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61st out of 526 books
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Why Mermaids Sing (Sebastian St. Cyr #3)
by
C.S. Harris
It's September 1811, and someone is killing the wealthy young sons of London's most prominent families. Partially butchered, with strange objects stuffed into their mouths, their bodies are found dumped in public places at dawn. When the grisly remains of Alfred, Lord Stanton's eldest son are discovered in the Old Palace Yard beside the House of Lords, the local magistrate...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
November 6th 2007
by NAL Hardcover
(first published January 1st 2007)
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I came back to the Sebastian St. Cyr series after a year's time and found that I love it now just as much as I did when I first cracked open the pages of What Angels Fear (which I had started because I was going through Deanna Raybourn withdrawal.)
The third book in this series of Viscount St. Cyr's unorthodox investigation into murders that touch the nobility continues the delicious exploration of Sebastian's character amidst the themes of honor, self-sacrifice, and trust.
...more
The third book in this series of Viscount St. Cyr's unorthodox investigation into murders that touch the nobility continues the delicious exploration of Sebastian's character amidst the themes of honor, self-sacrifice, and trust.
...more
I could not put this book down. This is the second book of this series that I have read (chronologically it is the third book) Sebastian St. Cyr is a great hero - completely heroic yet flawed. This time the mystery is about young men whose murdered, mutilated bodies are showing up in public places. One of the bodies was found towards the end of the previous book. For a moment, I thought it had to with the case he was on, but when it wasn't mentioned again, I wondered if it would turn up late...more
As with the other two books of the series, the plotting here is slightly all over the place. Once again Sebastian, Lord Devlin, is called in to involve himself in a murder. Two, in fact, as the horrifically mutilated body just discovered is the second such in a few months. He looks into the matter, trying to determine why two (or more) such dissimilar boys have been murdered in such a similar manner, all the while continuing to keep an eye on the matter of his mother which came up in the pre...more
I am liking Harris a little more with each book. She seems to have created a more streamline approach to her writing as opposed to the ping pong match I experienced in the first book in this series. Sebastian is such a likeable character...he's flawed, haunted by what happened in the war, but at heart he is a caring person who wants justice in a world that he sees as being unfair (with rank and privilege). I love Sebastian's relationship with Lovejoy...they play off of each other well and I t...more
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I really enjoy this series. The atmosphere is dark and gritty. The murders and acts of violence are not glossed over, but laid bare as it should be in a murder mystery. I enjoy how Ms. Harris moves the story along quickly, with plenty of action and adventure. At the same time, she slowly reveals clues to maintain suspense.
The characters have developed significantly since the beginning of the series. ST Cyr does have the typical hero typecast: a tragic past he must overcome, an uncann...more
The characters have developed significantly since the beginning of the series. ST Cyr does have the typical hero typecast: a tragic past he must overcome, an uncann...more
The third installment of the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries is as dark and intriguing as the first two with young Viscount Devlin coming into to his own as a reluctant 19th century sleuth. Though diving into these mysteries is scandalous and well beneath his station as a nobleman; you get the feeling that cutting against the grain of English Society is in no small measure why he has chosen to do it.
With his trusty teenage sidekick Tom, Devlin unravels the brutal murders of several young men w...more
With his trusty teenage sidekick Tom, Devlin unravels the brutal murders of several young men w...more
Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. "Why Mermaids Sing," the third of the Sebastian St. Cyr novels, is full of more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster.
The sons of noblemen are being killed, their mutilated corpses left in very public places. The first case is actually mentioned in When Gods Die, but only in passing. Magistrate Lovejoy once again asks Sebastian's help in investigating the matter.
I'm a great reader of...more
The sons of noblemen are being killed, their mutilated corpses left in very public places. The first case is actually mentioned in When Gods Die, but only in passing. Magistrate Lovejoy once again asks Sebastian's help in investigating the matter.
I'm a great reader of...more
The third book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series. Noticing a trend? LOL! I ordered this in hardcover from amazon. It was on clearance for $4.99. When I got it I noticed it was also autographed by the author…BONUS! Anyway I continue to love the series. The mystery in this book involved a serial killer and normally I shy away from such stories but this one really intrigued me and as it turned out to be a story of revenge I was able to deal with it better than if it was a Ted Bundy like killer. Plus ...more
I actually read a number of books while traveling in Australia. The IPad is a wonderful device as both small computer and reading device. I'm very happy with it.
Anyway, I had loaded on a couple of C.S. Harris books, and a couple of Harry Dresden books. I had two Harris books with me -- WHEN GODS DIE and WHY MERMAIDS SING. WHEN GODS DIE was okay, but the author still didn't have control of the Regency language. It felt like Jane Austin channeled through Georgette Heyer with the...more
Anyway, I had loaded on a couple of C.S. Harris books, and a couple of Harry Dresden books. I had two Harris books with me -- WHEN GODS DIE and WHY MERMAIDS SING. WHEN GODS DIE was okay, but the author still didn't have control of the Regency language. It felt like Jane Austin channeled through Georgette Heyer with the...more
I had not read #s 2 or 1 of this series, and this book references some of the events that have taken place in those books. But that was not much of a problem.
It was eminently readable such that I finished it in one night. Set in 1811 in London and environs, Lord Devlin, Sebastian St. Cyr becomes the best independent investigator of a series of grisly murders amongst the two rival police agencies. St. Cyr is unconventional gentry who uses costumes and alternate identities to help...more
It was eminently readable such that I finished it in one night. Set in 1811 in London and environs, Lord Devlin, Sebastian St. Cyr becomes the best independent investigator of a series of grisly murders amongst the two rival police agencies. St. Cyr is unconventional gentry who uses costumes and alternate identities to help...more
Brief Summary:
Sebastian St. Cyr is back on the case when the bodies of London's most promising young men are found butchered and left in very public places. Even darker tidings are on the horizon though, as it appears that St. Cyr and his long-time lover Kat Boelyn are headed for some very personal danger of their own.
Why I Picked It Up:
OK, I admit it, I'm obsessed with this series! Harris' writing is taut, the mysteries interesting, and the relationships well-drawn. M...more
Sebastian St. Cyr is back on the case when the bodies of London's most promising young men are found butchered and left in very public places. Even darker tidings are on the horizon though, as it appears that St. Cyr and his long-time lover Kat Boelyn are headed for some very personal danger of their own.
Why I Picked It Up:
OK, I admit it, I'm obsessed with this series! Harris' writing is taut, the mysteries interesting, and the relationships well-drawn. M...more
I am a bit ambivalent about the 4th star. This is the 3rd book in the series and in some ways the best. Harris has an exceptional command of period vocabulary and idiom. All of her novels contain a touch of "bodice ripper" and, to my tastes, that is a touch too much but it isn't distracting in any of the series so far. My reluctance stems from her employment of a literary gimmick near the end. I have to say she commits--from afar it appeared she was going to pull a "Days of O...more
Young men are being murdered and mutilated in London, and Sebastian St. Cyr ends up on the case. The victims are of different classes and circumstances, but searching for a link between them leads Sebastian to a secret that people would kill to protect.
I liked this more than the previous two, though it may be partly because the investigation touches on a subject that I'm really interested in. I enjoyed the action scenes, and the mystery moved along at a good pace. This story was wrap...more
I liked this more than the previous two, though it may be partly because the investigation touches on a subject that I'm really interested in. I enjoyed the action scenes, and the mystery moved along at a good pace. This story was wrap...more
I really enjoyed this book, although I wish I'd read "What Angels Fear" first, as there are references to that story in this one. Still, they didn't really distract from the action so it's not a big deal. I found the protagonist reminiscent of Kate Ross's Julian Kestrel, who I like a great deal. The book is well-researched as to period and setting. Set in England in 1811, a failing George III is king and George IV is regent. I found it refreshing to read a book set in pre-Victorian ...more
Sarah Wagner
rated it
A good continuation of the Sebastian St. Cyr series. The mystery is good and new revelations about the central characters come to light, with enough left unanswered to interest the reader in a sequel. Why Mermaids Sing centers on the brutal murders of seemingly unconnected victims, a case Sebastian is called into by his friend Sir Henry Lovejoy. Sebastian soon uncovers relationships between the victims' fathers and a disastrous sea voyage years before. Overall, this mystery novel makes a fun...more
An excellent book. This is the third in this series and I plan to immediately start the fourth one. There's a solid mystery with a very interesting literary connection to the poetry of John Donne, and, as always, delightful characters who the reader really comes to care about.
Although I certainly enjoyed the mystery, I was shocked by some of the personal revelations about the main characters toward the end of the book. Totally unexpected twists, but they make sense when you cons...more
Although I certainly enjoyed the mystery, I was shocked by some of the personal revelations about the main characters toward the end of the book. Totally unexpected twists, but they make sense when you cons...more
This is a fabulous series (I also read #4), set in England a little before the War of 1812. The main character is dashing and has flaws, but is undeterred in the cause of justice. The author is a historian and studies diaries and documents of the time to provide a realistic peek into the manners, mores, and values of the period. In the 4th book, "What Remains of Heaven," a character is William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin, but a son who was loyal to Britain. He was a real perso...more
The Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries by C.S. Harris are highly addictive. Full of intrigue, mysteries, family secrets, gruesome murders, revenge, hatred, love and all set in the beginning of the 19th century. Sebastian is very charismatic and the kind of character a reader just cannot get enough of. There is nothing about Why Mermaids Sing that I didn't like. C.S. Harris has me hooked and I am looking forward to the next adventure of Viscount Devlin! I'm just grateful that Where Serpents Sleep has al...more
By George, I think she's (almost) got it. C.S. Harris has finally hit her stride in the third installment her Sebastian St. Cyr series. This one finds Sebastian, still reeling with the news of his mother's non-death, faced with the great plot mover and shaker known as The Serial Killer. Someone is butchering young men in England, slitting their throats and hacking the flesh from their bones. Nothing appears to link them except for a series of bizarre objects left in the mouths of their corps...more
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#3 Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery set in 1811 London. Sebastian, aka Viscount Devlin, is asked by his constable friend to help him investigate what may be a serial killer, since he has assisted in such enquiries in the past. There have been two bodies of young men found with certain mutilations and items stuffed into their mouths that leads Henry Lovejoy to believe they were done by the same person.
When news comes to light of a third death with similar attributes that occurred...more
When news comes to light of a third death with similar attributes that occurred...more
On every page of WHY MERMAIDS SING, C.S. Harris presents her readers with scenario after scenario that captures the imagination and keeps you riveted. Each of her characters, no matter how minor, adds yet another tantalizing layer to the tale and provides clues to aid in the solution of the multiple mysteries.
Sebastian St. Cyr (Lord Devlin) is a man on a mission. A man of unrelenting single-mindedness, Devlin ignores threats to life and limb in his pursuit of the truth. His assista...more
Sebastian St. Cyr (Lord Devlin) is a man on a mission. A man of unrelenting single-mindedness, Devlin ignores threats to life and limb in his pursuit of the truth. His assista...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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WHY MERMAIDS SING (Mystery-Sebastian St. Cyr-England-Regency) - VG+
Harris, C.S. – 3rd in series
An Obsidian Mystery, 2007, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780451222268
First Sentence: Fear twisted Dominic Stanton’s stomach, compressed his chest until his breath came shallow and quick.
*** The murdered and mutilated body’s of two, wealthy young men have been found publicly displayed. Because of their level in society, nobleman Viscount Devlin, Sebastian St. Cyr has been...more
Harris, C.S. – 3rd in series
An Obsidian Mystery, 2007, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780451222268
First Sentence: Fear twisted Dominic Stanton’s stomach, compressed his chest until his breath came shallow and quick.
*** The murdered and mutilated body’s of two, wealthy young men have been found publicly displayed. Because of their level in society, nobleman Viscount Devlin, Sebastian St. Cyr has been...more
I really am loving this series! :D
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
Even though my wife told me the bones of the story, this book held my attention for the entire day of flying from new orleans to Charlotte to Philly and all the attendant delays that flying U.S.Airways implies. I suspect i should have read the first two novels to get a little deeper characterization of the protagonist but it was still a satisfying yarn. Passed the time nicely which was all this book was meant to do. Loved the fact that a John Donne poem held the keys to the murders.
The best book of the series, so far. No doubt.
The mystery was absolutely enthralling and very clever. Young men across the city are turning up dead, murdered, in brutal ways. That is one thing they all have in common, another is the connection of their fathers. A connection of a secret that has been hidden for years. What kind of secret would men keep, while their sons are turning up brutally murdered? The conclusion is one that is unfathomable and totally outrageous.
The ...more
The mystery was absolutely enthralling and very clever. Young men across the city are turning up dead, murdered, in brutal ways. That is one thing they all have in common, another is the connection of their fathers. A connection of a secret that has been hidden for years. What kind of secret would men keep, while their sons are turning up brutally murdered? The conclusion is one that is unfathomable and totally outrageous.
The ...more
#3 Sebastian St. Cyr Historical Mystery series
London, 1811
Another winner by C.S. Harris. This time, Sebastian, aka Viscount Devlin, is asked by his police inspector friend to help in the investigation of deaths of the sons of prominent Englishmen.
A truly bizarre, very gruesome, & puzzling series of deaths, this is a real page turner. I read this excellent book in one evening - I had to know how it ended!
While this is a mystery and not a romance...more
London, 1811
Another winner by C.S. Harris. This time, Sebastian, aka Viscount Devlin, is asked by his police inspector friend to help in the investigation of deaths of the sons of prominent Englishmen.
A truly bizarre, very gruesome, & puzzling series of deaths, this is a real page turner. I read this excellent book in one evening - I had to know how it ended!
While this is a mystery and not a romance...more
Gripping - stayed up way too late to find out what would happen. This installment is definitely more extreme than the first two, and may prove too disturbing for some (cannibalism, implied incest). I enjoyed the actual mystery the most of the three St. Cyr books I've read. I'm taking a break from these now, so I don't devour the entire series whole. That always leaves me feeling mentally bloated. #6 in the Book a Week in 2012 Challenge at the #WTM
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Candice Proctor, aka C.S. Harris and C.S. Graham, is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than a dozen novels including the Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mystery series written under the name C.S. Harris, the new C.S. Graham thriller series co-written with Steven Harris, and seven historical romances. She is also the author of a nonfiction historical study of the French Revolution. Her books ...more
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