Weasels add another avian moniker to their crew.

Murder at the Merton Library (Wrexford & Sloane #7) by Andrea Penrose      

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wrexham, Charlotte and the weasels find themselves confronted with the truth behind a British reconnaissance mission in Portugal where Wrex’s beloved brother Thomas was killed in action. The English had been betrayed. Somehow a traitor, probably highly placed, had passed information to the French.

Called to a meeting at Oxford library at Merton Hall by his brother’s friend, Wrexham arrives to find that Neville Greeley has been murdered, and as he later discovers, most mysteriously a renaissance paper in Latin has been stole.

Coincidentally, Peregrine has been invited by a friend of his uncle’s workshop. Mr. Tilden is an inventor. 

Worth mentioning is that currently, beginning to catch investors’ attention is the race, in scientific, political and international circles, to invent a steam powered engine able to sail the oceans.

Wrexham and the ‘family’ become caught up in nefarious plots to steal plans of several naval prototypes, and the destruction of important workshops designing and experimenting with parts.

The weasels have another young person join their bird named group. This time a young midshipman, great nephew to the Dowager Duchess Alison, Countess of Peake. Of course they aptly name him Osprey. Let’s just say that the beginning of their relationship was not auspicious.

Characters from Charlotte’s maid Mac’s (McClellan) past appear who seem closely aligned with a consortium of investors for the production of steam power for the high seas.

A.J. Quill is kept busy as are all the group as they finagle their way through a morass of intrigue, betrayal and danger. 

Another superb episode in the lives of my favorite miscreants.

I love the way Penrose combines the excitement of this era, the innovations and political events into a solid tale.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.