Caffeinated Reviewer

I look forward to the next Wrexford & Sloane Mystery all year and, despite being delayed; the audiobook was well worth the wait. Murder at King’s Crossing by Andrea Penrose delivered a suspenseful and clever murder mystery while allowing listeners to catch up with our favorite sleuths and their misfit posse. Narrated by James Cameron Stewart, you’ll want to be sure to grab this historical murder-mystery.

For fans of Miss Scarlet and the Duke and Bridgerton—a masterfully plotted mystery that combines engaging protagonists with rich historical detail and “an unusually rich look at Regency life,” (Publishers Weekly), plus a touch of romance that readers of Amanda Quick and Deanna Raybourn will savor.

Celebration is in the air at Wrexford and Charlotte’s country estate as they host the nuptials of their friends, Christopher Sheffield and Lady Cordelia Mansfield. But on the afternoon of the wedding, the festivities are interrupted when the local authorities arrive with news that a murdered man has been discovered at the bridge over King’s Crossing, his only identification an invitation to the wedding. Lady Cordelia is horrified when the victim is identified as Jasper Milton, her childhood friend and a brilliant engineer who is rumored to have discovered a revolutionary technological innovation in bridge design. That he had the invitation meant for her cousin Oliver, who never showed up for the wedding, stirs a number of unsettling questions.

Both men were involved in the Revolutions-Per-Minute Society, a scientific group dedicated to making radical improvements in the speed and cost of transportation throughout Britain. Is someone plotting to steal Milton’s designs? And why has her cousin disappeared?

Wrexford and Charlotte were looking forward to spending a peaceful interlude in the country, but when Lady Cordelia resolves to solve the mystery, they offer their help, along with that of the Weasels and their unconventional inner circle of friends. The investigation turns tangled and soon all of them are caught up in a treacherous web of greed, ambition, and dangerous secrets. And when the trail takes a shocking turn, Wrexford and Charlott

Our story begins as Wrexford and Sloane’s best friends, ‘Kit’ Sheffield and Lady Cordelia, tie the knot at Wrex’s country estate. It’s an intimate affair with close family and friends, but some guests are absent. When a murder occurs, we soon learn that one of Cornelia’s cousin is implicated and her dear childhood friend is the victim. Of course, Wrex and Sloane are on the case. The mystery that follows is suspenseful, with revolutionary implications.

I absolutely love getting a new audiobook in this series. The characters, their friends and their found family delight me, but so do the clever mysteries Penrose delivers.

On the home front, the Weasels continue to amuse me as they help gather evidence. Sloane questions whether she is going soft as the wife of an Earl and mother to the urchins. Peregrine is struggling at Eton, and the resulting turn of events was welcomed by all. I loved moments with the household and could see myself enjoying a brandy and cakes in the study as they discuss their current case and lives.

The murder-mystery was a clever one with plenty of twists. I loved the dive into the Revolutions-Per-Minute Society, as well as discussions on transportation throughout Britain. Bridges seem to be a theme in the past few books. Penrose weaves historical fact into the stories perfectly. I often deep dive into tidbits she reveals. I relished watching Wrexford meticulously examine the facts and find clues. Oliver certainly appeared guilty, but all is not as it seems.

If you love historical mysteries with a touch of romance, found family and clever characters, you’ll want to begin this series. While each book contains its own mystery, one would lose out on the character relationships by not starting at the beginning. Trust me, the series is splendid and worth the time. I binge listened to the first four, before joining others in waiting for the yearly release.

James Cameron Stewart narrates the series and truly has become the voice of both Wrexford and Sloane. His unique voices for all the characters we meet makes listening a delight. From his pacing to the way he captures their emotions and humor only elevates my listening pleasure.

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.

Twitter | Instagram

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.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2024 Audiobook Challenge

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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