I do love a good historical mystery and this series is proving to be one of the most reliable. It's a bit darker then my usual reads without all the cozy vibes and quirky characters. Instead the book is seriously atmospheric and the characters dip in and out of some of the most dangerous areas of London to investigate some pretty grisly crimes. Both Sebastian and his wife, Hero are likable and sympathetic though both are familiar and deal in some of the darker areas of London. From government corruption on the highest level to most basic mugging this book has a bit of everything. Thankfully while the themes are darker then my normal reading and the crimes are more brutal Harris never goes into gory detail just for goriness which I really appreciate.

This is not a fast read. While the first murder does happen within the first chapter it takes a lot of investigating for things to unravel. That being said this isn't a slow read either. A little bit more is revealed on each page. Sebastian learns a little bit more or a new facet is revealed or a new theory is put out. Pacing-wise this reminds me a bit of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series which also does an excellent job of walking the line between detailed and atmospheric without diving into info dump.

I really enjoyed this book and I love how Harris lets the world and the mystery slowly evolve. This is one of those series that does get better the more you read it. The characters are complicated and I feel like I've gotten to understand them a little bit better with each book. I've only read the most recent few but I am looking forward to going back to the beginning and reading.

C.S. Harris revisits the Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811 in What the Devil Knows. John Williams was accused of the murder of the Marr and Williamson families but hung himself before he could be put on trial. The case was closed, but in 1814 Sir Edwin Pymm was murdered in the same fashion and Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin, has been called on to investigate. The more he pursues the matter, the more he is convinced of Williams’ innocence. Several days later a second magistrate is murdered in the same manner. Both men were involved in the licensing of publicans and extorted these barkeeps to retain their licenses. Devlin is sure that these murders are tied to the Ratcliffe murders but struggles to find a connection. As he tries to contact past witnesses and those involved in the investigation, he finds that a number of them have died, often stabbed in the back. As he gets closer to the solution, Devlin’s own family is put in the killer’s sights.

Harris takes you from the homes of London’s elite to areas of the city where life is a matter of survival. Devlin’s wife Hero writes articles that exposes the needs of the people. Her look at the plight of London’s orphans and the conditions in the workhouses is heart-breaking. She is not afraid to enter the less reputable sections of the city if it means helping Devlin. Her Father, Lord Jarvis, is a powerful man in London politics and opposes Devlin’s investigations. Devlin, however, has a sense of justice that will not allow him to give up. He is a strong character who has grown through Harris’ series. Fans of historical mysteries will be enthralled by her story. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing this book for my review.

What the Devil Knows by C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #16) 4 stars

In 1811, the were a series of horrible murders that the press called the "Ratcliffe Highway Murders". Several entire households were murdered,; a suspect was arrested and "committed"suicide while in custody. It is anow 1814 and another murder has been committed with the same MO as the "Ratcliffe Highway Murders". Sir Henry Lovejoy asks Sebastian St. Cyr to look at the recent murder. The first question that came to mind is whether the authorities arrested the wrong man and allowed the real killer to escape. The body count increases and Sebastian St. Cyr has to weave his way through a maze of secrets and seemingly unconnected individuals to reach the solution. The clues lead him to investigate the original "Ratcliffe Highway Murders" - Hunting through ton parties and poor neighborhoods, can he figure out the connections before it's too late?

This is book number 196 and the series is still going strong. The investigation will hinge on the gathering of information and the actions of villains who fear losing their influence and wealth. This case will also endanger his life and the lives of this family and like any man pushed too far, he can and will protect those he loves with deadly force. There is the ongoing mystery of Sebastian's parentage that has run throughout the series and it does not appear to be solved anytime soon. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC.

What the Devil Knows is the 16th Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by C. S. Harris. Due out 6th April 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is consistently one of my very favorite ongoing historical mystery series and they always go directly to the top of my TBR list when they come out. The author is adept at writing tightly plotted intelligent mysteries full of pathos and interesting characters from all social strata of Regency London (and environs). All the action occurs against a backdrop of real and fictional political machinations and corrupt dealings alongside consistently believable and well engineered denouements and resolutions.

I love seeing Hero, her husband Sebastian, manservant Calhoun, and even their carriage tiger, Tom interacting and growing together along with the newest scion of the family tree, young Simon. Although it's the latest of 16 books in the series, it works quite well as a standalone and new readers won't have any trouble following the story. There are developments over the length of the series, so they do read better in order; but it's not absolutely necessary.

Five stars, a worthy addition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Regency crime and more!

The massacre of a family, the untimely suicide of the main suspect, the death of a despicable magistrate, mutineers, blatant corruption concerning licences and taxes for pubs in the East End. The pressure by Breweries for publicans to only buy from certain breweries under threat of harm to them or their loved ones. There’s a veritable plague of disorder. Viscount Sebastian St. Cyr is caked to assist and as his investigation moves forward greed, graft and extortion are a stench in his nostrils. The Home Secretary, Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth, has asked Sir Henry Lovejoy, a Bow Street magistrate and friend to Sebastian to oversee the investigation. Surgeon Paul Gibson of course becomes engaged in looking at the cause of some of the deaths.
For unknown reasons (and cynically, of course!) Hero’s father Lord Jarvis is involved, but how is the question. Lord Jarvis is a slippery character, Machiavellian. But oftentimes his actions end up placing his daughter in danger. And now a new chapter is opening in his life—or an old one continuing. As always Hero and his relationship is interesting.
An ongoing thread, the questions around Sebastian's mother ebb and flow throughout.
A concisely constructed regency mystery that just kept on giving right up until the last word on the page.
Once again I was left with a few loose ends and questions, particularly the last glimpse of Sebastian St. Cyr as he enters his front door. I just knew THAT was going to happen. How could it not?
The author's notes give a fine rundown on the fact and fiction in this tale along with a last macabre observation.

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This sixteenth book in C.S Harris’ series of historical mysteries featuring aristocratic sleuth Sebastian St. Cyr is an entertaining page-turner which sees Sebastian investigating a number of particularly gruesome murders in and around London’s East End.  As always with these books, the historical background is fascinating and incredibly well researched (it’s always worth reading the Author’s Note at the end; not only will you learn new things, you’ll learn just how skilfully Ms. Harris incorporates actual historical events into her stories), and the mystery is well-paced, with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings.

At the beginning of What the Devil Knows, Sebastian is called in by his friend, Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy, to help investigate the murder of Shadwell magistrate, Sir Edwin Pym, whose body was found in a dank alleyway in Wapping with his head smashed in and his throat slit from ear to ear.  Sebastian and Lovejoy are immediately reminded of the brutal slayings, three years earlier, of two families known as the Ratcliffe Highway Murders.  A linen draper and a publican were the seemingly unconnected victims and although a man was arrested for the crime, he was found hanged in his prison cell the day before his trial and the investigation was closed.  There were whispers at the time that the magistrates – of whom Pym was one - were too eager to blame a conveniently dead man, but the murders ceased and eventually, the gossip died down.  But Pym and another man – a seaman named Hugo Reeves - who was murdered some ten days earlier, were killed in exactly the same way as the Ratcliffe Highway victims – and Sebastian and Lovejoy can’t help but wonder if they are the work of the copyist or an accomplice… or if they’re the work of the person responsible for the earlier murders, who managed to escape justice three years earlier.

After making a few inquiries and observations of his own, it doesn’t take long for Sebastian to become fairly sure that John Williams, the supposed culprit who hanged himself, was not only not guilty of the original murders, but that he was framed for them, and when another magistrate  – Nathan Cockerwell  from Middlesex – is found dead just days later, his head bashed in and his throat slit, Sebastian is more sure than ever that the two sets of murders are somehow connected.  Discovering that both Pym and Cockerwell were part of an alliance between corrupt government officials and some of the city’s richest, most powerful brewers, who forced public houses to purchase their beer and spirits from them and would put them out of business if they refused, Sebastian slowly starts to piece together a bigger picture and to draw together the links between the three-year-old murders and the more recent deaths of Reeves, Pym and Cockerwell.

The story that follows is fast-moving and satisfyingly complex, as Sebastian moves from suspect to suspect, many of whom have much to hide and are rarely forthcoming.  As always, the author skilfully incorporates some of the lesser-known histories of London into her plot, and the way Sebastian pieces together all the snippets of information - and weeds out the lies he’s fed along the way – is superbly done, with lots of character interaction, investigative pondering and insightful observation about the huge disparity that existed between the haves and have-nots, and the injustices perpetrated on the lower echelons of society by greedy public officials and institutions that were supposed to exist for the betterment of all, not just a self-serving few.

Sebastian continues to be a compelling, sympathetic character, and one of the things I so enjoy about this series is watching him grow and change from the hot-headed younger man who was careless of his own safety to a devoted husband and father, a truly and deeply compassionate man who believes strongly in justice and in using his position and abilities to speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves.  His wife, Hero – daughter of the devious, formidable Lord Jarvis  – shares his interests and convictions; she is an investigative journalist who writes about what life is really like for London’s poor and less fortunate, and I love how in-tune they are and the way they are each other’s staunch support.  She has a relatively small part to play in this story, but her discoveries pack a considerable emotional punch as she interacts with young women making a living on the streets, telling stories about their lives and experiences that are far from pretty.

As with the last few books in the series, the standalone mystery takes precedence,  so a reader new to it could jump in here and not feel as though they’re missing anything.  This has been the case with the last couple of books; the long-running storylines concerning Sebastian’s search for the truth about his heritage – and particularly his search for his mother - his relationship with his father, and the machinations of the Machiavellian Lord Jarvis are present, but are simmering along on the back-burner.  Sebastian learns that his mother has been living in Paris, but that she’s recently removed to Vienna – where European heads of state are gathering to put “the world back together after the defeat of that Corsican upstart” – under an assumed name, but has no idea why; Jarvis’ relationship with the cunning and mercenary Victoria Hart-Davis (were ever two villainous characters so well suited to each other?) progresses, and changes are afoot in Sebastian’s household.  As the timeline of the series inches closer to Napoléon’s escape from Elba and to Waterloo, I become more and more intrigued as to what lies in store for Sebastian – and I certainly plan on sticking around to find out.

What the Devil Knows is another strong instalment in the Sebastian St. Cyr series.  The mystery is gripping and tightly-written and the author’s descriptive prose is – as always – so wonderfully evocative that the reader can feel the dampness of the creeping fog , see the crowded tap-rooms and hear the gulls screeching overhead around the docks.  Why is it not a DIK?  Simply because I’m starting to feel the need for a bit more movement on issues surrounding Sebastian’s history; this seems to have been pushed aside in the last few books in the series – and while I can sort of understand the author wishing to keep this particular mystery going a bit longer as she obviously has more stories to tell, cynical me can’t help but see the drawing out of it as a delaying tactic.

But don’t let that put you off; this series is one of the best (if not THE best) historical mystery series around, and What the Devil Knows is another fantastic instalment.

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C.S. Harris's long-running historical mystery series, set in Regency England and starring the enigmatic viscount turned detective Sebastian St. Cyr, has long been a favorite of mine. They're rarely flashy, but always solidly reliable, delivering on mystery, characters, and historical richness. Harris relies on real events of the historical record to inspire and inform her plots, which she then fleshes out with satisfyingly paced mystery plots and diverse, engaging casts of characters. (For new readers - you could totally read this as a standalone without problem, but it would spoil you for some character development from the beginning of the series, and frankly, if you'd like this one, you'll like the previous 15, so you might as well start at the beginning!)

This latest entry into the series, What the Devil Knows, is no exception. It might not set the Thames on fire, as it were, but it's solid, it's what I expected - no more, no less. The story is based on the real life Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811; Sebastian once again finds himself investigating a series of killings that draw out all his rage at the immense power and wealth disparity between London's social strata. This particular mystery feels a little more detached, in some ways, than earlier books in the series; there's a little touch of going through the motions, which I suspect is due in part to the relative lack of momentum in Sebastian's ongoing personal plot, his struggle to determine his true paternity. Added to this is the under-utilization of some of his long-standing supporting characters (Paul Gibson, you are missed), and a general softening of Hero as a character over the last several volumes, and it does weaken things a bit. (At #16 in a series, it's not surprising, and also seems like Harris might realize the problem, since this story saw the addition of a couple of new recurring characters.) But it's still a good historical mystery, if not a great Sebastian St. Cyr book, and the highest praise I can really give a whodunnit - while I was able to solve some pieces as I went along, it kept me guessing up to the last minute.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance review copy!

CW: This is a dark series about murder, so expect all sorts of violence, assault, and death, but I just wanted to make a particular note warning about brutal infanticide and suicide.

Can't believe I'm saying this, but this series is starting to drag (unfortunately this happens to most long-running series but I was hoping this would escape the curse!). I still like the relationship bits between Sebastian and Hero,

Long before Victorian London had Jack the Ripper, Regency London had the Ratcliffe Highway murders. Two families, seven people including a 3-month-old baby were brutally murdered. The culprit was caught and he hung himself in his jail cell. Three years later there is another murder that is the same as those from Ratcliffe Highway – and then another, and then another. Did they get the wrong murderer three years ago? Did that murderer have a partner who is now killing again? Is it a copyist who is doing the murders? Sebastian has a very dangerous task ahead of him, but he must sort out all of the players and their various roles from three-years ago and now.

When the body of Sir Edward Pym is found in a filthy alley where his throat had been cut and his head bashed in, Sir Henry Lovejoy, a Bow Street Magistrate, immediately seeks the aid of his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. Edward Pym was one of the magistrates responsible for the solution to the Ratcliffe Highway murders. As Devlin investigates, he discovers that there was another recent murder that was committed in the same manner. Devlin is pretty sure that the current murders are related to those of three-years ago – and after Mr. Nathan Cockerwell, another magistrate, is found murdered in the same manner, Devlin is positive they have to be connected.

There are many factions at work and some very powerful people want things their own way. Are they involved in both sets of crimes? With so many undercurrents and factions involved, it is like a bowl of spaghetti for Devlin to unravel. So many innocent victims – so many guilty victims – what a tangled web.

Many other things are going on in Devlin’s life as well – some are tangentially related to the case and some are not. Devlin gets some new information on his missing mother’s whereabouts; Hero and Simon are in danger when someone breaks into their home; Jarvis makes a huge announcement; There is a new addition (or two) to the St. Cyr family. I’m very curious to see what is going to happen with Mrs. Victoria Hart-Davis and I wonder if Jarvis will survive it.

This is a really exciting read and I couldn’t put it down. The writing, as always was excellently done, the pacing was perfect and the mystery was riveting. Just when you think you are sure you know what happened – a new fact drops in your lap or the investigation heads off in a different direction.

I definitely recommend this book – and this series – and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's 1814 and Sebastian St Cyr, aka Viscount Devlin, finds himself chasing and being chased by a villain who is copy catting the Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811. Or is he? St Cyr, a wealthy man who works as an ace investigator, is called in when Sir Edwin Pym, who investigated the original case, is murdered in the same way. So did John Williams, who was charged but killed himself, do the evil deeds or not? This takes St Cyr to places he didn't expect to go to hunt for a vicious killer. He's an interesting character who occasionally flashes a humorous bent and has an intriguing relationship with his love interest Hero. The mystery is twisty but I enjoyed this also for the atmospherics. I found myself looking for additional info on the Ratcliffe case and note that several of the characters here were real people, which is always a plus for me. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I read this as a standalone and was happy with it- and now will look for more from Harris.

What the Devil Knows had more of an aching sadness than some other books in the series. The mystery itself had layers upon layers of abuse and violence. But as always, the historical aspects were extremely well researched and Sebastian and Hero’s relationship is lovely. Their thoughtful interactions as they try to solve the murders are just so sweet.

Once again we follow Sebastian as he moves through the underbelly of London seeking The Who and the Why. Two important men has been killed and the past and the present seem to be colliding. Great addition to series. Other important plot points also arrive as the story continues.

Another wonderful instalment in Harris' long-running Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series! While some series start to fall into a rut after this many instalments, Harris continues to keep thing fresh, giving readers another satisfying and suspenseful whodunit. I do like a good mystery to ponder over, and Harris really delivers with this one! Based on the Ratcliffe Highway murders - which I admit I knew nothing about before reading this book - Sebastian stirs up trouble while he investigates a growing number of recent murders and looks for possible connections to horrific murders that occurred three years earlier. Harris does her research and is able to present a realistic picture of the time period, while seamlessly blending fact with fiction. For those of you not familiar with the author or the series, this not light fluff escapism reading. With themes of social injustice, greed, corruption and revenge, there is a lot of substance to this story. Between the author notes at the end and the interviews Hero (Sebastian's wife) conducts with the less fortunate members of society, I always come away from these stories with a little more knowledge about England of the time period.

Overall, another wonderfully atmospheric murder mystery set in Regency England.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars; I will be providing a full length review of the audio version of this book as soon as it appears at AudioGals.net and will update this field and the links.

I LOVE SEBASTIAN ST. CYR.

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of reading the first (for me) of the many books in this wonderful historical thriller series. So when I had a chance to request a pre-release copy of this one, I wasted no time doing so. And once again, I loved it - this coming from someone who isn't fond of history in any format.

What I am fond of, though, is a great story and intriguing characters - no matter what the time period. And there's no shortage of both here, from gruesome murders to wealthy investigator Sebastian St. Cyr, a.k.a. Viscount Devlin, Earl of Hendon and his delightful and competent in her own right wife, Hero.

The year is 1814, and Sebastian, who has been trying to find the mother he was told had died, has traced a woman he believes is her to Vienna (at a time when Napoleon had just been defeated and European bigwigs are meeting in the city to agree on a peace plan going forward). But he's interrupted when he's called to the scene of a back-alley murder - one that's eerily similar to two murders not long ago. But a man was convicted of those two murders and subsequently hanged himself while in jail, so clearly, he cannot have committed this latest one. Meantime, Hero is busy working on a story about the lives of the very young prostitutes who ply their trade in the streets just to survive - a sad but common occurrence back in the day.

From the beginning, Sebastian suspects all the murders are somehow connected; but finding proof - if there is any - is quite another matter. He also suspects that the young man convicted of the two murders is innocent; but here, too, evidence proving that to be true is elusive. The chase takes him from the homes of the wealthy (some of whom are his own relatives) to some of London's seediest and most dangerous places. And clearly, there are forces that will stop at nothing - even bringing harm to Sebastian and his family - to stop him from further investigation.

It is, all told, a thoroughly researched, engrossing tale that's tied to real places and events, a delight to read and a highly recommended book (and series). Many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Sebastian St. Cyr is a nobleman turned investigator. He is called upon by his friend to investigate a brutal murder that has all the makings of earlier crimes that occurred three years before. What was thought to be a closed case turns out to be otherwise. That perhaps an innocent man went to prison for crimes that he didn’t commit. Was he framed? And to what extent did government corruption play a role?

Crafted in the same vein as Sherlock Holmes, What the Devil Knows is a classic whodunnit where the reader joins Sebastian in the investigation process — interviews with witnesses, crime scene investigations, and attending autopsy examinations. It is a solid read with a well developed plot that the reader can follow and gather clues.

What the Devil Knows was an enjoyable novel. However, I felt as though there was a slight language barrier. Old English terminology coupled with the vernacular of that period tested my enjoyment. And being that this novel is the 16th installment, a new reader like myself may find the character development lacking. But, that lack of development could be attributed to the fact that the main characters have already been established in the earlier novels.

Overall, What the Devil Knows was a satisfying novel and a good fit for fans of historical fiction mixed with mystery. I’ve rated it three likable stars.

I received a digital ARC from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Review is scheduled to post to my blog on April 6, 2021 as part of a book tour. Reviews will cross post to my social media sites that same day.

This series written by C. S. Harris has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is often called in to help Sir Henry Lovejoy of the Bow Street Public Office when a case involves, or has the potential to involve, members of the nobility or the royal family. Frequently those involved in the crime were not members of those groups themselves but had business dealings which put them into contact with those above their station. The heir of an Earl can open many doors unavailable to a mere magistrate. This current murder scene quickly begins to bring back memories of similar killings three years in the past. How could they be committed by the man who hanged himself in prison rather than stand trial for his crimes?

As is usual in a C. S. Harris novel the atmosphere of Wapping, the section of London where the murder takes place, is written to great advantage. The social and economic conditions have a direct consequence in how and why the murder was committed. I know that in my head, but I still begin to suffer from an overabundance of descriptions regarding the human condition when reading a story from this series. Plus one of the victims is of a sort that I try very, very hard not to include in my fiction reading so I had some problems with totally enjoying this book. But otherwise, all the good characters are back from previous novels and the solution to this crime is truly one I would probably never have figured out. I'm wondering now if there will be a trip to Paris in the near future for this fictional family. If so, I'm sure I will travel right along with them. Make sure to read the Author's Note at the end of the book, it's just packed with information.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-galley of this book.

I have long read this series, and there has never been a slump in the quality - and this one is no different! Great, atmospheric writing, gothic mystery set in regency London with a super-attractive lord playing detective (what's not to like?!) LOVE THIS SERIES!!!

I glommed this series last year and don’t regret a minute of my time spent reading. As with any series, I recommend reading in order because there are ongoing family and relationship dynamics, but I do think you can read this as a stand-alone and not be super lost.

What the Devil Knows begins with the murder of a local magistrate which is eerily similar to the gruesome murders of several years prior. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, heir to the Earl of Hendon, is called upon once again by Sir Henry Lovejoy to investigate and find the murderer before terror grips London once again.

Devlin is by now an old hand at murder investigations and uses his keen senses and insights to go where he needs to go, ask the questions that need to be asked, and figure out the puzzle of how the Ratcliffe murders of several years ago and the current victims all fit together. He is surrounded by a wonderful cast of supporting characters, my favorite being his wife Hero.

This is a suspenseful read, very well researched and the concise, tightly paced chapters keep the story moving at a steady clip. I never for a minute wanted to put this book down. The plot is complicated, but once all the plot threads started to come together it began to make sense and I couldn’t help but furiously flip pages to reach the conclusion. Very well done.

I highly, highly recommend this series for fans of this genre. I look forward to the next installment.

Sebastian St. Cyr and his wife Hero are two of my favorite people in the mystery world. Every mystery is intriguing, and this is another exciting edition in the series. While Hero is trying to save the world, Sebastian is trying to clear an innocent man who was imprisoned for committing violent crimes. He died in his cell with questions of his guilt. A similar murder occurs, and Viscount Devlin dives right into the action.