PAULA'S REVIEW:
“What God wills is going to happen, and your task is to respond well.”
What fun it was to read this accomplished Regency mystery. It is a favorite time period and subject of spying for the Crown. The story was so enjoyable and the icing on the cake was seeing the romance between Daniel and Juliette blossom amid difficulties. The characters were well crafted and the plot intricate and interesting. Daniel and Juliette navigated the danger with intelligence. I liked seeing the workings of Bow Street as well as the depicting of the lives of the upper class and the street children.
Juliette is confronted with the possibility of choosing between friendship with Agatha and love with Daniel. She is counseled to pray about it: “I receive peace when I remind myself through prayer that God is both sovereign and good.”
I was pleased that the author showed a benevolent side to the aristocracy by their championing a cause and actually doing some good works. Juliette and her friends were moved enough to personally make a difference to those less fortunate.
I have loved this series and hope that we have not seen the last of Juliette and Daniel, for I perceive more adventures for these characters.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kregel on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*5 stars and a solid faith thread
REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"I've learned the identity of my father as well as the name of the man who has been my hidden patron all these years."
And with the same breath Daniel Swann also told his beloved Lady Juliette that he had been "advised by the Duke of Haverly" to keep their budding romance "private for the time being". A lot depended on those working diligently behind the scenes to prove once and for all, Daniel's true heritage and by all rights, inheritance. In the interim, he would continue as a common, albeit respectable, Bow Street Runner while Lady Juliette Thorndike, maintained her role as the daughter of an earl, as if nothing were out of the ordinary (like her heart breaking).
As if proving a point, Daniel's employment as an officer of the law got much more complicated; the manager of a local gambling hall was murdered, street children were rapidly disappearing without a trace, and the evidence was leading Daniel in a direction he would rather not go. Juliette's fine reputation, on the other hand, was at risk among her peers by mere association with him.
"For two people who are supposed to not let on that they have feelings for each other, you certainly find ways to be together."
"Their only hope rested in a handful of men who, historically, were loath to change the status quo."
Everything about this book exhibits excellence; the characters!. . . this cannot be the end of my association with them, the story flow was seamless . . . and flawless, and intriguing . . . and, any other adjective that could be defined as such, the plot sprouted layer upon layer of puzzling details. . . forcing the timing of each resolution to be pitch perfect! An absolute gem of a happily-ever-after! . . . with wondrous undertones of mystique and inspiration!
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5 stars
BackCover Blurb:
Detective Daniel Swann and debutante Juliette Thorndike once again team up to solve a dangerous mystery--while trying to keep their growing romance secret.
Someone is preying upon the street children of Regency London. They seem to think no one will notice when urchins go missing--and even if they are noticed, who will care?
Daniel needs to do something about the missing children. But with recent revelations about his past and an unexpected, somewhat unwelcome inheritance to deal with, this is a terrible time to dive back into the seedy underbelly of the crime world. Nevertheless, he's still a Bow Street runner, and his partner Lady Juliette is sensitive to the plight of these wayward youngsters. They're on the case, searching shadowed alleys and coal-drenched streets to find the missing.
But the tangle of expectation and the dynamics of power cannot be easily ignored, even if there are children in danger. When Daniel's past threatens to overwhelm his future, he will need a miracle and the help of his friends to both apprehend the villain and unravel his tangled family web. And it may be that his new responsibilities demand that he leave the children of the shadows to their terrible fate--or lose everything.
Erica Vetsch's popular Regency mystery series concludes with a bang, sure to satisfy readers who have hung on every page since book one.
Kregel Publishing, October, 2023
Available in digital ebook and paperback at Amazon or Christianbook .com
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