
"Murder on Black Swan Lane" follows the Earl of Wrexford, a fabulously wealthy and arrogant man who dabbles in chemistry, and Charlotte Sloane, a talented artist who takes over her late husband's satirical cartoonist business under the alias A.J. Quill. When a clergyman is murdered, Wrexford becomes the prime suspect, leading him to team up with Charlotte to uncover the true killer. Set in Regency London, the story is a complex, multi-layered mystery filled with memorable characters, intricate world-building, and a blend of science and art that keeps the reader engaged throughout.
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From The Publisher:
In Regency London, an unconventional scientist and a fearless female artist form an unlikely alliance to expose a cold-hearted killer . . .
The Earl of Wrexford possesses a brilliant scientific mind, but boredom and pride lead him to reckless behavior. So when pompous, pious Reverend Josiah Holworthy publicly condemns him for debauchery, Wrexford unsheathes his rapier-sharp wit and strikes back. As their war of words escalates, London's most popular satirical cartoonist, A.J. Quill, skewers them both. But then the clergyman is found slain in a church-his face burned by chemicals, his throat slashed ear to ear-and Wrexford finds himself the chief suspect.
An artist in her own right, Charlotte Sloane has secretly slipped into the persona of her late husband, using his nom de plume A.J. Quill. When Wrexford discovers her true identity, she fears it will be her undoing. But he has a proposal-use her sources to unveil the clergyman's clandestine involvement in questionable scientific practices, and unmask the real murderer. Soon Lord Wrexford and the mysterious Mrs. Sloane plunge into a dangerous shadow world hidden among London's intellectual enclaves to trap a cunning adversary-before they fall victim to the next experiment in villainy . . .
"Thoroughly enjoyable . . . with sharp, engaging characters, rich period detail, and a compellingly twisty plot, Andrea Penrose delivers a winner."
-Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
"Fans of C.S. Harris take note! A riveting ride through Regency London, from the slums of St. Giles, to the mansions of Mayfair."-Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author
"Historical chemistry meets alchemy . . . A delight of a book."
-Joanna Bourne, award-winning author
Ratings (11)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (5) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (2) |
Reader Stats (20):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Not Interested (2) |
2 comment(s)
This book is the equivalent of a sort of mid-period prestige drama that astonishingly has like, five seasons, even though you’ve never heard of it before because it was on PBS or MGM+ or something. I listened to it and while there were many moments I thought I would not return to the story I kept finding myself wondering what was going to happen next and if certain things about the characters were going to be revealed. Sort of a perfect cozy mystery vibe but for the regency period.
Not gonna lie tho I thought it was the Victorian Era which explains a lot of why I was so confused most of the book but was just vibing with it. Not a huge fan of the regency era.
Might start the second one if I can’t find a good Victorian mystery!
Detailed. Intense.
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.
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