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Who Speaks for the Damned (Sebastian St. Cyr, #15)

C.S. Harris

Start date: April 7, 2020

Finish date: April 30, 2020

Discussion: Archives - Group Reads

Discussion leader: Jonetta

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What Members Thought

Apr 12, 2020 Jonetta rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: nc-br-digital-library, 2020-in-2020, netgalley-arc, 5000-2020, historical-mystery, 200-utd, 2020-historical-fiction, 2020-finishing-the-series

The Allied Sovereigns have assembled in London to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon in June 1814. Royal families from the German states, Russia and Austria are reveling in the restoration of the European monarchs. In the midst of all the festivities, the body of Nicholas Hayes, a British noble, was discovered in a tea garden. He was thought to have died 15 years earlier in Botany Bay where he was sentenced for the murder of the wife of a French emigre. Hayes was a friend of Jules Calhoun, Sebasti The Allied Sovereigns have assembled in London to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon in June 1814. Royal families from the German states, Russia and Austria are reveling in the restoration of the European monarchs. In the midst of all the festivities, the body of Nicholas Hayes, a British noble, was discovered in a tea garden. He was thought to have died 15 years earlier in Botany Bay where he was sentenced for the murder of the wife of a French emigre. Hayes was a friend of Jules Calhoun, Sebastian St. Cyr’s valet, who had Sebastian accompany him to the murder scene. Sebastian soon discovers that his own interest goes beyond helping out a friend as the investigation calls into question Hayes’ guilt for the crime that originally banished him from England.

I’ve loved this series for its historical accuracy, forthrightness and honesty about the past. It’s unparalleled in that respect, at least among my other historical fiction choices. This story surpassed my high expectations in this aspect as well as providing high intrigue and a downright confounding mystery. My education about the East India Company was apparently a farce and I learned the reality of its sordid history and devastating impact on Asian cultures. Hayes murder was cleverly entwined with the political machinations involving Allied relationships following Napoleon’s downfall, which had me paying attention to minute details and the intricacies of key relationships. If this wasn’t enough to engage me, Sebastian was teamed with Hero to work through many elements of the case, past and present.

This was the most delectable of installments to date, at least for me. Nicholas Hayes’ life was sort of a “what if” representation for Sebastian as so much of their lives mirrored each others except for the intervention of Constable Henry Lovejoy saving him from a similar fate at a similar pivotal moment in his own life. It inspired him to seek the truth on Nicholas’ behalf as there was absolutely no one to stand for him. There’s always been a noble quality about Sebastian beyond peerage and he’s never been finer than he was here in seeking the truth amidst incredible opposition. I loved everything about this story as it cleverly and skillfully steeped well defined characters, intrigue, mystery and suspense in a wealth of history. And the ending? Beyond lovely.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.) ...more

37 likes · Like · see review

Sep 20, 2023 Anita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-libby-city, audio, historical-mystery

I think the thing that keeps me reading this series is that the reader is discovering the clues at the same time Sebastian is. We don't know who the killer is and are just as baffled as he is. I came close, but with four prime suspects it was really a tough call. The accurate historical context these books have is also something that keeps me reading them. I am a history buff and love that aspect. I know that C.S. Harris does extensive research and that she portraying the period like it really w ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2021 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, historical-mystery, britain, historical-fiction, suspense, 1800s, romance, mystery, arc-edelweiss

Rating: 4.5 STARS
2020; Berkley

I just finished the previous book in the series, and moved straight into this one. I had to read a chapter before I fell asleep. Bad idea! It caught my interest right away, so I quickly turned off my kindle before it was 4 am, and I am still reading. Who Speaks for the Damned was really interesting! The death of a man, Nicholas Hayes, who everyone thought was already dead bring up scandals from the past. Sebastian gets involved when his valet, Jules Calhoun mention ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2020 Jo Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reread, library-ebook, historical, part-of-a-series, romantic-elements, london-or-england, crime-mystery, 2020-read, 2025-read

2025 reread - still one of the best in the series.

It was glorious to escape the current Covid-19 stressed world and head back to the early 1800's with some of my favorite characters. This is one of the best books of the series! The writing is superb, as usual, and the plot engrossing. The ending brought a tear to my eye. And now another year long wait for the next book... ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2024 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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

Who Speaks for the Damned
4 Stars

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, becomes involved in another investigation when Nicholas Hayes, a man convicted for murder and transported to Australia, is found dead in a London Tea Garden. Why has Nicholas returned to England, who wanted him dead, and how is a missing child related to the case?

While the investigating is interesting enough, the complete lack of development in the overall arc concerning Sebastian's mother and the identity of his biological fath ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 13, 2020 Eadie Burke rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2020

1814 London 15th book in series but can be read as standalone. Sebastian St Cyr and his wife, Hero, are asked to solve the murder of Nicholas Hayes who was accused of murdering a French woman 15 years earlier. I learned lots of well-researched history about the East India Co's opium smuggling and Napoleon's defeat. Harris is a very talented writer. Her unique characters and plot make for a book that held my attention all the way through. I now look forward to reading the next book in the series ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 08, 2020 Sharon Kallenberger Marzola rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, mystery, audio-whispersync, review-needed, historical, love-hero, love-heroine, great-support-characters, 2020-series-challenge, 200-utd

What a great series! There isn't one bad book in the series. I love the characters. Sebastian and Hero are perfect together. The mystery keeps me guessing.

Review will post shortly. ...more

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Aug 13, 2020 Charlene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: regency, public-library, suspense, crime, rated-not-reviewed, series-by-author, adult-themes, historical-fiction, follow-this-series, mystery

Another top-notch mystery in this series

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