A veteran, Detective Rudyard Bloodstone has fought a brutal battle and witnessed war horrors that haunt his nightmares. Now one of those horrors has followed him home from Africa.A vicious predator, the Cape cobra, can kill a man in thirty minutes. A suspect using the snake as a weapon in robberies is terrorizing London. When the crimes escalate into murder, a victim’s daughter,Honoria Underhill, … daughter,
Honoria Underhill, becomes the focus of the killer. After several attempts on her life, Scotland Yard threatens to take
over the high profile case. With few leads to follow, Bloodstone and his partner must now fight department politics and catch the killer before Underhill becomes another murder victim.
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A Venomous Love (The Bloodstone Series Book #3) by Chris Karlsen is the latest historical mystery in this series set in the Victorian era featuring Detective Rudyard Bloodstone. These are entertaining reads that give you a snapshot of the people in this era and it also gives you a look at the limitations of the police to solve crimes. No CSI here, just old-fashioned legwork and logic with a little luck thrown into the mix.
Detective Rudyard “Ruddy” Bloodstone and his partner Detective Archie Holbrook are on the case of a thief who uses a unique deadly weapon to get his victims to turnover their valuables, a Cape cobra. Ruddy knows how quickly this snakes’ venom can kill having fought against the Zulus in Africa.
When the robberies escalate into murder, Ruddy and Archie wonder why the victim’s daughter, Honoria Underhill becomes the main focus of their thief. As they work the case, Ruddy’s brother, Will who has returned from service in India becomes a bodyguard for Honoria.
With few leads and the threat of Scotland Yard taking over the case. Ruddy and Archie are racing the clock to catch the killer before Honoria becomes another murder victim.
I really enjoy reading these mysteries featuring Rudyard Bloodstone. Ruddy, his partner and all the secondary characters pull you back in time with an interesting case to solve. Ms. Karlsen makes you realize how limited early law enforcement was and the class differences that could also impact a case. The use of the Cape cobra as a weapon was unique and even though you know the person behind the crime, the story still keeps you intrigued and interested.
I recommend this historical mystery and all the books in The Bloodstone Series.
Detective Rudyard has a case that has come to where he is just like where he came from it would seem. Things do escalate in this that come fast keeping us tuned into this. Whom he targets the killer that is gets Rudyard and his partner on their toes. Then it also is so in the eye of everyone time is running out for them if they do not want those same toes stepped on by Scotland Yard. You are transfixed with wanting to know everything. Since I did read the one before this one I did not want to miss this one and glad I did not. Kept me going in this suspense occupied when it was much needed.
I found this to be an intriguing story. I enjoyed the close friendship and working relationship between Ruddy and Archie. They were very intelligent and trusted each other. The secondary characters like Will, Curry, and the other police added very much to the story. The chase to catch a robber/murderer who used a snake as a weapon was entertaining and kept me reading the story. There could have been a little less in the description of every person who entered the tale, but for the most part, this was a story worth reading.
I received a copy of this story through CBR Services, and this is my unsolicited review.
I liked the era in which the book was written. There was a lot of details. The way the crimes were committed was new and was great to read how it went about. It could have used a little more action I guess for me that is. I had to put it down and come back to it. I would have liked to see a wee glimpse of Ruddy and Honeysuckle in the near future.