"The macabre murder of a prominent nobleman throws an already unsettled London into chaos in this electrifying new historical mystery by the USA Today bestselling author of What Cannot Be Said.

August 1816. England is in the grip of what will become known as the Year Without a Summer. Facing the twin crises of a harvest-destroying volcanic winter and the economic disruption caused by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the British monarchy finds itself haunted by the looming threat of bloody riots not seen since the earliest days of the French Revolution. Amidst the turmoil, a dead man is found hanging upside down by one leg in an abandoned chapel, his hands tied behind his back. The pose eerily echoes the image depicted on a tarot card known as Le Pendu, the Hanged Man. The victim - Lord Preston Farnsworth, the younger brother of one of the Regent's boon companions - was a passionate crusader against what he called the forces of darkness, namely criminality, immorality, and sloth. His brutal murder shocks the Palace and panics the already troubled populace.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, learns of the murder from a ragged orphan who leads him to the corpse and then disappears. At first, everyone in the dead man's orbit paints Lord Preston as a selfless saint. But Sebastian quickly realizes that the man had accumulated more than his fair share of enemies, including Major Hugh Chandler, a close friend of Sebastian's who once saved his life. Sebastian also discovers that the pious Lord Preston may have been much more dangerous than those he sought to redeem.

As dark clouds press down on the city and the rains fall unceasingly, two more victims are found, one strangled and one shot, with ominous tarot cards placed on their bodies. The killer is sending a gruesome message and Sebastian is running out of time to decipher it before more lives are lost and a fraught post-war London explodes."

Technically they didn't know it was caused by a volcano until later...

I received an ARC copy via netgalley. Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing Group for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am always awaiting the next Sebastian St. Cyr novel. Now, having read vol 20, I am eagerly awaiting #21. But let me tell you some of the highlights of this book.

Firstly it's the character Sebastian St. Cyr. Over the past 20 books we've watched him become a husband, father, and character for justice. I would enjoy reading a book on Sebastian solving a mystery of missing tea scones, or some other mundane mystery simply because of who he is (a cozy Christmas novella would be the *chef's kiss*)

In this novel we are revisiting characters from previous novels. As always Henry Lovejoy. We see characters from Sebastian's military service (this one touches on the hardships of retired military servicemen). We go back to visit the cartomancer's at Seven Dials. Jarvis makes a nuisance of himself.

The book takes place during the summer that never came 1816. I cannot imagine the stress this had on the populations, particularly on vulnerable individuals without social safeguards in place.

In this title, we begin with the discovery of murder victim Lord Preston Farnsworth. He is discovered in a ruined chapel, hanging by one leg, in a pose echoing the tarot card found on his person. His reputation is that of a pious saint trying to rid society of impurity. We soon discover how dangerous and evil that mission really is.

This is the 20th book in the series, and I will always recommend they be read in order.

4 stars for book 20 in an entertaining historical fiction mystery series. I have read all of the previous books in the series. While this book can be read as a stand alone, you will better understand the characters if you read the previous books in the series.
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin(the British do love titles!!) is independently wealthy thanks to his father the Earl of Hendon. Because of this wealth, he assists a local investigating magistrate, Sir Henry Lovejoy, without pay in solving murders. Both men are dedicated to finding out the truth, and not covering up embarrassing secrets of the wealthy and powerful aristocracy.
The blurb sets the scene: "August 1816. England is in the grip of what will become known as the Year Without a Summer. Facing the twin crises of a harvest-destroying volcanic winter and the economic disruption caused by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the British monarchy finds itself haunted by the looming threat of bloody riots not seen since the earliest days of the French Revolution. Amidst the turmoil, a dead man is found hanging upside down by one leg in an abandoned chapel, his hands tied behind his back. The pose eerily echoes the image depicted on a tarot card known as Le Pendu, the Hanged Man. The victim—Lord Preston Farnsworth, the younger brother of one of the Regent’s boon companions—was a passionate crusader against what he called the forces of darkness, namely criminality, immorality, and sloth. "
Devlin becomes involved in this murder because a young teenager comes to him, telling Devlin that he has seen the body, but does not trust the authorities, since he lives on the street. Devlin has a reputation among the poor for honesty and fairness. Lovejoy and Devlin do solve the murder, but not before more people die. Devlin is also attacked, but miraculously survives. He is almost always attacked in every book.
The author makes clear that Britain treated its poor despicably. This includes some graphic descriptions of the treatment of disabled veterans, frequently denied pensions.
The author has done a great deal of research into this time period, describing not only the suffering of the poor, but also the habits and activities of the wealthy.
One quote on a dress worn by Devlin's sister: "She wore a long sleeved gown of silver Merino crepe trimmed around the hem and up the front with a cable of black silk crepe; a silk-trimmed black cloak lay over the chair beside her."
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group Berkley for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#WhoWillRemember #NetGalley

Pub Date Apr 15 2025 |

C.S. Harris at her best and most memorable book in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series. I love that Harris weaves historical information and events into the story without slowing the pacing of the book, in fact the historical events add depth to the mystery. Highly recommend this series. Each book could be read as a stand-alone or for more in-depth background on characters read the whole series. The best mystery writer-you will not be disappointed.

I really love this series; it has become one of my must reads in the historical mystery genre. The last installment felt darker than some of the previous ones, I think because it felt so close to home since Sir Henry Lovejoy's backstory was so heavily involved. This newest book is dark, but doesn't feel quite so hopeless, even with the backdrop of the cold, bleak weather.

The mystery was interesting, the pacing swift and it kept me engaged right up until the very end. I really love Hero's contributions and her stepping in to talk to both the ladies of the ton as well as those of the lower class to weed out information that would ultimately help in solving the mystery. I also love watching Sebastian, Hero, and their allies unravel all those little threads that lead to the big "aha" moment when it all comes together, and the villain(s) is revealed.

This is a long-running series, and I wouldn't recommend reading out of order. I know it can be daunting jumping into a twenty-book series, but I believe it is worth it if you enjoy historical mystery. Highly recommend.

I suggest this series often to historical mystery readers, and occasionally to Regency romance readers because of its amazing period detail ad relationship building. Unlike many long running series, it just keeps getting better and more engaging. Harris is a gifted writer who weaves a tale of interesting characters, settings with a cleverly plotted mystery. Sebastian, Hero and their growing family and circle make this a must read.

"Who Will Remember" is a mystery set in 1816 in London. This book is the 20th 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. Sebastian investigated by questioning suspects and witnesses while the magistrate handled other aspects of the investigation. Sebastian tracked down leads and asked good questions. There were plenty of suspects. A couple had more motive than others, but we didn't get the critical clues to whodunit until nearly the end.

There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.

I couldn’t get enough of Sebastian St. Cyr. His sharp wit and relentless determination make him such a compelling protagonist, but what I really loved was how his personal ties to the case added stakes and vulnerability. The twists left me reeling, and can we talk about the writing? Harris’s prose is gorgeous, immersive without ever dragging, and so vivid you can almost smell the damp streets and feel the weight of the rainclouds overhead. This is historical mystery at its finest. It’s sharp, deeply atmospheric, and laced with just the right amount of moral complexity to make it an absolute must-read.

CS Harris always delivers with the Sebastian St. Cyr series. Sebastian is drawn into another murder investigation when a kid comes to him for help after finding a body in a church. The body is that of a self-righteous nobleman, dedicated to punishing and ridding London of people of the lower class. The most likely suspect for the murder is a friend from Sebastian's regiment who ran away with the victim's wife.
The mystery and intrigue is deeper than sebastian realized as more possible suspects are drawn in.

I honestly can never find enough good words to say about books in this series and this is no exception. Each of Harris's St. Cyr stories are rooted in actual history and in addition to a great mystery that always keeps me guessing, I learn something new every time. This installment finds Devlin brought to the scene of the murder of a member of the upperclass who has been hung in the style of particular tarot card by a young Irish orphan who promptly disappears. As Devlin proceeds to investigate, two additional murders take place, each being found with actual tarot cards. In addition to this mystery, there are the ancillary stories of the weather disruptions (one of the real life stories that we learn more about) causing famine around the world, a spate of young girls who may or may not have committed suicide in the Thames, and an assassin killing Frenchmen following the reascendance of the Bourbons in France. I do love Devlin and Hero, both together and separately as each follow their passions; Hero's here is interviewing members of the military who were tricked out receiving their benefits following the wars they were sent to fight. I hope in the future we get a book focusing more on Hero. A huge thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion. I look forward to recommending this book, and the series, at every opportunity.

Another strong installment in this long running series that has yet to lose any steam. I love the historical elements that the author includes in these stories. I also don’t know why this series has struck a cord with me to be honest. I tend to go for more lighter, fluffy, happy stories, but Sebastian finds himself in some very dark and disturbing situations. And yet I can’t turn the pages fast enough with every mystery that comes along. I love seeing how Sebastian‘s brain unravels the clues and I also love catching up with all of the other characters we’ve gotten to know.

If you love a good fast-paced mystery, I highly recommend this series.

Another solid entry in this series. Questions remain, and I hope they’re eventually answered and not left to languish in the reader’s mind. Lots of historical details here that in some ways relate to our current times, though in a way that reminds us that nothing is new under the sun. There’s something reassuring about that when contextualized by the author here. There has been less character development in this series over the course of the last few volumes. That’s to be expected, but I would like to see a bit more return. So much ground had been covered early on in the series. I guess by this point, it’s hard to really tackle new things. An excellent book about some really twisted things. I always love this series, because it’s like an old friend. It’s chilling and sometimes disturbing, but it’s never without hope.

Number 20 in the historical mystery series featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin. Throughout the series, Harris has successfully embedded each volume in an historically accurate period — this one is no exception. It is set in London in August, 1816, the year that “had no summer.” Later historians promoted the cause as a large volcano explosion that blocked the sun causing weather abnormalities, floods, and massive crop failures leading inevitably to riots, strikes, apocalyptic fears, and the potential for revolution.

In this milieu, the body of a Lord is found in an abandoned chapel, hanging upside down with legs posed as depicted on a rare set of tarot cards (Le Pendu — the Fool). From here connections are made to French assassins, the Prince of Wales, friends made during the 1808-9 British retreat across Northern Spain (Battle of Corunna), and a particular (nasty) society called the Society for the Suppression of Vice.

I always like the characters in these books — representing multiple walks of life and varied ideas of morality. I particularly like the depiction of the members of the “ton” — a term for the fashionable members of upper class English society during the Regency period. As one might expect, those characters run the gamut from utterly selfish, corrupt, and “above the law” to considerate, moral, and obsessed with a fair justice. Always fun to guess which is which upon the first “meeting.”

This was another great historical mystery novel from C. S. Harris, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the plot of this book. The characters were written well and enjoyed the overall feel of this. I was glad I got to read this and had that element I enjoyed from Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery series. It left me wanting to read more from C. S. Harris and this world.

Readers of C. S. Harris will not be disappointed with this latest book in her Sebastian St Cyr mystery series. The year is 1816 and the story begins with the gruesome death of nobleman Lord Preston Farnsworth, known for his crusade against what he considered to be the root of evil in London society, namely, lower class immorality. In a race against time Sebastian must uncover who committed this and two other murders before his close friend Major Hugh Chandler is hanged for them. The mystery is set against the backdrop of the end of the Napoleonic War and the Year Without A Summer which caused crops to fail and economic chaos. The beauty of a C. S. Harris novel is that the reader with always find great characters, a compelling mystery, and a look at an intriguing piece of British history. The Author Notes at the end of the book are as much fun to read as the story itself. I highly recommend "Who Will Remember" by C. S Harris.

C.S. Harris can do no wrong in my book, and this lovely novel was everything that I have come to expect from her: exquisite historical accuracy, wonderful writing and characters (I adore Sebastian and his little Tiger), and most importantly, the ability to draw you in with an amazing plot that doesn't let up until the final sentence. Book Hangovers are real, and because C.S. Harris is so fantastic, I get one every time I read her books. This is probably a new favorite, as the mystery was very well done. I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!! I can't recommend this series highly enough.

The author’s meticulous attention to historical detail brings the chaotic streets of London to life, immersing you in the sights, sounds, and tensions of the time. The emotional depth woven into the narrative transforms a straightforward murder mystery into a profound reflection on the nature of good and evil. Sebastian St. Cyr stands out as a captivating character whose journey is as gripping as the mystery itself. With its intricate plot and atmospheric setting, this historical mystery is a must-read for fans of the genre. The tension builds to a breathtaking climax, and just when you think you’ve unraveled the mystery, the author throws in a twist that will leave you gasping. This hauntingly beautiful tale will linger with you long after the last page is turned, and I’m thoroughly enjoying this series!