their own wards Hawk and Raven. I love the ongoing family sagas the continue despite the murder and mayhem in the world beyond their safe walls. The history is impeccable and one can truly imagine the scheming that probably did take place with so many powerful men in one place. Highly recommended!

  • Paulette

    I really like this series.

  • Heather Moll

    I love this series. Wrexford and Sloan are auto-reads for me; I don’t even have to read the description. I’d recommend reading these in order, or at least read the first in the series. The characters and relationships are quickly established, but you’ll enjoy it more if you can appreciate how we got to where we are.

    Charlotte, who is secretly a well-known satirist, is now the Countess of Wrexford and has settled with her stern scientist husband and found family Raven and Hawk. Celebrations are unfolding to honor victory over Napoleon when Wrexford and the boys discover a body in Hyde Park’s lake. The late Jeremiah Willis was the genius behind a top-secret weapon, and the prototype is missing from the Royal Armory’s laboratory. Wrexford is tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands.

    These are always well-plotted and well-researched, a mix of science and feeling, and rich with historical detail that doesn’t overwhelm the story. This one is heavily plot driven, and the plot is intricate. It was a bit of a slow start for me but, as always, the ending as things come together is clever and fast-paced.

    I was disappointed to see a person of color’s skin described with a coffee comparison. Are we really still doing that in 2022??

    I wish we had just a few more moments between Sloan and Wrexford, especially since this is the first book since they got married. There were some, but their interactions are the soul of these books, and we need more of their strong connection to carry us through the dark mysteries they solve, especially now that the romantic tension is gone.

    I’m already eager for the next installment. And Kit and Cordelia need to get together asap.

    I received an arc from NetGalley

  • Kay

    Always great to be with Wrexford and Sloane and especially the Weasels...I think I've finally figured out why Penrose's series is starting to drag.

    Read more over at Miss Bates Reads Romance:


    https://missbatesreadsromance.com/202...

    Please note Kensington Books provided an e-ARC for the purpose of this review, via Netgalley.

  • The Lit Bitch

    I have really enjoyed this series from the very beginning. It has great characters that while perhaps not unique in their description (wealthy titled man turned detective), when you get right down to their characters they distinguish themselves for readers. Charlotte is the character who has changed the most throughout the series. Wrexford has remained fairly constant in his persona, but Charlotte’s changes have been exciting to watch.

    Naturally when this come came up for review, I couldn’t pass it up. I am fully invested in watching the series continue to grow and am excited to see that more books will be forthcoming! If you are a fan of historical fiction novels, no doubt this series is on your radar and you have seen this stunning cover around the blog-o-verse or social media. The cover is truly stunning and the story inside is pretty good too!

    This is a great series for fans of Anna Lee Huber, Deanna Raybourn, and Tasha Alexander. Smart heroine, broody male love interest, and of course a solid cozy historical mystery. While there was lots to love about this one, I am going to be curious to see how some of the plot lines are going to be addressed going forward. This book adds in an unexpected character that I am wondering how he will figure into the larger narrative down the road.

    Without giving away too many spoilers, fans of the series will know that Raven and Hawk have been Charlotte’s wards for much of the series. Early on they are much younger and needed a mother figure but now that they are getting older they need her less and less. Now that Charlotte and Wrexford are married it’s only a matter of time before we readers Charlotte finds herself ‘in the family way’. I am wondering how that is going to impact Raven and Hawk and their relationship with Charlotte and Wrexford. Will it change? Does it need to? And now that the new character introduced in this series, Falcon, is growing closer to the unconventional family, I will be curious to see what that means for some of those plot lines and if it will impact anything for the main characters.

    For me personally I could have done without the addition of Falcon. The Wrexford family dynamics are already complex enough and I don’t know what his character is going to add to the larger narrative. I think there is plenty to mine from Rave and Hawk’s characters without complicating things. Now that’s not to say that I didn’t like his character—-I did—-I just don’t know how or what purpose his addition served in the series but perhaps we will see in future books. As a secondary character in this book it worked but as it seems like he will play a larger role in the upcoming books, I did have to wonder what that’s going to look like.

    Overall though, this was another fun installment. I liked the exploration and historical background on the use of weaponry within the story and I think history fans will find a lot of historical bits to enjoy. The mystery had some twists and turns and each clue left me wondering who the villain could be and what motives they might have. Penrose always crafts a well researched and thought out mystery with interesting characters! I have loved watching Charlotte and Wrexford evolve throughout the series and see how their relationship has changed. It’s been a slow burn but one I have enjoyed so much. I am certainly looking forward to future books!

  • Christina

    I had been eagerly looking forward to book six in this series and I wasn’t disappointed – it’s absolutely wonderful! The author manages to come up with the most ingenious plots that fit in so well with the time period – the Regency – and I’m in awe of her skill at weaving it all together. The series is going from strength to strength and the cast of characters is expanding and becoming an amazing, tight-knit group of friends and allies that you can’t help but want to spend time with. I loved the addition of Falcon and really felt for him – no spoilers but I can’t wait to see more of him in future books. Set against the backdrop of the (premature) Peace Celebrations in London in 1814, when the European leaders congregated for a month to honour their victory against Napoleon (who had been imprisoned on the island of Elba), the story once again involves murder and intrigue. Wrexford and Charlotte are newly married and hoping for some peace and quiet, but instead they are drawn into a dark web where it’s hard to know who is friend and who is foe. Loved ones are threatened and there is even more at stake as their investigation could have huge international ramifications. It’s lucky they have sharp intellects and each other, plus their stalwart friends, as they race to solve the mystery. I honestly couldn’t put this down and yet again can’t wait for the next book in the series – just fabulous!

  • Ami

    4.25 stars

    This is my favorite Wrexford and Sloane book to date!!

    My loving this book comes from the wonderful expansion of the 'raggle-taggle family' (Wrex's own words) of Wrex and Charlotte. In this book, they manage to add another boy to the family, a ward from Charlotte's sister-in-law's family (which is somehow involved in the main mystery of the book). Peregrine (lovingly dubbed Falcon, by Raven and Hawk) will be a great friend to the Weasels, and I can already imagine them running havoc on their own while helping the adults solving cases.

    Oh, and I think that Kit FINALLY gets out of his own dumb head, and proposes to Cordelia (too bad THAT scene is not written on page).

    IN terms of the mystery, my head was spinning with the talks of wars and invention of arms; but nonetheless, it was ANOTHER exciting mystery and intrigue! Especially since the government, probably already know about A.J. Quill's identity!! That will be exciting to read next because how would Wrex and Charlotte deal with requests after requests to help the government?!

    I love reading Penrose's note at the end of the book.

  • Meagan

    Pretty good book, I entered this in the Goodreads giveaways because it looked interesting and I wanted to get into more historical mysteries. Even though this was the sixth book in the series it was not hard to follow at all and didn't take long to figure out all the characters.

    This was also one of the few mystery books that kept me guessing. I did figure out a few parts of it but not all of it. The last 100 pages or so I wanted to devouring because I needed to know how everything was going to end up. Dunno if I'm going to start the series now, or just continue on (if I do) but still great book. Awesome characters. A bit repetitive but can't tell if that'll be fixed since I did receive a galley copy so can't really take off for that.

  • 〰️Beth〰️

    A wonderful addition to this series. More character development along new characters. A wonderfully paced mystery that incorporates actual historical events.

  • Sarah-Hope

    For historical mystery fans, Wrexford & Sloane, provide all kinds of delight. What I love about this series Andrea Penrose set early in the 19th Century:

    • The cross-gender, cross-class, cross-age relationships among the main characters. Would such alliances have been likely in the real world 19th Century. Almost certainly not, but fiction can give us pleasures history can't.
    • The consistent mix of interesting puzzles and character development.
    • The emphasis on teamwork: nothing is ever solved by a single person.
    • They're just plain fun.
    • The good end happily and the bad end unhappily, which can be a comfort.
    • The inclusion of specific political and social events from the time.
    • A respect for science.

    What I love about this volume in the series:
    • A new character I look forward to seeing more of. Really. This individual is an excellent addition.
    • A climax that is an honest-to-goodness page-turner. I got that if-only-I-could-read-faster-because-I-must know-what-happens-next feeling.
    • A built-to-scale reenactment of the Battle of Trafalgar staged on the Serpentine River.

    If this series isn't yet on your historical mystery radar, trust me—it should be.

    I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

  • Melissa

    I got an ARC from Netgalley of this and found it to be just ok. I think I'm hitting a wall with the series. I loved the first couple books because Charlotte knew who she was and trusted her own intellect and instincts. In the last couple, including this one, she almost constantly second guesses herself which is not the character I loved and wanted to read more about. Also, this is the second book where Charlotte and Wrexford have a harder time because they purposely underestimate and brush aside the kids. It's frustrating to see characters seemingly devolve instead of evolve.

    The mystery itself was decent. As usual, the setting was wonderfully drawn and the secondary characters were well done. Unfortunately, the villain was too easy to identify - I wish that had been a red herring instead.

  • Kay

    Wrexford and Sloane #6 sees Lord Wrexford and his now Lady Charlotte once again chasing villainy. Though married contentment permeates Penrose’s latest, the honeymoon is definitely over when Wrexford and the Weasels pull a body from the Serpentine. The publisher’s description lays out the mystery’s stakes for Charlotte, Wrexford (what the heck is his first name?), the Weasels, their friends, and a lovely new addition to their found family:

    Charlotte, now the Countess of Wrexford, would like nothing more than a summer of peace and quiet with her new husband and their unconventional family and friends. Still, some social obligations must be honored, especially with the grand Peace Celebrations unfolding throughout London to honor victory over Napoleon.

    But when Wrexford and their two young wards, Raven and Hawk, discover a body floating in Hyde Park’s famous lake, that newfound peace looks to be at risk. The late Jeremiah Willis was the engineering genius behind a new design for a top-secret weapon, and the prototype is missing from the Royal Armory’s laboratory. Wrexford is tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands. But there are unsettling complications to the case—including a family connection.

    Soon, old secrets are tangling with new betrayals, and as Charlotte and Wrexford spin through a web of international intrigue and sumptuous parties, they must race against time to save their loved ones from harm—and keep the weapon from igniting a new war . . .

    The publisher’s blurb makes Wrexford and Sloane #6 sound fast-paced and exciting. Certainly there are scenes that are, but overall, Penrose’s series is one of labyrinthine schemes, constant foils against Charlotte and Wrexford and their intrepid friends’ sleuthing efforts, and rife with historical detail. The writing is consistently competent and the characters, from their introduction in book #1 to the present volume, likable and admirable, with ethical cores, care for the vulnerable, a primary insistence on justice to be served, and a deep love for each other. Who wouldn’t want to inhabit a world such as they’ve created?

    Though I love Wrexford and Charlotte, Raven, Hawk, Lady Cordelia, and Kit Sheffield (as well as a new family addition, young Peregrine, dubbed “Falcon” by the Weasels), I grew impatient with the novel’s pacing and how Penrose structures the mystery plot. Penrose is in love with her research and cannot give up a single minute detail, to the detriment of her mystery. Her plotting gives way to adding character upon character and making connections among them until this reader grew dizzy with keeping any track of who was who and, more importantly, who was guilty. I suspect Penrose thinks this adds depth to historical context and the psychological intricacies of motivation and guilt. Um, not really. A strong mystery needs to be seamless, inexorable, surprising yes, but it shouldn’t leave you so confused, you don’t care.

    Nevertheless, there are still strengths to Penrose’s series, though she doesn’t play to them as much as she should. There are touches of humour provided by the Weasels, Raven and Hawk, and Wrexford and Charlotte’s friend, Kit Sheffield. There is the genuine loyalty and love that bind them, touching and built beautifully over the series’ course. There are excellent scenes, such as the Weasels’ forays into the “stews”. There are scenes of lovely family dynamics, such as Charlotte’s growing sense of how the Weasels are growing up, how uncertain she feels about parenting them, and how she and Wrexford especially find the right thing to say and do that will help Raven and Hawk mature and yet still remain themselves. My one pet peeve is how flat the marriage between Charlotte and Wrexford is: yes, there seems to be affection…but a more sexless, boring newly-married couple I’ve yet to read. Penrose doesn’t want her mystery to deviate into romance (ooooh, tainting!), but I think of Raybourn’s Lady Jane and the mysterious Nicholas Brisbane and how fresh she kept them (and sexy), or how beautifully C. S. Harris manages to convey a compelling mystery, truly fast-paced, and the love and tenderness between Sebastian and Hero. I won’t abandon Wrexford and Sloane, I like them and their world too much for that, but I’ll yearn for a faster pace to the mystery and some revelations about Charlotte and her Lord Wrexford.

    When reviewing the sixth book in a series, whether I recommend a particular volume or not becomes less important than telling readers that the series as a whole is a good read. This I can say quite heartily about Penrose’s Wrexford and Sloane. As for the present Murder At the Serpentine Bridge, it’s “almost pretty,” Northanger Abbey.

    I’m grateful to Kensington Books for an e-ARC provided for this review, via Netgalley.