C.S. Harris

What Angels Fear (2005)

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is a somewhat dissolute young noble who returned from the Napoleonic wars far more bitter than when he left. A prickly relationship with his father and a willingness to fight duels have not helped his reputation, but he doesn't much seem to care. However, when he becomes the suspect in a horrible rape and murder case, we can see that he doesn't really have a death wish, and despite his protestations, his sense of honor and his desire for justice, have remained intact.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and very much liked Sebastian St Cyr. Despite all he has seen, and his wish to be cynical, he is still deeply connected to the world around him, and is offended by injustice--and not just the injustice of his own situation. But mostly I found him a very likable character. I also liked his she created a background for him that made him a good investigator. Serving in the military gave him one set of skills, but working in intelligence gave him yet another set of skills, both of which served him well as he attempts to clear his name.

Her attention to detail was also something that I particularly liked, and it always makes me feel a little better when the author of a period book is an historian. Not that the rest of us can't get details right, but I think there is something about loving history so much you're willing to get a degree in it that imparts itself when an historian writes a story set in the past. C.S. Harris filled the story with lots of little details mentioned almost in passing that made the period come to life, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The writing was also very good. The pacing of the story was fast, and I had to force myself put the book down at night, or else I would have stayed up all night finishing it.

The dialog was also well done and enjoyable.

"Those rumors I mentioned?" Christopher said in an undertone as he and Sebastian moved forward. "They say the last time Talbot fought a duel, he chose twenty-five paces, then turned and fired after twelve. Killed the man. Of course, Talbot and his second swore the distance had been settled at twelve paces all along."
"And his rival's second?"

"Shut up about it when Talbot threatened to call him out--for naming Talbot a liar."

Sebastian gave his friend a slow smile. "Then if Talbot should have occasion to call you out for a similar reason, I suggest you choose swords."

I did, however, have a couple of caveats about this book. I am not sure if I am going to recommend it to my grandmother, because it does have a bit of boinking, and the descriptions of the murder of Rachel York are quite brutal. The murder itself is not described, but the is a good deal of detail about the body and the blood etc. So if you are squeamish, you might be bothered by portions of this book.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to the next book--which is sitting in my Amazon shopping cart as I type. If you like historical mysteries and thrillers, then you should definitely pick up What Angels Fear.
Rating: 9/10

When Gods Die (2006)

Last year I picked up What Angels Fear on because I thought it looked mildly interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to find an intriguing and fascinating Regency thriller. I then placed the the second book in the series When Gods Die on preorder, which means I’ve been waiting since March for this book to come out in paperback. Was it worth the wait? Yes.

It has been several months since Sebastian St. Cyr cleared himself of murder charges. While he and his father are attending a party thrown by the Prince Regent, a young woman is found murdered–a jeweled knife hilt sticking out of her back, while the prince–who discovered her body–is suspected by the populace of killing her, although anyone who knows the prince figures him incapable of such an act. Lord Jarvis commands Sebastian’s presence and asks him to search for the killer. Sebastian declines, until he is shown the necklace found around the woman’s neck–a necklace that disappeared with Sebastian’s mother when she was lost at sea years ago.

As with the previous book, the characters are my favorite part of the book. Sebastian is a complex character, whose many quirks and eccentricities are credited to his time in the war. His past also gives him a good reason for his skills–a set that would be highly unusual for a Lord at that time. Kit is also fascinating, and in this book we learn more of why she continues to refuse to marry Sebastian. We also see Sebastian’s relationship with his father grow more complex, as the death of his mother appears to figure in this mystery.

The mystery itself is full of political intrigue: if the Prince didn’t kill the young woman, why was she killed, and why was the body moved so as to place suspicion upon the prince? We also–in the background–see the continued development of the Bow Street Runners. Not that they play a major role in the story, but they are in the background, and unlike other stories I’ve read from the point of view of the Runners, you can see in this tale, the disdain that the wealthy and empowered feel for the Runners. It’s an intersting point of view switch from other Regency mysteries I’ve read.

If you enjoy mysteries set in the past, then I recommend When Gods Die. You should be able to read and enjoy the story without having read What Angels Fear, but of course I always think it’s best, if possible, to read stories in order. So you’ll have to make up your mind whether you want to start her, or at the beginning of the series.
Rating: 8/10

Why Mermaids Sing (2007)

I really like Sebastian St. Cyr Viscount Devlin, and look forward to new books in the series as they come out. Unfortunately for me, others seem to like him as well, and Why Mermaids Sing came out in hardback. I really do not like reading hardback books (I’ve got books I really want to read, but don’t because I have them in hardback), so I waited for it to come out in paperback–and then missed it by two months. ARGH!

However, once I saw the book was out I rectified my mistake and began reading almost as soon as the book arrived. And then had a hard time putting the book back down, despite my need for sleep and food.

Sebastian is called to the scene of a grisly murder by Sir Henry Lovejoy, who is hoping that Sebastian can help him stop what looks to be a series of murders. Although Sebastian doesn’t see why he should bother himself, he ends up drawn into the mystery, and threats against his life of increase his resolve to discover the killer.

Meanwhile, Kat–Sebastian’s love–has gotten herself into trouble and is afraid to tell Sebastian what is happening for fear of losing his love because of her past. Events soon spiral out of control for Kat as she fears her past, her secrets, and her occupation will destroy Devlin.

As I said previously, this story drew me in immediately and I had a hard time putting it down. What I particularly like about Why Mermaids Sing is that everything is logical–the story is not stretched or far fetched regarding the characters and their motives. Everything makes sense, even as you’re shocked and disgusted by the events.

The more I read of C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cry series, the more I like it and want more books–immediately if possible. The comparison that is starting to come to mind is the Kate Ross Julian Kestrel, which I absolutely loved.

There is some boinking, so I’m not sure if Grandmom will like this series or not, but I love it, and highly recommend it–and recommend starting at the beginning. Seeing how Sebastian got where he is makes the series strong, IMO.

Really, read this series.
Rating: 9/10

Where Serpents Sleep (2008)

I really like C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. In fact, now that I’ve finished the latest, Where Serpents Sleep I’m depressed I’ll have to wait at least a year before the next book in the series comes out.

Sebastian has been leading a dissolute life following the events of the previous book, Why Mermaids Sing. He’s been trying to drown his misery in alcohol, trying to come to terms with his relationship with Kat Boleyn. And pretty much failing.

However, the death of eight women at the Magdaline house–deaths that were witnessed Hero Jarvis, daughter of Lord Jarvis, cousin of the Prince Regent and the true power behind the throne–draw Sebastian back into intrigue and murder.

Unlike previous stories, the narration is split between Hero and Sebastian, as they separately discover details about the murdered woman. The fact that Hero is strong-willed and cantankerous made the shift from Sebastian easier, because although I love spending time with him, it’s also interesting to see him from the perspective out an outsider.

The one thing I especially like about this series is that C.S. Harris does a good job of creating realistic characters who have reasons for acting as they do. Because they are upper class, neither Sebastian nor Hero would normally be involved in investigating a murder. But they searching because they are assisting the police, but because they want to know the truth, and because they value justice. That makes their eccentricities more reasonable.

If you have have not yet read any books in this series, than I strongly recommend that you pick up What Angels Fear. Although you could read Where Serpents Sleep without having read the previous three books, if you’re like me you’ll want to read all the Sebastian St. Cyr books, and it’s always better to read a series in order.
Rating: 9/10

What Remains of Heaven (2009)

The Archbishop of Canterbury enlists the help of Sebastian St Cyr’s aunt to ask Sebastian to look into the death of the bishop of London, who’s body was found in an abandoned crypt. In the meantime, he is attempting to determine just how Hero Jarvis is doing, after their encounter months earlier, when they both became involved in a murder–a murder that almost cost them both their lives.

If I tell you that I purchased this book in hardback, that may give you and inkling of how much I like this series–and Sebastian St Cyr Viscount of Devlin.

I love historical mysteries–they don’t have to be set in London or England, but this series is, in the early 1800s. Although Sebastian is a Viscount–someone who would not normally be involved in something as sordid as a murder, as a younger son who joined the military and worked in the intelligence services gave him the skills to investigate murders in London–as well as a world view quite different from those of his peers.

Additionally, the reactions of his various family members–especially his sister–do reflect the values of the time, and the feelings of the upper class towards anything as tawdry as “work.”

Because much of the mystery is set in the past, Sebastian makes many unpleasant discoveries, and it is these discoveries that make the story such a page turner.

If you like historical mysteries, then I highly recommend the Sebastian St Cyr mysteries. Although you should be able to begin here in the series, as usual, I believe you’ll be well-rewarded by starting at the beginning of the series and moving forward.
Rating: 9/10

Where Shadows Dance (2011)

There are several authors whose books I pre-order as soon as I see them available. A far smaller set are authors whose books I will pre-order in hardback. C. S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cry series falls into that very select category.

Interestingly, I quite enjoyed this book despite the fact that the mystery was quite secondary–this usually annoys me. However, this book focused on the relationship (and pending marriage) between Sebastian and Hero Jarvis.

Although she started as an almost secondary character in the first book, she developed through the series into an extremely complex and independent character. Marrying the two in a way that would make both happy was–to say the least–a complex negotiation, and thus the murder mystery took second place to the mystery of how these two characters could marry and not hate one another (and make the readers hate one of the two too boot).

And to be honest, I think the cover does a good job of making it clear that this book was going to be as much about Hero as about discovering a murderer.

So what murder makes its appearance?

As an anatomist, Paul Gibson buys corpses from London’s body snatchers. When he received the body of a young man who died of a weak heart, he quickly discovers the man was instead murdered. However, as the body is supposed to be buried and resting peacefully, investigating a this murder is going to be more complex than normal.

I actually thought the idea of how the murder was discovered was fascinating. How many anatomists of that time discovered murders but let the murderer go free because there was no way to bring the crime to light without placing themselves in jeopardy for their own crimes?

In a way, I wish this plot had not had to take second place to getting Hero & Sebastian to the alter, because it is something that had to have been quite common at that time.

If you have been reading this series, you will not want to miss Where Shadows Dance. If you have not read any books in this series, this is not the place to start.
Rating: 7/10

Published by Obsidian

Sebastian St. Cyr: What Angels Fear (2005), When Gods Die (2006), Why Mermaids Sing (2007), Where Serpents Sleep (2008), What Remains of Heaven (2009), Where Shadows Dance (2011)

C.S. Harris' website