Regency crime and more!

What the Devil Knows (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery #16) by C.S. Harris          

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The massacre of a family, the untimely suicide of the main suspect, the death of a despicable magistrate, mutineers, blatant corruption concerning licences and taxes for pubs in the East End. The pressure by Breweries for publicans to only buy from certain breweries under threat of harm to them or their loved ones. There’s a veritable plague of disorder. Viscount Sebastian St. Cyr is tasked to assist and as his investigation moves forward greed, graft and extortion are a stench in his nostrils. The Home Secretary, Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth, has asked Sir Henry Lovejoy, a Bow Street magistrate and friend to Sebastian to oversee the investigation. Surgeon Paul Gibson of course becomes engaged in looking at the cause of some of the deaths.

For unknown reasons (and cynically, of course!) Hero’s father Lord Jarvis is involved, but how is the question. Lord Jarvis is a slippery character, Machiavellian. But oftentimes his actions end up placing his daughter in danger. And now a new chapter is opening in his life—or an old one continuing. As always Hero and his relationship is interesting. 

An ongoing thread, the questions around Sebastian's mother ebb and flow throughout.

A concisely constructed regency mystery that just kept on giving right up until the last word on the page.

Once again I was left with a few loose ends and questions, particularly the last glimpse of Sebastian St. Cyr as he enters his front door. I just knew THAT was going to happen. How could it not?

The author's notes give a fine rundown on the fact and fiction in this tale along with a last macabre observation.

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley