Who Speaks for the Damned

C. S. Harris

Apr 2020 · Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery Book 15 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Sebastian St. Cyr investigates the mysterious life and death of a nobleman convicted of murder in this enthralling new historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Why Kill the Innocent....

     It's June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the Prince Regent's invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoléon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British nobleman long thought dead.

     Eighteen years before, Nicholas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaford, was accused of killing a beautiful young French émigré and transported to Botany Bay for life. Even before his conviction, Hayes had been disowned by his father, and few in London were surprised when they heard the ne'er-do-well had died in disgrace in New South Wales. But those reports were obviously wrong. Recently Hayes returned to London with a mysterious young boy in tow--a child who vanishes shortly after Nicholas's body is discovered.

     Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is drawn into the investigation by his valet, Jules Calhoun, an old friend of the dead man. With Calhoun's help, Sebastian begins to piece together the shattered life of the late Earl's ill-fated youngest son. Why did Nicholas risk his life and freedom by returning to England? And why did he bring the now-missing young boy with him? Several nervous Londoners had reason to fear that Nicholas Hayes had returned to kill them. One of them might have decided to kill him first.
 

Ratings and reviews

amateur-sleuth, England, historical-fiction, early-19th-century, murder-investigation I'm sure that I read a much earlier Sebastian St Cyr mystery and though I can't seem to find it, I have somewhat vague very positive feelings about it. In this one St Cyr is long restored to respectability and feels affected by a murder involving a peer exiled for murder eighteen years ago who unknowingly returned to London and is the first to die leaving behind a young Chinese boy. The sleuthing is very good and the historical research seems as authentic as I remember. The characters are exceptionally well drawn and the whole imagery is as clear as being there. I loved it! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!

Who Speaks for the Damned by C.S. Harris is the newest in her Regency Historical Mystery Series. Hayes, a nobleman was convicted of murder and transported 18 years before. He returns to London many years later and is murdered himself. St. Cyr along with his wife Hero assisting, investigates the life and murder of the victim along with the disappearance of a child. Plenty of historical details, political intrigue, suspense, suspects with various motives and mysterious murders. The main characters are down to earth and honorable while some of the other characters are less than desirable people. I have devoured each book in this series and always look forward to reading them . Every book has a few of the same main characters but all have new complicated mysteries and unusual characters. The Historical notes are excellent providing information the reader has probably never heard. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

Gripping from the first page. I love this series. more please. Who speaks for the damned.

About the author

C. S. Harris is the USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including the Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries; as C. S. Graham, a thriller series coauthored with former intelligence officer Steven Harris; and seven award-winning historical romances written under the name Candice Proctor. A respected scholar with a PhD in nineteenth-century Europe, she is also the author of a nonfiction historical study of the French Revolution. She lives with her husband in New Orleans and has two grown daughters.