I just reviewed Murder at the Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose. #MurderattheSerpentineBridge #NetGalley

I was hooked immediately! The world building was amazing and I was enthralled with Charlotte and Wrexford. There is a lot of mystery, drama and suspense that had me turning pages until I finished the book. Such a great ride!

The Wrexford & Sloane Regency mysteries are solid books and Murder at the Serpentine Bridge is no exception. Penrose is great at taking historical events and creating a mystery in their midst. She also has created some great characters, particularly Raven and Hawk (and now new character Falcon), the street urchins who are now living the lives of aristocrats. In this book., Charlotte and Wrex (the Countess and Earl) are now married and preparing for the festivities that will take place celebrating Napoleon's defeat. But when Wrex, Raven and Hawk discover a body near the bridge and find a sketch that shows an alarming invention, the couple is once again propelled into a new mystery. The dialog can get a bit repetitive and stilted, but not enough the take away from the plot. Be sure to read the author's note at the end; fascinating. This series should definitely be read in order. The book will release Sept. 27.

Another case of fascinating history (the 1814 Peace Celebration in London) meets Wrex and Charlotte! When Wrex and the Weasels stumble on a body in the Serpentine they are pulled into an investigation under the guise of national security. Charlotte is still getting used to marriage and being part of the aristocracy. She feels being Lady Charlotte inhibits her movements. She worries about her wards, the weasels, and how they are adapting to all the changes in their lives. She fears that being revealed as A.J. Quill could hurt her family. She is a bundle of nerves! Wrex proves himself more than capable of dealing with the weasels and addressing Charlotte's concerns. Together with friends and allies they tackle a very serious case of theft, treason, and murder.

Once again Charlotte and Wrexford are tasked with solving a murder. They, as well as friends and family, are thrown into political intrigue over the possible sale of plans to make an advanced gun which would give a country an advantage in war. I can not wait to read the next in the series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.

Thanks to #NetGalley for an ARC of #MurderattheSerpentineBridge ! I'm a big fan of this series and the newest addition is a solid entry. There is a mysterious drowning of an inventor that pulls Wrex & Charlotte into political intrigue and espionage along with their extended family & friends. The plot kept my interest and Penrose adds enough real history to her books to help visualize the Regency London era. I am pleased to see that the main characters' marriage hasn't had a negative impact on the stories. Moments of romance are there, but only as a side note to the mystery & action.

A fun entry in the Wrexford and Sloane series, with murder, treason, aristocracy, inheritance, new inventions, and, of course, mysteries to solve and danger to get out of. This was engaging, well-researched, and well-written -- and I believe can be read on its own without reading the prior entries in the series (though you'll want to, just to get the backstories!). I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I was hooked immediately! The world building was amazing and I fell in love with Charlotte and Wrexford. There is a lot of drama, mystery and suspense that kept me awake till I finished the book. And what a ride it was, totally worth it.

Unfortunately, the Wrexford and Sloane series is feeling a little sluggish and formulaic at this point. It is very well researched and written, but overall a bit dull.

treason, murder, murder-investigation, inheritance, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-figures, history-and-culture, early-19th-century, relationships, relatives, England, thriller, suspense, theft, inventors, extortion*****

Lady Charlotte Sloane was born to the aristocracy but escaped for a time and now is a satirical cartoonist (and at peril) with surprising investigative skills, and the Earl of Wrexford is a brilliant and rather reclusive man reputed as one never to be crossed. Together they are formidable enough but add in the orphans they call The Weasels and others who are valued for their abilities, and you have just the right people to investigate murder, extortion, disappearances, and financial crimes.
This time there a few different threads of families, inventors, entitled traitors, and a new addition to the regulars. As always, there is a slice of truth that has been well researched. Well crafted intricate plot with extremely interesting characters!
In spite of being #6 in series, I really think that each one of the books in series can stand alone or at least NOT leave a new reader left behind. But then, I love this series. Great read!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Great addition to this series. Very atmospheric with twists and turns and clever sleuthing. Fully developed characters that the reader will come to know and love.

I have enjoyed this series from the first book and always feel like I’m catching up with old friends when I read a new installment. The characters have grown and changed in very plausible ways, and I love how Penrose describes the affection among the family the main characters have built. As always, the mystery itself is engaging and well- constructed. My only criticism is that the dialogue is sometimes stilted and a bit repetitive. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I do love this historical mystery series by Andrea Penrose and this one is a winner in my book. Honestly once I started the book, I couldn't put it down until I reached the end.

Charlotte, Wrex and the Weasels have settled into family life now and enjoying the quiet life. Of course, that doesn't last long when Wrex and the Weasels find a dead body floating in the water. What follows next is a fast paced story with multiple suspects, spies, action, suspense and historical facts mixed with the fiction to make it believable in every minute. Kit and Cordelia have a second story line with their own drama/romance and a new addition to the Wrexford household who fits right in with the Weasels who have named him Falcon.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford and Sloane series. I discovered them by chance through an Amazon recommendation and a well-timed promotion, and I’ve never looked back. I interviewed the author last year when “Murder at the Botanic Gardens” (New Books Network link below) came out, and I would gladly interview her again—except that there’s only so much you can say about a mystery series without giving away spoilers. So I’ll be confining myself this time to a written post about “Murder at the Serpentine Bridge” on my blog (cplesley link below) around the time of the sixth installment’s release.

One of the things that sets the series apart, in addition to fascinatingly complex characters and richly and often beautifully described settings, is that each novel explores a scientific development that began during the English Regency and still influences our world. In this case, that invention involves military technology. I can’t say more because discovering exactly what the invention is and what happened to the plans for it is the focus of the first half of the book. But I will say that the invention, were it to succeed, would give whatever country controlled it a distinct advantage over its enemies—and at a moment when Napoleon appears to have finally been defeated and sent to exile on Elba, the possibility that said invention could fall into the hands of the French has all the Allied Powers sweating. Most of them don’t trust each other, either, which has them at one another’s throats. That we know Napoleon won’t be on Elba for long (even though the characters don’t) just ups the ante.

Fans of Penrose’s other Regency series featuring Lady Arianna will be happy to see the entry of Lord Grentham, the mysterious and ruthless minister of state security, into this novel. Charlotte Sloane’s two urchins also make a new friend, and Wrexford and Sloane’s partnership continues to develop, as do certain other relationships. But this is not just a worthy addition to the series; it is my favorite so far. The only downside is that I’ll have to wait a whole year for the next one.

Newlyweds Lady Charlotte and her husband, the Earl of Wrexford, are settling in to married life along with their quirky little hodge podge family. Looking forward to the lavish Peace Celebrations planned in London after the defeat of Napoleon, things go awry when Wrex and their two young wards, Raven and Hawk, discover a dead body in the Serpentine River in Hyde Park. While at first Wrexford and Charlotte are determined not to get involved in this investigation, the British government feels otherwise and enlists their aid. The murder victim, Jeremiah Willis, was a brilliant engineer working on a top-secret weapon and his prototype has gone missing. The repercussions of this weapon falling into the wrong hands are grave, and what better time to sell to the highest bidding country than a celebration with visiting politicians from all over Europe and the United States?

Because of a family connection, the Wrexford clan has even more involvement in this situation than first they realized, and soon find themselves taking in young Lord Lampson, the nephew of Jeremiah Willis and a key player in the mystery surrounding his invention. Peregrine, dubbed Falcon by the Weasels, finds the companionship and familial warmth lacking in his life, forms a bond with all in the household and proves invaluable in helping Wrexford and Charlotte with the case. The race to the finish set against the backdrop of elaborate celebrations in Hyde Park has all hands on deck (yes, I’m being coy with that phrase) as they fight to solve the mystery of Willis’ murder and prevent the plans for his weapon from landing in dangerous hands.

As usual, Andrea Penrose nailed the historical aspect, weaving real events and people during the Peace Celebrations with characters of her own making. I love the series but this one dragged a bit for me — I think the general subject didn’t grab my attention. And I feel the need to mention the abundant overuse of a few specific words. She’s a great writer, but I lost count of how many times a character ‘murmured’ to another (honestly, no one actually murmurs that much in regular conversation — I mean, no one) and used the words ‘villain’ and their ‘nefarious’ plans over and over when discussing the investigation with each other. It distracted and detracted from the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Murder at the Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose (A Wrexford & Sloan Mystery #6) 5 stars

Charlotte, the new Countess of Wrexford is hoping to have a bit of peace and time to get used to the Beau Monde and its mores. But when Wrexford, along with Raven and Hawk are walking the dog in Hyde Park, they discover a dead body. The deceased is an inventor that has ties with the Royal Armory. When the inventor’s prototype for a modified rifle is lost, the Crown agents “request” that Wrexford find the prototype and design plans before it falls into the wrong hands. The inquiry is complicated by the Peace Celebrations. The spectacle filled with pomp and pageantry is mixed with diplomats from multiple nations with secret agendas. Wrexford and company have to work quickly, because time is not on their side.

This was an exciting and action packed mystery; filled with historical facts and commentary. It was all hands on deck for this mystery and the two wards, Raven and Hawk, have major parts. On a more serious note – attitudes towards race and color were part of the plot in this book. This made for a more complicated mystery that previous entries. This is Andrea Penrose at her best and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

The latest mystery with Lady Charlotte and the Earl of Wrexford is part of a series but can be read as a stand along book. This is my first outing with these colourful and stand out characters and l was immediately drawn to them. Set in Regency times at the time of the Peace Celebrations in London. A murder will set off a thrilling trail of a top secret weapon and treason at the highest levels. Charlotte is a very insightful lady for her time using a pen name for satirical drawings of the royals. Together with Wrexford and their adopted sons the Weasels they can move between the slums of London through to high society with ease. This is a series that you would be well worth checking out. I certainly will.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another solid outing for Wrexford and Sloane and their growing family of friends. This time around they are investigating the murder of a brilliant inventor who has come up with plans for a weapon every country seems to want to get their hands on. The weasels get lots of play in this one and even a new friend to fly with. I love these scamps. Kit and Cordelia, the dowager, everyone is back and up to their usual antics. Can we get Aunt Alison a love interest please? Sir Robert perhaps? I have to say, at the beginning of the series, I thought Wrex was a real ass, but seeing how far he's come is heartwarming. Can't wait for the next one! Keep them coming Andrea Penrose! I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

I liked this one better than the last. A little less repetition of The Theme of the book (although that's still there), a lot of real historical interest worked in, and some lovely relationship development.

I love this series. Wrexford and Sloan are auto-reads for me; I don’t even have to read the description. I’d recommend reading these in order, or at least the first in the series. The characters and relationships are quickly established, but you’ll enjoy it more if you can appreciate how we got to where we are.

Charlotte, who is secretly a well-known satirist, is now the Countess of Wrexford and has settled with her stern scientist husband and found family Raven and Hawk. Celebrations are unfolding to honor victory over Napoleon when Wrexford and the boys discover a body in Hyde Park’s lake. The late Jeremiah Willis was the genius behind a top-secret weapon, and the prototype is missing from the Royal Armory’s laboratory. Wrexford is tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands. But there are complications to the case—including a family connection and old secrets. 

These are always well-plotted and well-researched, a mix of science and feeling, and rich with historical detail that doesn’t overwhelm the story. This one is heavily plot driven, and the plot is intricate. It was a bit of a slow start for me but, as always, the ending as things come together is clever and fast-paced.

I was also disappointed to see a person of color’s skin described with a coffee comparison. Are we really still doing that in 2022?

I wish we had just a few more moments between Sloan and Wrexford, especially since this is the first book since they got married. There were some, but their interactions are the soul of these books, and we need more of their strong connection to carry us through the dark mysteries they solve, especially now that the romantic tension is gone.

I’m already eager for the next installment. And Kit and Cordelia need to get together asap.

Charlotte, Wrexford, the Weasels and the gang are looking into a murder and stealing of plans to make a more dangerous gun. The plans are being auctioned off to the highest bidding country government unless the gang can stop it. Falcon joins the Weasels in their pursuit of justice, for it was his uncle to was murdered. Love this series.

Goodreads