What Cannot Be Said - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads:  What Cannot Be Said (A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery #19) by C.S. Harris

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  July 1815: The Prince Regent’s grandiose plans to celebrate Napoléon’s recent defeat at Waterloo are thrown into turmoil when Lady McInnis and her daughter Emma are found brutally murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in a chilling imitation of the stone effigies once found atop medieval tombs. Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy immediately turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for help with the investigation. For as Devlin discovers, Lovejoy’s own wife and daughter were also murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in the same bizarre postures. A traumatized ex-soldier was hanged for their killings. So is London now confronting a malicious copyist? Or did Lovejoy help send an innocent man to the gallows?

Aided by his wife, Hero, who knew Lady McInnis from her work with poor orphans, Devlin finds himself exploring a host of unsavory characters from a vicious chimney sweep to a smiling but decidedly lethal baby farmer. Also coming under increasing scrutiny is Sir Ivo McInnis himself, along with a wounded Waterloo veteran—who may or may not have been Laura McInnis’s lover—and a charismatic young violinist who moonlights as a fencing master and may have formed a dangerous relationship with Emma. But when Sebastian’s investigation turns toward man about town Basil Rhodes, he quickly draws the fury of the Palace, for Rhodes is well known as the Regent’s favorite illegitimate son.

Then Lady McInnis’s young niece and nephew are targeted by the killer, and two more women are discovered murdered and arranged in similar postures. With his own life increasingly in danger, Sebastian finds himself drawn inexorably toward a conclusion far darker and more horrific than anything he could have imagined.

Genre: Mystery - Historical    

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the previous books in the series so of course I had to pick this one up.

My Impression: I have really enjoyed the previous books that I've read in the series but I think this one might be my favorite one yet.  While the last few books have involved a more international angle this one was far more domestic involving the death of a mother and child.  This sets Devlin and Hero onto a journey of looking into workhouses and the treatment of children when they are apprenticing as well as diving into the history of Devlin's friend, Sir Henry Lovejoy.

This series tends not to be the fastest paced read but instead unfolds with the perfect amount of detail and character development.  I love Devlin and Hero as well as the people that surround them.  The characters are all smiles and sunshine.  Not all their relationships are smooth and they don't handle everything perfectly at all times which is kind of refreshing.  I like how they have evolved as a family and how other relationships have evolved as well.

The mystery really kept me guessing.  I had no idea how everything was going to work out or even why things were happening until almost the end but I enjoyed every page it took to get there.  While not central to the bulk of the plot there are still mentions as to what is going on in France which provides a nice bit of context in the time period.  I really enjoyed this book and this is a series I plan on continuing with.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I missed the first few books and am looking forward to going back and reading thiose as well as continuing with any future books in this series.  

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy historical mysteries where the setting isn't just window dressing this is a must read.  

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *