"terrific St. Cyr Regency mystery"
In 1811 Westminster chief magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy
looks at the mutilated body of Lord Dominic Stanton, son
of a close associate of the Regent, left for all to see
near the Old Palace yard. Three months ago a banker's son
the corpse of Barclay Carmichael was found battered and
posed in St. James Park. Believing they lack the skills
needed to deal with a diabolical killer, Henry asks
Viscount Sebastian St. Cyr, known for his detection
proficiency, to investigate. St. Cyr considers accepting the case though he is tired of
death and assumes murder begets murder; besides he has an
inquiry going on to find his mother on the continent. As
more ritual like homicides follow he links the killer to
a John Donne poem even as he struggles with the lack of
cooperation from the victims' families; in fact the
fathers are outright hostile as if they do not want the
truth revealed. Unknown adversaries also want St. Cyr and
his team stopped. The third St. Cyr Regency mystery (see WHAT ANGELS FEAR
and When Gods Die) is a terrific serial killer whodunit
starring a fabulous detection expert. The fast-paced
story line is driven by the reactions of the victims'
families as each prefers to have the hero end his
inquiry. Historical mystery readers will appreciate this
strong tale. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 31, 2007
SummaryIn 1811, murder has jarred London's elite. The sons of
prominent families have been found at dawn in public places,
their bodies mutilated and strange objects stuffed into
their mouths. Although Sebastian St. Cyr is distracted by
his seemingly doomed relationship with actress Kat Boleyn,
the oddness of these murders nags at him—and he becomes
determined to track down the assassin, even at the risk of
his own life.
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