Before I dive in, please note that I have NOT read any of the series' previous books. My thoughts and reactions are based off of this book and this book alone. [3.5 stars.]

Do I feel reading the other books may have helped me better enjoy this book? Possibly. I definitely would have had a better sense of all the characters and their motivations. However, this book was written in such a way that it could have been a standalone and I commend that. Otherwise...

This story dragged. A lot. In part due to all the science elements. I understand that it's a component in the world / setting and the mystery itself, however, you end up spending a significant amount of time reading the details of the research only for the sleuths to have no new clues, answers, or suspects.

I went into reading this expecting the typical murder mystery vibes, and was sorely disappointed. It was more a general mystery where someone happened to be murdered.

I enjoyed Charlotte, the Weasels (plus Peregrine) and a few other side characters which was the saving grace, in my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

Not my cup of tea— it was a little too slow. The idea itself was interesting but the story failed to capture my interest.

Another phenomenal Wrexford and Charlotte mystery! I am a sucker for any historical mystery that involves the Oxford Library and this did not disappoint! I highly enjoyed this and will recommend this mystery to any classic or historical mystery fan.

Took me a while to get into but the atmospheric tone of the book helped a lot , but its definitely a book you need to read in the order of the series it's part of to help understand who is who.

From the publisher: 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.

Are you looking for a new historical mystery series? Check out Wrexford and Sloane by Andrea Penrose. Charlotte Sloane is a widowed lady of quality with a secret. She is a satirical cartoonist under a pen name. She uses her pen to cast light on injustices and misbehavior. Circumstances bring her together with two orphaned guttersnipes who she comes to love as her own, and with the intimidating Earl of Wrexford. This series has a nice mix of mystery, historical details, and found family. The relationships feature romantic love, parental love, family love, and deep friendships.

The book that introduces these characters and other series regulars is Murder on Black Swan Lane, and book seven in the series is due out in September. This is a great time to start reading, because if you like the first book, you can move right on to the next, but the number of books already published is not intimidating. Set in Regency London, the author likes to spotlight legitimate scientific innovation of the time period. Real scientists make occasional appearances in her stories.

Book seven, Murder at the Merton Library, starts with the murder of an Oxford librarian. It deals with fallout from the Napoleonic wars and intrigue around competition to create a marine propulsion system utilizing steam engines. (If that sounds boring, don’t worry – the author makes it interesting.) The Regency details seem perfect, and the author believably makes her female characters as important to the action as the male characters. I’ve found some of the other books in the series a bit draggy at times, but this one moved along briskly for me.

This series is a lot of fun for the serious historical mystery reader. I read an advance reader copy of Murder at Merton Library from Netgalley. It is scheduled to be published on September 26. The Galesburg Public Library will own it in multiple formats, and we already own the first six books in the series.

Not for me unfortunately - yes there is a murder in the library but the rest is a bit dry and didn't hold my interest. DNF

Murder at the Merton Library
By Andrea Penrose
3 stars

Wrexford and Sloane (now Lady Wrexford) are back with another mystery. For the first time since the original, this one hits awfully close to home for the Earl of Wrexford when his deceased brother’s best friend is murder shortly after he had written for the Earl’s help. There is also the problem of recent attacks on research laboratories working on new steam engine technology and oceangoing marine propulsion systems. Wrexford hires Bow Street runner Griffin to aid in the murder investigation while Charlotte works to learn more about the new technology especially once a few of her newest and dearest are courted to invest in a new, too good to be true, venture. It comes as no surprise when it becomes clear the two investigations are actually connected. There are times when the writing feels a little repetitive. But my love for the characters – especially the Weasels and Aunt Alison – always carry me through. I will certainly be back for the next installment.

Personal note: William Hedley, inventor of the Puffing Billy and frequent guest character, is an ancestor of my husband’s family. I gave my mother-in-law Murder at Kensington Place (the book in which he first appears) for Christmas this past year and she was thrilled!

A key reason I wanted to obtain and read this book was related to the title. I thought (reasonably, I’d argue) that a title should reflect the main focus of the book, or at least imply it. I was surprised to find that the titular murder, which did indeed occur at Merton, was quite secondary to the main plot, which circled around the development of steam powered transoceanic travel, and the sometime murderous quest by various governments to procure the same. I guess that would make for a very clunky and dry title, so I can see why the author went a different route, but it was a bit ‘bait and switch’ for my liking. The characters must have been more clearly delineated in prior books in the series, because there was not much exposition and development here. The clutch of precocious boys that the main characters had taken under their wing had tonal shifts in dialog that ranged widely from gutter snipe to a sort of faux middle to upper class lingo. I guess if I had to offer a rating on a 1-5 scale, I’d give this a 2. Not sure I’m impelled to go to prior volumes for more insights.

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose, well written and an interesting premise, but not for me. I do think others will enjoy it and I thank you for giving me a chance with this book.

5 stars

There was a bit of a delay while I purchased the previous book. I'm glad I did as they are almost a pair. This book leads on from the second. A librarian is murdered. Wrex got him the job at the college as he was one of the few survivors from a raid that killed Wrex's beloved younger brother. The weasels are very much a part of the enterprise as is Peregrine before he returns to Eton. We then meet another member of the flock, Osprey.

Great addition to the series.

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

As usual, another Wrexford and Sloane mystery is a pleasure to read. This time our "intrepid heroes" (male and female, old and young) get into the potential for the development of propeller-driven water transportation (which seems odd, given the title of the book, but there you go). It's pretty detailed, which is rather beyond my technical and mechanical knowledge, But I enjoy the characters and the intricacy of the plot. Another winner for Andrea Penrose. I received a free copy of the book from Net Galley, but I leave this review voluntarily. #MurderattheMertonLibrary #NetGalley

Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose (Wexford & Sloan Mystery #7) 4.5 stars

A suspicious murder of a librarian at Oxford University and an arson that destroyed an inventor’s facilities. Two separate incidents or related crimes? The Earl of Wexford and wife Charlotte are pulled in to investigate and find that their paths cross and combine as time passes. Can they solve the mysteries and prevent industrial sabotage or will they be late?

This is probably my third Wexford and Sloan historical mystery and they just keep getting better and better. I especially love the found family that surrounds them and the supporting roles they play. I managed to read this in one sitting and really enjoyed the details about the race to invent steam boats capable of crossing the ocean in a timely fashion. The murder mystery was engrossing and suspenseful. I eagerly look forward to the next Wexford and Sloan

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

Another Wexford and Sloan mystery with all the usual characters in place with a few new additional characters to liven things up. The one is interesting because of the subject matter, the invention is steam powered ocean travel and the race to be the first to develop it. The stories are always fascinating and fun to read.

I always look forward to reading a Wrexford and Sloane mystery. I love the characters, and I always learn fascinating tidbits about science/technological discoveries during the Regency period. In this new book, the plot focuses on the race to develop an ocean going steam ship, something I had never thought about. Wrex and Charlotte actually must solve two mysteries in Murder at the Merton Library. Neville Greeley, a librarian who suffers from PTSD and who was the best friend of Wrex's late brother, is murdered at Merton Library in Oxford. Meanwhile, Charlotte, with the Weasels, investigates sabotage taking place at laboratories that are working on how to create an ocean-going steam ship. Soon the couple realizes that they might be chasing the same villain. Charlotte and Wrex are strong characters but the secondary characters, particularly the Weasels, make the series fun. We even are introduced to a new character, Horatio (a midshipman in the British Navy), who we might meet again (I do hope Penrose includes in an author's note information about military officers and how a teen, such as Horatio, could command 30 men. I was puzzled by that). This is a series best read in order.

Charlotte, Wrex and the weasels are once again involved in a murder case. Meanwhile Charlotte is looking into the scientific advances of steam engines in boats. Are the two cases related or is just a coincidence?
Goodreads

When the Earl of Wrexford is summoned to Oxford by an old family friend, he arrives just in time to discover that the reclusive librarian has been murdered. The only pieces Wrexford has to go on are a missing manuscript and the fact that Greeley was overheard saying Wrexford’s name in a heated conversation with his potential killer. Solving this crime is personal for Wrexford, as the dead man was best friends with Wrexford’s younger brother, killed in the Peninsular War. Emerging whispers of a British traitor connected with Greeley’s death — and perhaps that of Wrexford’s brother and other soldiers — fuels his determination to root out the truth.

Meanwhile, Charlotte is drawn into a seemingly unrelated series of sabotages on laboratories and a naval facility, both locations at the heart of the race to design the first ocean-traveling steamship, a race spanning countries and continents. It becomes apparent that these sabotage attempts and the murder at Merton Library are connected after all, and bound together by the missing manuscript.

Soon Wrexford, Charlotte, and their inner circle band together to figure everything out and catch the ‘villains’ and ‘miscreants’ holding the puppet strings in this tangled mess. It’s always good fun to join this cast of characters, and I enjoyed this entry in the series. At times the details surrounding the mechanics of propeller design and steam travel bogged down a bit for me, but not overly so.

Here’s the big puzzler that kept niggling in my mind and I’d love to ask the author for an understanding of it: Horatio being a midshipman in charge of a unit of thirty men. I understand that the aristocracy were officers without having to rise through the ranks, but did they really have that kind of responsibility at his age? The book refers to him being about Peregrine’s age, which is roughly 13 based on the previous book. Someone that young would command a unit of men? Was I the only reader confused?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book even having not read the previous books in the series. I may even go back and read some of the previous books because I really enjoy the premise of the series which brings scientific learning and achievement into a Regency murder mystery. The mystery was not overly simple and neither was it overly complicated. The story left a few breadcrumbs that may make you want to pick up the next book without leaving you at a cliffhanger restlessly waiting the next installment.
My main critique is that all the protagonists were too over-the-top modern in their attitudes towards society. One thing I think authors of historical fiction in general need to realize is that having your characters have completely modern attitudes and morals is as historically inaccurate and jarring as having your Regency heroine wear a mini-skirt and stilettoes as she hops in her motor car to go to the Duke's ball. I understand wanting your protagonists more relatable to modern audiences, and even having them be better than those around them, but it borders on unbelievable when they are a veritable saint compared to the entire rest of the world at the time.

Review will also be posted to booklistqueen.com

tl;dr
Another great installment in the Wrexford & Sloane series with a well-researched historical mystery and a very strong cast.

Thoughts
The historical and scientific research that goes into this series has always impressed me, and this book is probably one of the best in the whole lot. I absolutely love Andrea Penrose's ability to build up the thrill of scientific discovery. With most of our mystery-solving crew now well established, the focus of this book manages to be the mystery instead of the relationships. Not that we don't get a touch of drama between Kit and Cordelia, and unfolding a bit more of Wrex's history is a welcome piece of storytelling, but it is nice to see everyone working together so efficiently to unravel what turns out to be a very cool mystery. This also feels like it might be the last "casual" story of the series, with even more international intrigue happening, along with my new favorite character (I've always had a soft spot for librarians). The Weasels are, as always, a delight, with Peregrine finally hitting one of the plot points I've always wondered about (in terms of recognizing art style), and I'm happy to see that they haven't been relegated to background characters over the course of the series.

Fans of the series will find this another solid book. Newcomers are welcome to start here if it's what you've got, but I do heartily recommend reading at least the first volume just to set the stage.

I love love this series!
Wrex and Charlotte, the Weasels, the newest weasel, Kit and Cordelia, the dowager, Mac, Baz, Tyler—I'm sure I'm forgetting someone, but they're the best as a found family.

The story starts out with two different mysteries to solve, one by Wrex and one by Charlotte, but the more they delve with the help of their friends and family, the more things get tangled up until they realize what's at stake. It's personal for Wrex, trying to bring justice to his brother and his brother's friend, but there also clues to a case of national treachery.

The historical side of the technology to develop ships capable of crossing oceans was fascinating, as were the parts related to the Oxford library. I also enjoyed seeing Wrexford's connection to the boys.

It's a standalone but you'll enjoy it more when you've read the previous books in the series. This is one series you don't want to miss.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.