Dark Knights!

The Spy's Daughter (Gentleman Spy Mysteries #4) by Bianca M. Schwarz    

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This last in the Gentleman Spy series is alive with danger, love and doing the right thing.

Maximilian Warthon, Lord Didcomb, grandson of the vicious and debauched Earl of Warthhon,  has distanced himself from the wrongs of the ancient brotherhood, The Knights, but hasn’t cut the ties. Instead, he’s taken the younger Knights in a new direction of investment in the future—trade, steam engines, railways. You name it, Max is there. He’s a very wealthy man. He doesn’t much care for ton functions finding them insipid.

Emily March illegitimate daughter of Sir Henry March, is making her debut. The family and friends are all in London for the beginning of the season. Emily is feisty, generous and lovely. She also rides like a demon in the early morning in Hyde Park which is where Max first spies her. Cupids arrow pieces his heart. Max attends her come-out ball, waltzes with Emily and leaves, setting the ton all a twitter.

Max has his heart set on Emily. Max’s grandfather the Earl, head of The Knights, has his black heart set on revenge. As does Baron Ostley, a friend to the Earl. Even more disgusting is his attempt to abduct Emily and force her into intimate relations with her half brother Charles. (That connection is not known to Charles.)

Max is shaken into the realization that he can’t remain a Knight and  dismiss the path of depravity that it has followed over the generations. He must make a choice.

An exciting read, although at times there’s a loss of flow that almost seems strained and sits at odds with what’s happening. Part of the Gentleman Spy journey that continues to captivate.

A Central Ave. ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.