Caffeinated Reviewer

I cannot get enough of the Wrexford & Sloane historical mystery series and now I am all caught up waiting on the next release this fall. Murder on Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose is narrated by James Cameron Stewart, who brings these characters to life. Wrexford & Sloane must stop a killer and protect an innocent young boy.

Beyond the glittering ballrooms and salons of Regency London there are mysteries to untangle and murders to solve—and the newlywed duo of Lady Charlotte and the Earl of Wrexford once again find themselves matching wits with a cunning enemy . . .

Charlotte, now the Countess of Wrexford, would like nothing more than a summer of peace and quiet with her new husband and their unconventional family and friends. Still, some social obligations must be honored, especially with the grand Peace Celebrations unfolding throughout London to honor victory over Napoleon.

But when Wrexford and their two young wards, Raven and Hawk, discover a body floating in Hyde Park’s famous lake, that newfound peace looks to be at risk. The late Jeremiah Willis was the engineering genius behind a new design for a top-secret weapon, and the prototype is missing from the Royal Armory’s laboratory. Wrexford is tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands. But there are unsettling complications to the case—including a family connection.

Soon, old secrets are tangling with new betrayals, and as Charlotte and Wrexford spin through a web of international intrigue and sumptuous parties, they must race against time to save their loved ones from harm—and keep the weapon from igniting a new war . . .

All of London is preparing for the grand Peace Celebrations to honor victory over Napoleon. The family is settling in and developing a routine. But alas, that quiet ends when Wrexford and the weasels, Raven and Hawk, discover a body floating in Hyde Park’s lake. The tale that unfolded was suspenseful with twist, plenty of danger as Wrexford & Charlotte expand their circle.

Jeremiah Willis is the body that was discovered in the lake. He was developing a top-secret weapon. With the prototype missing and a familiar connection, our duo soon is caught up in the investigation.

Family obligations have the family visiting the countryside. We spent some time with Raven and Hawk as they made friends with the dead man’s nephew. All of which leads to a clever mystery. Perfectly paced with plenty of twists and high stakes danger.

Although this is indeed a mystery series, the slow-burning romance, family and friends woven throughout have endeared me to the series. Each book sheds more light on our characters while we deal with cunning murderers, plots against the crown, and more. It truly is a brilliant series. Now that I am all caught up, I am counting down the days until Murder at the Merton Library releases in September. A shout out to Sophia Rose for introducing me to the series, via her review on the Reading Frenzy.

James Cameron Stewart continues to narrate and perfectly capture the characters and tone of the story. It’s addictive to listen to, and he truly enhances the experience.

Amazon | Audible

About Andrea Penrose

Andrea Penrose is the USA Today 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.

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About James Cameron Stewart

James Cameron Stewart trained at Hull University and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Some theater highlights of his thirty-six-year career include Frank-n-Furter (The Rocky Horror Show), Thénadier (Les Misérables), the poet Philip Larkin in Larkin with Women (Best Actor nominee, MEN Awards 2005), and originating the part of Hamish in Sir Alan Ayckbourn's Things We Do for Love. In 2008 he published his grandfather's World War I memoirs and toured his one-man show based on them from 2008 to 2011. His television/film credits include Outlander, Jericho, Flying Blind, Golden Years, Emmerdale, London's Burning, Eastenders, Coronation Street, Holby City, and Taggart. He often appears on Radio 4, and is a regular presenter on the weekly The Economist podcast. James loves recording audiobooks and is delighted to have had the opportunity to narrate such a variety of magnificent authors, from Seneca through Max Hastings and Antony Beevor, to superlative fiction by J. M. Coetzee, Michael Dibdin, Stuart MacBride, and more.

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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