London, 1819: When Brewster, my bodyguard, comes to me about a murder of a pugilist—and what’s more, says his wife has summoned me—I must hasten to St. Giles to find a killer before Brewster is arrested for the crime. This is made difficult because my wife’s late husband’s odious cousin has materialized to try to wrest her son into his care. After all, seven-year-old Peter is a viscount, and his … his cousin wants to get closer to the title.
But how close? If Peter’s life is in danger, I must remain, but Brewster risks hanging for the death of his wife’s brother-in-law. He’s done too much for me to turn my back on him, but the devil if I’ll let the Breckenridge cousin get his clutches on Peter.
It will take all my perseverance, and a few wiles, to plough through these difficulties. In the meantime, I meet a Runner who teaches me about crime and punishment in this enlightened age, and Brewster’s old trainer, who made him the excellent pugilist—and thief—he is today.
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If Bookbub would let me click all the buttons for “what I liked” I’d click every one. This is vintage Captain Lacey, full of terrific historical world building, a mystery that gallops through the pages, and our hero, Gabriel Lacey, limping, grousing, and puzzling his way through it all. I never understood the term “Book boyfriend,” until I met Gabriel Lacey. He by-passes my TBR pile and is among very few to earn the coveted, “Release Day Must Read” status. Treat yourself, and spend tonight solving A Murder in St. Giles!
Oh! How I wish I could fly back through time and meet Captain Lacey, Donata, Brewster, Mr. Denis, Em, Bartholomew, Peter, Gabriella, Anna, Marianne, and Grenville. The times are so interesting, the characters just scream out that they want to be your friend and the mystery is – well – so very mysterious. Then add in Donata’s nasty cousins along with Gabriella’s shocker and you have a fast-paced, cannot-put-down book.
Captain Gabriel Lacey is having a very bad day indeed! To begin, Stanton, a cousin of Donata’s deceased first husband barges into their home and announces that he is going to take custody of Donata’s son, Peter. Then, after Lacey gets rid of Stanton, but before he can console Donata, Brewster arrives and demands that Lacey go with him to St. Giles where there has been a murder.
Throughout the whole book, Lacey is juggling the murder investigation and thwarting Stanton. Luckily, Donata is a resourceful woman and handles much of the planning for Peter’s safety herself. Lacey uncovers a vile and corrupt peer as well as a sea captain that subverts the justice system while he is investigating. How much more can one man get into at one time?
Who killed Jack Finch? Finch was a huge man, a former pugilist and he had been beaten – badly. But, how was he even in London? He’d been convicted of a crime and transported. Did Brewster kill him? Did a former partner in crime get to him? Was it a former victim – he was a blackmailer and a thief, so it could have been anybody. Usually in a crime, there are few suspects and they all appear innocent – in this case, there are many, many suspects and they all appear guilty. Add in embezzlement from the Bank of England and you have a real mind boggler. When the murderer is identified you will be absolutely shocked.
Amid all the pandemonium Lacey’s daughter, Gabriella arrives for the start of her season. She doesn’t want a season or to choose a groom from among the suitors, but she doesn’t want to disappoint Donata and her father. However, all goes well – until there is a proposal. Oh! What chaos!
Luckily, Mr. Denis, a master criminal, is there to lend a hand and to suck Lacey further into his debt. Lacey will pay any price to keep Peter and Donata safe and happy. I know Mr. Denis is supposed to be this really bad guy – and he is – but – I sort of like him.
I highly recommend this well-written, highly entertaining book!
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Another good entry in this Regency mystery series (no. 13). Although this one was a bit too convoluted, I liked that all the secondary characters in the ensemble cast were present…at this point, it is very much the troupe of interesting personalities that keep me engaged in these mysteries. Happy to hear that there are more to come, but the author usually only manages one a year. This series will make a good re-read sometime.
London, 1819: Captain Lacey is summoned to St Giles by Mrs Brewster, wife of his bodyguard, about a murder of a pugilist & he must find a killer before Brewster is arrested for the crime.
This is made difficult because Donata’s late husband’s odious cousin Stanton St John has materialized to try to wrest her son Peter into his care. So Lacey finds himself thrown into the world of pugilists, convicts & scheming relatives, also his daughter Gabriella arrives for her season.
It’s been a while since I read a Captain Lacey book & I’d forgotten how very good they are. The story flows very well, the characters have plenty of depth. There are twists & turns along the way & I was totally caught out by who the killer was. I’m so pleased that there will be, hopefully, lots more cases for Gabriel to solve.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Jennifer Ashley writes excellent historical fiction. I never miss one of her books and this one was one I enjoyed very much.
I thoroughly enjoy Captain Lacey novels. Highly recommend, if you enjoy historical fiction.
I’ve received an eARC at no cost for the author.
Murder in St. Giles was my first Captain Lacey’s book – and I can’t wait to read the other books!
Although I do like mysteries, I usually end up a bit disappointed because I can tell right away who did what (in this case, who killed Finch). But with this book, I kept thinking “who did it? Who did it?” because I just couldn’t tell. I really enjoyed discovering the killer along with Gabriel Lacey and Brewster.
The one tiny thing I would have liked a bit more is movement. Sometimes it was a bit slow, how the story was developing, and at the end it was maybe a bit too quick. But it was very satisfying, I didn’t feel like things were left to chance, everything was very well planned, since the order of meeting the suspects, to the suspects themselves.
The subplot was also good, although I have to say I didn’t connect with Donata and her son Peter that much, but that might have to do with only meeting them now, and not in a previous book. The most important part of this subplot, for me, was showing Captain Lacey in a different light, more of a husband and father (same thing with his daughters, Anne and Gabriella), which I could appreciate.
In the end, it was a great historical mystery book, it kept me guessing and wondering and I liked most of the characters, which meant I was truly engaged with what happened to each of them. I will, definitely, return to this series and read more about Captain Lacey.
Ashley Gardner
I love the Captain Lacey series. They are very well written mysteries and I am not able to guess the ending.
aa good historical mystery with very interesting characters
I love the Captain Lacey series and eagerly awaited this book like a visit from an old friend. And that’s just how it felt as soon as I started reading. The setting as always supremely realistic and the historical details were top notch. I love how the characters and their relationships develop from one book to the next. The Captain Lacey from this book is barely recognizable from how he appeared in the first book. And so it is with all of the characters. In this story, Captain Lacey fights a battle on two fronts.The first involves protecting his family from those who would see them torn apart. The second involves protecting a friend from potentially false charges. In both instances, Captain Lacey discovers that he can rely upon his friends. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Would have preferred to see more of Donata. But still a welcome addition to the series.
I love historical mysteries. I’m an Anne Perry fan, but I’m a bigger Jennifer Ashley fan. I love her new Below Stairs series too.
love this book and all her other ones. have all the adible that Ashley Gardner has written and all her books.