Who Slays the Wicked is a highly atmospheric novel that firmly places readers in early 19th century London. The author's strength absolutely lies in her ability to immerse us in another time.

I have not read any of the previous novels in this series, which put me at a slight disadvantage. We don't get a lot of character development here. The author likely relies on readers to know the characters at this point. There are also a whole lot of characters involved in this story, and we only learn surface details about most of them. At times I found it a challenge to keep up with all the names, titles, and relationships.

The dialogue and phrasing feels genuine. I could easily imagine people in London during the early 1800s speaking to one another as the characters did.

The mystery is slow moving but interesting, and it certainly kept me guessing. But, overall, I was mostly intrigued by the setting and all the little details that made this story come alive.

Murder strikes close to home. Sebastian St. Cyr is called to the home of his niece's husband. He has been killed and his wife is one of the suspects. This one really baffled me. I suspected just about everyone except the one who did the deed. It is a great mystery and I really enjoyed visiting with both Sebastian and family. There is one thing that is missing from this book and the previous one. The arc about Sebastain's mother seems to have been dropped. Hope to hear more about that in future books.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, has developed an unlikely habit of investigating murders in Regency London, but that's not the only reason Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy sends for him when dangerous and dissolute Lord Ashworth is found brutally murdered. Devlin believes, and seven months ago tried unsuccessfully to prove, that Ashworth was involved in a string of kidnappings and murders of street children, but that's not the main reason, either.

Ashworth was married to Devlin's headstrong young niece, Stephanie. She recently gave birth to twins, and their marriage had become a sham. Stephanie is living in Lindley House, Ashworth's father's home, not in Ashworth's home, where he lives his dissolute and alarming life.

Stephanie is one of the many people who plausibly had a motive to kill Ashworth, and she'd be a lot more acceptable to the Regent than accusing a member of the household of Grand Duchess Catherine of Oldenburg, in London for the upcoming meeting of the leaders of the allies against Napoleon.

Devlin sets out to find the real killer--hoping very much that it isn't Stephanie. Investigating Ashworth's recent private life is a nasty, distasteful task, and takes Devlin into such dangerous places as Seven Dials, and the Pulteney Hotel, currently serving as the Grand Duchess's residence in London. He's talking to hired thugs, and one of the few people who liked Ashworth. Meanwhile, Devlin's wife, Hero, is interviewing street workers--pure finders, rag and bone men, night soil workers, and others--intending to write another article attempting to raise the awareness of the upper classes about needed changes.

Her interviews lead to information that affects Devlin's investigation.

Meanwhile, that investigation is also straining Devlin's relationship with his sister, and Devlin and Hero's relations with Hero;s father Lord Jarvis.

This is a very good mystery set in a far more realistic picture of Regency London than I've typically found in novels with such a setting. C. S. Harris clearly has the research skills as well as excellent writing skills. And despite this being #14 in the series, and the first I've read, enough information is provided to understand necessary backstory without large or annoying information dumps. It's just salted in lightly, just enough to let the reader keep going without confusion.

Highly recommended.

I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

Who Slays the Wicked is the fourteenth book in C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr series of Regency-era historical mystery novels. I was excited about the opportunity to read this book because I have read the last few entries in the series, and I was looking forward to finding out what was going to happen next- especially when I saw whose murder Sebastian was investigating.

Lord Ashworth has been a minor character throughout the series, and needless to say, he has demonstrated a chilling capacity for evil. So when he is found murdered in his own home, it seems as though justice has finally been served. But such a brutal crime- against an aristocrat, no less- must be investigated. Ashworth wronged so many over the years, and there are multiple suspects in recent months who were angry enough to seek revenge. This is not going to be an easy task, but as more people connected to Ashworth are found dead, Sebastian needs to find the killer quickly.

Once again, Harris provides the reader with a thoroughly immersive Regency experience. I read a lot of fiction set in this era, but very few books move beyond the realm of the elite. Harris introduces us to people from all social classes, and peppers the interactions with fascinating details about their lives and occupations.

The mystery itself is satisfying. There are several paths and avenues to explore, and the “big reveal” came as a surprise. Harris does a good job with building tension- I found it difficult to put the book down because I wanted to find out what was going to happen next.

I would recommend Who Slays the Wicked. I suppose this book functions well enough as a standalone, but I would suggest reading a couple of the previous books in the series before reading this one to gain a better sense of how loathsome Ashworth was. This is one of my favorite historical mystery series, and one of these days, I really will catch up on the earlier books in the series.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Death of a Dissolute Nobleman in 1814 London

Sebastian, Lord Devlin, has no love for Lord Ashworth. Seven months ago, Sebastian suspected Ashworth of being involved in a ring that captured and tortured street children, but Ashworth escaped. Hard on the heels of the scandal and much to Sebastian’s displeasure, Ashworth married Stephanie, Sebastian’s niece.

At the time of the marriage, Stephanie was pregnant. Now she’s the mother of twins, and Ashworth has virtually abandoned her to live apart and continue his dissolute life style. With Ashworth dead in a most compromising position, Stephanie is a potential suspect. The clues found at the scene of the crime, a small bloody hand-print and a woman’s silk stocking, point to a woman as the killer. These clues put pressure on Sebastian to quickly identify the murderer to save his niece.

The picture of 1814 London painted by the author lends an authentic atmosphere to the world inhabited by Lord Devlin and his wife Hero. I love reading these books because the author makes their life so vivid. From the highest aristocracy to the lowly beggars, London comes alive.

Lord Devlin and Hero are characters that I have grown to love and want to keep reading about. They have more advanced views than many in their set, but they don’t flaunt them. They quietly try to see that justice is done. I particularly like the scenes of their domestic life with their adorable son.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy well researched historical mysteries with strong characters.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

I have loved this series from very early on and this one did not disappoint. The detail that she gives transports you back to Regency England and makes you feel at one with the characters. Not only was it very well written but the character developments are phenomenal. I truly loved reading this book and I can not wait to read more from her.

One of the things I enjoy most about C.S. Harris' books is the attention to detail when it comes to the city of London. Whether at a palace or following a night soil man, the descriptions are always vividly written, from the texture of the street to the smell. So much research clearly goes into the books that reading a C.S. Harris book seems like the next best thing to time traveling back to Regency England (perhaps better, since you get to avoid the potential health hazards of the era).

Harris does a good job of reminding us how unequal England was at the time, how easy it was for nobles to get away with things, and how little recourse others had against them. The mix of wealth and poverty is always jolting, and you think better of any few characters who are bothered by it- and how little is done to help people.

This was a dark series of murders, mostly to people who deserved it, where you worried more that a good person might have done the crimes instead of about the crimes themselves. Most of the characters I couldn't find very likable or interesting, which always surprises and disappoints me- I always feel like I should like the main characters more than I do, but I also couldn't really tell you why I end up feeling ambivalent about Sebastien or Hero. Still, this was a decent mystery full of red herrings, lies, and plenty of suspects and secrets.

C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr has been a favourite historical mystery series of mine for a long time. I am constantly recommending it to avid mystery fans for its gritty atmosphere and the fantastic characters that Harris has created.

With this being the fourteenth book in the series, I can honestly say that this is a series that does not get stale. The author always succeeds at pulling forth historical facts that I find endlessly interesting, especially since Harris captures both the lower and upper class lifestyle. In this particular installment, the mystery hits closer to home for Sebastian when his niece, Stephanie's husband is murdered. Sebastian isn't unhappy that Lord Ashworth is dead, but he certainly doesn't appreciate the suspicion that is thrown Stephanie's way. As per usual, the mystery unfolds carefully, speeding up to its eventual conclusion. But, what I have been noticing in the past few books is a strong nod to a larger story arc involving Sebastian's mother and his father-in-law, Lord Jarvis. I might be way off base, but I think Harris is building to something big here, although I'm not sure if they will be connected. I'm invested in finding out!

The only complaint that I had was that there was not enough of Hero in this one. I really love how Sebastian and Hero's relationship has evolved over the series, but I would really like there to be more time with these characters together. I also wonder if there is going to be some tension in their marriage what with my suspicions about Lord Jarvis.

At any rate, Harris' fourteen book was a fantastic addition to the series. Fans of historical mysteries will delight in this richly told mystery.

It must be incredibly difficult for an author to maintain the high standards of a series the longer it lasts. Harris has done just that, and more. Each consecutive book, in my opinion, keeps getting better and better. Impressive, to say the least.

In this outing, a high ranking, though despicable member of the aristocracy in murdered, in the most dissolute of fashions. Although despised by many, including himself, Sebastian is called on to investigate. He is a ranking member of the aristocracy himself, but unlike many of his class he has deep sympathies for the underdogs, the lower class. He also has a personal reason to find the killer.

Such a great mix of personal, Sebastian has had a varied life, to crime solving, and the political times.
So much in their series is based on fact, it is very well researched, and one does feel like the are back in the early 1800s. The period details are amazingly well written.

At books end, one quote struck me, " Rank and wealth can cover a multitude of sins." Seems much hasn't changed in that regard.

ARc from Netgalley.

I have to say I love her covers! They are just perfectly matched to the story and add so much to the intrigue of the book. And this new release has a lot of intrigue!

One thing that strikes me when I start getting into this type of story is that you really have to give it several chapters to get into the mood, culture, and time-frame of the story. Setting up the story is critical for this book.

That is one of the strong points with this author. She writes in such a manner that you are transported to that time in history. You can feel the oppression of the bleak and fearful, and complex vibe of the city. You can see the story in your mind, page by page. It is a magical ability.

Because of that ability, this book comes alive with the violent acts, brutal nature of the crime, and the methodical step-by-step crime solving abilities of St. Cyr. With bits and pieces of evidence and interviewing techniques, we never know until the end what is critical in the investigation and who is the one that did the crimes.

This is the second book in the series I have read and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Brilliantly written and keeps your brain guessing all the way through!

Choosing the word "enthralled" to describe my feelings toward this historical mystery - especially since it's full of murder, mayhem and some very nasty people - might seem a bit strange, but that's exactly how I felt from the first page to the last. It's also my first of 14 books in this series, so another prime emotion I felt when I finished is sadness that I hadn't read the predecessors. What an attention-holding, well-written book!

It's also well-researched, and that adds substantially to the "flavor." Set in London circa 1814, the story is greatly enhanced by descriptions of the city, what was happening elsewhere in the world (Paris had just sent Napoleon packing, for instance) and terminology appropriate to the time. The characters spoke and acted the way I'd expect from that time period - although I must say that Sebastian St. Cyr and his wife, Hero, are far less stodgy than their family and friends (which only made me like them all the more).

As this one begins, Sebastian is called in to help find out who murdered and pretty thoroughly mutilated Lord Ashworth, a man who not long ago married Sebastian's young niece Stephanie. Ashworth has a long history of abusing anyone who tickles his fancy (or refuses to) - most notably children and young ladies - so while no one owns up to the murder, neither does anyone express sorrow that he bit the dust. That widespread attitude, of course, makes the suspect pool grow as each new clue is revealed; the consensus, though, is that the killer is female (with Stephanie, who recently gave birth to twins but is estranged from Ashworth, at the top of the list).

Sebastian desperately hopes to prove her innocence, but first he must convince himself. Complicating matters is that other dead bodies are turning up, thought to be somehow connected to Ashworth's murder. Besides that, a Russian delegation, including a snobbish high-ranking princess, is in town for what may be nefarious purposes - and before long, entanglements with Ashworth are unearthed and members of their entourage are added to the suspects' list as well. The more Sebastian digs in, the more it becomes clear that the hole he's creating may be the perfect size for his own grave.

This story stands alone well, although there were a few allusions to people and events that no doubt would be better understood by those who read previous books. Also, the fact that some of the characters were called by different names or titles here and there was a bit confusing to me at times(Sebastian is also known as Viscount Devlin, for example). But honestly, none of that really got in the way. I found this book absolutely delightful - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I was given a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Sebastian has his work cut out for him in this one. It's always tricky when a mystery involves family. Love the way this series stays true to its characters, theme, and heart. Can't wait for more!

Sebastian is asked to work on another case. He would have even if they had not asked. The victim was married to his niece and he wants it resolved soon. He worries that maybe she might have killed him. He was a very evil man and he can't understand why she married him.

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published April 2nd.

The more he searches, the more people he finds dead. Who would have killed them all? Everyone he speaks to is holding some truth back and won't come clean. Hero tries to help him but she can't get too involved because it's dangerous.

There's a fortune teller, some Russian diplomats, and several people with money involved. There's more than one killer. What he finds is a political plot, illegal activities, and more than one evil man. He's still not sure if the killer was male or female but the closer he gets, the more dangerous it gets. He's in more than one fight, he almost gets killed, and even when he identifies the killer, it's a fight to the end.

I've read this entire series and enjoy them. There's a lot going on and it takes a bit to finish the book, but they're always good. This one was well worth the read.

I've been a loyal fan of this series since I discovered it in 2016, more than ten years after the fist book came out, and quickly devoured the first 11 books in the series. Hero is probably one of my top 5 favorite characters of all time. Fiercely independent, as the author oft tends to describe her, Hero is her own woman, beholden to none, but as the series continues we've been allowed to see the compassionate side of her. I've so enjoyed watching her relationship with Sebastian develop over the course of this series and she's the main reason I continue to stick with it. While I'll still rate this book high, I feel there is something lacking in the Who Slays the Wicked that I couldn't put my finger on that the rest of the books in the series have. After finishing this book I had to start a re-read of the series, and I think why the latest installment gave didn't have me completely enthralled is for 2 reasons. 1) I'm not a fan of Amanda or Kat and both had more scenes that I liked. Yes, it was necessary to have Amanda featured more prominently in this book since it centers around her daughter, Stephanie. Amanda's a spiteful woman. She's not even a character I love to hate. I just hate her. One scene with Kat is too many and I'm tired of her having just the right piece of info that leads Sebastian in the right direction. 2) The relationships between the characters were lacking. Supporting characters such as Sir Henry, Tom, Gibson, and even Alexi, took a backseat. We didn't see the cute and charming conversations between Tom and Devlin. I loved when Devlin would use a $10 word and Tom would need for Devlin to explain to him what it meant. Small details like that made me fall in love with all of these characters and they just didn't have the same kinds of interactions in this installment.
I'm still a huge fan of the series and will continue to read however many more books C. S. Harris decides to write. Who Slays the Wicked just wasn't my favorite.

This continues to be one of the best and most consistently well written historical mystery series out there and "Who Slays the Wicked" is another great volume in the series. Highly recommended!

How can a series this long-running keep getting even better? This was one of Harris’ most compelling mysteries to date and her many fans will love puzzling out the killer in this dark, gruesome mystery.

Another excellent historical mystery by C. S. Harris! I've read this series since the beginning and have never yet been disappointed. I particularly like the relationship between Sebastian and Hero, which was probably atypical among the upper class at that time. I also enjoy reading about Hero's interest in and encounters among London's poor (VERY atypical for her class and time). I won't do a summary, the publisher and everyone else has provided that. I will say that I was quite surprised by who was the murderer! Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity the read this pre-pub in return for an honest opinion.

This was the first book in a long time that I devoured. As usual, C.S. Harris kept me guessing till the end. The mystery hit close to home for Sebastian because the person murdered was his niece’s husband. He was a man with many enemies and almost everyone was happy to see him dead. His death had to be investigated because of his station.

Sebastian uncovered secrets about his family. However they were not the ones about his parents. I do believe the author has a plan in mind about where all of this is going and that these aren’t all random mysteries with no significant purpose. I really hope something of significance is learned about Sebastian’s past before the series reaches its end, whenever that will be. Some of the things he did uncover were quite disturbing. Finally everything was explained about how Stephanie got married to Ashworth.

Many of the side characters I love and the ones I hate were around. Luckily Kat was barely in it. Jarvis had several appearances, but they weren’t as intense as some in the past. None of the side characters had significant parts. I still love Hero and Sebastian together. I wish they were getting more page time together.

I am a big fan of this series and this new entry. I love seeing where Sebastian, Hero, and the large cast of supporting characters are in their personal lives, and the mystery always keeps me guessing. Of particular note is the way the author brings to life vivid details (some not so complimentary) of life in Regency England.

Who Slays the Wicked (Releases April 2, 2019)
By C. S. Harris
Berkley/Penguin, 352 pages.
★★★

Some books set in the past falter because they get history terribly wrong. Others are confusing because they get it right. The second may be a problem for newer readers of C. S. Harris. Who Slays the Wicked is book 14 in her Sebastian St. Cyr series.

C. S. Harris is the nom de plume of Air Force brat Candice Proctor, who holds a Ph.D. in European history and now lives in Louisiana. Ms Harris writes well and precisely delves into great detail. It’s not a necessity, but it sure would help to know a bit about Hanoverian England to appreciate her St. Cyr novels. Who Slays the Wicked is set in 1814, a time in which the Napoleonic wars are sputtering* to a conclusion. George III is on the throne¬–the same sovereign who lost the American colonies and his sanity. His son, the future George IV, is serving as regent however, as George III went hopelessly insane in 1811.

When Napoleon was defeated for good in 1815, a European-wide peace conference redrew the map of Europe. The same conference planted the seeds for the decline of aristocracy, but those didn’t blossom until the end of World War I in 1918. For another hundred years, nobility lived according to different customs and social codes than their subjects. If you’ve read other Harris novels, you know that proper breeding sometimes allowed one literally to get away with murder.

Not this time. St. Cyr is called upon to unravel the gruesome death of Lord Ashworth and he’s keen to solve it as among the prime suspects is Ashworth’s wife Stephanie, who is also St. Cyr’s niece. Stephanie has recently given birth to twins, but she detested her late husband. As it transpires, so did virtually everyone who ever set eyes on Ashworth except his aged father. As was often the case with children of noble blood, the sadistic Ashworth treated women and the hoi polloi as if they were there for his amusement and abuse. He sexually abused Stephanie, as he did also to a string of mistresses, prostitutes, and gullible innocents. He cheated numerous merchants, one of whom is also a hot suspect, and Ashworth was also abusive to architect Russell Firth. That’s very bad news, as rumors hold that Firth has been stepping out with Stephanie.

The more St. Cyr digs into matters, the longer the suspect list grows. The phrase St. Cyr, his fearless wife Hero, and magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy repeatedly hear is, “I’m glad he’s dead.” St. Cyr, like much of London, is certain that Ashworth is the culprit behind the deaths of numerous street children.

The wildcard suspects are in London by way of Moscow. All of Europe knows that the Prince Regent and his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, had been separated for more than a decade. They had just one child, Princess Charlotte, which makes her a desirable marriage catch. Charlotte is affianced to the heir to the Dutch throne, but the czar of Russia hopes to break that alliance and perhaps even entice the Prince Regent to divorce and marry his sister. Harris introduces a fictional character, Ivanna Gagarin, as the consort to the Russian Grand Duchess. She is beautiful, calculating, amoral, and perhaps deadly, though the entire Russian entourage in London had enough contacts with Ashworth to make all of them suspect. The fact that Buckingham Palace tells St. Cyr to back off elevates St. Cyr’s suspicion level. **

Harris juxtaposes court intrigue with the grit, dirt, and crushing poverty of working-class London. She takes us inside seedy pubs and down dark and dangerous alleyways, and introduces us to the stomach-churning world of the night soil men who clean privies, rag and bone collectors, and “pure” finders, the latter of whom roam the street and collect excrement to sell to tanneries. It’s also a world in which ragamuffin children sweep streets, deliver messages, and run errands for anyone who will throw them a few coppers. You can be excused if you conclude that the residents of squalid London have less dirt on their hands than the upper crust. Harris subtly suggests that better times are ahead for some of the down-market parts of London. Firth is modeled on developer James Burton, who financed the building of Regent’s Park, Bloomsbury Square, and numerous other great Georgian projects.

Harris throws us enough red herrings to make fish stew, but if you're not a historian or already immersed in the St. Cyr universe, you might find parts of the novel rather slow going until you catch onto who’s who. It might help to make a cheat sheet as you read. You will need to know, for example, that Lord Ashworth is Anthony Ledger and that St. Cyr is also the Viscount Devlin. All of the aristocratic characters have both a titled and a christened name, and which one you encounter depends upon with whom that character is interacting. This stuff even confuses Brits–friends of mine in London frequently say “some lord or other”¬–and it can be quite a puzzlement for those not used to it.

I am used to it and ultimately found the central mystery intriguing, but I confess that I am more prone to place nobility into the upper class twit category. This is to say I found the novel much more interesting when Sebastian and Hero St. Cyr were cavorting with marginal folks rather than having tea with toffs. I leave open the possibility that I came into the series too late in the game. I enjoyed Who Slays the Wicked, but I’m not holding my breath for the next St. Cyr installment.

Rob Weir

* I used the term "sputtering" because it took separate campaigns to subdue Napoleon. In 1814, Napoleon abdicated when a European alliance captured Paris. He was exiled to the island of Elba, but escaped less than a year later, raised an army, and invaded Belgium. Shortly after his defeat at Waterloo in June 1815, he surrendered and was sent to the remote island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821.

** In real life, Russian meddling did break Charlotte’s planned marriage, though she eventually married a German prince, not a Russian.