"Murder at King's Crossing" by Andrea Penrose

It's been a little while since I read a Wrexford and Sloane Mystery -- in fact, two new books in the series have been released since I read Murder at the Merton Library in the summer of 2024.  Happily, I was able to slip right back into their world and revel in being with this quirky and eclectic cast of characters who have become my imaginary friends.  And I have another to look forward to!

I love how Penrose brings Regency England to life.  These books almost feel like Georgette Heyer could have written them sometimes -- lots of witticisms, wonderfully atmospheric details, and unconventional romances, but with clever murder mysteries mixed in too.  And I also love how she weaves real scientific discoveries and inventions into all the books -- I feel like I'm learning a bit of the history of science along the way.

But it's my fondness for the Earl of Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane and their motley found family that keeps me returning to the series over and over.  I have started collecting the paperback editions as they get released because I know I will want to reread the series in the future, and I can no longer trust my local library system to just keep good books on their shelves.

This mystery centers around missing plans for a way to make longer, stronger bridges that may have been stolen by Napoleonic supporters hoping to bring the former French emperor back from exile.  Don't want to say more than that so I don't spoil it!

Particularly Good Bits:

"Indeed, the union of kindred hearts and minds makes each person even stronger" (p. 47).

"It is nice to be reminded that there is beauty in this world that cannot be diminished by the evil that lurks in the human heart" (p. 50).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-13 for murder, attempted murder, some mild cussing, and veiled allusions to wedding nights and newlywed activities.

"Murder at the Merton Library" by Andrea Penrose

The only real downside to this book is that, now that I've finished it, I have to wait until September for another Wrexford and Sloane book!  I absolutely love this series and am slowly collecting them up because I know I will want to read them all again.

In this one, the Earl of Wrexford's late brother's best friend is murdered, and Wrex vows to bring the killer to justice.  Meanwhile, a scientific laboratory burns down in what appears to be arson, and Charlotte is drawn into the search for possible motives and perpetrators.  Of course, the two crimes end up being linked, and it takes the combined talents of their entire found family to figure everything out.  

I very much enjoy how Penrose works so many real-life scientific discoveries and inventions into this series.  It's set during the Industrial Revolution, and the emphasis on science really sets this series apart from other Regency-era books I've read.

Particularly Good Bits:

"It is a curse of human nature that we are inclined to believe things that we wish to be true.  Evildoers have exploited that weakness since the Garden of Eden" (p. 220).

"Vengeance doesn't soothe the soul" (p. 240).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-13 for violence, including showing a murder on-page, a smattering of cuss words, and mention of an attempt at rape (in the past, not shown, and neither victim nor perpetrator are regular characters).

"Murder at the Serpentine Bridge" by Andrea Penrose

Did I worry that, when the two main characters of the Wrexford and Sloane Historical Mystery series got married, the books might take a, shall we say, salacious turn?  I did.  But, they didn't!  Yes, there are a few on-page kisses, and a brief mention of enjoying the pleasures of the marital bed, but that's it.  Whew.  This series continues to be a delight!  My only sorrow regarding it is that my library doesn't have the next couple of books in the series!  Boo!  But, honestly, I have been considering buying copies of the series for myself.  I know I'm going to want to reread them!  And I don't want to trust the library not to get rid of them when they decide they aren't popular enough to keep on their shelves, as that has happened several times with mystery series I enjoy :-(

In Murder at the Serpentine Bridge, a brilliant inventor is murdered, his body dumped in the river.  He was working on a secret, dangerous project, and his plans for it are nowhere to be found.  The Earl of Wrexford and his wife, Lady Charlotte, become increasingly involved when they take the inventor's orphaned nephew under their care.  Their adopted sons, Hawk and Raven, befriend the lonely boy and nickname him Falcon.

Falcon inherited a title and property from his late father, but is not of age to manage his inheritance, and he has another uncle, his father's brother, who is supposed to be managing his estate.  But that uncle resents Falcon for a variety of reasons, not least because Falcon is a "quadroon," one quarter black and three quarters white.  His inventor uncle was Falcon's mother's brother, half black himself, but highly respected by most in England's scientific circles. 

The inventor's murder is not race-related, but greed-related, as unscrupulous bad guys want to sell off his plans for his dangerous invention to the highest bidder, no matter whether or not the highest bidder is an enemy of England's.  But the varying attitudes of Regency England toward black people do come into play.  As usual, Penrose includes actual historical events in her book, and there is a note at the back explaining which events are real, and which characters are inspired by or based on real people.  Because I love learning about history, I always appreciate that aspect of these books very much.

Particularly Good Bits: 

"None of us can sail a ship alone.  We need friends aboard to help us steady the keel and keep a firm hand on the tiller when the weather turns rough" (p. 173).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-13 for murder, children in grave danger, brief on-page kisses, and the aforementioned sentence in which Lady Charlotte thinks about having enjoyed her bedroom activities with her first husband, but not so much as with her second.  The line is as vague as my description of it.

"Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens" by Andrea Penrose

Another wonderful entry into what is fast becoming a favorite mystery series for me!  These Wrexford and Sloane Historical Mysteries are absolutely delightful.  So far, not a single one has disappointed me.  In an age when so many mainstream books are better suited to the recycling bin than my bookshelf, Andrea Penrose is a beacon of hope for me.  These books are fun, intelligent, character-oriented mysteries that provide plenty of sparkage between the main characters, but never slide into smut.  At least, not so far!  I am so happy I can wholeheartedly recommend these to my friends who also love mysteries and historical fiction.

In Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Wrex and Charlotte find their friends and acquaintances slowly drawn into a net of deceit, murder, and greed, and catching up with the bad guys behind the mayhem takes the combined force not only of their own sleuthing talents, but the varied talents of all their friends, too.  All that, while also trying to plan their wedding!

Penrose likes to weave elements of actual scientific history into the plots of this series, and I always learn something from these books!  This one has lots of interesting things about botany and medicine in it.

Particularly Good Bits:

Murder's grim shadow, she reminded herself, could smother every spark of light if one wasn't careful.  Evil must not be allowed to extinguish all that was good in the world (p. 218).

His sense of humor was yet another thing she loved about him.  Without laughter to counter the injustices and absurdities of the world, life could so easily crush one's spirit (p. 237).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-13 for murder, violence, poison, and some very mild innuendos.

"Murder at Queen's Landing" by Andrea Penrose

Yup, still enjoying this series.  A lot :-D  At this point, I'm fast friends with not just Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford, but with all the regular side characters too.  And that means I delight in spending time with them between the pages of each book.

In this particular book, a clerk from the East India Company is murdered near the London harbor.  Nobody thinks much about it, as he's not an important person, but friends of his ask others to help, and they ask others, and soon it's up to Charlotte and Wrexford to untangle a complicated snarl of mathematics, machinery, monetary fraud, and murder.

Plus, Charlotte and Wrexford finally admit to themselves and each other that they care very deeply about one another.  One of the things I like best about this series (at least, the first four books that I have read) is that the romantic undercurrent is strong, but remains clean.  No one has hopped into bed with anyone else so far, which means I don't have to provide any caveats for my praise.

The pacing of this book is a bit slower than the previous three, but I appreciated that.  It spends a lot of time letting us experience Charlotte and Wrexford both coming to grips with how forming friendships and relationships of all sorts has helped them both grow too, and I loved that.

Particularly Good Bits:

Keeping secrets, however well intentioned, was fraught with peril.  Omissions tangled with misunderstandings, and suddenly trust, an oh-so-fragile bond to begin with, snapped (p 120).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-13 for murder scenes that are not described in a grisly way, some violence, discussions of opium addiction, and a sprinkling of cuss words throughout.

"Murder at Kensington Palace" by Andrea Penrose

Yet another thoroughly entertaining Wrexford and Sloane mystery!  I won't say this one was thoroughly enjoyable because it had a couple of quite grisly murders and involved the subject of people doing scientific experiments on themselves and on dead bodies, which is kinda icky.  Not nasty or repulsive to the point where I felt squeamish, just... a bit ew.  

When Charlotte Sloane's cousin is murdered, and his twin is arrested for the murder, she sets out to prove the surviving brother innocent.  Naturally, the Earl of Wrexford involves himself in the case as well.  The two of them dance around the fact that they have come to care for each other, and come to a somewhat satisfactory understanding of this fact by the end of the book.  As an emotionally cautious person, I found their hesitancy completely relatable, but I suppose some readers may be irked by their reticence to fall into each others' arms. 

Charlotte also makes a decision that will change her life, and the lives of her two wards.  It involves introducing a new character: her aunt, Lady Peake, whom I found amusing and fun.

Particularly Good Bits:

Creativity is rarely tidy, he thought wryly as he ran his gaze over the bookshelves and work counters (p. 213).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-15 for the grisly murders, one of which involves removing a piece of male anatomy, but which does not involve any kind of sexual element.  There are a variety of cuss words, some veiled suggestive dialog, and a violent fight scene.  No spicy scenes, and the murder scenes are not described in a grossly gory way.

This is my fourth book read from my #20BooksOfSummer23 challenge list.

"Murder at Half Moon Gate" by Andrea Penrose

Another winner!  I liked this one even better than the first book in the series, Murder on Black Swan Lane.  I really, really am enjoying these books. 

In this one, Charlotte Sloane is in the process of moving to a house in a better part of London.  Not a great part, but a bit safer and more respectable, which she wants not for her own sake, but for Raven and Hawk, the two street urchins she has taken in as her wards.  The Earl of Wrexford stumbles across another dead body, and before they know it, both he and Charlotte are busy trying to figure out why someone killed a respected inventor.  They uncover all manner of intrigue and skulduggery in Regency London once again.

Particularly Good Bits:

"Suspicion wields an eager spade.  It cares not where it digs, as long as it's turning up dirt" (p. 138).

That she could help puncture lies and expose evil with her art had somehow taken hold in her heart (p.151).

What place did people have in a world where machines made their efforts obsolete?  What lay ahead for those who toiled with their hands? (p. 185).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It:  PG-13 for murder, violence, a bit of innuedendo here and there, and a sprinkling of cuss words.  Once again, no smut, but Wrexford and Sloane are feeling a growing attraction to each other, which has remained tasteful this far.

"Murder on Black Swan Lane" by Andrea Penrose

These days, I almost never read a book without having read someone's review of it that made me go, "I want to read that!" Or without it being by an author I enjoy.  So this was kind of a treat, in that way, because I really knew nothing about it except that an Instagram friend thought I would like it.  When I ordered a book box from her Etsy shop, this is the book she chose for me, knowing I love mysteries and historical fiction.  And she was right!  I really, really enjoyed this book!  In fact, I just put a hold on the next book in the series at my library.

Murder on Black Swan Lane has two main characters: Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford.  They take turns being the POV character throughout the book.  Charlotte is a widow, and she is secretly a very popular and famous political cartoonist whose satirical artwork is the talk of Regency-era London.  When one of her pieces accuses Wrexford of committing a brutal murder, it brings him to her door, demanding either a retraction of some sort.  They eventually join forces, albeit unwillingly, and work to bring the actual murderer to justice.

The whole book is thoroughly enjoyable, especially if you enjoy lots of Regency slang and fashion and other period-correct details, plus a dastardly plot to untangle, but without delving into sordidity.  (Do you like that word?  I just coined it.)  Although there are some ugly murders, and some violence toward children, the book does not devolve into grisly, preferring to remain grimy but not gruesome.  I look forward to continuing the series, and I'm happy to discover there are five more books in the series out already, with another due out this fall.  I do love a good series, and I hope this one continues in the same vein!

Particularly Good Bits:

Hope, however, was a two-edged sword, a dangerous weapon in careless hands (p. 277).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It: PG-13 for murders, violence to children, lots of danger and peril, and a sprinkling of cuss words.  No smut, but some mention of things like mistresses and ladies of the evening.

This is my 25th book read from my TBR shelves for #TheUnreadShelfProject2023.