Summary: Murder at Queens Landing (Wrexford & Sloane Mystery book 4) by Andrea Penrose
The murder of a shipping clerk . . .
the strange disappearance of trusted friends . . . rumors of corruption within
the powerful East India Company . . . all add up to a dark mystery entangling
Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford in a dangerous web of secrets
and lies that will call into question how much they really know about the
people they hold dear—and about each other . . .
When Lady Cordelia, a brilliant mathematician, and her
brother, Lord Woodbridge, disappear from London, rumors swirl concerning
fraudulent bank loans and a secret consortium engaged in an illicit—and highly
profitable—trading scheme that threatens the entire British economy. The
incriminating evidence mounts, but for Charlotte and Wrexford, it’s a question
of loyalty and friendship. And so they begin a new investigation to clear the
siblings’ names, uncover their whereabouts, and unravel the truth behind the
whispers.
As they delve into the murky world of banking and
international arbitrage, Charlotte and Wrexford also struggle to navigate their
increasingly complex feelings for each other. But the clock is ticking—a
cunning mastermind has emerged . . . along with some unexpected allies—and
Charlotte and Wrexford must race to prevent disasters both economic and
personal as they are forced into a dangerous match of wits in an attempt to
beat the enemy at his own game (from Amazon).
My thoughts about the book
Murder at Queens Landing is the 4th and final installment in the Wrexford and Sloan Mystery series by Andrea Penrose, published by Kensington Books. The story is set in the early nineteenth century London and we get to follow Alexander Wrexford and Charlotte Sloan as they investigate the murder of an East India Company clerk who has gotten too close to a secret web of financial crime within the company and gets murdered to cover it up. As Charlotte secretly makes satirical drawings exposing hypocrisy and injustice among the rich and powerful, her life is in danger if the culprits find out who she is.
Main character Earl Alexander Wrexford seems to
have a volatile temper. I was pleased to follow his development from a self-sufficient
brusque person not caring if he puts himself in danger, into a man with a heart
for family and friends.
Supporting character earl’s daughter and satirical
cartoonist Charlotte Sloan, is a widow who has chosen to distance herself from Society
to make a living fighting against hypocrisy and injustice by publishing satirical
drawings. I found her an impressive and interesting character of her time, working
to carve out a new life, while still living by all the rules. She is my favorite
of this story.
This is the first book I have read by Andrea Penrose. It
included plenty of hints to events in other books in the series,which made me
want to add them to my TBR, and I will definitely be on the lookout for Andrea Penrose's next release. I found this story read perfectly as a standalone mystery
where nothing was as it seemed. I loved the Dickensian vibe I got from the
parts about street urchins and flower girls working to survive on the streets
of London. I particularly enjoyed how Charlotte
had a heart for street children and took care of two orphan brothers,
The plot included descriptions
of mathematical and technical inventions I have not read about before; which fascinated
me.
The writing felt light
and easy with very entertaining dialogue. The parts where Charlotte and
Alexander interacted were my particular favorites. Their relationship developed
while they tried to be professional and became confused feelings had grown when
they were not looking.
I felt a surprised and impressed by how Wrexford and Sloan found
who was “at the top of the food chain” of this complicated scheme and managed
to beat the criminals at their own game.
If you enjoy a great historical murder mystery with conspiracy and a twist of technical inventions thrown in, this would be just the thing for you. Similar authors to explore might be Anna Lee Huber or Clara McKenna.
Thank
you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the eARC which gave me the
opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions in this review are
completely my own.
Conclusion: This is the exiting and satisfying conclusion
to the series where Wrexford and Sloan get to solve a murder meant to cover up
financial crime within the East India Company where powerful and dangerous people
are willing to do whatever it takes to build fortunes – including murder.
Rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: engaging and entertaining plot, satisfying conclusion to series, enjoyable dialogue.
Where to get a copy:
Book Details:
ISBN-10 : 1496722841
ISBN-13 : 978-1496722843
About The Author:
Andrea Penrose is the bestselling author of Regency-era historical fiction, including the acclaimed Wrexford & Sloane mystery series, as well as Regency romances written under the names Cara Elliott and Andrea Pickens. Published internationally in ten languages, she is a three-time RITA Award finalist and the recipient of numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery and two Gold Leaf Awards. A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era's swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks (from Amazon) http://andreapenrose.com/bio/
