At
what point do the last barriers drop?
When are the final secrets revealed?
--Sebastian St Cyr
Sebastian
St Cyr and Hero are back as well as Kat and her pirate.
This time it's a tale of Death, Jewels and Sweepers.
It all begins when Sebastian St Cyr is called to the
scene of a dead man - the man is a good friend. Was
it a chronic disease or suicide? When Sebastian breaks
the news to the widow, he finds there's more to their
personal problems than his friend's illness.
In
his second case Sebastian agrees to assist Kat's Pirate
- Yates. Yates is accused of killing a gem dealer named
Eisler - a sleazy old man known for his riches, ill-gotten
gains and devious loan tactics. The richest are in debt
to Eisler, which means suspects abound and grievers
are none. Sebastian is surrounded by enemies, both new
and old, which keeps him on the alert and more determined
to get justice for all involved.
Sebastian
takes the lead in the storyline. He confides in Hero
as he works the cases. She follows the occasional lead
for him as well as her own work, interviewing Sweepers
-young children who clean the street of mud and manure
so the wealthy don't get dirty. Hero discovers some
urchins do more than sweep which opens Sebastian's hooded
eyes and reminds us of the hard times during that era.
There
is a touch of romance as in most mysteries. Readers
may think Hero and Sebastian have settled in for a long-term
relationship but something happens that may change that…
the carriage scene certainly took me by surprise. So
many secrets between the two - will their personal commitment
survive them?
When
I think about this story I remember Sebastian breaking
into Eisler's house and how the author
added humor to an action scene without taking
away from the gravity of the storyline. The black cat
was a nice touch. We all know cats chose his/her owner
not the other way around. It looks like a solider and
horseman is about to get a lesson in cats.
What
Darkness Brings is a satisfying tale of intrigue.
It's a well-written, fast paced, Dark storyline. But
let me clarify that it's Dark without the Hollywood
gore. It's great addition to the widely popular series.
I
didn't try this series until midway through and I regret
it. I thought it was another historical romance hiding under
a historical mystery cover. IT'S NOT. Readers can expect
a complex series masterly weaved into a realistic historical
period. The characters are fascinating enough to keep
this series going indefinitely.
Reviews
of other titles in the series
What
Angels Fear # 1
When
Gods Die # 2
Where
Serpents Sleep # 4
Where
Shadows Dance # 6
When Maidens Mourn #7 [review
1] [review
2]
What
Darkness Brings #8
Why Kings Confess # 9 [review
1] [review
2]
Who
Buries the Dead
#10 [review
1] [review
2]
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