Before the Holmies...

Shortest Summary Ever: London, 1814. Before Scotland Yard where local boroughs rule themselves and corruption controls the day, Viscount Sebastian St. Cyr is brought in to investigate a series of gruesome murders, eerily similar to those from three years ago. Except the man accused of doing that is dead, and Cyr believes him not guilty. So who is behind the sinister murders and why are they beginning again?

Thoughts: Straight up Sherlock. If you enjoy Holmes, you’ll likely enjoy this. Based on true events and accurate history, the author brilliantly weaves fiction into true and gruesome details, and that’s why I’m stan for historical fiction mysteries - the vivid pictures that played in my head were better than anything on tv (yes, even you Bridgerton!).

This is book 16 in a series, but my first and it was easy to jump in (and yes, I’m going back now to read the first ones!). So many characters, red herrings, plaited bands of who-dun-its make for a wonderful weekend read.

All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.

Genre: Historical Fiction Mystery

Recommend to: all the “Holmies” - very similar to Doyle. Historical fiction mystery fans like me will swoon.

Not recommended to: If you’re not into a period mystery.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for keeping me awake!

I was a little nervous about reading this book since I had been a bit bored by the last one in the series. However, I liked this one significantly more, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Sebastian St Cyr Vicsount Devlin has gotten himself involved in another murder. This time, they’re connected to a previous violent series of murder that occurred 3 years prior. The Ratcliffe Highway murders were violent and scared everyone in the area at the time. Now there are two new murders that resemble the old ones, there is doubt that the man who was accused of being a murderer (and died) was truly the murderer.

I don’t know if it was the fact that the murder in this story was a bit more gruesome and therefore exciting, or the fact that there was a bit more backstory about Sebastian’s family as well as some storyline with Hero and Jarvis.

I do appreciate that I can never quite figure out the mysteries from these stories. I don’t know if it’s because they occur in the early 1800s or the millions of names, but I wasn’t able to guess how this one would turn out. I thought it was interesting to find out how some of the taverns and brew houses worked back in 1814.

This book seemed to move a little quicker than the last one which I also appreciated it. similar to the other books in the series, this could be read as a standalone. However, it does have a little bit of backstory that I think is going to end up being essential to understanding certain events in the future.

This was a solid addition to the Sebastian St Cyr series. I liked the mystery storyline and I liked the secondary stories. I found the pacing of this one to work much better and I do like that it set up for some potential in future. I’d probably rank it closer to a 3.5, especially since the last one was a solid 3 for me.

As a long time fan of Sebastian, I am always excited to see what he and Hero are up to. The ongoing mystery surrounding Jarvis, his romance, and his machinations keeps the drama high and propels the reader to the next book in a way that's impressive for a series this long. I thought the main mystery was interesting if a little contrived, and while there's much talk of Sebastian's father, I wish we still heard about the more unusual things he inherited m like his hearing and eyesight. Overall, solid and satisfying.

This is a great series and this one keeps up the great work. I do recommend reading at least a few of the other books in this series to understand who many of the main characters are. I enjoyed reading about these murders that truly did happen in London with some added to work in other characters. I love Sebastian and his wife, Hero. I hope there will be more books in this series. I received a copy of this book from Berkeley and Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I absolutely love Sebastian St Cyr. I read the entire series last year in one long binge read. I adore the books and even if some of them have fallen into a bit of a formula, I still enjoy the characters so much. This one was high up on my TBR pile. I always set aside time in the early spring to read a new Sebastian mystery and I am never sorry about that.

The mysteries are intelligent, a little on the gritty side, and full of questionable characters all with their own motives. Going into this one, I was fully ready for just that and I wasn’t disappointed! But now that we are into book sixteen in the series, I am sure readers can’t help but wonder at what point will this series end? For me, I hope the answer is never but I also know that at some point all good things come to an end.

But until that day comes I am going to keep devouring the Sebastian mysteries and keep returning to my favorite characters. Some books in this series are able to be read as standalones and I think this one here could easily be read as a standalone if you want to check out the series but also don’t want to go back and read all the books to enjoy it!

Summary
Sebastian St. Cyr thought a notorious serial killer had been brought to justice until a shocking series of gruesome new murders stuns the city in this thrilling historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Who Speaks for the Damned.

It’s October 1814. The war with France is finally over and Europe’s diplomats are convening in Vienna for a conference that will put their world back together. With peace finally at hand, London suddenly finds itself in the grip of a series of heinous murders eerily similar to the Ratcliffe Highway murders of three years before.

In 1811, two entire families were viciously murdered in their homes. A suspect–a young seaman named John Williams–was arrested. But before he could be brought to trial, Williams hanged himself in his cell. The murders ceased, and London slowly began to breathe easier. But when the lead investigator, Sir Edwin Pym, is killed in the same brutal way three years later and others possibly connected to the original case meet violent ends, the city is paralyzed with terror once more.

Was the wrong man arrested for the murders? Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for assistance. Pym’s colleagues are convinced his manner of death is a coincidence, but Sebastian has his doubts. The more he looks into the three-year-old murders, the more certain he becomes that the hapless John Williams was not the real killer. Which begs the question–who was and why are they dead set on killing again? (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book explores the underbelly world of London’s brewing industry. I was very interested in that bit of the story and I was a little let down that it wasn’t explained more in this book. The concept of a corrupt brewing industry and licenses was explained well enough but I would have liked to have seen the author expand on it more and shown readers from of the nuances of the industry itself. This was a minor thing for me though. It wasn’t a make or break in the story but I had hoped to have become more familiar with the industry more as it was part of the core of the mystery itself.

I was also sad that we didn’t get more Hero in this book. She seemed to take a backseat to the mystery itself, as did Sebastian’s character and his ever contentious relationship with this own father as well as Lord Jarvis. I still feel like the author is setting readers up for a large scale conclusion to the series that will likely spread over a couple of books. That will likely involve Sebastian, his mother, his father, and Lord Jarvis and the new Lady Jarvis. In the meantime, I think the author is getting all those pieces in place while we the readers continue to enjoy the adventures and gritty mysteries of Sebastian as we do in this book.

This mystery was (as expected) twisty with many people with motives. I love trying to click the pieces into place before Sebastian solves them. But as always, I never seem to solve the mystery or the motives. I love how Sebastian’s mind works and how he puts everything together. As a character he is brash, bold, confident, and intelligent. I just love his character so much and am so excited to see where his story goes from here.

I do wish we had more Hero in this book because she matches Sebastian for wit, intelligence, and boldness. I love her character and can’t wait to see more of her in future book! If you love historical mysteries this book series is no doubt on your radar. It’s smart, gritty, complex, and well developed! I love this series and this book was an great installment!

Book Info and Rating
Format336 pages Kindle

Published April 6, 2021 by Berkley Books

ISBN9780593102664 (ISBN10: 0593102665)

Free review copy provided by publisher, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: historical fiction, mystery, detective novel

What the Devil Knows is the 16th book in the Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series by C.S. Harris. You know what book I started this series on? Yep, you guessed it...this one! So if you're wondering, this book stands alone perfectly well; I will, however, point out some references are made to previous events, but it won't hinder your enjoyment any. I'm excited to find I have a number of some of the others in my library. Woohoo! I can't believe I've just recently discovered historical mysteries; I didn't realize what amazing series I was missing out on.

In 1811, in what became known as the Ratcliffe Highway murders, two families were brutally (and I mean BRUTALLY) murdered in their homes. A young seaman, John Williams, was arrested for the murders, but he was found hanging in his cell before he was tried. The murders ceased, and life in London continued onward. However, in October 1814, Sir Edwin Pym, the lead magistrate in the Ratcliffe Murders, is found savagely murdered in the same way. Bow Street Magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy asks his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, to investigate. Many people claim the similarities of this murder to the previous ones are merely coincidence. The body toll continues to mount, though, and Sebastian begins to believe that John Williams was not actually the murderer. So who was? Why are they killing again? And will Sebastian survive long enough to figure it all out?

This was an absolutely exciting historical mystery, one of my favorites to date. I can't wait to have the opportunity to read more of this series. I thought Sebastian was a wonderful character - he is a Viscount who had a violent history in the war against Napolean, has been involved in numerous dangerous investigations and yet has a loving domestic life with his beloved wife Hero and small son Simon. He's the heir to the Earl of Henden and Hero's father Jarvis is one of the most powerful men in the nation. Yet Sebastian doesn't hesitate to get involved in dangerous situations, and Hero fully supports him. (It turns out she's a rather amazing woman in her own right!) It was sad to see the difference in circumstances between lowly laborers and discarded women and children, and those who had absolute power and were corrupt. One of the awesome things about reading historical mysteries is actually learning some real history! I found out in the Afterword that the Ratcliffe Highway murders were real events, the Bloomsbury Foundling Hospital Hero visited was an actual place and I learned more about The Great Beer Flood of October 1814 that I had heard about previously. Some of the characters in the story were real people, and others were based upon actual historical figures. What a satisfying novel, with both an exciting mystery and true events! Just what adventures does this incredible author have in store for Sebastian next?

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

If you like your historical mystery very much on the dark and gritty side, you absolutely cannot go wrong with Sebastian St. Cyr. The feeling of being in his moment with him is so strong that the reader just can’t turn their eyes away until the mystery is solved – and that’s been true for 16 books now and hopefully counting.

Because it’s clear at the end of What the Devil Knows that this particular mystery may be solved – for certain definitions of the word solved – but that there are many greater – and lesser – mysteries yet to be revealed.

The most important being the mystery of St. Cyr’s very existence. Although his current case is less personal and a whole lot bloodier.

When St. Cyr is called in to investigate the grisly death of a corrupt magistrate, he knows that the case is already bigger than it seems as it appears that the perpetrator of the heinous Ratcliff Highway Murders (the original murders really happened) has struck again. But that man was executed three years previously, and the killings stopped. Even the doubters were silenced in the intervening three years.

But as St. Cyr investigates the latest murders, he becomes certain that there was a rush to judgment, aided and abetted by the government who needed to calm a roiling – and occasionally rioting – populace. The need for reform was in direct conflict with the government’s fear of a revolution every bit as destructive to the upper classes – and the country as a whole – as the French Revolution that was not just within living memory, but whose results were still being felt.

No one in the government, especially not St. Cyr’s father-in-law Charles Jarvis, the power behind the Prince Regent’s self-indulgent, shaky, profligate regency, wants St. Cyr to poke his nose into the original case. It’s too obvious that there was a fix in, and too many people involved in that fix have died in its wake.

And that’s just what St. Cyr finds. Three new and very flashy murders connected to that original miscarriage of justice. Along with a whole lot of very, very quiet stabbings in the dark.

Escape Rating A+: One of the things that makes this series so marvelous is the way that it exposes the dark underbelly of the Regency. As a result of the popularity of Georgette Heyer’s sparkling Regency romances, when we think of the period we think of romantic aristocrats, the strict rules of the haut ton, and a lot of glitz and glamour.

St. Cyr’s restless investigations into the seamier side of the Regency, reveals all of the creeping, oozing, frightening things that you find when you kick over a rock, just that in this case the rock is very, very shiny and hides more muck than expected because we’ve all been blinded by that shine.

It’s not just that bad things happen to bad people – although they do – or even that bad things happen to good people – but it’s the way that so much of what is wrong has been perpetrated and perpetuated by those in power, supposedly for the greater good. Or at least for Britain’s good. But usually for their own good.

And all of that has resonance for the 21st century while still leaving St. Cyr as a man of his own time. He’s someone who is on the outside of both worlds and has the intelligence and the vision to see what is wrong along with the will not to turn his eyes away.

That’s what makes him a hero worth following from one investigation and one mystery to another, 16 books and very much hopefully counting.

Sebastian St. Cyr thought a notorious killer had been brought to justice until a shocking series of gruesome new murders stuns the city in this thrilling historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Who Speaks for the Damned.

It's October 1814. The war with France is finally over and Europe's diplomats are convening in Vienna for a conference that will put their world back together. With peace finally at hand, London suddenly finds itself in the grip of a series of heinous murders eerily similar to the Ratcliffe Highway murders of three years before. 

In 1811, two entire families were viciously murdered in their homes. A suspect--a young seaman named John Williams--was arrested. But before he could be brought to trial, Williams hanged himself in his cell. The murders ceased, and London slowly began to breathe easier. But when the lead investigator, Sir Edwin Pym, is killed in the same brutal way three years later and others possibly connected to the original case meet violent ends, the city is paralyzed with terror once more. 

Was the wrong man arrested for the murders? Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for assistance. Pym's colleagues are convinced his manner of death is a coincidence, but Sebastian has his doubts. The more he looks into the three-year-old murders, the more certain he becomes that the hapless John Williams was not the real killer. Which begs the question--who was and why are they dead set on killing again?

This is the sixteenth, yes you read that correctly, entry in the Sebastian St. Cyr series and I'm impressed with how well the series has been continuing! At some point you would think it would feel overly repetitive but I've been thoroughly impressed with the ones I've read (started with thirteen). WHAT THE DEVIL KNOWS brings us another set of killings and a new mystery to be solved involving a potential copy cat or even worse, the real killer that was never caught.

Three years ago a series of gruesome murders occurred and a young man was arrested. Sentenced to prison, John Williams then hung himself, but the murders stopped so that means they must have had their man. Well, present day, the lead investigator into John Williams is found killed in the same horrible way as the original killings. Is this the work of a copycat? Sebastian St. Cyr is on the case and the more he digs into the case and present day killings, he quickly begins to realize that they may have had the wrong man and the real killer is now at large once more.

Not only do we get the great murder investigation but we get a nice dose of historical fiction as well. Harris always does such an incredible job setting the scene and bringing us to the early 1800's London. If you're looking for a new historical fiction/crime fiction series to start, I highly recommend picking up one of the Sebastian St. Cyr books. They can be read as standalone novels, so you can really start with whichever synopsis catches your eye!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “What the Devil Knows.” All opinions are my own.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin is again righting a number of wrongs in “What the Devil Knows,” the latest in this long running series, this one set in 1814. We start with his summoning to the scene of the death noted in the very first chapter. What he finds brings to mind some earlier crimes, by the killer dubbed the “Ratcliffe Highway murderer.” That case was closed with the suspect’s “suicide.” But perhaps the real killer has struck again? Or perhaps a copyist, as our Viscount postulates. In any event, it’s someone who enjoys killing.

Of course, Devlin soon becomes personally threatened – doesn’t he always? We get scenes with his father-in-law, the hated Jarvis, and Hero, Devlin’s very resourceful wife, as strong a character as he is. I really enjoy the part she plays in these stories, even as she tends to be somewhat over the top. It does give strength to her particular story within the story -- the horrific treatment of foundling children. This is not for the faint-hearted. It is truly terrifying, a horrible blot on human history that our author, C.S. Harris reminds us of.

Other suspects for the murders are advanced. Ms. Harris offers up these little vignettes, but just like our protagonist, we are not deterred in our goal of finding the true culprit.

There’s also Devlin’s personal story – he has news of his mother. And a dead man’s son haunts his dreams. So many stories to be had here; it’s not a place to start the series, that’s for sure.

Precise, intricate plotting is a hallmark of these books. Devlin and Hero and the rest may seem modern in some sensibilities, but this is never a story of modern times; we are always in Georgian England, sinister as it is.

Finally, “… a tale of ruthless greed and corruption that spanned decades” comes to an end. Jarvis ensures that no one messes with his family. And a surprise comes to the Devlin household.

The Author’s Note relates the history of the Ratcliffe Highway Murders and the resemblance to Jack the Ripper. She also explains how much truth and how much fiction intersperses in the book. “What the Devil Knows” will keep you wanting to turn the page, eager to find out what happens next.

1814 A body of a magistrate is discovered in London and the killing is similar to the the Ratcliffe Highway killings of three years earlier. But someone was found guilty of those crimes or were they. Sebastian St. Cyr is asked to help in the investigation by Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy. Then another murder occurs.
An entertaining and well-written, plotted mystery with a good cast of well-developed characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"What the Devil Knows" is a mystery set in October 1814 in London. This book is the 16th in a series. You can understand it without having read the previous novels, and it didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The historical information was woven into the story without slowing the pacing. It created a distinct feeling of that specific time and place and helped bring the story alive in my imagination. The characters were interesting, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Both Hero and Sebastian were involved in the investigation, though Sebastian was the main investigator. He tracked down leads and asked good questions. He pieced together the basic outline of what had happened in the past and what was occurring now. There were several suspects, and you can't fully narrow down whodunit until the final clues at the end.

Some prostitutes used crude words to briefly describe their job or their client's sexual anatomy. There were no graphic sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.

Thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

What the Devil Knows is the latest installment (#16) in the Sebastian St. Cyr series. You could read the books out of order and still have a good sense of Sebastian's character and the major plot points, although I'd recommend reading the whole series. In this one, Lord Devlin (Sebastian St. Cyr) is back to solve another grisly murder mystery, this time the death of a magistrate that appears to be a copycat of a series of brutal murders committed a few years earlier, in which the alleged murderer took his own life before trial. The novel is peopled with the usual assortment of realistic characters, some of very high social class (the "Ton") as well as colorful streetwalkers and thieves. Sebastian gets an assist in solving the case from his young servant Tom, magistrate Henry Lovejoy, and his wife Hero, who interviews various people on the pretense of writing articles about the plight of the poor.

C.S. Harris' description of 1814 London is spot on and envelops the reader in an atmospheric, suspenseful fog. As always, Lord Devlin's focus is on justice, not likeability, and he definitely does not endear himself to his powerful father-in-law Lord Jarvis, or the rest of high society as he searches for a ruthless killer. A side plot involving Sebastian's search for his mother is yet to be resolved.

While reading What the Devil Knows, I was transported to early 19th century London, where I hung out with Sebastian as he investigated and solved murders. There’s no indoor plumbing and the streets smell like horse manure, but I enjoyed every second!

Some things I love about this book in particular, and the series in general:

Atmosphere and setting come alive! The research is impeccable, and the details provided are exactly enough. This is a fully immersive story that gives you the experience of life in London during the early 1800s.

The characters are unique, complex, fascinating, and feel like they could walk right off the page, into your living room. The interplay between Sebastian and Hero, his wife, is perfection!

The plot is an intricate mystery, requiring us to put on our best detective hats and follow all the clues.

What the Devil Knows is the 16th Sebastian St. Cyr novel, but it reads exceptionally well as a stand-alone. This is a rare series that allows you to step in at any point.

A great story. Twists and turns until the end. Sebastian is asked to consult on a case that is reminiscent of a case from three years earlier. It all seems so random and Sebastian is having a hard time tying it all together. He is threatened several times and then his family is threatened. When there are more murders, Sebastian knows he has to find the killer soon or he could lose his family too. The are publicans are forced to buy their beer from certain brewers or lose their business. Several are not happy about this and think they will rebel. Does all that have anything to do with the killings? It all comes back to money and power. Who is behind it all?

The Sebastian St. Cyr series is my favourite historical mystery series. I love the writing style, time period, characters, and stories. I love that the series has a larger focus on social and political issues and the never-ending quest for justice in a corrupt society.

What the Devil Knows is the 16th in the series and includes the true case of the Radcliffe Highway murders of 1811. Someone is killing people connected to that case three years on.

Once again, Harris has written a compelling mystery. The pacing is spot-on and the story complex and yet still easy to follow.

I hope there are many more books to come in this fantastic series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group and C.S. harris for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

This was my first book in the series I have read and I did not feel lost in the plot or characters. The author takes time to make the newbies to get accustomed to Viscount and his family with a few flashbacks to the past.

The novel is set in Regency England in early 1800 and the story is based on true events. Viscount Devlin arrives at the gruesome murder scene that is possibly connected to the Ratcliffe Murders 3 years prior. He is to help the magistrate to solve the mystery.

A page turner that keeps the readers on the edge. You want to keep reading to get to the truth. The set up and language make you feel transported to the Regency England and it has a special charm to the novel. However, I felt there a bit too many characters and sometimes I felt lost. On the other hand, C.S. Harris revealed the complicated corrupted system of magistrates and wealthier brewers in early 1800s and it was truly interesting to read.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel. It came right in time for me. I was slowly sliding into the reading slump and What The Devil Know easily put me out of it.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. What the Devil Knows by C.S. Harris is the sixteenth book in her most excellent Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery series. While it could be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend the previous books in the series. The books are extremely well written, their mix of history and fiction is engrossing and they are some of the few books that hold my focus as we move into year two of this pandemic. The audio-book versions are also extremely well done. Sir Henry Lovejoy once again asks for Sebastian’s assistance in a case that has Scotland Yard puzzled, recent murders appear to be linked to a series of murders from three years previously, the Ratcliffe Highway Murders in which two families were slaughtered in a brutal fashion, and the man suspected of committing the murders committed suicide while in custody. The authors attention to detail makes for an engrossing read and I started this book after dinner and did not go to bed until I’d finished because it so captured my attention. I highly recommend this book and series, the twists and turns of the plot won’t let you down and the characters will become old friends, each new encounter just a joy to read. Publishing Date: April 6, 2021. #WhatTheDevilKnows #CSHarris #BerkleyPublishingGroup #NetGalley #HistoricalMystery #SebastianStCyrMysterySeries #MysterySeries #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

What the Devil Knows is C. S. Harris’s 16th Regency-set Sebastian St. Cyr mystery. Always leery of a series losing its reading-lustre, I’m amazed how each one keeps me in thrall for the one or two days in which I devour it. Part of it is thanks to Harris’s rich historical setting, focussed on the injustices of a society where the privileges of wealth and birth are in turn the exploiters of the poor, vulnerable, and low-born. Most of it, however, is due to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin; wife, Hero (adorable son, Simon), a slew of sleuthing-helpers (among my favourites, Irish surgeon Paul Gibson and Sebastian’s “tiger,” Tom) who care: they care about justice being done, they care about the downtrodden; they care about the precarious lives of the ordinary people who make up Regency London. If you come looking for the verve and froth of Bridgerton‘s London (I loved it, but this is a different animal), you won’t find it. Instead, the steadiest, most loving of couples and Harris’s meticulously researched world, more in service of great fiction than exactitude (always read the author’s note). In What the Devil Knows, London’s port and the publicans who serve her is her setting; past murders and mysteriously connected new ones set Sebastian on the path to untangling past and present:

It’s October 1814. The war with France is finally over and Europe’s diplomats are convening in Vienna for a conference that will put their world back together. With peace finally at hand, London suddenly finds itself in the grip of a series of heinous murders eerily similar to the Ratcliffe Highway murders of three years before.

In 1811, two entire families were viciously murdered in their homes. A suspect–a young seaman named John Williams–was arrested. But before he could be brought to trial, Williams hanged himself in his cell. The murders ceased, and London slowly began to breathe easier. But when the lead investigator, Sir Edwin Pym, is killed in the same brutal way three years later and others possibly connected to the original case meet violent ends, the city is paralyzed with terror once more.

Was the wrong man arrested for the murders? Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for assistance. Pym’s colleagues are convinced his manner of death is a coincidence, but Sebastian has his doubts. The more he looks into the three-year-old murders, the more certain he becomes that the hapless John Williams was not the real killer. Which begs the question–who was and why are they dead set on killing again?

The body count is high in What the Devil Knows, as Sir Pym’s murder is followed by others, in a pattern eluding Sebastian: corrupt magistrates die along with sailors, the unsavory characters part of every port city, and ordinary people who eke out their living by and on her docks. As in every St. Cyr mystery, Sebastian doesn’t pursue answers to a whodunnit, but to bringing and exacting justice, setting the world aright. Sebastian continues to be a wonderful hero, intelligent, sardonically witty, and deliciously physically formidable. His prowess is beautifully contrasted with his domestic life, a life of intellectual equals and the tenderest of loves, with Hero and Simon at its beating heart. Sebastian had a strong sense of justice in the early books, but he was also emotionally adrift; now he is steadfast, a man whose love for his family is matched only by the compulsion to redress injustice. As he says early in this particular case: ” ‘It isn’t just about them,’ he finally said. ‘It’s about … all of us.’ ” Sebastian is a layered character: his personal demons, the mystery surrounding his mother and parentage, his joy in and fear of losing his family (Sebastian has evolved from detecting rake to paterfamilias and it suits him!), the wonderful domestic life he enjoys with Hero and Simon, his public pursuit of justice working with Lovejoy, his past colliding with his present as he continues to search for answers to his mysterious origins.

While the romance reader in me loves every scene with Sebastian and Hero, I also love how Harris shows Sebastian interviewing a cross-section of Regency London society, offering another view of London, another idea of the city’s “infinite variety”. Unlike most members of the “ton,” Sebastian and Hero navigate the strata of London society, as welcome to the highest levels of government and royal court as the lowliest scullery-maid’s, or sweep’s world. Maybe it is their privilege and wealth that give them this freedom, but more important is what motivates them. Hero says it best when Sebastian expresses doubts about his work with Lovejoy, about the danger he brings to Hero and Simon: ” ‘Life shouldn’t be about pursuing pleasure or being safe, being comfortable. It’s about helping others, and reaching for what’s right, and trying to make this a better world. That’s what you do. It’s a part of why I love you, and I won’t have you give it all up out of some mistaken belief in what you owe me.’ ” Sebastian and Hero are a united, committed couple, to Simon, and making a better, fairer world. They do not, however, work together the way other sleuthing couples do. (I enjoy the latter, see my review of the latest Veronica Speedwell, and the former equally.) Sebastian works in tandem with Lovejoy, the moral magistrate, and uses his privilege to open doors and interview whomever the case demands. Hero, on the other hand, works in what we’d understand as a journalistic setting, her articles bringing light to society’s most vulnerable, especially women and children. In the course of her work, she often encounters a figure who connects with Sebastian’s investigations. It is the turning-point to the mystery and one of my favourite moments in each of Harris’s St. Cyr mysteries.

The St. Cyr mysteries aren’t puzzles to be solved by cool minds, but injustices to be corrected, lives redeemed by two characters who welcome how their society’s cruelty brings out the best in them, in compassion and care. Sebastian and Hero are, yes, uber-smart, but what I love about them most is how they’re moved by the plight of the people they encounter. In this case, as in the previous ones, venality, brutality, ruthlessness, and exploitation are at the core of what Sebastian and Hero expose. But so are ethical figures, who work for right and fairness, such as Lovejoy, or the retired watchman, Ben Carter, the Reverend York, or the surgeon Salter; as their own lives are linked by sympathy to the narratives they uncover, Sebastian and Hero’s family grows. As a romance reader, I hope, with every book, Sebastian and Hero will have another baby. This is what comes of the romance’s baby-filled epilogue! But Harris offered more unique additions to the Family Devlin, but additions there be. 😉 Most importantly, a wonderful addition to what is a beloved, anticipated series. I have Miss Austen’s complete agreement on this volume providing “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.

C. S. Harris’s What the Devil Knows is published by Berkley. It is released today, April 6th, and you too may enjoy its many readerly pleasures by finding it (and the previous titles because the series is worth reading as a whole) at your preferred vendors. I received an e-ARC, from Berkley, via Netgalley.

In 1811, two families in the Wapping area of London were viciously and brutally murdered, including an infant boy. The case became known as the Ratcliffe Highway murders and the man arrested as a suspect hanged himself before he even had a hearing. Since the murders ceased, all of London believed the suicide suspect to have been the rightful killer. However, three years later, a magistrate in the same area and a seaman were murdered in the same way as the victims in the Ratcliffe Highway murders. Sebastian St. Cyr is asked to help investigate by Sir Henry Lovejoy, one of the London Bow Street magistrates and a close friend. The more Sebastian probes, the more he’s at risk and even he can’t ignore that the murders are probably connected.

This story took some time to develop because in order to make sense of the current murders, the events from three years ago required deeper analysis. It has so many angles and seedy characters that it was often difficult to find clarity. I’m used to Sebastian finding corrupt government officials with a hand in the case to some degree but the depth and breadth of this one was difficult to absorb. Even I wanted him to walk away from this one.

Sebastian’s wife, Hero, also plays a substantive role here, too, as she continues her research into the plight of the impoverished of the city and government’s role in putting and keeping them there. But this time danger reaches their doorstep, which added a truly sinister element to the story. Of course, father-in-law Jarvis is also in the mix and there are surprises there, too. I enjoyed the story, especially since the Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811 was a true event on which this is based. The true crime element made this a more interesting reading experience. Still loving this extraordinary series.