Book

What Angels Fear

📖 Overview

A murder mystery set in Regency London follows Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, as he investigates the brutal killing of a young woman found on the altar of a church. When a royal family member becomes the prime suspect, St. Cyr must navigate both the dangerous streets of 1811 London and the treacherous waters of aristocratic politics to uncover the truth. The investigation draws St. Cyr through layers of deception involving French émigrés, British spies, and connections to his own past as a military intelligence officer. His allies include a young street urchin, a surgeon with unconventional methods, and an actress who moves between social classes with ease. The novel explores themes of justice, privilege, and the cost of keeping secrets in a society rigidly divided by class. Within its historical murder mystery framework, it raises questions about moral responsibility and the relationship between power and truth.

👀 Reviews

Readers describe this historical mystery as atmospheric and detail-rich, with strong character development. The complex murder plot and authentic portrayal of Regency-era London earned positive mentions in reviews. Liked: - Sebastian St. Cyr's characterization as a flawed but compelling protagonist - Accurate historical details and political intrigue - Fast-paced narrative structure - Chemistry between main characters - Dark, moody atmosphere Disliked: - Some readers found the pacing slow in the first 50 pages - A few reviewers noted confusion keeping track of multiple suspects - Several mentioned the violence level was higher than expected for the genre Ratings: Goodreads: 4.04/5 (15,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,200+ ratings) "The historical details make you feel like you're walking through Regency London" - Goodreads reviewer "More graphic than typical historical mysteries, but the complex characters make it worthwhile" - Amazon reviewer

📚 Similar books

A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch This murder mystery follows an aristocratic detective in Victorian London who navigates high society secrets while solving the death of a housemaid through methodical investigation.

The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber A Scottish widow uses her knowledge of anatomy and social connections to solve a murder at a house party in 1830s Britain.

The Silver Devil by Anne Stuart This historical mystery centers on a female physician in 1820s London who becomes entangled in a string of murders linked to her medical profession.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn A Victorian widow partners with a private investigator to uncover the truth behind her husband's murder in this blend of romance and detection.

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco A medieval monk uses logic and deduction to investigate a series of deaths in an isolated monastery while confronting religious politics and forbidden knowledge.

🤔 Interesting facts

🔎 C.S. Harris is the pen name of Candice Proctor, who also writes historical romances under the name Candice Proctor and thrillers as C.S. Graham 🗝️ The book takes place in 1811 London during the Regency period, when Britain was ruled by the Prince Regent due to King George III's madness ⚔️ The main character Sebastian St. Cyr uses skills he gained as a British intelligence officer during the Napoleonic Wars to solve murders 👑 The novel's backdrop includes real historical events like the deteriorating relationship between the Prince Regent and his wife Princess Caroline 📚 What Angels Fear launched a long-running series (currently 17+ books) that combines elements of historical fiction, mystery, and political intrigue