Publishers Weekly
08/15/2022
At the start of Penrose’s roisterous sixth Wrexford and Sloane mystery (after 2021’s Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens), the Napoleonic Wars are finally over, and the Prince Regent has invited the sovereigns of Europe to London for a gala peace celebration. Charlotte Sloane, whose secret identity is scathing political cartoonist A.J. Quill, has finally married the dashing Earl of Wrexford, and they have created an unorthodox family with their two rambunctious, streetwise wards. But after the boys discover the body of engineering wizard Jeremiah Willis floating in a lake in Hyde Park, Charlotte’s long-desired life of domesticity will have to wait a while longer. Willis was designing a fearsome secret weapon, but the prototype for his invention is missing, and the Crown’s spymaster, Lord Grentham, recruits Wrexford to retrieve it before it falls into the hands of a foreign enemy. Fascinating and well-researched historic events compensate for a plot that unwinds slowly and sometimes tediously as a host of intrepid heroes and heroines pit their wits against dastardly villains. Readers who enjoy a colorful depiction of Regency England without demanding strict plausibility will have fun. Agent: Gail Fortune, Fortune Talbot Agency. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Murder at the Serpentine Bridge
“Fascinating and well-researched historic events… a colorful depiction of Regency England.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A charming, action-packed mix of historical mystery and Regency romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for the Wrexford & Sloane Mystery Series
“Swashbuckling…Historical fans will have fun.”
—Publishers Weekly on Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens
“For relaxed enjoyment and the diversion of adept time travel, an Andrea Penrose historical mystery is hard to beat!”
—The New York Journal of Books on Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens
“A bit of Regency-period romance and history enhance a convoluted mystery with plenty of derring-do.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens
“Andrea Penrose is skillful at incorporating the scientific discoveries of the day into her plots.”
—Criminal Element on Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens
“A nice mix of science, setting, adventure story, and romance. Wrexford and Charlotte are a great pair.”
—Aunt Agatha’s Bookstore on Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens
“Another delight of the series.”
—Historical Novel Society on Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens
“Scientific discoveries combine with a complex mystery to provide an action-packed brainteaser.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Murder at Queen’s Landing
“The author captures the Regency era’s complexities in vivid settings, contrasting milieus, and a wealth of fascinating details...This thoughtful blend of derring-do and intellectual discussion should win Penrose new fans.”
—Publishers Weekly on Murder at Queen’s Landing
“A high-paced adventure with a light feathering of attraction between the protagonists. After all, it’s hard to take time for courting when you’re protecting the people you care for, in the face of a powerful criminal mastermind.”
—The New York Journal of Books on Murder at Queen’s Landing
“An intricately plotted mystery set in Regency England. Its complex story line and authentic historical details bring the early days of the Industrial Revolution vividly to life. Bound to fascinate readers of C.S. Harris and even fans of Victorian mysteries.”
—Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW on Murder at Half Moon Gate
“Penrose does a good job linking the mystery to the period’s scientific and social changes. Those seeking an unusually rich look at Regency life will be satisfied.”
—Publishers Weekly on Murder at Kensington Palace
“Penrose is excellent at conveying the details of early 19th-century science and experiments with electricity. This was the era of Frankenstein, after all. The relationship between Wrexford and Charlotte is further developed in this book, and I am looking forward to seeing where it leads next.”
—Historical Novel Society on Murder at Kensington Palace
“Penrose deftly intertwines the politics of navigating Regency-era society, scientific progress, and the deepening relationship between the protagonists. Series fans will enjoy revisiting the lively cast of characters, while historical fiction readers will be satisfied by the immersive, richly detailed mystery.”
—Library Journal on Murder at Kensington Palace
“Murder at Kensington Palace is a challenging story, replete with scientific discoveries and challenges of the time, but it’s grounded in loyalty, persistence, and courage.”
—Criminal Element
“Science and romance meet in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Murder at Kensington Palace
"The relationship and banter between the two stars of this series is incredible. Readers will look forward to seeing Charlotte and Wrex again (and hopefully very soon)."
—Suspense Magazine on Murder at Half Moon Gate
"Thoroughly enjoyable...with sharp, engaging characters, rich period detail, and a compellingly twisty plot, Andrea Penrose delivers a winner...fans of C.S. Harris and Kate Ross will be rooting for Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford. Devilishly good fun!”
—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author on Murder on Black Swan Lane
“Fans of C.S. Harris take note! In this new, Regency-set mystery series, the artist Charlotte Sloane and the scientist Earl of Wrexford are the perfect mismatched pair of sleuths. A riveting ride through Regency London, from the slums of St. Giles, to the mansions of Mayfair.”
—Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author on Murder on Black Swan Lane
“A wonderfully engaging Regency mystery, with a most determined heroine and an engaging pair of street urchins at her side. Historical chemistry meets alchemy, and only a nonchalant nobleman can help solve the murder. A delight of a book.”
—Joanna Bourne, award-winning author on Murder on Black Swan Lane
“A female 19th-Century cartoonist as an amateur sleuth is a welcome innovation.”
—Publishers Weekly on Murder on Black Swan Lane
“Penrose deftly combines a Regency romance with a tricky mystery that delves into social unrest and the darker side of this storied period.”
—Kirkus Reviews on Murder at Half Moon Gate
“Penrose reveals intriguing new aspects of her protagonists’ characters and relationship in a story linked to the era’s technological and social changes.”
—Publishers Weekly on Murder at Half Moon Gate
Kirkus Reviews
2022-07-13
An aristocratic sleuthing duo seeks a killer in Regency London's back alleys and drawing rooms.
The Earl of Wrexford and his wife, Charlotte, have had a great deal of experience with mysteries, and their wards, Raven and Hawk, former street urchins with a scientific bent, are always up for a new adventure. So when their dog turns up a body floating in Hyde Park's lake, the Serpentine, their curiosity is piqued. The late Jeremiah Willis—whose father was a formerly enslaved man from Virginia and mother a White Englishwoman—was an inventor of note, and Wrexford and Charlotte soon learn that his orphaned nephew, young Peregrine, stands to inherit a large estate from the other side of his family. But Peregrine’s Uncle Belmont, who turns out to be married to Charlotte's brother's sister-in-law, resents the fact that his older brother’s late-in-life son will inherit the estate he'd long regarded as his. The boys soon become friends, and Peregrine joins the Wrexfords in London, where a government representative asks Wrexford to find the person who killed Willis and stole the design for a revolutionary rifle and, of course, to recover the papers setting forth that design. The representative, who’s not above a little blackmail, hints that his higher-ups know that Charlotte is the gadfly illustrator A.J. Quill, who often criticizes government policy. In honor of a celebration of peace, London is awash in visiting leaders and royals, including the czar of Russia. Once Wrexford learns that there’s to be a secret auction for the papers, he determines with the help of his family and friends to find them first and uncover a killer.
A charming, action-packed mix of historical mystery and Regency romance.
