Continuing on in this wonderful series from Sophie Barnes is the next gripping story, A Ruthless Angel Weeps. Since Adrian has been arrested Samantha plots a way to rescue her husband. New characters are introduced and we find out more about Samantha’s sisters. The story just continues to keep unfolding.
You won’t be able to put this book down. I don’t want to give anything away. You will be on the edge of your seat every moment. It is action-packed, full of mystery and intrigue and don’t forget the romance that sneaks in. I loved it. The series keeps getting better and better.


If you’re drawn to gritty stories where daggers fly and true love reigns, A Ruthless Angel Weeps is the book you’ll want to read. A hero sentenced to die, a heroine plotting to save him, and the group of human traffickers who will rue the day they crossed paths with the Crofts. Find it on Amazon, ibooks or Barnes & Noble! https://books2read.com/u/m0oLA7 #MustRead #historicalmystery

This is the third in the series and wow. I could not put this book down. As soon as I got it, I started reading it and nothing else got down. This series can't be read as a standalone. It is written like one big book. The adventure and mystery had me wanting to turn to the last page to see how it would all work out. I didn’t though. The characters are wonderfully written and the storyline is different from most stories and keeps you guessing. The topic is a serious one but then so is murder. Again I was disappointed that the story didn’t end but happy to know that we don’t have to wait long for the next one. I will again put everything down and read it too. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my reivew.

A Ruthless Angel Weeps by Sophie Barnes
House of Croft #3

Excellent exciting addition to the series ~ Couldn’t put it down!

What I liked:
* Samantha Croft: trained as a lethal spy, government asset, alliance shifted to her husband, plans with Adrian’s men a means of saving him, flexible, agile, resilient, loves Adrian completely
* Adrian Croft: accused of murder, strong, resilient, bright, protective, head of a generational crime syndicate, lives by his personal moral compass, puts brilliant plan in play
* Chief Constable Peter Kendrick: has grown on me as he begins to see things differently, honest policeman, would like to see what he does next with his colleague Jackson
* Edward Pryce, Earl of Marsdale: Adrian’s best friend, was in love with Adrian’s sister Evie, beginning to get over his grief, intrigued by Melody Roberts, I hope to see more of him
* The supporting characters: Murry, Ward, Turner, Shaw and Barrister Grant
* The side story of Molly and the missing children and how it all played out
* Wondering if the other “nightingales” will realize as Samantha did that the man they admire is not so very admirable
* The mystery man who pulls strings behind the scenes – do wonder who he is
* The way Adrian calls in favors to accomplish what he did
* Wondering if Adrian will find the man responsible for his sister’s death
* All of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The people in the child trafficking ring
* The evil men in power willing to cheat and lie to get what they wanted – hope they all are taken down
* Having to wait for the next book

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sophie Barnes for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Ruthless Angel Weeps coming out January 28, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this series. It’s a really fun and cozy murder mystery Regency era series. Adrian and Samantha are an amazing couple. They really go through their ups and downs. I think they really work well together. I loved the story! I’m excited to see what’s next happens in the next book!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys regency mysteries!

This book picks up where Book 2 left off right in the middle of things. There was so much going on I found it hard to put the book down. as you felt things could go either way for much of the story. In addition there is also a side plot of a missing child who was being trafficked and could she be saved in time just in case there wasn't enough going on in the main story. A thoroughly enjoyable story but does need to be read in order as they are interlinked and do not fully resolve everything in each book although some resolution does happen. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Loved this book! It kept me interested and didn’t want to put it down.

I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion from Netgalley

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. It’s number three in the House of Croft series, and I thought it might be the end, but there’s too much more to mine from this vein. Adrian and Samantha were great when they were adversaries. As partners, they’re unstoppable. I began to see them as superheroes, which isn’t so far-fetched when you consider that Adrian, in particular, is driven by the need to punish the criminals who don’t get caught. At first, Adrian is convinced that he’s in jail because Samantha betrayed him, but visits with his lawyer and from his best friend Edward demonstrate otherwise. She is madly working behind the scenes to free him. ‘Behind the scenes’ because she is also a fugitive. She’s considered a traitor for not finding evidence to convict Adrian.

Even Peter Kendrick, the constable who hunted Adrian with dogged determination, begins to realize Croft isn’t the villain he thought he was. When Kendrick apprehends Croft, he thinks he’s taking a criminal off the streets. However, when he hears Croft’s story, he decides Croft may not be a criminal, after all. But his superiors will not allow him to investigate further, and the trial is put on a fast track to convict and hang Croft. Even Kendrick can see that the entire thing is rigged—complete with false witnesses, and a paid-off judge and jury. Adrian doesn’t stand a chance. Kendrick begins to suspect a plot within the aristocracy to eliminate Croft so they can continue their wrongdoing.

Simultaneously, the plot follows the fate of young Molly, a beautiful six-year-old girl destined to be sold as a slave. In their impatience to convict Adrian, Kendrick’s superiors not only forbid him from searching for more evidence to exonerate Adrian, but also decide searching for Molly isn’t important. It’s important to Kendrick, and he’s determined to find her, with or without approval. It’s fairly clear from the start that the Crofts will rescue her from her kidnappers. The question is, will saving Molly and the other children from these monsters be enough to absolve the Crofts of their crimes? It doesn’t seem likely. What they really need is to find evidence that Adrian is not guilty and get a pardon for Samantha. I won’t ruin the end by telling you what they actually do accomplish.

I love the character arc of Peter Kendrick, who really presented as a villain in the first two books. In this book, it becomes apparent he was following the directions of his superiors and didn’t have all of the information they did. Once he understood what was going on, his innate desire to do the right thing took over. I also enjoyed Samantha’s interactions with Adrian’s associates, working together to save him from the hangman’s noose. It’s truly a team effort and Adrian is overcome with appreciation for all of the people who care enough about him to risk their own lives—especially Samantha because he doubted her.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, rooting for Adrian and Samantha to make it to safety. It’s not a cliffhanger, but there are definitely threads to be pulled for the next book in this series. I can’t wait to read more!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Sophie Barnes for this amazing e-ARC in exchange for a honest review

I think I can establish Sophie Barnes as my new favorite author, which I rarely do. I couldn't thank her enough and appreciate her works enough, especially for the House of Croft series. 5 stars straight for each 3 books is just crazy! Sophie did it again and again!

I feel like the plot is so rich and the dynamic is incredible! I love every developments she's written in this book, each made me feel intrigued in every chapter. It's always fun to have different 'side quest' kinda in each books. I just love this book so much, and I expect more from the fourth book.

Despite of my everending love for this series, I hope the fourth one would be the last, with a satisfying and suitable closure. I feel like if there's more than 4 of them, I don’t think it would be a good series and I think it'd be too much

This was everything that I was looking for as a opening chapter in this series. I was engaged with what was happening and enjoyed the use of the time-period. It had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed the feel of this. Sophie Barnes wrote this perfectly and am excited for more.

This is the third book in the Croft mystery series, not to be read as a stand-alone, you need to have read the previous books to understand the story fully.

The book starts immediately where the previous one left off, Croft in a cell and Samantha running and trying to craft a plan to set him free.

The way the story twists and turns will keep you riveted and it will be really hard to put the book down.

The characters are well thought out and you get really to sympathize with Croft and Samantha's situation.

I have received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

Loved, loved, loved reading the engaging, exciting, and entertaining story. Samantha needs to free her husband before he is hung for murder. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written full of mystery and intrigue, and a must read riveting storyline. Can't wait to read the next story in the series by the phenomenally talented author, Sophie Barnes!