by C.S. Harris
Release Date: April 15, 2025
2025 Berkley
Ebook ARC; 365 Pages
ISBN: 978-0593639214
ASIN: B0D9J3XYFK
Audiobook: B0DLYXS992
Genre: Fiction / Historical Mystery
Source: Review copy from publisher
3 / 5 Stars
Summary
August 1816. England is in the grip of
what will become known as the Year Without a Summer. Facing the twin
crises of a harvest-destroying volcanic winter and the economic
disruption caused by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the British
monarchy finds itself haunted by the looming threat of bloody riots not
seen since the earliest days of the French Revolution. Amidst the
turmoil, a dead man is found hanging upside down by one leg in an
abandoned chapel, his hands tied behind his back. His brutal murder shocks the Palace and panics the already
troubled populace.
At first, everyone in the dead man’s orbit paints Lord Preston as a selfless saint. But as Sebastian delves deeper into his life, he quickly realizes that the man had accumulated more than his fair share of enemies and that the pious Lord Preston may have been much more dangerous than those he sought to redeem.
At first, everyone in the dead man’s orbit paints Lord Preston as a selfless saint. But as Sebastian delves deeper into his life, he quickly realizes that the man had accumulated more than his fair share of enemies and that the pious Lord Preston may have been much more dangerous than those he sought to redeem.
My Thoughts
Who Will Remember is the latest book in the long-running Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series, and one of the reasons I return to this series every year is the detailed research by the author. I am always able to immerse myself in the time period because the descriptions are so vivid and the author manages to really make it come alive in my mind. However, I did think this series has started to feel a bit repetitive and formulaic, and for me at least, it was easy to figure out who were the culprits.
I don't really read these for character development at this point although I do feel like the relationship between Sebastian and Hero has gotten a little flat. It's not a negative thing as the fire and brimstone of courtship is often put aside in domestic bliss, but I would think a little more spark should be felt between them there was. By book twenty however, many of the secrets have been revealed and the story focuses more on the secrets of the secondary characters, some of whom I am glad to see returned in this book.
One of the reasons I return to this series though, are the descriptions of Regency England as they are so well done. Even with a history background, I love learning tidbits that I didn't know and enjoy following the characters as they go about their day-to-day activities. As I've already mention however, the books are starting to feel the same, and it wasn't hard to figure out the ending. And I read expecting the usual fight scene as it happens to Sebastian as least once per book, and the author did not disappoint. So, the plot felt similar and repetitive. I did however, enjoy the scenes where Hero interviewed the soldiers even if it didn't really go anywhere, at least yet.
Verdict
Who Will Remember had an intriguing mystery and I did enjoy it for the most part. And while the research is impeccable, this one failed to keep up the tension and I was slightly bored as I read so it was difficult to keep going at times. While you don't necessarily have to start at the beginning of the series, there is definitely a lot of character entanglements that will make more sense if you do and the mysteries are quite engaging. I will keep reading this series, but I don't think this was one of the best.
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