historical mysteries – Cannonball Read 17

The Hanged Man: Murder and Tarot

Who Will Remember by C.S. Harris

April 20, 2025 by Jen K Leave a Comment

This is the 20th novel in the series about a crime solving nobleman in Regency England, and the series continues to go strong. This one is more of a straight up murder mystery – some of the middle novels in the series got a bit wrapped up in French espionage story lines. I would even say this one would actually even be approachable to someone that hadn’t read any other novels in the series – of course, you’d be missing some of the complexity of […]

When Jane Austen Finds a New Use for Her Skill Set

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

August 24, 2019 by Jen K Leave a Comment

During the Facebook portion of the Sherlock Holmes book club discussion, we went on a tangent discussing historical mystery series, and one of the recommendations that came up was the Jane Austen mysteries. Based on mutual like of other series, I decided to give it a shot. Overall, it was a delightful novel, and I think the author did an admirable job of using Jane Austen in a respectful manner in this first novel. I recognized a few turns of phrases that were direct nods […]

Sometimes People Do Get Their Just Desserts

Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris

July 31, 2019 by Jen K Leave a Comment

Bingo Square: I Love This I read all the thirteen existing books of the Sebastian St. Cyr series last year as part of the Cannonball Read 10, so I think the latest book in the series makes for a good fit in the “I Love This” category. Between my deployment and lack of free time (or at least “on my own” time, I was oddly social in Kuwait, even if that simply meant hanging out at work, going to the gym after work with co-workers […]

Heads Will Roll

May 24, 2018 by Jen K Leave a Comment

Two months after the birth of his son Simon, Sebastian finds himself involved in another murder case when Sir Henry Lovejoy asks for his assistance. One thing that amused me quite a bit is how many people asked Sebastian if he was going to continue with this hobby now that he was married and had a child since it was so dangerous. I guess it’s the closest 19th century England would get to asking a man “how do you balance career and family? Who is […]

The Dangers and Power of Legend

May 22, 2018 by Jen K Leave a Comment

The first four novels in this series took place over more than a year, leaving Sebastian some time to recover between his escapes from near death, and allowing his valet some time to repair his wardrobe. Books 5 (What Remains of Heaven, Where Shadows Dance and When Maidens Mourn) all take place within about two or three weeks of each other. On the one hand, it seems a bit crazy that there are so many intriguing murders going on within this short period, but at […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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