October continues to be great fun, reading wise, with another mystery logged for RIPXIII.
Last week I read When Gods Die by C.S. Harris--#2 in her Sebastian St Cyr series. I read the first book a couple of years ago, and enjoyed it. This one was even better.
It is initially set in Brighton, at the Royal Pavilion, which I actually visited in 2000 and found absolutely enchanting in a thoroughly over the top way. The mystery involves a plot to overthrow the Hanoverians on the throne, has a marvelous chase scene through the London sewers, and gives the reader much backstory of the very charming hero, who has a penchant for ruining his beautiful clothes, much to the dismay of his valet.
It's a true Regency romp with mystery and derring-do, lords and ladies, upstairs and downstairs. The mystery itself is quite interesting--a variation on the closed door approach, this time the mystery hinges on when the murder happened and how the body got to where it was found.
I also loved the connection to Wales and the Arthurian legend, with a whole family of witchy women with names likes Morgana, Guinevere, and Isolde.
Speaking of names, I think I just got the author's pun on the hero's name--since I know that St John, as in St John Rivers of Jane Eyre, to be pronounced Sin-Jin. I assume St Cyr to be pronounced Sin-Cere...or sincere. I think that's kind of cute because, despite appearance, Sebastian is sincere.
I'm not sure whether I'll get the fourth book read to reach Peril the First level. It's a set of short stories that aren't really doing it for me, and I've set it aside for other more interesting books.
