When Falcons Fall (Sebastian St. Cyr, #11) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Feb 16, 2017 Mary Beth rated it really liked it

I just love this series. This is the 11th book in the Sebastian St. Cyr Series. I now have to wait for the next book to come out and wait like everyone else. So much has gone on in this series. It is so hard to write a review because I have friends that are still reading this series and I don't want them to know some of the changes. The books in this series just seem to get better and better.

Devlin cannot go anywhere without a murder happening in the vicinity. A young woman, Emma Chance, has b ...more

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Nov 18, 2016 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, nc-br-digital-library, group-read, 16000-in-2016, historical-mystery, 500-up-to-date

Sebastian St. Cyr and his wife, Hero, head to Ayleswick, Shropshire to meet Jamie Knox's grandmother. He has something to deliver to her but hopes to learn more about his paternity. Unfortunately, he walks right into a suspicious death in the small village and the young, inexperienced squire enlists his aid in determining if the young woman, Emma Chance, committed suicide or was murdered.

I really liked this mystery because the pursuit revealed so much more about the town's history, spanning ove ...more

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Jul 31, 2015 Veronica rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-mystery

What can I say about this series that I haven't already said? It's my absolute favorite historical mystery series and this book is certainly worthy of helping the series to maintain that status. After the rather sad events of the last book, Sebastian has arrived at an idyllic rural village in Shropshire with his wonderful wife, Hero, at his side. His motives for making the journey are deeply personal but no sooner has he arrived before the shadow of a mysterious death begins to pull at his atten What can I say about this series that I haven't already said? It's my absolute favorite historical mystery series and this book is certainly worthy of helping the series to maintain that status. After the rather sad events of the last book, Sebastian has arrived at an idyllic rural village in Shropshire with his wonderful wife, Hero, at his side. His motives for making the journey are deeply personal but no sooner has he arrived before the shadow of a mysterious death begins to pull at his attentions. The new village Squire, having heard of Sebastian's reputation for solving murders, enlists his aid in discovering why a young widow, rather recently arrived to town herself, is suddenly dead. The resulting investigation is a twisting, turning journey through dark and deeply held secrets stretching back through the years.

The time and setting are so vividly portrayed that I can practically feel myself wandering through the various sites along with Sebastian and Hero. The murder was intricately woven with enough red herrings that I certainly didn't figure out who the guilty party was until maybe a nano second before Sebastian revealed all. And the use of actual bits of history, in this case the actual presence of Napolean's younger brother in the English countryside, as a prisoner of war as well as the impact of the Enclosure Laws, is masterfully done. The fact that Sebastian was operating without his usual sources of aid, like Lovejoy and Gibson, may have frustrated him but I don't feel the story suffered for their absence. It was weird to have an entire book without Jarvis though. At any rate, I will be glad for the return to London for the next book.

But, really, Sebastian made out quite fine in the end because he has the wonderful Hero at his side. Watching their relationship grow and mature across several books has been a real highlight of this series and it only adds that extra something special to what is already an exceptional historical mystery series. If there had just been one or two extra scenes between the couple it would have elevated this book to a five star read for me. The fact that I'm only giving it four stars is less about the quality of the story and more about my level of greediness where Sebastian/Hero are concerned.

Once, he had faced danger with a recklessness born of a careless attitude toward living. But those days were in the past. And as he held her close, felt her heart pounding against his, heard the keening of her breath, he knew a deep and all-consuming thankfulness that he was here, now, alive and in this woman's arms.
...more

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Aug 27, 2015 Angela rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, historical-mystery

The Sebastian St Cyr's continues it's reign as one of the top series for me. The mysteries continue to be intriguing and mind baffling. No clue who the murderer was, but when all the pieces were laid out before me, it made sense.

The atmospheric writing of the series is a true highlight for me. It's the little details that Harris get's right. From the tree scrapping on the window to a hand even in death moving with the flow of the river. When reading a Harris book, you know that she's done her re ...more

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Dec 17, 2016 Lauren rated it really liked it

Shelves: regency, politics, bluestocking-heroine, historical-mystery, writer-heroine

When Falcons Fall
4 Stars

Sebastian St. Cyr and his wife, Hero, have travelled to the Shropshire countryside on a personal quest. But when a young widow is found dead, the local magistrate turns to Sebastian for help. It soon becomes clear that the victim is not quite who she seemed and exposing the dark secrets of a small village can have deadly consequences.

There are numerous characters and motivations to keep track of in this installment and it can get confusing at times. Nevertheless, the inv ...more

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Nov 18, 2016 Veronica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, audiobook

Doing a re-read via audiobook! Davina Porter does an excellent job as usual. My original rating still stands and my review is here. Now I anxiously await the new release in April 2017. ...more

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Mar 19, 2023 Anita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, historical-mystery

Sebastian is on a mission of his own when he is caught up in the murder this time around. I love how Sebastian and Hero work together as a team. They respect each other and how their minds work in different ways. There is a lot to uncover in this small village and the history is brutal and bloody and ties to the family of Jamie Knox, who may be Sebastian's half-brother.

Sebastian St. Cyr and his family have come to the quaint village of Ayleswick in Shropshire to further Sebastian's quest to fin ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 Jo Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-read, top-read-2016, reread, historical, myst-detective, part-of-a-series, romantic-elements, london-or-england, crime-mystery, own

I enjoyed everything about this book! Ms Harris gives the reader a well crafted mystery, with so many twists and turns, while seamlessly intertwining the series story arc of Sebastian's search for his true parentage.

The characters and setting are so well drawn they appear before my eyes like I'm watching a movie instead of reading a book. The addition of actual historical events into the storyline was both compelling and educational.

I love how the relationship between Hero and Sebastian (and l ...more

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Nov 21, 2020 Charlene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-suspense-thriller, historical-fiction

This series gets better with each book! I really felt for the victim in this...so close to home for Sebastian.

5★

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Nov 17, 2016 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it really liked it

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

RATING: 4 STARS

Sebastian and Hero are visiting in a peaceful English village...and if you watch Midsomer Murders, you know a grisly murder is afoot! Harris is great with descriptions so I felt like I could really see Shropshire village in my imagination. When I read this series, I don't like to think ahead and figure out the killer (if I could figure it). This is one series I just enjoy reading and see what the characters do and how they go about solving the crime. There is always so much going ...more

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Dec 13, 2016 Charlene rated it really liked it

Shelves: series-by-author, regency, crime, friends-recommendations, suspense, group-read, adult-themes, law-enforcement, historical-fiction, public-library

4.5 Stars

I have really enjoyed this series, and I always learn something truly historical enmeshed in the story and murder investigations. This is one series that should be read from the beginning to get the full richness of Sebastian's story....

I hope another volume appears sooner rather than later. I'm already feeling the loss of the group read that has been ongoing since the beginning of this C. H. Harris SEBASTIAN ST. CYR Mystery series. ...more

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