What Angels Fear (Sebastian St. Cyr, #1) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Oct 16, 2015 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nc-br-digital-library, 16000-in-2016, historical-mystery

A young actress is found brutally murdered at the altar in a church and all evidence seems to point to Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin. It soon becomes clear to him that there are multiple forces at play, some powerful and political, and he goes on the run to investigate the crime to clear his name.

This is a well written historical mystery with a strong sense of place and Regency setting. The characterizations are outstanding as all of them have multiple layers and dimensions. We also watch Seba ...more

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Sep 07, 2013 Veronica rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-mystery

Three and a half stars

Boy, those anarchists certainly must have been a thorn in everyone's sides back in the day as this is the third historical mystery I've read that involved them as a main plot device. I feel the need to go brush up my world history now. In any event, this debut book by C.S. Harris, a female author, serves up an intriguing male protagonist in Sebastian St Cyr and an equally engaging murder mystery. The details of the murder/s are pretty horrendous and the chain of suspects le Three and a half stars

Boy, those anarchists certainly must have been a thorn in everyone's sides back in the day as this is the third historical mystery I've read that involved them as a main plot device. I feel the need to go brush up my world history now. In any event, this debut book by C.S. Harris, a female author, serves up an intriguing male protagonist in Sebastian St Cyr and an equally engaging murder mystery. The details of the murder/s are pretty horrendous and the chain of suspects leads high up the political chain as well as to Sebastian's own front door. The plot did meander a bit in the third act as by the time that Sebastian was making his THIRD round of the same suspects I was more than ready for the end game to be revealed.

As I mentioned before, Sebastian makes for a cool hero. He's carrying around some inner demons relating to the five years he served in war and, as such, he's not the spoiled, carefree member of the English aristocracy that one would expect the youngest son of an Earl to be. There are various and sundry other characters that are introduced, some better than others, as the story is told in third person from multiple view points. There is a small romantic element as we are introduced to Kat Boleyn, Sebastian's first love and the one that got away. This is one of the few times where I would have been fine if there hadn't been any romance in the book at all. Kat as a character was okay, though she's hiding some secrets of her own, but I didn't feel any investment at all in her relationship with Sebastian. I usually like to see the whole journey of two characters toward coupledom, that's just my personal preference. I can become invested in couples who have been estranged for whatever reason and who are now reconciling if it's done well, i.e taken slowly and with trust having to be re-earned, but I don't feel that this was done with Sebastian and Kat. So, while I am interested in reading more St Cyr mysteries, if the romance stays far in the background that would suit me fine.

Of the myriad other characters that appear in the story, Sebastian's father and Tom, the helpful street urchin (historical mysteries seem to love them), seem the most important, at least to Sebastian. There are hints at a deeper mystery relating to Sebastian's family and I kept waiting for him to ask what I consider to be normal follow up questions every time that the matter came up but he never did. That was frustrating and I found it a bit unbelievable that a son would not push for more information. I'm rooting for a mending of fences between Sebastian and his father as they don't seem to have the best relationship to start off the book. In fact, I was much more invested in this relationship than I was in the one with Kat. Tom could use some fleshing out as right now he's more of a cardboard "type" as opposed to a fully realized character. I'm not sure that he'll get it but I hope so.

All in all, I found this to be a solid murder mystery with some interesting characters and some convoluted family dynamics and secrets that will likely stretch across future books. The opening is made for Sebastian to continue down this unlooked for role as an investigator so hopefully additional books will bear out the promise of this first effort. ...more

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Jul 18, 2014 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: regency, politics, historical-mystery, serial-killers, fugitive-convict

What Angels Fear
4 Stars

When the body of a young woman is discovered on the steps of an alter in a London church next to a distinctive pistol, Sebastian St. Cyr becomes the prime suspect. In order to clear his name, Sebastian will have to go on the run and investigate the crime himself with the aid of Tom, a snarky street urchin, and Kat, the woman who broke his heart. Can he uncover the truth before the real killer strikes again?

A very entertaining historical mystery. Harris seamlessly merges th ...more

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Jul 19, 2014 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction, historical-mystery, britain, mystery, 1800s

RATING: 4 STARS

Wow, I started this series 5 years ago and I still remember some of the scenes so vividly in my mind. I am very late to the review game, which is not something unusual for me. I have the best of intentions and try to be organize, but some other book beckons to be read. You can never say no to another journey ahead. I would not have even picked up this book if it was not picked for a group read. It was one of the series we were all going to start together. I am so happy it was chos ...more

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Jan 01, 2016 Sunny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars

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Jan 13, 2016 Charlene rated it really liked it

This is a re-read for me. I only gave it 2 stars in 2013, and I don't know whether I finished it or not. Sometimes, I find myself not liking books when my frame of mind is not receptive to an author's work.

Whatever the earlier reason, I read this first Sebastian St Cyr book for a group series read, and I'm glad I did. I came to like this Regency investigator who is fighting to clear his name, when all about London it is assumed that he was the murderer in a particularly gruesome crime.

I don't kn ...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Logan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library, historical-fiction, mystery

Terrific historical mystery with political intrigue and a dose of humor. Though its reliance on the historical setting led to a glacial pace, I appreciated the rich detail that completely transported me. If you like Regency London and an interesting murder mystery, this is your book.

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Jan 05, 2016 Jo Ann rated it really liked it

Shelves: rom-susp, 2016-read

This was a reread - originally read in 2006.
Solid 4 stars.
Having read the entire series to-date, it was fun to go back where it all began. I enjoyed the story, and the great cast of characters, as much as I did the first time around. It's interesting to have the perspective of what happens to the characters in future books. The series gets much stronger as it goes along, the characters more fully developed (Hero, Gibson, Tom). Looking forward to a reread of book 2!! ...more

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