This summer, in anticipation of reading MissB’s Where the Dead Lie ARC, she listened to the first 10 volumes of C. S. Harris’s Regency-set murder mystery, C. S. Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr series. MissB. listened to them, rapt, when she took a walk, prepared dinner, and dabbed make-up on in the morning. And, she discovered something about her mystery reading: she reads mysteries for the detecting figure’s personality, his mind’s workings, motivation, method, and relationships. Nothing is more satisfying for good doses of those reading interests than Harris’s series.

At the centre of it all is the enigmatic, gorgeous figure of Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, amateur sleuth, military veteran: tall, handsome, with penetrating strange yellow eyes, and a deep sense of finding justice for the vulnerable and oppressed. Equally fascinating and much beloved are his family: wife Hero and baby-son Simon; the doctor-friend who helps him reveal what dead bodies can tell about their murders, Paul Gibson, and his mid-wife partner, Alexi Sauvage; the austere, fragile elderly man who is Sebastian’s father, Alistair St. Cyr, Earl of Hendon; arch-nemesis, father-in-law, Lord Jarvis; embittered, jealous sister, Amanda; beautiful, tragic niece, Stephanie, and dissipated nephew, Bayard; sleuthing partner, magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy; former actress-lover, Kat Boleyn; and Miss B’s personal favourites, Sebastian’s valet, Jules Calhoun and former-street-urchin tiger, Tom. While some novels in the series are stronger than others and MissB. may prefer some over others, Harris has created a Regency world, peopled it with the most likeable set of characters, drawn her villains with complexity, and ensured that MissB. remain with the series no matter where it might go.

In the case of Where the Dead Lie, out of all the series books, Miss Bates had difficulty with where it went. It is a strong entry, but a difficult read. Sebastian et. al. are caught in an evil web, trying to figure out who is killing London society’s most vulnerable, neglected population – its street children. Harris doesn’t spare the Regency’s powerful: weaving a tale of power over the helpless and oppressed by the aristocracy’s vilest members. Suffice to say, the reader has to have the stomach for this iteration of Seb and Company, but the lure of knowing them and following their stories, especially our flawed, but justice-seeking hero, was too much for Miss Bates. She carried through to the end and confidently says that, at least, justice has served … with the possibility of further justice needed. With apologies for the teasing tone and hinting, how else to avoid spoilers when reviewing a mystery?

What Miss Bates can say openly is that Sebastian proves to be as easily loved, complex, and fascinating as ever. While in the early books, Sebastian is an angry man, haunted by dreams of his time at war and family’s dysfunctional nature, Harris does a great job of developping his character beyond that. By Where the Dead Lie, Sebastian is a happier, less volatile man, a devoted, loving father and husband. What Sebastian is unwaveringly, from the first book to the last, however, is self-aware. Sebastian is a hero who thinks and feels deeply and, for that, Miss Bates stays with the series. While Sebastian’s contentment is evident, his characterization as a military veteran still haunted by war experiences figures prominently in explaining something of what drives him to solve murders:

He could not explain what had driven him from his bed. His dreams were often disturbed by visions of the past, as if he were condemned to relive certain moments over and over in a never-ending spiral of repentance and atonement.

Sebastian may be motivated by “repentance and atonement,” but he is also a philosopher of human nature. The war experience is at the heart of his understanding of human nature and his own complicated psychological make-up:

He wandered the streets of the city, gradually winding his way westward, his troubled thoughts on the past. Any man who has ever gone to war understands only too well the worst of what his fellow men are capable … Sebastian had seen it all … It had come to him eventually that such things were not aberrations; nor were they, as most would like to believe, “inhuman.” He reached the conclusion that this capacity for barbarity actually forms a fundamental and inescapable part of whatever it means to be human … Nor was he so delusional as to except himself.

A deep thinker, self-aware, a man of integrity, brave, and humble, never exempting himself from the darkness of what people are capable of. This allows him to approach each “case” with the humility and intelligence needed to bring justice to the dead.

Another character development that Harris does so well in the St. Cyr mysteries is to show Sebastian’s “softening” over the books’ course. What was anger and even violence in the first volumes, as well as echoed in Sebastian’s war memories, has been tempered by love and family to a thirst for justice, a protectiveness borne of love for wife and child, a willingness to forgive and express compassionate where there was condemnation (evident in a great scene with his father, the Alistair St. Cyr), and an ease with articulating his love and care for and of others. Miss Bates loved this moment when Sebastian speaks with one of the piece’s many villains and easily declares:

” … So tell me, why ye care what happened to some worthless young thief?”

“I care,” said Sebastian and watched the sneer on the other man’s face slide into something less confident, more confused.

Because he “cares”. To echo Lear, “o reason not the need,” simply because Sebastian “cares”. Maybe there is an element of atonement and repentance, as we saw earlier quoted; nevertheless, in the end, Sebastian and his friends and family show over and over again what good comes when people care.

Miss Bates would like to give the last word to Tom, Sebastian’s tiger, whom Sebastian rescued from the streets in book one of Harris’s series. Hero, Sebastian’s wife, is also one of the good guys. She is a journalist, interviewing the city’s vulnerable and raising awareness of their plight. In this scene, she speaks with Tom about the Tom of pre-Sebastian days, asking him what life was life as a street child, after his mother was transported and brother hanged:

” … I was always comin’ upon dead boys and girls, curled up under the bridges and by the bog houses. I reckon most ’em jist give up ‘n’ died. I guess they figured, why keep fightin’ it? Yer crawlin’ with critters and yer belly’s so empty it’s like ye got somethin’ live inside ye, clawin’ at yer backbone. And yer ‘ands, they’re so covered with chilblains from the cold that they aches like they’s on fire. But you know what’s the worst of it? The worst part is, nobody cares. Nobody cares that yer hurtin’. Nobody cares that yer hungry and cold and scared. And nobody cares when ye die.” Tom looked up, his sharp-featured face held so tight and bleak, it broke her heart.

This glimpse into Tom’s memories is in contrast to who he’s been throughout the series: a delightful boy, full of mischief, with a strong sense of purpose, justice, and a love for Sebastian that rivals Hero’s, Simon’s, Paul’s, and Alistair’s. And the reader’s … 😉 And this is because Sebastian cared.

While Miss Bates has to warn her reader Where the Dead Lie is a difficult read because of the mystery’s content, she would urge any reader to pick up Harris’s wonderful series. With Miss Austen, Miss Bates says of Where the Dead Lie “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

C. S. Harris’s Where the Dead Lie is published by Berkley. It was released on April 4th and may be procured at your preferred vendors. Miss Bates received an e-ARC from Berkley, via Netgalley.

I've read a couple of the Sebastian St. Cyr books and enjoyed them. The author also writes as Candice Proctor, a historical romance author, and there's generally a bit of romance in her mysteries, but they are also good mysteries and atmospheric with the historical setting. I've sort of dipped in and out of the books, and while it would be nice to go back and read them all, I've just got so many other books that I read them as I come across them.

This book, unfortunately, was a real miss for me. It's clear early on that the murderer has killed more than once and likes to torture, rape and kill children. The author also unfortunately does not manage to get across the idea that pedophiles are pedophiles, not gay men. Her bad guys in this book all tend to either being closeted and gay and/or opportunistic fortune hunters who have married into enough money that they can get away with some very nasty activities. This conflation bothered me a lot.

The other thing that bothered me a lot was the utter lack of detective skill from Sebastian. His idea of investigation in this book was to go and ask insulting, provocative questions to anyone he could think of that was connected in any way with the first body, then going to whoever's name was uncovered by this aggressive interrogation style and do the same with them. The wonder was that he got any useful information whatsoever. Has he always been this way? It's been long enough that I don't recall. But a more ham-handed detective I've never seen. He also forgets to try to dress down when entering the poorer parts of London, even though he's had the presence of mind to do this in earlier books. This book's Sebastian just seemed less intelligent and more belligerent than the subtle gentleman that I think I remember from earlier in the series.

And naturally it ends up that Sebastian's family is more closely tied with a murder suspect than he knew.

If this was the first book I'd read in the series, I'd never read another, and I'm wondering if I want to read more even with some good experiences behind me. I wonder if the series has gone stale for this author- she has a stand-alone historical coming out. It's quite understandable for an author to need to move on creatively, and I wonder if it's time to bring this series to a close.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

From the very first sentence author C.S. Harris captivates readers, leading them into the seedy, divided world of Regency Era London. Where the Dead Lie, as the twelfth book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series, is the best book to date.

This installment picks up shortly after the last book, When Falcons Fall, ends. At a time when Sebastian continues to learn about and come to terms with his lineage and deal with his not-so-pleasant family, he and his wife Hero have settled into a solid relationship. Sebastian has gained a reputation for solving murders that the authorities will not or cannot unravel, so he is not surprised to be called to look into the death of a fifteen year old street urchin named Benji. The obvious torture that the child endured, along with the horrific manner of death, hits Sebastian, as a new father, hard. Time seems to be of the essence because Benji’s younger sister is missing. Upon discovering a pattern of street children gone missing, Sebastian traverses both the darker alleys of London and the glittering world of the ton.

Where the Dead Lie explores the darker inclinations of man. I will not lie, the treatment of these “disposable” children is hard to read about, and though Harris does not describe the crimes in graphic detail, there is enough information to be quite unsettling. The plight of the poor, orphaned, and street children of the early nineteenth century is heartbreaking and unfathomable. Sebastian’s short list of suspects is comprised of both aristocrats, including his niece’s fiancé and the Prince Regent’s cousin, and the lower class, all of whom have taken the writings of Marquis de Sade (the original sadist) to heart. Truthfully, they all make my skin crawl.

C.S. Harris really is a master of storytelling. Each book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series is a tense, tightly plotted and atmospherically executed read. Full of period correct detail and fascinating, complex characters, there is never a dull moment or wasted word. I highly recommend Where the Dead Lie to fans of historical mysteries, thrillers, and to readers who appreciated fine artistry. This is definitely one of my best reads of the year.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

We have Sebastian and new wife Hero front and center again. But Hero is dealing with emotional upheaval with her seriously ill mother and can't assist in the investigation. Sebastian, newly a father, takes this case particularly personal as his heart breaks for these unfortunate street children meeting evil ends. Sebastian faces emotional issues with his father too.

Gibson, Sebastian's dear friend who essentially performs the duties of a medical examiner, joins the cast again still fighting his personal demons. Hero's father Jarvis is somehow involved - even if it's the possibility that he could know the killer's identity but doesn't divulge it for his own manipulations, which causes tension to build even further with Sebastian. They seem to be building to an explosive show-down at some point. Tom is especially at risk because he fits the profile of the abducted children and Sebastian tries to keep him safely at home, which Tom takes offence to being excluded. Homeless former soldier Rory Inchbald and street kid Toby Dancing are just a few of the many sad people Sebastian interviews. Then there are the people who try to aid the street children Reverend Filby and Icarus Cantrell. Cantrell, aka The Professor, is considered a fence for stolen items and is the breakout character in this novel.

The subject matter is a bit darker than the usual with many atmospheric touches to ratchet the tension rather than dwell on details of the killings. Abandoned factories, back alleys, brothels that cater to more sadistic tastes, and so forth are the myriad of settings.

The plot exposes the calloused side of society towards the defenseless without being preachy. I do have to say that the multiple visits to the same suspects seemed (IMHO) to slow the action a bit. The climax was filled with tension and danger, a real nail-biter. This particular story leaves the reader with a threat close to Sebastian's family that will no doubt be carried into the next book.

This addition to the series is a little darker than prior books in the series. But I didn't feel it was gruesome rather enough to get a sense of the torture done. That said, because the victims are children I am giving a trigger warning. This book in the series shows considerable emotional changes for both Sebastian and Hero, a seemingly impossible to solve serial killer, and dark brooding settings. I feel it is a well crafted story although rather somber.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it, it had a good grip on me! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

When this one came up for review, I agreed because it sounded like a bit of a gritty Victorian/Regency mystery and I was ready for a bit of a new mystery series.

However, I was hesitant because this book was number 12 in the series. Lately I’ve been jumping into a couple of new series a little late in the game and I felt like at the very least, I should read the first book in this new series so I could get an idea of where things were at, at least with the main character, Lord Devlin.

London, 1813. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is no stranger to the dark side of the city, but he’s never seen anything like this: the brutalized body of a 15-year-old boy dumped into a makeshift grave on the grounds of an abandoned factory.

One of London’s many homeless children, Benji Thatcher was abducted and tortured before his murder—and his younger sister is still missing. Few in authority care about a street urchin’s fate, but Sebastian refuses to let this killer go unpunished. Uncovering a disturbing pattern of missing children, Sebastian is drawn into a shadowy, sadistic world.


As he follows a grim trail that leads from the writings of the debauched Marquis de Sade to the city’s most notorious brothels, he comes to a horrifying realization: Someone from society’s upper echelon is preying upon the city’s most vulnerable. And though dark, powerful forces are moving against him, Sebastian will risk his reputation and his life to keep more innocents from harm (summary from Goodreads).

So my first thought when I started with this book was maybe I should have read more books in the series. Yes this book could be a stand alone, but there is clearly a back story that I missed somewhere between the first book and this one. There were some new characters that I wasn’t familiar with or those who’s relationship clearly changed during the course of the books. So in some ways, I feel like I should have read a couple more books in the series prior to this one or just read this one as a stand alone.

One of the things that I was happy to see hadn’t changed was the atmosphere. In the first book, the whole feel of the story/mystery was dark, brooding, and gritty. I felt slightly unsettled by the mystery and grit of the story which kept me on my toes! I love how the author creates this sense of unease in the mystery. As with the previous book I read, the pace of the novel was fast, mostly due to the shortness of the chapters. I wanted to keep reading and reading and reading late into the night thanks to the little cliff hangers at the end of each chapter….plus since each chapter was short and to the point, it was easy for me to get sucked into the whole ‘one more’ mentality!

Sometimes in a long standing mystery/detective series, some mysteries are better than others however this doesn’t seem to be the case so far. I mean, I’ve only read on other besides this one, but the quality of this mystery suggests that the others in the series would be equally as intriguing and interesting. Harris writes with a talented hand and seems to have a knack for creating shocking, engaging, and thrilling mysteries!

I would gladly go back and read every single book in this series. The crime is heinous as is the murdered, and there were some very uncomfortable moments within the story itself, but the mystery was solid and I enjoyed reading this one very much…..even if I did feel like I was missing some things from previous stories.

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Where the Dead Lie (Sebastian St. Cyr #12) by C.S. Harris

Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Published April 4th 2017 by Berkley
ASIN B01IAUG7CG
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Historical fiction, thriller, mystery, detective novel

Memorable lines/quotes: NA

Where the Dead Lie

A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery

Berkley

Hardcover

April 4, 2017

12th installment of the series

set in 1813 England

I seldom read books of this era, but there was something intriguing about this plot. As disturbing as the topic was, this wasn’t a book I could put down as the description places the reader in every dark and dangerous corner. You can see the tattered clothes on the children, the dirt on their faces, and sense their fear.

Where the Dead Lie opens with a burial. Not the kind you’re invited to. No, this was murder and the burial was planned late at night at an abandoned building to go unnoticed. A gentleman watches the illegal act anticipating his quick escape knowing that the crime will be buried with the corpse. Though a homeless, former soldier seeking shelter in the abandoned shot factory caught them in the act. The magistrate who should be dealing with the case refuses to seek justice for the young, dead pickpocket. Constable Mott Gowan takes on the responsibility feeling the child deserved the truth to be revealed and a better burial.

The children of the streets have no wealth, no history, no protection. They need someone to be their voice. So when the body of a boy buried in the makeshift grave is brought to the attention of Surgeon Paul Gibson he contacts Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. The two often investigate cases turned down by the authorities.

Sebastian immediately arrives at Paul’s home and witnesses the boy’s tortured body lying on a stone slab. After experiencing disgust and anger, Devlin is determined to find the person responsible for this horrid crime. Through his investigation, he uncovers a web of deviance that caters to the wealthy through prostitution and illegal books. Through his and his wife’s interviews, they learn that the boy is Benji Thatcher and when his mother was transported to Botany Bay, he and his younger sister were left alone. They struggled to stay alive.

Paul and Sebastian must find out who murdered Benji? Have other children met the same ending? And where is Benji’s sister?

This was a dark, disturbing novel and yet a perfect venture into man at his worst. The street youth, the witnesses and criminals were well drawn. I felt like I was watching a movie. I also learned about poverty in this time period. How mothers went to prison for stealing the simplest of things because prostitution was not an acceptable alternative. Then the unthinkable happens and these poor children were left to fend for themselves. They became pickpockets or worse to survive. Their society failed them and abandoned them. To make matters even worse, they are preyed upon.

Only problem was a printing error not caught right away, but I was told it was fixed. I read the e-book instead.

Five street children out of five

gottawritenetwork.wordpress.com

Denise Fleischer

April 30, 2017

Phew, I feel like I have the hardest time writing this review.
This was my first Sebastian St. Cyr book (despite the fact that it is #12), I have been meaning to read this series what feels like forever so when I was offered it for review? Yes, please.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very atmospheric, but in the heart of it all it is very much so character driven. Could it be read as a standalone? I think so, yes, but and I warn you, you will miss a lot of the character’s back story. Outside of the main mystery, there is a ton going on in the character’s personal life and although I was able to keep up, I felt a little out of the loop.
Despite all that, I was still able to enjoy the book. If I was good at trigger warnings, which I am not, I caution you to go into this knowing it’s a bit of a dark side. Again, this book took me completely out of my comfort zone and I did not find this easy to read. Why? This book deals with the murder of children, rape, flogging and just some really touchy subjects which all of it deals with with like young children around 12-14 year old – so it can be a bit uncomfortable.
This book did have a meaning behind its writing and it was for the author to shed some light on basically street children and how it use to be and the fact that the numbers are still prevalent even in todays society. The horrors, the battles, the means through which they would go through just to survive – I felt there was a message. Despite the fact that it made me feel uncomfortable, it felt realistic.
I read the author’s note and in itself I felt like it was a must read with this kind of a book. She talks about how the research is done, what is fact and fiction and how it was used in her book. It just ties a lot of stuff together, I felt it was important.
As far as the plot goes. It was interesting. I really loved Sebastian and following him as he unraveled the clues to the murders. It was just at times, hard to read, as to me it did feel dark. But, it was good, the writing itself was beyond excellent. Harris is just a really talented writer and has a great way with words. Every sentence just felt so perfectly crafted. I just felt that it was so good, so, so good.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story – despite the fact that it pulled me out of my comfort zone. I found myself rooting for Sebastian to find the killer and avenge all those poor children. As much as it was unsettling, I felt the author did an amazing job. The writing in itself was just brilliant. The characters will stay with me. I will continue this series.
The ending though, ugh… Left a lot of things on the table, it’s not over.

For those not in the know, I have annual standing book dates with certain authors or series that are truly an event for me where I clear the calendar for several hours and set up in a cozy spot with my beverage of choice and the latest shiny installment of my favorite series. The Sebastian St. Cyr series makes the cut, and I gladly was lost in the dark underworld of Regency Era London along with Sebastian on his latest detecting adventure.

WHERE THE DEAD LIE is book twelve in the series and would work as an entry to the series out of order, but it is best read in order. The series has a new murder in each book, but there are ongoing series plot threads that move in the background for several of the characters particularly Sebastian.

This installment grabbed my heart and left me near tears a few times because Sebastian’s latest case involves the street children. Back in those times, there were many reasons a child could end up alone and on the streets and even fewer resources available to care for them. Those who survived worked as hard as adults and had to develop a strength and cunning that broke my heart to see in children as young as five. And this story was particularly poignant because the murders were perpetrated against this vulnerable population that had no voice to cry out for justice. And the murderers were using the original Sadist, the Marquis de Sade, as their inspiration.

So yes, the thematic elements hit me hard, but they hit Sebastian, too. The detecting in this book and the others in the series has a combo of cozy style with lots of exciting and gritty moments, too. Sebastian crosses and recrosses the city interviewing and grinding it out hunting clues and digging out what secrets are part of the case and which are irrelevant even as others come after him because of what he is learning.

Alongside the mystery, there is the ongoing simmering bunch of situations within Sebastian’s extended family circle. Though, no worries, he and his wife are as stalwart a marital team as ever. I really hope the next book pursues that curious matter of his wife’s cousin because I think that lady is so much more than she seems. And wow, his niece choosing with eyes open to marrying an evil reprobate and poor Sebastian knowing the arrogant Lord is smug and toying with him over this. Hope there’s more about that, too.

All in all, WHERE THE DEAD LIE, was fantastic with its attention to authentic historical details, a cunning mystery, and colorful well-drawn characters. Anyone who loves historical mystery must give this series a go.

When it comes to C.S. Harris’ long-running series of historical mysteries featuring the aristocratic sleuth, Sebastian St. Cyr, I arrived rather late to the party. With eleven books already available, I wasn’t going to be able to catch up on them all in print, so, as I often do in such cases, I turned to the audiobook editions instead, and have been catching up with Sebastian’s adventures that way, and enjoying them hugely. I couldn’t resist the temptation of picking up book twelve, Where the Dead Lie, when it came up for review, and was completely hooked, right from the first page.

As I said, this is the twelfth book in the series (so there may be spoilers for the others in this review) and Ms. Harris shows no sign of running out of steam – or of ideas. As fans will know, the main mystery plot in each book is self-contained (although occasionally, some elements do turn out to have a bearing on a future story), and there’s no doubt that the author is a master of her craft when it comes to constructing a tightly plotted, gripping and atmospheric tale in which all the pieces are laid out and skilfully drawn together as the book hurtles towards a nail-biting finish. But what draws me back to the books over and over is the overarching storyline concerning Sebastian himself, as he continues to make discoveries about his own past and gradually, over the course of the series, has come to realise that many of the things he has believed about himself are untrue. He is having to adjust his perceptions about himself and those around him, and the revelations he uncovers and the way he handles them over time are just as engrossing as the individual mysteries.

In the three years since he investigated his first murder, Sebastian’s life has undergone significant change. Most recently, he has become a father, and even though he continues to be haunted by some of the things he experienced when he was a soldier fighting on the continent, he is a much more settled individual than when we first met him, and is enjoying a passionately happy marriage with Hero, the daughter of the powerful Lord Jarvis… who just happens to be Sebastian’s deadliest enemy.

When the body of a teenaged boy is discovered in a shallow pit on the grounds of a disused factory in Clerkenwell, the local magistrate sees it as just one more death of a worthless street-child, taking no account of the fact that the body bears the marks of whips, knives and ligatures – which indicate the boy had also been horribly tortured. When an enterprising constable has the body sent to Paul Gibson, surgeon, anatomist and long-time friend and colleague of Sebastian’s, it’s a only a matter of time before Sebastian interests himself in the case and determines to root out the person responsible for such a depraved, gruesome act of violence.

In the course of his enquiries, Sebastian uncovers a pattern of disappearances among the poorest, most vulnerable of those who eke out an existence on London’s grimy streets – orphans and the dispossessed children of parents who have been transported, imprisoned or executed. As always, Ms. Harris does a terrific job of painting a realistic picture of what life must have been like for the large underclass of the city’s denizens who lived in utter squalor, their lives a daily struggle with no hope of anything better and nothing to look forward to but an early, probably undignified, death. The level of disgust and horror Sebastian feels for the perpetrators of the crime and for those who simply brush off the deaths of children is so strongly evoked as to be an almost tangible thing; there’s no doubt that he is being deeply affected by the things he sees, hears and learns, and yet he is not going to give up. Even when he comes up against dead end after dead end, he perseveres, intent on getting justice for the most helpless and voiceless members of society.

The discovery of a number of other graves leads to the realisation that is a monster out there, hiding in plain sight; and as the number of suspects quickly narrows, Sebastian recognises that he is up against more than a single killer. Whoever is responsible has powerful friends and protectors, and without irrefutable proof of guilt, it is going to be next to impossible to ensure that justice is done and the murderer pays for his crimes. But somebody has to at the very least try; and even though the deeper he delves, the more he risks his own safety, Sebastian can’t stand idly by and do nothing while there is someone at large who thinks nothing of raping, mutilating and murdering children.

The book is marvellously well-paced, with the story immediately hitting its stride. The author builds the tension skilfully and it never dissipates, even when she slacks off a little to focus on Sebastian’s domestic life and his relationships with Hero and his father, Lord Hendon. Sebastian and his father have not seen eye to eye since Hendon acted, years earlier, to prevent his son marrying the young actress with whom he had fallen in love, and whom, more recently, Hendon had revealed was his natural daughter. Allowing Sebastian to believe himself to have indulged in an incestuous relationship – he had not, as was revealed shortly afterwards – is difficult to forgive, but even moreso is the fact that his father had concealed the truth surrounding his (Sebastian’s) birth for almost thirty years. Things between them have been very strained over the last few books, but there are signs of a rapprochement here, and it’s beautifully done.

Sebastian’s wife – sharply intelligent, independently minded Hero – is the perfect foil for him. Her reformist sympathies annoy her powerful father, but match with Sebastian’s views, and as her latest project is one in which she is looking into the situation of London’s street-children, she is able to provide some information which proves useful in her husband’s enquiries. Their relationship began in difficult circumstances, but over the last few books, it’s become clear that theirs is a strong, loving marriage built on mutual respect and affection.

I said at the outset that the mysteries in these books are self-contained, and this one does reach a satisfactory resolution. But Ms. Harris has left a few loose ends which I really hope are going to be picked up in the next book. There’s a subplot brewing concerning Hero’s twice-widowed cousin, Mrs. Hart-Davis, and while one of the killers gets his just desserts at the end, one remains at large. Sebastian is sure he knows his identity, but has no evidence or proof and is going to have to bide his time. I’m sure Ms. Harris isn’t going to leave it at that, and I can’t wait to read how this particular plotline is going to play out.

There are lots of historical mysteries out there and while I can’t claim to have read even a fraction of them, I’m sure the Sebastian St. Cyr books must be among the cream of the crop and I’ve found every single one of them to be completely compelling. Because of the long-running plot threads concerning Sebastian himself, the books really do need to be experienced in order, although I expect readers could dip in and out if they are prepared to do a bit of homework and read synopses and reviews for the other books.

Where the Dead Lie is easily one of the best of the series, showcasing an author at the top of her game. The mystery is complex and well-plotted, all the characters are strongly drawn and there’s a pervasive atmosphere of dread and malevolence that keeps the reader glued to the story, even as we’re revolted along with our hero at the horrors wreaked on the weakest members of society. It’s a must-read for fans of the series, and for those who haven’t yet read any of the books, pick up a copy of book one, What Angels Fear. It won’t be long before you’re as hooked as the rest of us.

Sebastian has had his challenges in life but he's still standing up for his beliefs and his sense of justice. The problem is that the dead boys don't matter to politicians who are looking for greater wealth and power...

Berkley sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you). It has been published today.

Someone is badly mistreating young boys and girls. They been whipped, knifed, and raped. The man who broke up the burial at the abandoned cemetery grounds said the man waiting for the boy who was digging was a gentleman. Looking for a murder among the aristocrats is very dangerous.

It doesn't make things better when he starts finding facts. It appears a foreign diplomat and a gentleman marrying his wife's younger sister are under suspicion. The more questions he asks, the more warnings he gets. He has to defend his own life more than once. But he never gives up.

This story was a bit distasteful to me because of the abuse of children but Sebastian makes one of the killers pay. The other one hasn't paid yet, but he will. Sebastian never gives up. I'm just glad he has his wife and child to calm him down and take him away from the bad he sees. They're a good couple, each with their own strength.

I'll be watching for the next book in this series. Sebastian's mother-in-law has just died and being cynical like I am, I think her husband murdered her. Now to see if I am right...

First Sentence: The boy hated this part.

Poor street children die all the time in London. Dr. Paul Gibson calls for his friend, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, to view the body of Benji Thatcher, a young boy who was tortured and murdered, and whose young sister is missing. His outrage leads St. Cyr to learn how many children are missing, the writings of the Marquis de Sade, and the realization of wealthy men who torture children for pleasure.

There is nothing better than a compelling opening chapter, except when that chapter leads to another, and another, and a complete story all equally good.

While the plot captures one, it is the characters to whom we are most attracted. With few words and simple descriptions, Harris brings her characters to life. Harris takes us from the lives of the most wealthy, to the most poor, with Dr. Gibson being the perfect middle note. One of the things that makes St. Cyr such a strong character, is his sense of morality—“Someone’s been killing poor children…” “…Do you know who is responsible?” We all are, Sebastian wanted to say. You. Me. This city. This nation. Everyone who ever saw a cold, hungry child alone upon the streets and simply looked away.”

Harris employs the same deft hand in establishing the sense of time and place, as well as transmitting the emotions of each character. It is painful to read the descriptions of the lives of the poor, especially the women. She doesn’t shy away from acknowledging man’s capacity for violence--“Any man who has ever gone to war understands only too well the worst of what his fellow men are capable. … He reached the conclusion that this capacity for barbarity actually forms a fundamental and inescapable part of whatever it means to be human, however much we might want to deny it.” Yet Harris knows how to tug our heartstrings as well.

A really good author educates as well as entertains. Among the things we learn are about making shot for rifles of the time, and 14th/15th century building construction. Additionally, she also provides an accurate assessment of humanity—“With humanity’s capacity for great good comes the capacity for unfathomable evil.”

“Where the Dead Lie” is a very good book with plenty of action and suspense. More importantly, it deals with a very painful theme that holds true today. Do be sure to read the notes at the end.

WHERE THE DEAD LIE (Hist Mys-Sebastian St. Cyr-London-1813/Regency) – VG+
Harris, C.S. – 12th in series
Berkeley – April, 2017

Where the Dead Lie is another great installment in Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series.

As the book opens, a squatter at an abandoned factory catches people in the act of burying the act of a teenage boy who was raped, tortured, and then murdered. Sebastian’s investigation turns up the fact that several orphaned and homeless young people in the poorer parts of London have gone missing over the past few years, and his fears that they have also been murdered are eventually confirmed. Sebastian struggles to figure out who the culprit might be, given that the victims are seemingly chosen at random. Then, when he narrows down the suspect list, he faces a new problem, because the killer is likely a wealthy upper class gentleman—and who will hold a gentleman accountable if the victims are considered worthless by society?

I don’t typically read mysteries involving serial killers, and that’s what this book is, so it didn’t grip me quite as much as some of the others in the series. The author is an excellent writer, though, so I was willing to ignore my personal bias in return for the pleasure of spending time immersed in her Regency London world with Sebastian and his investigations. In the end, the mystery is only partially resolved, so that sets up some potential future action that I’m interested in seeing play out.

As always, Sebastian’s family ties play an important role in the story. His niece gets drawn into an imprudent relationship that is likely to have consequences. In addition, his wife Hero suffers a bereavement. (And this is just speculation, but that particular death seems awfully fishy to me. Fodder for another book?)

If you are a fan of the series, this book is a must-read. I would also encourage anyone who enjoys novels set in the Regency period to give the series a try (starting with the first book), even if they don’t normally read mysteries. Harris does a terrific job of bringing the era to life, and there’s enough emphasis on Sebastian’s personal life throughout the books that, to me, they transcend the mystery genre.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Where the Dead Lie, Sebastian St. Cry, Viscount Devlin, is called upon to investigate the abduction, torture and brutal murder of a young homeless boy. A murder that would have gone unnoticed if a witness had not happened upon the attempted burial of the body. Street children in 1813 London are easy prey, abandoned and of little value to society. No one cares if they disappear and never return.
Outraged at the brutality of the case, Sebastian sets out to uncover the identity of the killer. He finds himself in a dark, depraved side of society, in a world of those who receive sadistic pleasure from the sexual abuse of children and of those who provide those children to anyone willing to pay for their services.
As he investigates, St. Cyr determinedly follows every clue, no matter where they lead. Readers of this series know that he never gives up, especially when he is attacked and has to fight for his own life or the life of someone he loves. He learns that there are many more victims when bodies are found in hidden graves, that someone very powerful is working behind the scenes, and that the killer may be a gentleman who cannot be prosecuted because of his title, status or powerful connections.
From the first page in the first title of this series to the final page of this twelfth title, C S Harris transports readers into the time and place of Regency London. We smell the blood of the dead and hear the sounds of the streets. We feel the pain of surgeon Paul Gibson’s addiction, the fierce loyalty of Sebastian’s tiger, Tom, and the sweet joy of the love shared by Sebastian, Hero and their young son, Simon.
This series is always one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year. The mystery is solid, with lots of suspects and many twists and turns until the final pages of each book. The story is filled with interesting supporting characters and rich descriptions of place and time. Relationships grow. Characters develop into people you want to meet and know.
I highly recommend this title to readers of historical fiction, historical mysteries and historical romance. If you are a reader of these genres and have not yet discovered the books of C S Harris, please start with the first book, What Angels Fear. It is a powerful beginning to this wonderful series.
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review an advance copy of this title. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I look forward to more of the story in future releases.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

When it comes to the mystery genre of fiction, I prefer historical settings to contemporary. I have not read any of C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries, but I’m always pleased to discover new authors/series.

Where the Dead Lie is the 12th book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series. Sebastian finds himself immersed in London’s sordid underworld after the body of a boy turns up in a hastily dug grave. The boy has not just been murdered; he has been brutalized, and Sebastian becomes obsessed with finding out who would be depraved enough to such horrible things to a child. As he progresses with his investigation, Sebastian discovers that multiple children have gone missing from some of London’s poorest neighborhoods. Did these street children simply leave in search of better opportunities or is there something more sinister at play?

This was slightly grittier than the mysteries I am used to reading, but that might be because the victims were children. Sebastian is a relentless sleuth who doggedly pursues every lead and clue in his search for justice. Harris creates an immersive portrait of Regency London, and Sebastian ventures to all sorts of neighborhoods from the finest salons to the most wretched slums.

I would recommend Where the Dead Lie to fans of historical mysteries. As I have mentioned, I haven’t read any of the other books in the series. This book functioned well as a standalone; I didn’t have any difficulty ascertaining who was who Sebastian’s world. I am pleased to have discovered the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries, and I’m looking forward to catching up on earlier books as well as any future books in the series!

This is the book twelve in the historical crime fiction series (and the last published so far) set in Regency England in 1813, and featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, the thirty-year-old Viscount Devlin. In the first book, he was suspected of a murder he did not commit, and had to become something of a Sherlock Holmes to find the real murderer to save his own skin.

In subsequent books, he was consulted on murders that involved the nobility, because he had an entrée into the upper level of society that would have been denied to the regular police. He agreed because the thought of anybody stealing away someone else’s a life was an abomination to him, especially after the traumatic instances of unjust murder he witnessed in the army, and for which he still felt guilt, even though he could not have prevented any of it.

Devlin is aided by the counsel of his friend, the surgeon Paul Gibson, who serves as a Watson to St. Cyr’s Holmes, as well as by Sir Henry Lovejoy, now a "Bow Street Runner" (detective) who has become a friend of Devlin’s. Devlin also has his young horse handler Tom, a former street urchin, to do reconnaissance work for him.

As this book begins, a surreptitious burial was interrupted and the body thus discovered of a 15-year-old boy who had been raped and tortured before finally being strangled to death.

Devlin comes to believe that there is a person or persons in London mimicking the barbarity described in <em>The 120 Days of Sodom, or the School of Libertinage</em>, the novel by the French writer and nobleman known as the Marquis de Sade. The book, written in 1785 and smuggled out of France, tells the story of four wealthy men who resolve to experience the ultimate sexual gratification by the sexual abuse and torture of their victims, which gradually mounts in intensity and ends in their slaughter.

In London in the early 1800s, unfortunately there was no shortage of potential victims. As the author recounts in her Afterword:

“There were tens of thousands of ragged children on the streets of London. . . . they frequently turned to begging, stealing, and prostituting themselves. . . Sleeping in doorways, under bridges, or beneath the stalls of markets like Covent Garden, they formed the most vulnerable segment of the city’s motley population of poor.”

It doesn’t take long for Devlin to come up with the names of some in the aristocracy who might be implicated, but proving it, and stopping them from further abuse, is another matter.

There are also complications by the possible complicity of his father-in-law, the powerful Charles, Lord Jarvis, “the real power behind the Hanovers’ wobbly throne.” Jarvis is dedicated to protecting the House of Hanover, even if it means protecting some of the worst elements of the realm.

Even worse, one of the possible suspects may be about to become part of Devlin’s own extended family.

<strong>Evaluation:</strong> I love the recurring characters in this series and their evolving interactions. In additions, one always learns a great deal of history from the stories, with a number of crimes thrown in to add tension and interest.

It always seems like a very long wait for the next Sebastian St. Cyr book so the I was offered a ARC on Netgalley I jumped at the chance. Once I started reading I was back in the wonderful world that Harris has painted. Once again Sebastian is trying to solve a murder and runs right into a world that Jarvis controls. Not everything is solved and I was left with the feeling that things were not what the seemed in the Jarvis household. Now I have to wait another year to see if what I think I saw is what Harris is setting up. Great addition to the series.

4.5 Sometimes after reading several novels set in contemporary times it takes a while to get in the mindset and mood that a return to the early 1800's requires. Need not have worried, due to this author's remarkable talent, within a few pages I felt right at home. Waiting for me. right where I left them was Sebastian, Hero, the reprehensible Jarvis and his long suffering wife, Tom, Giles and Paul, ready to tell me their story.

Street children are disappearing, their bodies discovered horribly abused. Though many consider these children beneath their notice, Sebastian makes it his mission to discover who
Is responsible, vowing to bring them to justice.

A wonderful series, one that seems to get better with each successive outing. Just the right mix of history, current events of that time period, family, Simon and Hero both have fascinating backgrounds, great supporting characters and cases that are intriguing without being terribly graphic. Society ills, so many children on the streets, many whose parent had been transported, either to the colonies or Australia, leaving these young children to fend for themselves. A new character and a tragic family matter seems to be the lead in for the next in series.

ARC from Netgalley.
Published April 4th from Berkley.

"Where the Dead Lie" is a historical mystery set in 1813 in London. This is the 12th book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to follow this one, and this book did not spoil any whodunits of the previous novels.

The author vividly described the setting and wove in historical details without slowing the fast pacing. The main characters were likable and cared about justice for the street children. Sebastian and Hero were observant and asked good questions, but the mystery was complex enough that it took some time to uncover who was involved. I'm a little surprised that Sebastian doesn't have more enemies, though, considering the secrets he tends to uncover along the way. It's a good thing he doesn't use those secrets against people.

Sex occurred and rape and torture was referred to, but there were no play-by-play sex or torture scenes. There was a fair amount bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written novel.

One of the darker titles in this series...and I see two cliff hangers, leading to the next title in the series!