Wrex, Charlotte, and friends have two investigations going on at once: a murder in Oxford and sabotage involving competing inventors. Wrex is heartsick as the murder victim was a friend of his deceased brother. His emotions impair his usual concise and logical approaches to investigation. As betrayals, murder, and greed are uncovered Wrex and Charlotte find themselves deeply grateful for the love and family they've been given and are loathe to risk.

Charlotte, her husband Wrex, and some friends are working together to solve a few mysteries: the murder of a late brother’s good friend, and an act of arson.

I realized 25% in that this is like the 7th book in the series so that was unfortunate. Regardless, I couldn’t finish at 41%. It was basically the same people just standing in different rooms repeating the same information, and not gaining any insight. Oh and discussion of science and other topics that are important to the author (but the author couldn’t be bothered to weave it into the story, it was just an information dump).

"A perplexing murder in a renowned Oxford University library and a suspicious fire at a famous inventor's London laboratory set Wrexford and Lady Charlotte on two separate investigations in this masterfully plotted, atmospheric Regency-set mystery from USA Today bestselling author Andrea Penrose.

Responding to an urgent plea from a troubled family friend, the Earl of Wrexford journeys to Oxford only to find the reclusive university librarian has been murdered and a rare manuscript has gone missing. The only clue is that someone overheard an argument in which Wrexford's name was mentioned.

At the same time, Charlotte - working under her pen name, A. J. Quill - must determine whether a laboratory fire was arson and if it's connected to the race between competing consortiums to build a new type of ship - one that can cross the ocean powered by steam rather than sails - with the potential to revolutionize military power and world commerce. That the race involves new innovations in finance and entrepreneurship only adds to the high stakes - especially as their good friend Kit Sheffield may be an investor in one of the competitors.

As they delve deeper into the baffling clues, Wrexford and Charlotte begin to realize that things are not what they seem. An evil conspiracy is lurking in the shadows and threatens all they hold dear - unless they can tie the loose threads together before it's too late..."

I've been feeling the need for an Andrea Penrose binge and I think now is the perfect time.

Another solid book in this series. Lots of detail as usual about the scientific discovery involved this time. The usual cast of character's are involved as usual although we do learn a bit more about Wrexford's history. The difference this time is that Wrex goes off on his own to investigate his friends death while Charlotte looks into what appears to be a separate mystery however the two intertwine and our sleuths are reunited as a unit. This one did feel a bit slower paced at times but still just as entertaining. Looking forward to more as I love these character's I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love this series. This books aren’t for dummies - you have to pay attention to both the history and the mystery in these books, to say nothing of the science. Fun team of Regency/ Scooby-Doo style sleuthed, too.

3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed this latest entry in the series, even if it was a little slower than than some of the other stories. We learn more about Wrex's backstory, particularly his relationship with his late brother. We also get to learn more about Mac's history here, as her past starts to intertwine with the mystery that Charlotte and Wrex are investigating. The scientific focus of this story is the race to develop early prototypes of the steam engine and the important role that it would play in the military, trade and government. I will admit I was less interested in this area than some others that have been featured in the series (even with all the sabotage and spying involved), but I always appreciate that I learn something new from each of these stories. One other minor critique: I was not a fan of the potential new addition to the Weasels' group, Osprey. I don't recall how old Raven is supposed to be at this point, but Osprey was both older yet less mature than him. Given the difference in their upbringing that's not surprising, but I still was not a fan.

Looking forward to reading what's next for Charlotte, Wrex and their crew!

Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

I’ve enjoyed all the books in this set of mysteries with an odd collection of family and friends that solve mysteries in Regency England. The main two characters are the Earl of Wrexford, a brilliant chemist, and his wife, Charlotte, who is secretly the talent behind satirical prints pointing to the corruption and hypocrisy of their society. Charlotte has also taken under her wing two mischievous orphan waifs who were living on the street. Add in another orphan boy and the couples friends and servants and Charlotte’s aunt and the author has created a fun band of amateur detectives.

If you haven’t read the earlier books, you could still enjoy this story, but you might be confused about who the characters are and how they are connected. I’d recommend going back to read the earlier books as they’re all fun. I really enjoy mysteries set in 19th century Britain and this series is always a delight.

Both Wrexford and Charlotte are investigating different mysteries until they find that the villains are the same in these seemingly unconnected crimes. What I enjoy about Penrose’s stories is that she centers the story around some new invention that was just coming into being in the 19th century and the criminals who want to control the new technology. It’s always fun learning about that technology. In this story, it concerns the efforts to develop an ocean-going ship that could be powered by a steam engine. After I was done with the book, I spent some time on the internet learning about the history of steam-powered shipping. It’s always a plus when a novel leads me to do more research.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review

I absolutely love this series and it gets better all the time!

Penrose does a fabulous job explaining the details so you can visualize yourself being in the middle of the drama.

I always read the first chapter extremely slow thinking I can grab a clue but I never do!

I highly recommend this book and the series if you love a good cozy mystery!

I just reviewed Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose. #MurderattheMertonLibrary #NetGalley

3.5 stars

I mentioned several books ago that with this series, I no longer pay attention to the mystery. It all feel repetitive after a while. Plus it involves a LOT of talks about mechanical invention of the yesteryear (that I don't really care about) or conspiracy/secrecy of government (another thing I don't care about). So the series become ALL about the characters for me.

Unfortunately, after the high of the previous book, with an addition to Wrexford & Sloane's colorful family, this one felt rather stagnant. Not much happening in terms of character development. Charlotte still worried a lot about her family, especially now that Peregrine was going back to Eton. The Weasels would always be able to insert themselves in the family investigation. Kit and Cordelia still somehow fighting about money (really, Kit, STOP being idiot!). And well, people were still dying

The few things I did enjoy here was a more insights about Wrexford's relationship with his deceased brother. There was a WONDERFUL moment here between Wrexford and Raven that just made my heart felt tight. Also we found out slightly more about Mac's past.

But the rest, wasn't as good as the previous books. I hope the next one would be a bit better. I wonder if it would take in Kit and Cordelia's wedding... because THAT would be another havoc in their life *laugh*

Murder at the Merton Library is another excellent entry in the Wrexford and Sloane series. The head librarian at Merton Library, who was also an old war buddy of Wrexford's late brother, is found murdered in his office and Wrexford feels obligated to investigate. At the same time, he and Charlotte are drawn into both a mysterious laboratory fire and a money making consortium that both have ties to the international race to develop a steam engine powered ship propulsion method that will revolutionize ocean travel.
Charlotte and Wrexford once again rely on assistance from their young wards and inner circle of close friends and family to investigate both cases. This great cast of recurring characters and the author's attention to period details are what make these historical mysteries so good. In this book, all of the background information on the history of the transition from sailing and paddle wheel ships to engine powered ones was particularly fascinating. A complex mystery and an increasingly dangerous hunt for the villains make for another thrilling adventure through Regency London.

As a general rule, I'm a bit of a purist as regards historical mysteries. I appreciate realism, the use of historical detail, and genuinely believable characters. Andrea Penrose's Wrexford and Sloane series is playful with a mix of characters unlikely to have historical counterparts, but they're just such fun reads that the have me tossing my purism aside and embracing far-fetched plot elements and characters.

These novels are set in Victorian London, but feature the kind of blended family of choice that readers would be more apt to accept in contemporary fiction. The family includes
• a female political cartoonist who works under a pseudonym and is married to...
• a once rogue-ish member of the nobility turned fighter for justice, and who along with the cartoonist has adopted...
• a pair of former street urchins who they are raising in simultaneously traditional and iconoclastic ways and who have been joined by...
• an half-Black, orphaned aristocratic child who, like the former urchins is utterly devoted to
• an aging aunt who is simultaneously a model of propriety and devil-may-care independence.
The family (and some of their closest friends) receive support from
• a cook with a mysterious background and a gift for baking ginger biscuits and
• a valet with wide ranging skills from the sartorial to the scientific.

Would this crew actually have existed in Victorian London? Absolutely not. Do they make delightful reading? Yes, absolutely. It's great fun to see the conventions of this period reinvented to make room for such a disparate group.

The mystery begins with the murder of a librarian at the Merton who is wrestling with shell-shock and the theft of an obscure scientific publication. As the book progresses the unlikely crew of investigators must look both back and forward to an act of treason during the Peninsular War and present-day competition among scientists on a quest to design a propulsion system not subject to the whims of winds and weather that would allow cross-ocean traffic between Britain and the US.

As a bonus, Penrose has an interest in history of science, so amidst all the unlikely characters and happenings, is some carefully researched and interesting material about the design of propellers and steam engines and the increasing role of entrepreneurship in the British economy. Not many writers can offer a mix of playfulness and precision the way Penrose does.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

I've read all of the books in this series and I'm confident in saying that if you've liked the others, you're probably going to like this one. There's more Charlotte, more Wrexford, more of their wards (the Weasels and their honorary third member, Peregrine), more Kit and Cordelia, and more great-aunt Allison. Like the other books in the series, this one centers on a scientific/engineering/technology innovation - this time, a propulsion system for ocean travel. Let me start with a caveat here that I was reading this as I was recovering from an unpleasant medical treatment, so I wasn't at my best mentally or physically, and I'm sure that impacted my experience reading. I found this entry in the series to be a little more confusing than the others, with multiple plot lines and what felt like even more science-heavy narrative than usual. I got a little lost a few times, particularly with the storyline related to the Peninsular War, but I did overall enjoy this and I'm sure I'll continue reading this series. One thing that I can always count on with these books is that they start with a great hook, usually a mysterious crime that gets the plot going, and this was no exception. As a librarian, I also really appreciated the role that libraries and librarians played in the story.

Very enjoyable, but perhaps not the strongest in the series. Perhaps it’s my lack of interest in ships and ocean travel, but I found it very difficult to get into the story. About halfway through, though, the pace picked up, and it was back to the Wrexford and Sloane mystery I adore.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

I couldn't have been happier when I was approved to read a digital ARC of this latest Wrexford & Sloane mystery. Though it's number seven in the series, Ms. Penrose has not lost her momentum in bringing a story filled with historical research and complex mysteries to readers.

Ms. Penrose's writing style has allowed me to become totally immersed into each book in the series; and her historical scientific research for the era captures my attention in each book. The plot is tightly woven with a few deft twists and turns, red herrings, clandestine meetings, and of course the core group of characters that are integral in each book. I love it when Aunt Alison, the dowager Lady Peake, helps to move the investigation forward. Raven, Hawk and Peregrine play integral roles in this book, as well. Treachery, murder, arson, spies and suspense kept me turning the pages until the end.

Ahhh, I missed all these characters. It was so much fun jumping into their lives again. The love between Charlotte and Wrexford is simple yet so profound.

Their relationship with the Weasels has been and remains my favorite part of this series. It is always wonderful to see Alison as a side character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. When I picked it out, I didn't realize it was part of a series. It's definitely fine to read as a stand alone mystery, but I think reading books 1-6 would certainly give more details and background about the characters. The book reads comfortably and keeps a good pace. There were some sections that felt slightly dense due to the science being discussed, but I still enjoyed it.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy library settings and an oxford-style theme (i.e. light academia lovers).

Murder at the Merton Library reminds me of a Nancy Drew style mystery and would be perfect for young teen readers. Even though it falls in a Historical Fiction category, the historical content does not overwhelm the reader.

Murder, arson, espionage, sabotage, and new inventions all contribute to the plot of the book.

A copy was provided for my review. All opinions are my own.

I really have enjoyed Wrexford and Sloane series. I do have to say that this one was my least favorite of the bunch. The storyline and the mystery and the circumstances just didn't catch me up as much. I enjoyed it but I could easily put it down, where as most of the others, I just needed to turn the next page. I appreciate being given the chance to read and ARC edition of this title with NetGalley

Didn't love this one but I also didn't didn't hate it. It just fell somewhere in the middle. But I don't think I will read anything else in the series or by the author.

embezzling, greed, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-fiction, history-and-culture, England, inventions, inventors, investigation, thriller, relatives, relationships, murder, mysteries, mysterious-character, politics, justice, treason, regency, 1814*****

This is not an unbiased review because I geek history and love this series.
This one centers on the marine use of steam engines and the race among English businessmen to back their competition with the Americans.
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 her husband 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. As always, there is a core of truth that has been well researched.
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!