Harris’
latest mystery opens with the discovery of head left at Bloody
Bridge. It’s late and Lord Devlin is appreciating the
sight of his sleeping wife and new babe when Sir Henry LoveJoy
of Bow Street calls him to the murder scene. Near the body
is a metal strap that reads “King Charles I, 1648 -”
-- The king beheaded by Oliver Cromwell and his Puritans.
The mystery in this strap is no one knows where Charles I,
Grandson to Mary, Queen of Scots, was buried. Or do they?
The body - and the head - belongs to Mr Stanley Preston, a
Jamaica sugar plantation owner. His has a temper and enemies.
One of the suspects is the very man Lord Devlin wants to be
guilty – so he can kill him. Lord Oliphant’s handsome
face hides the evil within but Devlin has seen his work first
hand. Through the mystery, Devlin has to sift through various
suspects and their colleagues, set up timelines and match
clues. It’s time consuming enough as it is and now his
old friend, the opium eating doctor / coroner Paul Gibson,
is too high to finish the postmortem or help dig up clues.
What concerns Devlin most about this case is that these suspects
are so wicked he fears for his wife and child. As Devlin detects,
Hero researches Costermongers (underprivileged fruit/vegetable
venders) as a part of her newspaper series. Devlin’s
half-brother from his father’s side returns, as well
as the half-sister on his mother’s side who loathes
Devlin’s detecting; it embarrassing for the family.
Jane Austin makes an appearance, too, during the height of
her anonymous published work. Who Buries the Dead is
a fascinating, complex mystery you don’t want to miss.
Harris’
Sebastian St. Cyr series is full of memorable characters.
Sebastian and his wife have this hero appeal; readers want
them to win and generously forgive their mistakes. Sebastian’s
name and social status gives him a romantic quality. His description,
tall dark hair, golden eyes and keen hearing give him a paranormal
quality. Readers are intrigued by him. His wife, Hero, is
from a privilege family but seeks to learn more about the
poor in order to help them. She’s determined to be independent
in her decisions and her marriage. Her father says she should
have been born a man. They are the perfect pair. I really
appreciate Harris’ writing; she pens the London 1813
atmosphere and dialogue in stirring detail. It pulls me in
and doesn’t let me go even after the last page. If you
enjoy British historical mysteries, you’ll enjoy this
series.
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]
When
Falcons Fall
#11
Who
Slays the Wicked #14
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