The author expertly created a classic whodunit that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The murder of a young, well-liked woman unearths layers of class differences, gender inequalities, and the complexities of marriage, all deftly handled without heavy-handedness. The narrative hooks the reader with unpredictable twists, ensuring the identity of the murderer remains elusive until the climax.

The slow-burning connection between Soloman Grey and Constance Silver is a standout element. As they navigate their undercover roles as a married couple, their relationship intensifies emotionally, building a complex and engaging dynamic. Their partnership not only drives the plot but also leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in their story. Constance's intriguing backstory adds depth, while their evolving partnership promises further growth and suspense.

The skillful storytelling keeps readers engaged, delivering a well-told tale that balances the main plot with glimpses into the characters' histories. This second installment is a fitting continuation that builds anticipation for future books. "Evidence of Evil" is a masterfully crafted mystery that maintains suspense and keeps readers guessing while developing its characters and themes in a meaningful way. A truly enjoyable read that ensures fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A courtesan and a businessman.
Constance asks Solomon to help an old friend of hers solve a murder mystery as they had previously done at a house party.
They travel to the country together posing as a married couple sharing a room.
Many little twists and turns as they observe others and investigate the crime.
They work well together and their friendship deepens.
A very slow burn romance.
Intriguing storyline and compelling character development.
Enjoyable.

Tropes: MC's team up to solve a mystery; MC's with secrets; fake marriage; forced proximity
Steam level: low (very slow burn, no kissing)
Part of a series, and while I do recommend the first book as a good intro into Solomon and Constance's relationship and their background, this works as a standalone.

I thought the first book in this series was good; this one is excellent. If you're into HR mysteries in particular I highly recommend it, but you'll probably enjoy it even if you're usually not into mysteries. Mary Lancaster has always been a solid author, and here she does an outstanding job of juggling both the main plot and the dynamic between the MC's and secondary characters. The central puzzle, that of the death of a young woman who was ostensibly well liked by everyone, also brings up the topics of class difference, gender inequality, and marriage without being too obvious or preachy. I genuinely wasn't able to guess the murderer until the MC's did; every time the evidence seemed to point to a character there would be a twist. And although there are many brief POV shifts, which I usually don't particularly like, they all work well here, giving the reader just enough information (and a red herring toward the end).

The star of this book for me, though, is the wonderfully slow-burn connection between Sol and Constance, and also how they're developed as individual characters. As Sol and Constance pose as a married couple, sleeping in the same bed, their relationship intensifies emotionally, if only slightly physically, and becomes more complex. Constance is not your typical HR MFC; a wealthy madam with a dark past that she doesn't let define her as she discreetly aids other women, who understands human nature well, who will never be accepted by the mainstream but has connections and enough freedom to briefly infiltrate situations to help resolve them, is perfect for this sort of series. As is Solomon, born in Jamaica and self-made, ambitious and brilliant at negotiations, merchant-class with more than enough money for respectability but never fully embraced by the Ton due to his origins and skin color. They have their own ghosts and fears, leading to the push-pull between them that never feels contrived or artificially drawn out. They consider themselves friends and perhaps more, despite the odds, but are still afraid at this point to disturb the balance of their bond.

The final chapter is satisfying and very cleverly done as Sol and Constance start to solidify their partnership as inquiry agents. I can't wait for the next book!

A fitting continuation of the first installment, which makes you want to read the next books. Well-told story that sticks to the main plot, while subtly introducing backstories and side-characters.
The mystery is again set away from London and doesnt dwell on the hierarchies of the ton. The partnership between Sol and Constance is growing and we get a small peek into Constance's backstory. The dynamics of their relationship is paced in a way that makes its development trajectory quite flexible, building a suspenseful context for the next installment.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Courtesan Constance needs help solving a murder. She calls on her friend Solomon to help her. They must travel to the countryside as a married couple to help her friend who has been accused of murder. Digging into secrets that people want to remain secret causes issues. Meanwhile they are trying to maintain their friend only relationship while thrown together as a married couple. I look forward to reading the next in this series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.