What Cannot Be Said by C.S. Harris
Sebastian St. Cyr #19
Historical Mystery
April 16, 2024- Berkley
ARC
Review by Angela
Whenever I’m asked for recommendations in the historical mystery genre this series is always the one that I end up recommending. It’s so well done, with a wonderful cast of characters and each new mystery still keeps me on the edge of my seat until its usual fiery conclusion. It never feels stale, I never get bored, and I’m always excited to see what comes next.
This entry into the series hits a bit too close to home for one member of the extended cast of characters as the discovery of the dead bodies of a mother and daughter eerily resembles the crime scene of Sir Henry Lovejoy’s wife and daughter 14 years before. Sebastian is called in on the case, and as he looks into the life and associations of Lady McInnis and her young daughter, his list of suspects on grows larger and more complex.
This case haunts Lovejoy as he must deal with the fact that he may have arrested the wrong man, who was ultimately convicted and hung. His tumultuous feelings and desire to find out what really happened all those years ago, lend an even more somber air over the investigation. I found this book to be one of the darker and more grim entries in the series, which is saying a lot.
Along with Sebastian, Hero makes her usual appearances, helping out where she can and interviewing subjects that Sebastian cannot. She is indispensable to any investigation, and I love her and her insights. Gibson is still fighting his dependance on opium, and readers are left with hope that his lover Alexi can finally help him break through the pain of his missing limb and addiction to the relief that opium provides with her unusual methods.
This is not a book you can read as a standalone, and I know nineteen books can be daunting when thinking of starting a new series, but just know that it is so worth it if you decide to jump in. The Sebastian St. Cyr series continues to be one of my absolute favorites in the genre, and I look forward to whatever comes next.
Grade- B+
I started reading this series because of your recommendations, although I listen to it on audiobook. Saying this one is one of the grimmest does give me pause, but this series is very good, even with some of the dark themes.