Murder At Half Moon Gate is the second book in the Wrexford & Sloane Historical Mystery series.

I love historical mysteries that give me a visual feel of the time and location in which they are set and have a cast of characters that are well developed and believable and continue to be developed with each book. This series has all those, I feel.

In the first book, Murder on Black Swan Lane, I felt that there was a fair amount of friction between Wrexford and Charlotte, which is understandable since they come from different positions in life and didn’t know that much about each other. Now, in Murder at half Moon Gate, I did sense that they are not at odds and are more willing to work together as they both realize they are working towards a common goal, just that they may be approaching it somewhat differently.

Wrexford and Sheffield are on their way to a gambling when near Half Moon Gate they come across the brutally murdered body Elihu Ashton. Wrexford makes a note of wounds that were on Ashton’s and pays close attention to the state of his clothes which looked like someone expected something to might be hidden in them. The policeman that comes to investigate, is ready to write the death off to someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but Wrexford thinks otherwise.
Wrexford calls on Mrs. Ashton to let her know of her husband’s death and find out why Elihu might have been in that area. She recalled that he had received a note telling him to Half Moon Gate and to bring the drawings.

Wrexford soon finds that Ashton was working on a new steam engine design that would revolutionize the manufacturing process. At this time in England, there is unrest among the workers in the mills, they feel that these improvements will put them out of work. There are organizations forming that hope to put a stop to these improvements. When he meets with Charlotte and tells her of the markings on the torso of Ashton, she remembers seeing a similar design on one of the labor organizations brochures.

The more they look for answers to who might have been behind the murder, the more dead bodies that they come across. At one of the scenes, the last words out of the victim’s mouth are: the answer is in the numbers. A sheet with a series of numbers is found in the victim’s room, but without a code, they are at lost ends to decipher the message. Knowing that the one who gets the patent on this new technology will become very rich they also start looking at his widow and those that have been helping with designing of the new steam engine. They will be hoping that they solve this murder before any more lives are lost.

I will definitely be watching for the next book in exciting series.

Patents for steam engines seem so....but they were really really important during the Regency era. I liked this second installment in the Wrexford/Sloane series (do two make it a series? I hope so) more than the first because the characters, especially Charlotte, felt more fleshed out. These two are unique in the pantheon of detective pairs- yes he's a lord but she's a cartoonist who operates under a pseudo. Charlotte's household, which now includes Raven and Hawk, is expanding and that adds to the atmosphere. The death of an inventor is the mystery; there are enough twists and turns and red herrings. Nicely written, this isn't the fastest read because you'll want to pay attention. You'll also learn something. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Perfect for fans of historical mysteries.

This second entry in the Wrexford & Sloane mystery series is another winner! And yes, I would recommend starting with the first in series (Murder at Black Swan Lane) for the full effect. Enjoyed learning more about these two characters and watching their relationship develop. Greed, jealousy and the thirst for power all played a part in this plot involving the cutthroat business of securing patents on steam engine innovations. Very nicely done, and I’m hoping this adventure will continue. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Sorry, it's not properly researched, this would have never happened in this time period. If you want a brainless read, and give money to an Author, who is not doing her research. It's your money!

Charlotte Stone and the Earl of Wrexford are once again working to fine a murderer. During this Charlotte and the Weasels are moving into a new home. Great series.
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I read the first in this series last year, but I think this latest novel shows definite improvement in developing plot and characters.

Blog review scheduled for March 15

In her Author’s Notes, Andrea Penrose likens the engineering leaps to industry in Regency England to the rapid change of technology in our own time. She reminds us how we humans do not like change. We always want things to stay the same. However, if nothing ever changed, we would be bored and would soon, probably implode. Charlotte Sloane is aware of how change can be for the good or one wrong decision made for the wrong reason could send one’s life spiraling into the abyss. However, the windfall from recent events has forced her hand and now she finds herself moving into a better area of London and able to provide a better life for the boys she has taken under her wing. Her current political drawings, under her pen name of A. J. Quill have been addressing the fears of the working class versus the new machines threatening to take over their jobs. As Lord Wrexford and his friend Kit Sterling manage to get turned around in an alley after a night of gaming, they stumble upon the body of a very well-known inventor. As Wrexford and Sloane combine their skills to bring the murderer to justice, Charlotte will have to make some hard decisions and learn to rely on the kindness of others.

Some series start off strong and have difficulty maintaining the strength of the recurring characters or their stories. In this second installment of the Wrexford and Sloane series, Penrose does not disappoint. It is an excellent offering. The complex plot of Murder at Half Moon Gate is well thought out and moves at a steady pace. Penrose’s story of greed and power mix well with her little peeks into the past stories that make up Wrexford and Sloane. How their differences and their similarities make them the strong characters she is developing. An added plus are the Weasels. The two orphaned boys Sloane has taken in and who Wrexford has come to rely on. I will enjoy reading every volume Penrose creates in this series just to see how the boys mature. This is comfort reading at its best.

From the publisher: A wealthy lord who happens to be a brilliant scientist . . . an enigmatic young widow who secretly pens satirical cartoons . . . a violent killing disguised as a robbery . . . Nothing is as it seems in Regency London, especially when the Earl of Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane join forces to solve a shocking murder.

Murder at Half-Moon Gate is the second book in a mystery series set in Regency England. It reminded me of the earliest (and best) books in Anne Perry’s William Monk and Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery series.

Lord Wrexford is a more sympathetic version of Sherlock Holmes – analytical and distant but willing to lay down his life for those in his small circle of friends. Mrs. Sloane is a woman with secrets who draws scathing political cartoons under a man’s pseudonym and has taken two street urchins into her home. Wrexford and Sloane solve their second mystery in this book and are clearly headed for a romance, as each struggles to hide feelings they don’t particularly want but can’t deny.

I’m not an expert in this era, but the historical details felt real to me as a reader. I found the minutiae about steam engines a bit tedious, but otherwise the characters, plot, and dialog were highly enjoyable. I will definitely be going back to read book one, Murder on Black Swan Lane. I recommend this series for lovers of Anne Perry and other historical mystery series.

I read an advance reader copy of Murder at Half-Moon Gate. It is scheduled to be published at the end of March. It and Murder on Black Swan Lane will be available at the Galesburg Public Library in print and as ebooks.

If you like to read a novel that is well written, impeccably researched, has a strong and courageous female main characters, leads you through a tale of intrigue and even presents words to challenge your vocabulary this book is for you! Andrea Penrose sure knows how to write an exciting novel!

Set in London during the Regency Period this murder mystery leaves you unsure of who-done-it until the very end. All of the characters are robustly developed, living conditions are accurately described, the science is accurate, and even the description of patent law accessible to the layman. Although this is the second in the Wrexford and Sloane Mystery series it is a satisfying stand alone book. I look forward to reading more in this dynamic series!

I love this series! The slow burning tension between Charlotte and Wrexford is very well done. Rather than falling in insta-love in book 1, their feelings have been slower to develop (or at least for them to acknowledge to themselves), and their friendship and partnership take primary focus for them while they sort out their own issues.

The mystery — as with all of Andrea Penrose’s books — is intricate, well-plotted and fascinating. This one features engineering and chemical developments that ultimately sparked the industrial revolution, with a touch of the cryptography that we saw glimpses of in her earlier Cocoa Conspiracy series. The issue of man vs. machine and workers’ rights movements also feature in the story.

The running theme throughout book is Charlotte feeling like her life is in flux. She’s moving to a nicer neighborhood, making her role as quasi-guardian to Raven and Hawk permanent, and trying to find her path in life now that the mystery of her husband’s death is behind her. The vulnerabilities that rise to the surface as a result of this add to the compelling and complex nature of her character. We also learn some interesting details about Charlotte’s secret past which may or may not change things going forward.

I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series — I can’t wait to see what’s next for Charlotte and Wrexford!

Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Set in Regency London, Murder at Half Moon Gate, by Andrea Penrose, is a well-crafted story. Penrose obviously knows her English cultural history as the language and customs of the time are well represented and come alive on the page. The characters are engaging and dynamic with multi-layers and secrets of the past held, from not only other characters, but also the reader in such a way that rather than being annoying, it entices the reader to know more, read more.
The primary characters of the story are of quite divergent circumstances: he an Earl, her a lower working class widow with friends in quite unusual places. When Earl Wrexford stumbles upon a murder in some of the darkest stews of London, he instantly knows he must enlist the assistance of Charlotte Sloane, a satirist working under the name AJ Quill. She brings her resources – including two street urchins who appear to have adopted her – to bear in support of the investigation. Working quite independently yet sharing their knowledge, Wrexford and Charlotte untangle a web of lies, betrayal, red herrings and murder.
In all, the story was compelling and intelligent. The unlikely mix of characters from a wide range of social classes was intriguing rather than suspect. The combination works well and supports the flow of the story entirely.

I was unaware of this series, but seeing it available on Netgalley, I was intrigued--I'm so happy that I took a chance because I now count Wrexford & Sloane among my favorite series. In fact, I was so impressed with book number 2 that I went back to purchase book number 1.

Set during England's Regency period, the series features an arrogant but intellectually gifted and principled lord and a resourceful young widow who secretly makes her living as a satirical cartoonist (certainly a unique twist in this sort of genre)! The duo has solved a previous murder (and saved Wrexford's life in the process) and are drawn into investigating the murder of a titled inventor who may have possessed plans for an engine that would revolutionize British industry.

Wrexford's society connections and Sloane's ring of street informants (including her two rough mannered but lovable wards) help to bring the puzzle into focus. The pacing is good and the characters well drawn and appealing. There are the usual number of red herring and moments that tend to strain credulity, but that is par for the course in such mysteries and only add to the fun of following this pair as they encounter the highs and lows of Regency society.

Of course, both the lord and the lady have secrets from their pasts that they'd rather not reveal and which will continue to unfold in subsequent books. They also have an undeniable romantic attraction.

I look forward to renewing their acquaintance in future adventures.

Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

This is one of my new favorite series! I like be the characters, and the mystery. I very much look forward to the next installment!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Murder at Half Moon Gate is the second title featuring the Earl of Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane. After a night spent with his friend Christopher Sheffield at a gaming hell, Wrexford comes across a dead body while taking a shortcut home. The next morning, the widow of Eli Ashton approaches Wrexford; she's convinced her husband wasn't the victim of circumstance, but was targeted because of his plans that would revolutionize the steam engine. Was it a competitor looking to steal plans, disgruntled workers, his assistant and ward plotting together, his widow or someone with an unknown motive? The mystery is well plotted with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged until the reveal. What I really enjoyed was the character development in this book. We find Charlotte in the process of moving to the better part of town and bringing Hawk and Raven with her despite her fears of leaving the familiar behind. We also find out about Charlotte's past and connection to her childhood friend, Jeremy. Wrexford and Charlotte continue to feel drawn to one another and come to terms with what that means for their unique friendship. The supporting cast is equally engaging, especially Hawk and Raven. This series is perfect for who enjoys a good historical mystery that features well written characters. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see where Charlotte and Wrexford's next adventure takes them.

Let me start by saying how much I enjoyed the first book in the series, Murder on Black Swan Lane. I listened to the audiobook and found myself exercising more - just so I could listen for a little bit longer to it.

When I saw the ARC on NetGalley I immediately requested it and was incredibly excited when approved. I must say this book was better then I had anticipated! Why? Because while the first book established the characters, this one expanded on their backstories and their developing relationships.

At the start of the story, we find Charlotte preparing to move into a new home in a more fashionable part of London, with Raven and Hawke joining her. It is a change in circumstances for the boys and one that takes them time to adjust to. It also provides them opportunities and skills they otherwise would not have had or known.
Joining Hawke and Raven are their "band" of urchin friends who are always willing to help solve the mystery. I have come to adore the whole group of them as I find them to be quick-witted, intelligent, and wise beyond their years. They take their circumstances in stride and make the most out of it. I look forward to when they make an appearance in the book and am always curious as to how they will help our MCs get out of trouble .

As this is a mystery, there is a murder to solve - an interesting one to puzzle out. However, that wasn't what captured my attention - the relationship between Wrexford and Charlotte did. I found myself wrapped up in reading about their deepening friendship and how each one acknowledges and handles this.
For Wrexford, it is accepting that he is capable of feelings. For Charlotte, it is learning to trust that others will help her - and that is OK and healthy to accept that help.

I found this to be an entertaining read that I flew through. I would highly recommend it and am already looking forward to when the next one in the series comes out.

I did receive an ARC of this book via NetGalley from Kensington Books. And while I do appreciate the opportunity to read and review it all thoughts and opinions are my own.