The marriage of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane is approaching. But at their first public engagement, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a body is discovered. Dr. Hosack, head of the American delegation asks Wrexford to investigate. But will they be able to tell friend from foe.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Plant secrets to kill for!

The last thing you expect to come upon at an “ elegantly civilized…international symposium of botany scholars and wealthy patrons of science” with leading scientific minds at the Royal Botanic Gardens, is a body! Not just any body, but that of visiting scientist, Josiah Becton! And just as that poor man is in the conservatory breathing in the ambient, rich fragrances, “The essence of life.” Ironic!
Here’s the thing. This is the first grand social event as Wrexham’s future countess, Lady Charlotte Sloane, already anxious, is slated to attend. A death might calm her nerves, but her involvement with it might not endear herself to high society,
Although, as McLellan, that is Mac, their housekeeper cum lady’s maid points out, “ As a married lady—and one with a high-ranking title—you’ll merely be considered eccentric when you break the rules, not scandalous.”
Scandalous or not, neither the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte (secretly, the famed satirist A.J. Quill) will hold back when they realise that what seems to be a heart attack, could be murder. Any investigation might endanger their family, including the weasels, and that a prime candidate for evil deeds Justinian DeVere is back in the country, attending this symposium. What they don’t realize they’ve stumbled upon is a matter that will affects nations.
Add to this Charlotte’s reunion with her family, the arrival of an old friend from Rome, and the rumours of a possible amazing botanical medical breakthrough. This is a riveting read!
Charlotte is attuned to Wrexford, is certain this is the step she wishes to take, but still questions around her future as A.J. Quill trouble her.
The weasels, Raven and Hawk, are developing into interesting young men. The cool Wrexham is assuming more warmth, flagging to a dangerous heat when fears for his rather unusual bride-to-be. Including the ready made family he’s taking on, along of course with all his other friends that have mostly come his way since he and Charlotte (Charlie) first bumped shoulders. I love the Charlie side of Charlotte when she lets that persona rip.
I do love the banter between Wrexham and the Bow street Runner Griffon, especially around eating.
Atmospheric, believable and compelling! I couldn’t put this down!

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Murder At The Royal Botanic Gardens is the fifth book in the Wrexford and Sloane series by Andrea Penrose.

The wedding of Lady Charlotte and Earl of Wrexford is just weeks away, and there are last-minute tasks to be taken care of. But Wrexford has received an invitation from the Royal Society to attend a symposium they are sponsoring at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Heading the meeting will be Dr. Becton, an American scientist, presenting his paper on a medical breakthrough that may end up saving lives all over the world.

When Dr. Becton is found dead in one of the gardens, his friend Dr. Hosack asks Wrexford to check the body of Becton. The last thing Wrexford wants to do is get involved in an investigation that might interfere with his and Charlotte’s wedding. He reluctantly agrees when he finds a suspicious white powder on Becton’s lips. This decision is reinforced when Wrexford learns that Raven hid in some nearby plants in one of Charlotte’s wards. Plus, someone who nearly caused Charlotte’s death earlier has issued a threat on the lives of Raven and Hawk.

Charlotte and Wrexford will be looking into several suspects. These involve an American Naval officer and a couple of unscrupulous shipping companies. Charlotte will have to don her street-urchin clothes, and Raven and Hawk will engage their friends to go undercover to find the killer. Even Charlotte’s housekeeper is involved in the thrilling ending.

Besides her wedding and the investigation, Charlotte is looking forward with mixed emotions to meeting with her estranged brother. She hasn’t had contact with her family since her first marriage, except for Aunt Allison.

This series is one of my favorite historical mysteries. The stories are well-written, and there were plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing until the end of the book as to who the killer was. The characters are all excellent and believable. I enjoy the banter between Charlotte and Wrexford when she feels that Wrexford is too protective. As always, Raven and Hawk are a delight. I also appreciated the Authors Notes which proved helpful in understanding the book’s setting.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this informative and exciting series.

Andrea Penrose is a wonderful author. She incorporates the then current events, language, formality and precision of the times into believable characters. Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens is no exception.

For a portion of the story Charlotte seemed to be abandoning her intestinal fortitude. Her fierceness vanished. As the story developed, her old pluck returned, governed by her emotional attachments. In all, the story was true to the series and well done.

The story itself was unique in that the twists and turns were not predictable which made for difficulty in solving the crime, even for the characters. More fun, the true nature of the crime was not clear until the end – and excellent and unique approach.

Great story, great read. Highly recommend.

Yea! My favorite couple and their unusual friends and family are back. Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford are getting married shortly. In order to aid her way back into society, they are attending some functions that are more in the scientific vein, including an international symposium at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Of course, these two being these two, a body is found. Unfortunately, it is one of the key speakers, who was to discuss a significant medical discovery. As with the other books in this series, Charlotte and Wrex end up in the middle of a murder investigation. Murder just seem to follow these two, so much so especially in this book, that they ought to hang out a sign saying "Murders R Us". Seriously, this is another great addition to this series. It is fast paced, full of intrigue that keeps the reader guessing what will happen next. Possible suspects are introduced throughout the book, keeping the reader guessing " whodunit".and keeps you guessing until the very end. Of course, the adorable " Weasels" and their crew of friends are back. They add so much to these tales, that I don't think they would be as entertaining without them. I understand that there are more Sloan and Wrexford tales coming. Soon, I hope. These are the best!

I love a good historical mystery with a bit of romance and this satisfied my itch! Would recommend to anyone who likes the Veronica Speedwell mysteries or the lady Darby ones

Wedding bells are not too far away fro Lady Charlotte and Wrexford and she is in a constant whirl of activity leading up to the big event. They decide to attend a soiree at the Royal Botanic Gardens with the intention of letting the Ton get to know Lady Charlotte. A few lectures, pleasant conversation, lots of botanists and flora and fauna....what could possibly go wrong? Well, Charlotte and Wrexford tend to be murder magnets and this time is no exception. One of the botanists, Mr. Becton, will be leaving the event horizontally - he's been murdered and plants are a major factor. Will Lady Charlotte (soon to be a Countess) be seen by the Ton in terms of scandal when she investigates or will she be seen as merely an eccentric? Neither will stop this wonderful investigating team from following red herrings, tangled threads and clues in abundance to track down the killer. The pace is leisurely but necessary to set the stage and meet the players. I was so immersed in the puzzle that I stayed up late for just one more chapter - the sign of a great read.
If you enjoy historical mysteries set in Regency England, some romance and a vivid setting and some humor, this might be a series you need to add to your TBR pile. Best read in order to get the most out of the relationships between Charlotte and Wrexford, The Weasels, Mac and various other recurring characters. I knew this was going to be a series not to be missed as soon as I finished the first book.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Charlotte and The Earl of Wrexford are getting married; so, no, thank you, they won’t be solving the latest murder to happen, this one at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Of course that changes he minute they learn that Hawk, one of Charlotte’s wards, was in the garden at the time and barely missed seeing the murderer. And so begins the fifth in the Wrexler and Sloane Regency Period mystery series.

Charlotte and the Earl are trying to balance multiple issues. There’s planning for the wedding, which is no small task; then there’s introducing Charlotte to High Society since she will become a member as Countess once she marries the Earl. Add that to Charlotte's already clandestine activities of satirical cartoon creator, A. J. Quill, her occasional masquerading as a street urchin to solve crimes, the truth behind the backgrounds of her wards Raven and Hawk, and the reappearance of the man who supported a risky experiment which almost killed Charlotte and resulted in the death of his niece and you have moany of the threads that make up this latest novel.

As Charlotte and the Earl get drawn into the mystery, it gets more complicated. It seems no one and nothing is quite what it seems, and every time they think they have a solution, something happens to turn the problem on its ear. Is the American Naval officer really as evil as he appears? Is Charlotte’s old friend from her days spent in Rome, in a totally different life, trustworthy? These are just a few of the issues put in front of the reader who needs to sort out clues from red herrings. The twists and turns in the story begin early and continue throughout the story, with the biggest twist coming at the end and changing how the entire puzzle needs to be considered.

Meanwhile, on the personal side of things, Charlotte is managing the elegant life that will be required of her as a countess, but having serious questions about how it will change her. She doesn’t want to give up her work as a satirist calling attention to the foibles of the upper class. She believes the Earl when he says he will accept whatever activities she chooses, but is still acutely aware that in she, as all other women in the Regency time period, will legally be considered more as a piece of property owned by Wrexford, at his whim in terms of what she is allowed to do.

Oh, and one more thing, Charlotte has been estranged from her family for years, since she eloped with an unsuitable young man and moved to Rome. His death did not bring about any reconciliation with her family and her relationship with her father worsened in a previous book. Now her brother has reached out to try and reconcile with her, something she wants as well. But will he accept her for who she is?

The book provides the reader with an excellent window into some of the social issues of the Regency period while offering a heroine who is an independent woman who chaffs at the strictures of the period. The author, Andrea Penrose, has done excellent, in-depth research and provides some interesting facts regarding medical practices and the start of the development of a much needed treatment for malaria.

This is one of the most interesting, well researched Regency mystery series currently being written. It combines an interesting storyline development with a complex mystery that moves at an even pace. Along with the plotting, relationships with secondary characters who have been fully fleshed out and are intriguing on their own continue to be explored and expanded in interesting and compelling ways. The book is filled with characters the reader might like to know and would like to see succeed in numerous situations that are currently in various states of flux.

While I highly recommend this book to anyone, readers who enjoy series books will enjoy it even more if they read the series in order as the development of the characters and their relationships are better experienced as they happen. For other readers, the mystery is contained within this book, well plotted and executed.

My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy for this review. The opinions stated here are strictly my own.

Murder at the Royal Botanic Garden is the 5th book in the Wrexford and Sloane series and one of my favorite series! Lots of things have happened since the first book in the series! Charlotte Sloane is trying to get more comfortable in her new roll (though it's not really new, but I can't say why) and she is really hoping that there will be no more murders but such is not her luck when a botanist that had a medical cure is killed for greed. Many think it was just his heart giving out but Wrexford and Sloane no it's not, they try staying out of things but their since of justice was to strong to ignore. Getting themselves in to trouble a few times as well as Tyler Lord Wrexford's butler and so there was a few minutes of holding my breathe as I read in hopes that all would be well! Really really enjoyed this one!! Now this had a wrap up to the series feel but I really hope it wasn't!!! Highly recommend to historical mystery lovers!

While planning their wedding, the Earl and Lady Charlotte are also involved in a murder investigation.

Silly me stupidly thought I just needed to read the first book to grasp the essential lines of the characters. And I ended reading the series.

On the eve of their wedding, the last find Charlotte and Wrexford need is a body. But, it seems they can’t take a step without stepping on one. So here they are, running everywhere looking for clues and culprits and dodging returning enemies’ taunts for blows.
Wrexford is still the wall who protects everyone, in his enclosure he assures they are all well while Charlotte is the glue between them all.
The love he now feels for Charlotte and the weasels (her wards) makes him even more protective and scared for them as he knows he can’t clip their wings even if it will make him feel better.
While Charlotte is more at loss, fretting about who she is and wants to continue to be. She knows Wrexford will never hinder herself to be someone else. They might butt heads but he will always listen to her, and accept her choices.
Still by becoming a countess, she is stepping into a vipers nest, and will have to be even more cautious when navigating the muddy waters of the Beau Monde.
Yet whatever, one thing is certain and will never change, Wrexford is her rock, their rock to all of them.
Hawk and Raven, Charlotte and now Wrexford young charges, are like illusionists, one moment street urchins, then a lady’s ward. Sailing the different shores with near to no struggles.
Sheffield, Wrexford long time friend, seems to have found his calling but still doubts about the suitability of his new skin.

How I loved the double entendres at Charlotte’s reuniting diner with her brother. So humorous when you know the characters and their shared past.

The case is much complex and has us running with them in circle, more lost than geared as the hints pull in every directions. Luckily for them, heaven seems on their side.
4.5 stars

 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Both the gardens and the docks are meticulously recreated on the page so you are immersed. The suspects bring about many twists in the story and keep the pacing moving along.

The killer confrontation/reveal is an exciting race with danger and a daring attempt to catch the killer. The climax is well written and quite tense and lives up to the established high bar set by previous books in the series. The wrapup is the wedding and is delightful.

There are so many aspects to this book that the pages fly by. The mystery is an exciting race to bring justice as well as save lives with recovering the medical discovery. The killer was a surprise as there were many twists surrounding the suspects. Wrex and Charlotte are realistic in their approaching joining their lives. Their balanced relationship is touching and heartwarming. Raven and Hawk being accepted by Wrex and his including them in his life is equally touching. The wedding at the end isn't to be missed for fans.

I really enjoyed having the opportunity to read this book. This book took me away to another world, one in which I could forget the everyday reality and just relax. It moves along at a really great pace being not too fast nor too slow. The characters are amazing and you feel like you know them. You cannot help but fall in love with them. This is a must read book that needs to be on your list of books to read, you will not be sorry that you did.

I’m a very big fan of Andrea Penrose’s Regency mystery series featuring the attractive and brilliant chemist, the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane who has not only survived living in poverty in London but devised a way to thrive by drawing satirical prints of members of the aristocracy and other figures deserving of ridicule. She’s also taken in two young street urchins who help her research her topics for satire. Now that she’s paired up with Wrexford, they can use their contacts high and low to investigate gruesome murders.

This current mystery is just as involving and interesting as the earlier books in the series. There’s a mix of interesting science and history along with enjoyable secondary characters. I stayed up late to finish the book as I just couldn’t put it down. I heartily recommend the entire series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I love this series because of the unique characters, their myriad backgrounds, how they came together, and how their relationships have developed – not to mention the great mysteries they solve. Your enjoyment of this book, and this series, would be enhanced, I believe, if you read at least the first book in the series first. Our characters have grown and evolved so much since that first book – and it would help you to know where they all began. I’ve read and loved each of the books in the series and I’ve loved how the characters have grown.

The setup for the mystery and investigation takes a little while, and to some, it might seem to be a bit too slow-paced at first. However, I thought it was perfect because all of the characters had to be introduced, the crime had to occur, the background set, etc. so the investigation could really take off. This one was a real doozie – there were red herrings aplenty, co-conspirators within co-conspirators, and motives within motives. You’ll definitely not figure this one out until the end. There are clues, but picking them out and putting them together is best left to the experts – Wrexford and Sloane.

Wrexford and Charlotte are looking forward to their wedding in less than a month and they are choosing their social engagements very carefully. The purpose of those social engagements is to ease Charlotte into the ton before she becomes a countess. Charlotte is already Lady Charlotte, but with her history, they’ll have to be very astute in how they answer questions and gain acceptance. That is doubly true when it comes to explaining the existence of the Weasels – Charlotte’s wards – Raven and Hawk. Since Wrexford is known for his cool scientific interests and logic, they have chosen a series of events sponsored by the botanists of the Royal Society at the Royal Botanic Gardens as their initial foray into society. How taxing can a series of lectures and dinners with a bunch of botanists be? Well, when Mr. Becton, one of America’s representatives at the event, is found dead and it wasn’t from natural causes, things get taxing indeed.

According to Mr. Becton’s friend, Mr. Hosack, leader of the American delegation, Becton was set to make the keynote speech that evening and he was to announce a major scientific breakthrough that would save thousands of lives. No one knows what that breakthrough is, what the formula is, or where any of Becton’s papers are kept. Charlotte and Wrexford are ready to stay out of the investigation and let Bow Street handle it until an old enemy (from the last book) rears his ugly head and threatens the Weasels.

As the investigation continues and the suspects are being narrowed down – more deaths occur – and motives blur – and suspects become allies – and – well, it is just very busy with suspects, crimes, motives, governments who aren’t on particularly friendly terms at the time – especially with the nuptials looming and neither Charlotte nor Wexford intend to put those off. The final revelation and resolution is exciting and dangerous and yet it wraps up the case nicely. You’ll be turning the pages faster and faster to see what happens next and how they manage to thwart the bad guys.

I can definitely recommend this book and this series. I will say I got a little tired of Charlotte’s angst. It just seemed out of character for her. She’s usually much more pragmatic. She may have a nagging worry, but she decides on a course of action and moves straight forward. She did have a good bit to be angsty about – her re-entry into society after years away, her upcoming wedding, and her reconciliation with her brother and other members of her family. However, that angst could have been mentioned less often. Our Charlotte just didn’t seem quite like our normal Charlotte.

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

4.25/5⭐️

This is the fifth in a favorite series of mine.

As Wrexford and Charlotte are nearing their wedding day, they find themselves reluctantly pulled into the murder of a prominent botanist on the eve of his plans to present a major discovery/cure to the world. There are several “baddies” and some wrong turns/surprising twists as they strive for justice.

Personally, I found this one a little slower to get into than previous books, and I missed more of the banter between the leads that was present in the earlier books. However, I had to remind myself that they are an affianced couple now, and a lot of the previous banter came from getting to know one another and flirting.

I’ll be interested to see how their new married dynamic (and mingling of families) will play out in future adventures. All in all a nice addition to the franchise.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

On the eve of their debut as a couple in society, Wrexford and Sloane come across the body of a dead scientist in the Royal Botanic Gardens. A friend of the deceased who discovered the body has reason to suspect foul play and involves Wrexford and Lady Charlotte in the search for the killer. As they hunt for a killer that leads to dead ends, clues pointing in the direction of international conspiracies, and the potential involvement of their nemesis, Justinian DeVere, Wrexford struggles with the potential that he may be putting Charlotte and the weasels in danger, while Charlotte wonders how she'll stay true to her conscience as her loyalties are pulled between the aristocratic Wrexford and the desire to expose wrongdoing.

As with the previous books, I enjoyed the mystery underpinning the story. I like that Penrose is ambitious in her scope and isn't afraid to point out some of the rot at the center of the British Empire and the way the aristocratic classes worked to preserve it. There were a number of twists and turns and the conclusion was an exciting showpiece. I like the continuing character growth of the weasels - particularly Hawk as his desire for independence - and the foreshadowing of Charlotte's struggles to keep her work anonymous as she ascends into prominence as the wife of a duke.

The weaknesses of this book were also similar to the past entry. There is quite a bit of hand-wringing on Charlotte's part about her conscience, about her and the weasels safety, about her relationship with her family, but very little comes of it and I don't think it serves the character particularly well. Charlotte seemed to spend most of the book in a heightened state of anxiety based on concerns that had very little relevance to what was actually happening in the plot.

This favorite historical mystery series, set in the early 1800's in London, features a well-drawn cast of characters and some interesting plot threads linked with actual people and events.

The two main characters, having finally become engaged after much sparring and sparks, are a sharp-tempered Lord and a reluctant Lady. One of the biggest strengths of the series is the supporting cast, including Lady Charlotte's two wards, rescued from the street life. Their two households are quite unusual with "servants" who are more like family and have some deadly skill sets.

A month before their wedding Wrex and Charlotte fight against being drawn into yet another murder investigation. But when an important scientific discovery is delayed by the suspicious death of the scientist, it turns out one of Charlotte's wards is a witness. Lots of action, lots of intelligent dialogue, a smattering of history and a ton of fun. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another excellent Wrexford and Sloane mystery, this time involving plants! It’s actually much more involved than that, but what really stuck out for me in this book is the struggles Charlotte goes through leading up to her wedding. She has many doubts regarding her independence, but then something or someone will remind her of all the love she has in her life, and it eases her fears. Plus, she actually very much looking forward to getting married!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Why would someone poison the botanist Josiah Becton? That's the question Lord Wrexford, who has an affinity for chemistry and crime solving, and Lady Charlotte, his fiance and secret satirical cartoonist, set out to answer along with their household of unique personalities. Whew! It's sort of a cozy and yet not. Lady Charlotte is fretting about their upcoming wedding - she's fought hard for her independence from societal stricture even if much of her activity is unknown to the public. Wrexford is adjusting as well. I like the characters in this series (especially the Weasels) as much as the mysteries. Know that it will be fine as a standalone (I've only read the first two books in the series and was able to plunge right in and feel comfortable because Penrose gives good back story). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.