Why I bought it: Actually, I didn't. I won this copy from Goodreads. But it's one I would have bought anyway because this mystery series is one of my favorites.
The plot in brief: This is the fifteenth Sebastian St. Cyr mystery. It takes place in London in the summer of 1814, and it revolves around the murder of Nicholas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaforth. Only, everyone thought Haves died years ago in Botany Bay. So why did he come back to England? And who killed him? Viscount Devlin and his wife, Hero, are on the case.
My thoughts: This is a good one! I love Devlin and Hero; they're such great characters. They are definitely the reason I enjoy reading these books so much. The time period these books are set in is an interesting one, which is another draw. And while I know you're supposed to read a series like this in order, I actually read the fourth book, Where Serpents Sleep, first, and I'm kind of glad I did because that's the book where Devlin and Hero meet. Of course, I then went back to the beginning and read the first three books to catch up; I've been reading this series ever since. 15 books later and I'm still hooked.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
Why I bought it: I love Fred Vargas's books. So last year when I spotted this one at a library book sale, along with four other Vargas mysteries that I'd already read and knew I loved, I quickly snatched them all up. ($1.25 well spent!)
The plot in brief: When the same symbol is found at two apparent suicides, Commissaire Adamsberg and his unique team of detectives think they might have a serial killer on their hands. The twists and turns of their investigation lead them to a tragic expedition in Iceland that took place ten years earlier, and to a strange society in Paris obsessed with Robespierre.
My thoughts: What I love about Vargas's mysteries is that they're always so unexpected. I never know where they're going to end up, but I always enjoy the ride. I also love the quirky eccentricity of Adamsberg and the other members of his team. These are just fun reads. A little strange at times, but always entertaining. My two favorites are An Uncertain Place and The Chalk Circle Man. But this one is good, too.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
Happy Reading!
I'm a great fan of the Sebastian St. Cyr series by Harris! I liked Who Speaks for the Damned a lot and always look forward to Devlin and Hero's adventures. I will have to try Fred Vargas. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you read a Vargas, start with An Uncertain Place or The Chalk Circle Man!
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DeleteThese both sound good but I'm especially interested in A Climate of Fear. Maybe it's the mysteriousness of it and the Iceland angle, but it sounds good!
ReplyDeleteThe Iceland angle did add a nice twist to the mystery that I really liked. Have you read any of Yrsa Sigurdardottir's books? They're all set in Iceland and are very good.
DeleteI haven't but that name sounds familiar... it may have been recommended to me once. I will definitely check out her books!
DeleteThey're good ones!
DeleteA Climate of Fear sounds like such an intriguing read. Yay for knocking a couple more off of your shelves!
ReplyDeleteI do miss perusing the library for my next read. Even the little free libraries in my neighborhood have been stripped of all the books. Thankfully ebooks are still accessible!
I've been missing the library, too. But until it reopens I'll just have to make do with the books I've got. :)
DeleteI'm glad you're still enjoying the Sebastian St. Cyr series after so many books! I've only read the first one but would like to read more of them.
ReplyDeleteThe series has held up well. There have been one or two that I haven't liked as much as the rest, but for the most part I've enjoyed every book.
DeleteI have several of the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries in my collection of review books, but I haven't given the series a try yet. I definitely should. I haven't heard of Fred Vargas, but his books might be right up my alley as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a fan of both series! :)
DeleteBoth of these sound good - keeping knocking out that TBR stack because it will be fun to build it back up again.
ReplyDeleteHaving read all 15 books in a series says a lot, so that's the one I'm going to take a look at first.
I already have a list of books I want to buy when my bookstore opens back up; a list I seem to add to daily. ;D
DeleteI like both of these authors so these are books I need to add to my list! I'm very behind on the Sebastian series. I think maybe I've only read 2. So many series to keep track of. Glad you liked these.
ReplyDeleteThere are too many series to keep track of! I'm always falling behind in them.
DeleteThe Vargas series is one of the best. I love that one with the ex-girlfriend driving around the French countryside. Hilarious. I think $1.25 is *bargain* for five Vargas books!
ReplyDeleteI do love these books! And I love that I got so many of them for so little. That was a good day. :D
DeleteI've been seeing the Harris book around the blogosphere and it looks good. Good to know that it's possible to jump into the middle of the series.
ReplyDeleteSeemed to work for me. :D Thanks for commenting!
DeleteI have not yet read either of these authors, but I do like the sound of the books. Especially Harris's series. I have long wanted to read that series. I am glad you enjoyed both of these, Lark.
ReplyDeleteI love the Harris series! Definitely give it a try. :)
DeleteHi Lark, Thanks for alerting us to these mysteries and tne C. S. Harris series sounds very good. I like the 1814 time period as well. Congratulations on reading books from your TBR shelf. I need to do that. Only problem is many of my TBR books in hardcover and the older I get the better I like my kindle where I can change the font size.
ReplyDeleteI know! I need to read all the books on my shelves with fine print now before I can't see it any more. ;D
DeleteI haven't read either of these but they do sound good. I'm glad that you enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteThanks. :) Hope you're doing well.
DeleteI'm definitely interested in checking out the C.S. Harris series. It's so nice, and rare, to find a series that's still good 15 books in. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is rare. About the only other one I can think of is Victoria Thompson's Gaslight mystery series. It's set in New York and is also a really good series. :)
DeleteI haven't heard of the C.S. Harris series, but I'll have to check that one out. I did read one of Vargas' Adamsberg mysteries, and I agree, it's delightfully quirky. Glad to hear you're still enjoying books from your shelf! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that I have some good books to read. :)
DeleteI've read great things about Fred Vargas but not yet taken the plunge.
ReplyDeleteEarly 1800s is rare for historical fiction, in mystery or otherwise. Most stuff is later in the century it seems because we readers can't get enough of the Victorians. :D Though as I recall the four Julian Kestral mysteries are also set in this time period.
Yeah, the Victorian Era is the most popular one. And I do like it, but it's nice to read books set in other time periods. I haven't read the Julian Kestral mysteries, but if you like them I'll have to check them out. :)
DeleteFred Vargas is a new author to me, and I am loving how you described that the mysteries are so unexpected and the characters so quirky!
ReplyDeleteQuirky and unexpected are the two words that best describe them. But that's why I like them. :)
DeleteBoth books sound good but I'm leaning more towards A Climate of Fear. :)
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed that whole series. I think you might like it, too. :)
DeleteI think a lot of us will be tearing through our tbr piles soon if this goes on for too much longer. It's a good thing I have enough stockpiled to keep me busy forever!
ReplyDeleteA stockpile of books is ALWAYS a good thing to have. At least in my opinion. :D
DeleteI haven't read the Sebastian St. Cyr series, but it keeps crossing my radar. Perhaps I should bump the series a bit higher up on my TBR list?
ReplyDeleteI say yes! But then I'm a bit biased. :D It is a good mystery series, though. And I like the romance between Hero and Devlin, although that doesn't start until the fourth book.
DeleteThese both sound good - but I especially love your review of Who Speaks for the Damned.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's a great series. :)
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