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The death of a notorious London diamond merchant draws aristocratic investigator Sebastian St. Cyr and his new wife Hero into a sordid world of greed, desperation, and the occult, when the husband of Sebastian’s former lover Kat Boleyn is accused of the murder. Regency England, September 1812: After a long night spent dealing with the tragic death of a former military comrade, a heart-sick Sebastian learns of a new calamity: Russell Yates, the dashing, one-time privateer who married Kat a year ago, has been found standing over the corpse of Benjamin Eisler, a wealthy gem dealer. Yates insists he is innocent, but he will surely hang unless Sebastian can unmask the real killer. For the sake of Kat, the woman he once loved and lost, Sebastian plunges into a treacherous circle of intrigue. Although Eisler’s clients included the Prince Regent and the Emperor Napoleon, he was a despicable man with many enemies and a number of dangerous, well-kept secrets—including a passion for arcane texts and black magic. Central to the case is a magnificent blue diamond, believed to have once formed part of the French crown jewels, which disappeared on the night of Eisler’s death. As Sebastian traces the diamond’s ownership, he uncovers links that implicate an eccentric, powerful financier named Hope and stretch back into the darkest days of the French Revolution. When the killer grows ever more desperate and vicious, Sebastian finds his new marriage to Hero tested by the shadows of his first love, especially when he begins to suspect that Kat is keeping secrets of her own. And as matters rise to a crisis, Sebastian must face a bitter truth—that he has been less than open with the fearless woman who is now his wife.
irishclare
Posted Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Very ambivalent...
about this latest book in a series I have loved, loved. I discovered the St. Cyr series a couple of years ago and quickly read through them all up to that point. The first three or four were particularly riveting, but sadly, the last additions have not been up to the same level. While Ms. Harris is a careful, thoughtful, solid, writer, the series has begun to drag, badly. Plots are increasingly and unnecessarily convoluted with too many characters and too many overlapping entanglements to readily keep straight. The pacing of the series also needs to pick up--quickly. This latest addition only picks up six weeks after the 'forced' marriage of Hero and Sebastian--and that event took place at least two or three books ago! With a new novel being published once a year...the couple's child might not be born for another three or four years of books. Finally, the triangle between Hero, Kat, and Sebastian simply does not work for me. The author has spent no fewer than six novels exploring and setting up the Sebastian/Hero relationship and it is, alone, FULL of juicy, future, plot points and complications. Throwing in Kat and then having to retell--or at least paraphrase--the previous history--simply adds to the dragging nature of this series. That old plot point needs tying up and tidying up--and soon. Will I keep reading this series? I will probably engage one more and then decide--but if plots and timing do not pick up soon, I may be done, and that saddens me. I will keep hoping the next installment gets things moving in a less frustrating, more engaging, way.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Love This Series--Great New Book
Sebastian St. Cyr keeps getting better and better (despite all his injuries in the line of duty!!). This book had fewer of the convolutions Harris is famous for, but I think I liked it all the better. Also, while it was interesting to have Kat back in the picture, my loyalties are totally with the beautiful, tough, smart Hero Jarvis. A truly great character with many facets. Looking forward to more in this series!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed Apr 03 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I have been keeping up on this series and was excited that a new book had come out. What Darkness Brings continues the story of Devlin the heir to an Earl. Also called Sebastian, he finds himself in the position (again) to solve a murder mystery and to help a friend who claims innocent. All of these books that C.S. Harris has written in this series; bring to life an era long gone in London. The charactors are well developed that the reader finds themselves wanting to know more about each of them. Don't read reviews that tell you too much of the actual story -- you want these books to be a lovely surprise! Highly recommend this book and all the books in the series. What Darkness Brings is book number eight -- so get reading!!! You'll be hooked like the rest of us! Great book for a book club especially if folks want to read a well written histroical fiction. I loved it!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I was a little leery of the addition on Hero and how their wedding would work into the story as it was hard not to like Kat. Fortunately it was skillfully done and I found this addition just as good as the previous ones in the series. I'm anxious for the next installment.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I have absolutely been enthralled by this series and order the next book as soon as it is available. I know publishers want each book in a series to be able to "stand alone", however, I found the repeated explanations of past plots and characters in this book a little redundant and it made the book drag in places for me. Otherwise, it was still a good read among a series that is brilliantly written and absolutely intriguing. Can't wait for the next book...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I enjoyed the book very much. It is true that most of the first books were more exciting, but the plot was good and there was romance between Hero and Sebastian - they seem to be getting more comfortable as a married couple. I hope that soon we won't hear much about Kat. I look forward to the next book in the series..
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Mar 12 00:00:00 EDT 2013
LOVED this latest book in the series. The mystery was a bit convoluted for me, but what I love most about this very well-written series is the evolving relationship of Sebastian and Hero.
Another plus for me is that I know the books are historically accurate and I love the period detail.
Can't wait for the next chapter!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Unfortunately, the timeline between novels is scant. With a pregnant wife, alienated father, and an ex-lover as primary characters in all the books, you would think time would elapse in "real-time".
I like the series as a whole. It annoys me that the books end so abruptly, and that Kat is still being included in Devlin's life.
So, check out the books in order, and judge for yourself.
Anonymous
Posted Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2013
These books are such fun to read! Just wish she would write more of them. Total enjoyment.
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Posted Sun Mar 10 00:00:00 EST 2013
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Anonymous
Posted Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2013
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Overview
The death of a notorious London diamond merchant draws aristocratic investigator Sebastian St. Cyr and his new wife Hero into a sordid world of greed, desperation, and the occult, when the husband of Sebastian’s former lover Kat Boleyn is accused of the murder. Regency England, September 1812: After a long night spent dealing with the tragic death of a former military comrade, a heart-sick Sebastian learns of a new calamity: Russell Yates, the dashing, one-time privateer who married Kat a year ago, has ...