It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George III's England. Then a beautiful young woman is found savagely murde...
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reviews
Jan 31, 2009
Christa
rated it: 
I enjoy historical mysteries, and this is one of the better ones that I have read. The storyline was good, and the mystery kept me guessing. I really liked the main character, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. I am looking forward to reading the other three novels that are currently part of this series.
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is a rather mysterious young nobleman with uncanny vision and hearing. Rumors have abounded about him since his return from the Napoleonic War More...
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is a rather mysterious young nobleman with uncanny vision and hearing. Rumors have abounded about him since his return from the Napoleonic War More...
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Jul 02, 2011
Angela
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The blurb copy on What Angels Fear, the first of C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr series, says that if you are a fan of the Julian Kestrel series, then you'll like this one too. And it's really rather on the money. I do like me some Regency-era mystery, and like the redoubtable Julian Kestrel, Sebastian St. Cyr is a nobleman of dubious reputation and a mysterious history. He's got the obligatory relationship with a woman of equally dubious reputation, and the plucky young sidekick off the streets.
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Feb 07, 2009
Baldwin_tina
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(340 pgs.) A mystery/murder that takes place during the Regency period. I liked this book except for the explicit sexual passages which were totally unnecessary. Also, this book had two problems that I spotted. pg. 71 The lady of the house has asked her servants to fold the newspaper (Morning News) up and set it at her place at the breakfast table. Ladies as late as the Victorian and into the beginning of the twentieth century would NOT have read the newspaper. It was considered to be full
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Sep 12, 2011
D.w.
rated it: 
There was a lot to like about the first St. Cyr mystery and I do intend to read others in the series. Ms. Harris who is a historian knows a great deal and shares that with us, though sometimes it does seem that we have artifice instead of art to do so.
We have the dead body, which we of course want in our mysteries. We even have our heroic investigator, but what we have also is some additional hijinks that does not make sense. Why does our hero need the Bithil Syndrome? It is a device t More...
We have the dead body, which we of course want in our mysteries. We even have our heroic investigator, but what we have also is some additional hijinks that does not make sense. Why does our hero need the Bithil Syndrome? It is a device t More...
Jul 10, 2011
Mary Helene
rated it:
It's a good mystery - a plot that thickens, characters who engage and a deeper thread examining the response of privilege to poverty.In fact, I printed out and attached to the inside back cover a couple of paragraphs by Jon Sobrino which are on this theme. They are posted below.
From this basic reality of the cross and of death, we have learned to place in its true perspective the massive poverty which draws people to death--death which is slow at the hands of the ever-present More...
From this basic reality of the cross and of death, we have learned to place in its true perspective the massive poverty which draws people to death--death which is slow at the hands of the ever-present More...
Apr 12, 2010
SarahC
rated it:
I love historical mysteries, but even in my limited experience with them, I have become choosy. I don't mind trying series mysteries, but am also past the honeymoon with them too. Too many times, I don't feel I'm getting my money's worth from buying all the books throughout the series -- in other words maybe I feel I have read 3-volume's worth of actual story for every six volumes purchased.
But let me focus back to first of the latest series I am trying, What Angels Fear, a Sebastian More...
But let me focus back to first of the latest series I am trying, What Angels Fear, a Sebastian More...
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Jan 16, 2010
Gail
rated it:
It is 1811 and King George III is mad and his son is about to become Prince Regent and the French Revolution haunts London at all stratas including all those who served in the army in France. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin is a young nobleman haunted by his wartime experiences.
A young woman from the shady sides of London is brutally murdered and violated inside a church and St. Cyr's dueling pistol is found with her body. As he is being arrested, he escapes. Rather than use More...
A young woman from the shady sides of London is brutally murdered and violated inside a church and St. Cyr's dueling pistol is found with her body. As he is being arrested, he escapes. Rather than use More...
Jan 13, 2012
Indiana
rated it:
Hello, welcome to my new obsession - that is, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin *grin* This is the first book in a who knows how many mystery series. So far there are 4. All feature St. Cyr solving a mystery. Set in Regency England, this first one sees St. Cyr accused of brutally murdering a young actress in a church. Of course he didn't do it. Rather than flee abroad as everyone urges him to do, he goes undercover, taking refuge in the seemier parts of London and sets about clearing his name w
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Jan 01, 2010
Dorie
rated it:
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is charged with murder when a young actress if found mutilated in an old church and a gun marked with his name is found on the body. Smelling a setup, Sebastian runs from the authorities and decides to find the killer himself. In the process he hooks up with another actress named Kat Boleyn, a woman he once loved who ended up breaking his heart. The story was really good and it was difficult to deduce the killer, but with good reason -- the author didn't sh
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Aug 12, 2009
Starling
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Written when at page 50. I'm not sure about this book at this point. The writing is pretty good. I'm interested in the plot and the mystery. It is possible that now that the main character is up front and on the run that I'm going to enjoy it more.
Not long after page 50 the book took off. I think my problems getting into it had more to do with first book in a series syndrome than anything else. The first book has to set the stage, build the universe and give you at least some of the More...
Not long after page 50 the book took off. I think my problems getting into it had more to do with first book in a series syndrome than anything else. The first book has to set the stage, build the universe and give you at least some of the More...
Jul 08, 2011
Teri
rated it:
I picked this up for some fun reading while browsing shelves at the bookstore for which I had a gift card. It is a mystery set in Regency London, and to make it even more appealing, it featured a comment saying Anne Perry fans would like it. And that is true! I am halfway through the novel, and can say it is better written than an Anne Perry novel. (But I will always be reading the newest adventures of both the Pitt and the Monk series.)
So far this is a great summer read. A lovely actr More...
So far this is a great summer read. A lovely actr More...
Apr 16, 2011
Erica
rated it:
I loved this book, which is a fast-paced Regency-set mystery with spies (yay!) and a hint of romance. The absolute best thing about the book is the hero, Sebastian St. Cyr, who headlines the series. He is, to put it mildly, delicious. He has some special abilities, which the author attributes to a rare genetic syndrome.
[I did a quick search of several medical and genetic databases and could find nothing on 'bithil syndrome'; however, many diseases have multiple names and it's possib More...
[I did a quick search of several medical and genetic databases and could find nothing on 'bithil syndrome'; however, many diseases have multiple names and it's possib More...
Apr 30, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Pure escapism. Not extremely well-written, but I am a sucker for mysteries, especially when they are set in a foreign country. It is a weird mix of bodice-ripper and detective novel, though. I was kind of surprised by the sex scenes, they seemed unnecessary for the plot development. I guess it was to make sure you understood the relationship between two of the characters, but I think I got it before they rekindled their physical relationship. Maybe it was just meant to satisfy the usual audience
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Jun 02, 2009
Tina
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This is the first of the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery novels.
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount of Devlin is accused of the brutal rape and murder of an actress, Rachel York, found dead in a church. He is fingered as the culprit because the name St. Cyr is in her appointment book and one of his dueling pistols is found at the scene. He knows he is innocent because he has never met the woman and can't imagine why she'd put a non-existent meeting in her book.
The Chief Magistra More...
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount of Devlin is accused of the brutal rape and murder of an actress, Rachel York, found dead in a church. He is fingered as the culprit because the name St. Cyr is in her appointment book and one of his dueling pistols is found at the scene. He knows he is innocent because he has never met the woman and can't imagine why she'd put a non-existent meeting in her book.
The Chief Magistra More...
Apr 08, 2010
Abby
rated it:
I am SO glad this is the first book in a series!
Brief Summary
In this book we meet Sebastian St. Cyr, youngest son and heir of the Duke of Hendon. Sebastian is the ultimate tortured hero with serious PTSD issues after fighting Napoleon in the war. When St. Cyr is wrongly accused of brutally murdering actress Rachel York, St. Cyr must escape into the underworld of Regency London to try and clear his name. Much to his dismay, St. Cyr is not alone and find he has su More...
Sep 11, 2011
Yune
rated it:
A Regency murder mystery which actually does a decent job of portraying the lower classes, amidst whom the nobleman Sebastian St. Cyr hides himself when he is accused of murder -- of course he won't flee London, not when he wants to clear his name. I found this a solid read, although I was a little exasperated by the way the author tended to stretch things: a comedy of errors that kept implicating Sebastian, his superhero-like hearing (explained in an author's note as a genetic anomaly), the way
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Nov 23, 2011
Stina
rated it:
It's official. I am madly in love with Sebastian St Cyr. ::deep sigh::
This is probably the best crafted mystery I've read all year, and I love that it zips along like a fluffy beach read even though it's chock full of well developed characters, well researched political intrigues, and social commentaries that seem almost timeless. Harris did an excellent job of bringing Regency-era London to life without succumbing to the temptation to indulge in what I call "winking from the fut More...
This is probably the best crafted mystery I've read all year, and I love that it zips along like a fluffy beach read even though it's chock full of well developed characters, well researched political intrigues, and social commentaries that seem almost timeless. Harris did an excellent job of bringing Regency-era London to life without succumbing to the temptation to indulge in what I call "winking from the fut More...
Jun 15, 2011
Shiela
rated it:
Oh I do love historical mysteries and this first-in-a-series had it all--gruesome murder, dirty politics, spies, a former lover and a Viscount to boot! There were so many viable suspects with so many possible solutions and in the end, I would have never guessed the perp. The character development was superb and the reader really gets a sense of the uncertain and fragile times that occurred during the Regency period both in the upper echelons of society as well as those struggling to make ends
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Aug 06, 2009
Gabby
rated it:
I picked this one up because I love period pieces and felt that something Regency, without being girly, would be refreshing. Maybe I prefer the girly. I don't know, for having been written by a woman, it seemed a lot like a man. Does that sound funny? It's a mystery, with a murder having taken place (and VERY gruesome and perhaps I could have done without some of the imagery), but while the pacing of the whodunit was pretty good, I think the ending was a little bit of a let down, ONLY because, t
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Dec 06, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
Set in Regency England, What Angels Fear recounts the tale of nobleman and former soldier Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, who finds himself implicated in a brutal murder. As discovering the actual killer is his only chance to prove his innocence, Sebastian sets out to do just that, with the assistance of his former lover Kate Boleyn and a boy from the streets named Tom.
Unlike some other historical mysteries I have read, What Angels Fear is very much about the murder mystery itse More...
Unlike some other historical mysteries I have read, What Angels Fear is very much about the murder mystery itse More...
Apr 20, 2011
Ruth
rated it:
Sebastian St. Cyr, the Viscount Devlin, returns from a stint in the Napoleonic Wars to a politically volatile England. With George III sinking further into madness and the establishment of a regency led by the pleasure-loving Prince of Wales on the horizon, fiercely opposing political forces jockey for position and power, with nothing less than the future of England and her position abroad at stake. When Rachel York, a popular actress, is found viciously raped and murdered on the altar steps of
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Aug 23, 2011
CB
rated it:
A fun, fast read, even if I don''t really buy some of the characters' names (Rachel York is the name of a real life current actress, whose Braodway roles include Marguerite Blakeney in the Scarlet Pmpernel; plus an actress who calls herself Boleyn? Really?) The book is well-paced and kept me guessing enough, even if the mystery wasn't up the twists and turns (and well-developed characterization) of historical mysteries by C.J. Sansome or Susanna Gregory.
And as a knitter, I feel co More...
And as a knitter, I feel co More...
Dec 03, 2010
Keri
rated it:
What a great mystery! I was trying to guess who it was right up until the end. I had never read Candice Proctor writing as C. S. Harris, but she did a really great job. If you are looking for a break from romance, but want a historical setting, then this book might be for you.
Sebastian is now between a rock and a hard place. He is running for his life, as he has been accused of a horrible crime that ended the life of a promiscuous actress. Everybody is on his side, encourages him to le More...
Sebastian is now between a rock and a hard place. He is running for his life, as he has been accused of a horrible crime that ended the life of a promiscuous actress. Everybody is on his side, encourages him to le More...
Jun 30, 2011
Judith
rated it:
C.S. Harris was going to speak at a conference and that spurred me to read her books. Now I can’t put down her Sebastian St. Cyr series, set in Regency England. They are page-turners with great characters and twists you’ll never predict and all the other fun of a suspenseful read. They are also crystal windows into a particular moment and place. It was delightful to listen to C.S. Harris talk about her research methods and her love of history...For the complete review
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Mar 07, 2011
Angie
rated it:
Accusé à tort, alors que les indices semblent irrévocablement le désigner, Sebastian Alistair St Cyr, alias Vicomte Devlin, se soustrait à la justice, et plutôt que de fuir pour vivre dans la disgrâce, se retrouve dans les bas fonds de Londres à mener l'enquête pour se blanchir.
Ici, il n'y a pas de héros infaillible à l'intellect et à l'instinct surdéveloppé (juste ses sens, mais à ce qu'il parait c'est une mutation génétique réelle rencontrée chez certains Galois, the Bithil Syndrom More...
Nov 06, 2011
Jacqie
rated it:
Four and a half stars, really. Very strong first book in a series, probably because the author has cut her writing chops writing romances, so she knows how to draw the reader in and how to write smoothly.
Many possible suspects leave Sebastian St. Cyr with lots to do when he is falsely accused of a gruesome rape-murder. The edgy politics of the beginning of the Regency, enmity with France, grave-digging and art, all come in to play here. There's also an epic romance, but it's a wel More...
Many possible suspects leave Sebastian St. Cyr with lots to do when he is falsely accused of a gruesome rape-murder. The edgy politics of the beginning of the Regency, enmity with France, grave-digging and art, all come in to play here. There's also an epic romance, but it's a wel More...
Apr 15, 2011
Quinn
rated it:
The writing is good and the story is enjoyable but there is one thing that always irks me in some mystery novels and writers. WARNING: DO NOT READ PAST THIS IF YOU DONT WANT TO HAVE A HINT ABOUT THE ENDING!
I really hate it when an author creates several characters that could be the dastardly villain, they focus on those characters, they lead you on and you are trying to decide who the culprit is and then they end it with a character that has barely been mentioned in More...
Jan 15, 2012
Sharon
rated it:
When actress Rachel York is found dead in a Westminster church, suspicion turns on nobleman Sebastian St. Cyr for a variety of reasons. As St. Cyr tries to clear his name, more murders take place in circumstances that also incriminate him.
This book is filled with twists and turns (I absolutely did not see the "whodunnit" coming), fascinating characters from the highest nobles to the lowest street urchins, and well-researched historical detail. The author brings us into th More...
This book is filled with twists and turns (I absolutely did not see the "whodunnit" coming), fascinating characters from the highest nobles to the lowest street urchins, and well-researched historical detail. The author brings us into th More...
Aug 15, 2009
Christy
rated it:
A fantastic novel of murder and intrigue. Filled with so many twists and turns that you never knew where you were going to end up or which mysterious character you'd meet up with next.
What Angels Fear had everything that should be expected in a historical mystery: chases, sword fighting, disguises and of course, murder.
Every suspect seemed to have something to hide and I was completely off in my conclusion. I did not see the end coming and the murderer was totally unexpec More...
What Angels Fear had everything that should be expected in a historical mystery: chases, sword fighting, disguises and of course, murder.
Every suspect seemed to have something to hide and I was completely off in my conclusion. I did not see the end coming and the murderer was totally unexpec More...
May 31, 2011
Brianne
rated it:
This book combines some of my favorites - history and mystery with a little hint of romance. :) I was guessing at the mystery until about 3/4 of the way through, which is just the way I like it. The details throughout the book are numerous and important and there are definitely threads that will continue as the series continues. While this book takes place within Society of 1811 England, it also travels through other areas of London and other classes of people, both English and foreign. I li
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