As the Industrial Revolution roils London, “a daring pair of Regency sleuths tackle a series of coldblooded murders” in this historical mystery (Kirkus Reviews). When the eminent scientist Lord Wrexford discovers the body of a gifted inventor in a dark London alley, he promptly alerts the authorities. But Wrexford soon finds himself drawn into the murder investigation when the inventor’s widow … when the inventor’s widow tells him that the crime was no random robbery. Her husband’s designs for a new steam-powered engine went missing the night of his death. The plans could be worth a fortune . . .and very dangerous in the wrong hands.
Joining Wrexford in his investigation is Charlotte Sloane, who publishes scathing political cartoons under the pseudonym A. J. Quill. Her extensive network of informants is critical for her work—and for tracking down the occasional killer. The suspects include ambitious assistants, greedy investors, and even the inventor’s widow. And when another victim falls, Wrexford and Sloane know they are on the trail of a cunning and deadly foe.
“Penrose deftly combines a Regency romance with a tricky mystery that delves into social unrest and the darker side of this storied period.” —Kirkus Reviews
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The reader is, once again, offered a clear view of this time period.
The story is another good one with the two main characters working well, complimenting each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
It is good to “see” these two main characters (plus their individual teams) working together.
The mystery is tight and the story line fascinating.
Murder At Half Moon Gate is the second book in the Wrexford & Sloane Historical Mystery series.
I love historical mysteries that give me a visual feel of the time and location in which they are set and have a cast of characters that are well developed and believable and continue to be developed with each book. This series has all those, I feel.
In the first book, Murder on Black Swan Lane, I felt that there was a fair amount of friction between Wrexford and Charlotte, which is understandable since they come from different positions in life and didn’t know that much about each other. Now, in Murder at half Moon Gate, I did sense that they are not at odds and are more willing to work together as they both realize they are working towards a common goal, just that they may be approaching it somewhat differently.
Wrexford and Sheffield are on their way to a gambling when near Half Moon Gate they come across the brutally murdered body Elihu Ashton. Wrexford makes a note of wounds that were on Ashton’s and pays close attention to the state of his clothes which looked like someone expected something to might be hidden in them. The policeman that comes to investigate, is ready to write the death off to someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but Wrexford thinks otherwise.
Wrexford calls on Mrs. Ashton to let her know of her husband’s death and find out why Elihu might have been in that area. She recalled that he had received a note telling him to Half Moon Gate and to bring the drawings.
Wrexford soon finds that Ashton was working on a new steam engine design that would revolutionize the manufacturing process. At this time in England, there is unrest among the workers in the mills, they feel that these improvements will put them out of work. There are organizations forming that hope to put a stop to these improvements. When he meets with Charlotte and tells her of the markings on the torso of Ashton, she remembers seeing a similar design on one of the labor organizations brochures.
The more they look for answers to who might have been behind the murder, the more dead bodies that they come across. At one of the scenes, the last words out of the victim’s mouth are: the answer is in the numbers. A sheet with a series of numbers is found in the victim’s room, but without a code, they are at lost ends to decipher the message. Knowing that the one who gets the patent on this new technology will become very rich they also start looking at his widow and those that have been helping with designing of the new steam engine. They will be hoping that they solve this murder before any more lives are lost.
I will definitely be watching for the next book in exciting series.