Customer Reviews

Where Serpents Sleep: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In this fourth book featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin (previous: WHAT ANGELS FEAR, WHEN GODS DIE, WHY MERMAIDS SING), Sebastian is still shaken by the personal events that occurred in the previous book, drinking too much, sleeping too little and unable to forgive his father for the last episode in a long-troubled relationship.

Hero Jarvis, the very independent daughter of Sebastian's enemy, the manipulator behind the scenes of Regency power and politics, Lord Jarvis, comes to Sebastian to ask him to look into the deaths of eight prostitutes--murders that the authorities are not interested in pursuing. One of the dead was a prostitute who was obviously of gentle birth. It is her situation that intrigues Hero. She and Sebastian investigate her past, separately and together, in hope it will lead to the killer or killers.

Hero was introduced in the earlier books, but never played more than a small part until now, but she was always intriguing. She and Sebastian have a charged relationship, with more elements of dislike than like, which makes their pairing interesting.

Sebastian has his dark side, but his interest in solving murder mysteries and finding some sort of justice for the victims remains foremost in his life, no matter what else is going on, which happily keeps him from ever seeming to mope or become angst-ridden. The main characters, as well as the secondary characters, are all well-drawn and fascinating.

The mystery is also involving, with glimpses into the London underworld of prostitution houses and procurers and patrons, and also into private lives of the well-to-do that could lead a woman to fall into the life. There are also plenty of action scenes and threats of death and bodily harm. Amazing that the characters could be at Almack's or a Picnic at some time in the day and then battling for their lives in the taverns and deserted roads only hours later.

The historical details are all convincing and the overall writing quality is excellent.

I found this book less intense and complex than the last book (which remains a favorite), but it was still a page-turner. I adore this series and hope it continues for a long, long time.

Like previous reviewers, I've been a huge fan of this series from the beginning. Sebastian St. Cyr is easily one of my favorite historical mystery heroes: he's smart and witty, but extremely human in that he has to combat his demons from the past and his feelings of inadequacy around his father. He also has freakishly keen senses, which makes him even more interesting! In the last installment, Why Mermaids Sing, he had something extremely traumatic happen to him, and I was anxious and excited to see how he would deal with it in Where Serpents Sleep.

We find out right off that he's been drinking and gambling himself into oblivion, and it's a request from his arch enemy's daughter, Hero Jarvis, to help solve a string of murders at a Magdalene House that pulls him out of his vicious cycle to destroy himself.

The mystery takes the reader into the underworld of prostitution and exposes the utter indifference that the upper classes felt for those women, despite the fact that one of the murdered prostitutes was well born. It also touches on a possible conspiracy behind the assassination of Spencer Perceval and an England desperately trying to hold itself together while clashes with both France (under Bonaparte) and the U.S. threaten to unravel everything.

Sebastian is as well written as ever. He's battling a lot more in this book than usual, but it only drives him to work harder at solving the case. When he does get lost in those dark and traumatic thoughts, it's heartbreaking.

I had a sneaking suspicion that, after the events of Why Mermaids Sing, Hero Jarvis would be brought to the forefront. She and Sebastian were very evenly matched and perfectly aware of how to use each other and drive each other crazy. I loved watching them work together, and I hope to see some more of that in the next book.

I could not put down this book, and now I'm kicking myself for finishing it so fast, because though Harris is working on the fifth book, there's no indication yet of when it will be available. I need to know what happens! Now!

It's not every day I find myself doing this: buying extra copies of a book and giving them to friends with entreaties to "read this, you'll love it." Lately I've bought four extra copies of C. S. Harris first book, What Angels Fear, and gifted them to fellow mystery fans. It's my version of doing the Lord's Work.

There are many reasons to read this latest entry in the series: excellent evolving characterizations, a smart central mystery and the sort of edge-of-your-seat action dozens of thrillers promise every year yet so few actually deliver. After four books it's clear that C. S. Harris is qualified to teach a master class on a number of topics. Take her ability to start a thriller out with a bang - just the right amount of set up and then right into the action. Where Serpents Sleep starts with Hero Jarvis in the midst of one of her blue stocking studies having a conversation with a prostitute when all hell breaks loose. It's nothing short of brilliant and the tension never lets up without once seeming forced.

Harris packs in a few twists in both the central mystery and the on-going interactions of the recurring characters. I'm a fan of mystery series though I always get antsy when the recurring characters take up too much of the narrative - call me shallow but I'm in it for the mystery. Harris always strikes just the right balance between delivering the mystery goods and involving the reader in the lives of her recurring characters. (Martha Grimes and Elizabeth George, take note!)

If you love mysteries or thrillers or historical fiction, if you're a fan of Kate Ross or Dorothy Dunnett (or even Georgette Heyer), give C. S. Harris a try. Start at the beginning with What Angels Fear, if you can, but you won't lose too much by starting with this excellent entry. If you still aren't convinced and you have a Kindle, take an advantage of the free sample chapter. What have you got to lose, right? And you can look forward to joining me in all but stopping strangers on the street and urging them to read these books. The Sebastian St. Cyr series is that good - read one book and you may find yourself giving copies to your friends.

I have enjoyed all the previous books in this series, and really liked this one. Well written, holds your interest, accurate depiction of the historical period.

Unlike some reviewers, I found this a valuable addition to the series, with St Cyr
starting out dissipated after his loss of the love of his life, and coming back to
himself through the action of the book. Hero becomes the central woman of the book,
with wonderful scenes and lines, and dead bodies everywhere. Please keep these books
coming!

The Sebastian St Cyr novels are currently the only ones I buy in hardcover simply because I cannot wait to get my hands on them; waiting for the paperbacks would drive me insane. I adore the (anti)hero, Sebastian, and the very real relationships drawn in these books.

This one pulled out all the stops, especially in characterization. Miss Hero Jarvis, daughter of Sebastian's enemy, is delineated just perfectly-- just the right amount of vulnerability peeked through her intriguing hard exterior. Kat Boleyn, in her new role, did not appear as much as in previous novels, but enough to show the exquisite agony of impossible love between herself and Sebastian. The other place in which Ms Harris succeeds incredibly well is in atmosphere-- her research is impeccable, the descriptions evocative without being overly detailed (and therefore detracting.)

The mystery works well, as does the way in which Sebastian becomes drawn into it. (There is little in the way of moving forward in the over-arching mystery which surrounds Sebastian's mother, but it is mentioned.) The plot is self-contained, but I would highly recommend reading the previous books first, and it clearly leaves doors open for future novels as well (which I want immediately, personally.)

I hated to leave the world of this book, but I was so drawn in that I finished it in just two sittings.

First Sentence: The girl stared out the window, one hand sliding up and down her shawl-covered arm in a ceaseless, uneasy motion.

Hero Jarvis is a reformist working on a theory as to what drives women to prostitution. She is also daughter to a cousin of the Prince regent. While interviewing one of the women, Rose, who had clearly been a gentlewoman, men break into Magdalene House, a shelter for women trying to escape the life, with Rose the object of the search. Rose and Hero escape the house, but Rose is shot and killed.

Hero appeals for help in finding out who Rose really was and why she turned to prostitution, to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. When Devlin learns all the women in the house had been murdered and the house burnt down and any investigation stopped, he agrees to help her

Each time I start a new book, I hope for the best and I certainly got it here. As with all of Harris' books, this was a don't-bother-me-I'm- reading, one-stop read.

The characters are wonderful. Hero is an intelligent, gutsy, independent and appropriately named. Devlin is a former soldier, recovering from heartbreak and in need of a new challenge. Then there is Tom, 14-year-old former pickpocket now Devlin's `tiger' who takes care of the horses, James Calhoon, the son-of-a-prostitute valet, and Paul Gibson, invalid ex-army doctor who conducts autopsies. All the characters are well done and actual historical characters are used in realistic, appropriate ways.

Harris provides a detailed view into both the ballrooms and the back alleys of Regency England. Devlin may be fighting for his life in the afternoon and heading off to Almak's in the evening. Both events are handled with style and panache.

I love good dialogue. Ms. Harris does provide good dialogue. There's a wonderful scene where Devlin is talking with a Calhoun's mother, who has a thick Gordie accent and there are times Calhoun has to translate for him. The story is very well done.

At one point, I was having trouble seeing how everything fit together, but Harris brought it all together in a way that made sense without at all stretching credulity. Even the romance made sense to the story and the ending was so well done. Now my only regret is having to wait another year for the next book.

Where Serpents Sleep picks up 8 months after Why Mermaids Sing. Sebastian St Cyr is estranged from his father and miserable over the end of his relationship with Kat Boleyn. He is readily drinking himself into a stupor each night to take his mind off his problems until Hero Jarvis - the daughter of Sebastian's nemesis, Lord Jarvis - asks him to investigate a murder of a prostitute (well, several prostitutes). Hero was a witness but the Bow Street Runners aren't investigating on orders from her father in an effort to keep it out of the public notice that Hero was at a house for reformed prostitutes. Sebastian agrees. Initially just to stick it to Lord Jarvis but soon he's doing it because his desire to find some measure of justice for the victims is pricked.

Okay, so, really, I just wanted to write this review to expound on my love for Hero Jarvis. One of my favorite things about the first three books was each appearance by Hero so I was eagerly anticipating her enhanced role in this book and she did not disappoint. I know Kat's not going away but I hope Hero doesn't fade to the background in the next book because I find her a far worthier partner, and sometimes adversary, of Sebastian. She doesn't put up with his crap and she refuses to be shuffled to the sidelines where it's safe. My favorite scenes in Where Serpents Sleep were when Sebastian and Hero were investigating together and I loved that Hero didn't need to be rescued by Sebastian constantly.

I cannot wait for the next book and I can't wait for more Hero.

Like most of the previous readers, I adore this series. However, I have been waiting for the time when Hero would finally become more than a secondary character. Her small roles in the past have been intriguing and I could not wait for her to play a more significant role. I was not disappointed. This may have been fueled by the fact that I have never liked Kat. I find her wishy-washy and weak at the best of times. Hero is the Anti-Kat in a way. She can take care of herself and I think she is a good balance for Sebastian. The mystery was well done and tied together fairly well. I mostly read this series for the character interaction and because Harris paints a realistic view of the time. I hope that Harris does not return Hero to a secondary role in the next novel. She is much more interesting and confounding to Sebastian.

I have been a fan since the first St. Cyr mystery, but this one is by far the best in my opinion. Sebastian finally seems to be moving beyond the tragic relationship with Kat, and by the end of this book, appears to be re-establishing his relationship with his father. And Hero! What a terrific character she is! The parallel between both these protagonists and their fathers tied the whole book together, along with the motive for the main victim's actions, for me. I read it in one day and highly recommend it.