Where
Serpents Sleep
Sebastian St Cyr Mystery, No 4
by C.S. Harris
Hero Jarvis, the independent
daughter of a political leader, is doing research at a London house
of refuge for prostitutes for a paper to be given at a session of
Parliament, when the house is invaded by a gang of thugs who brutally
murder eight young prostitutes. Hero escapes with one of the prostitutes.
In the escape, the prostitute is shot and, while dying, tells Hero
that the thugs' purpose had been to kill her. Hero is determined
to seek justice and appeals to St Cyr, who in the past has solved
crimes. Hero’s father is the sworn enemy of St Cyr, but St Cyr
is intrigued by the incident and agrees to help her. They determine
that the young prostitute was of gentle birth. In the investigation
of her past, they become involved with noble Mayfair aristocrats,
the pimp of the murdered girls, and a Bow Street magistrate who
patronizes the prostitutes. It becomes a race against time to track
the killer before more murders occur.
Where Serpents Sleep brings the welcome return of Sebastian St Cyr in this excellent
historical page turner. The historical details are excellently researched, with glimpses into London's
prostitute filled underworld, and the private worlds of the wealthy who indulge in its depravity.
The characters are fully developed. The action is constant and realistic.
Another adventure of Sebastian St Cyr will hopefully appear in the not too distant future.
Highly recommended.
Reviews
of other titles in the series
What
Angels Fear # 1
When
Gods Die # 2
Where
Serpents Sleep # 4
Where
Shadows Dance # 6
When Maidens Mourn #7 [review
1] [review
2]
Why Kings Confess # 9 [review
1] [review
2]
|
The
Book |
Obsidian
/ New American Library |
2008 |
Hardcover |
9780451225122
/ 0451225120 |
Historical
Mystery / England 1812 |
Amazon |
The
Reviewer |
Barbara
Buhrer |
Reviewed
2009 |
|