MURDER AT QUEEN’S LANDING is the fourth novel in the captivating and intellectually stimulating Wrexford and Sloane mystery series. Andrea Penrose transports readers to Regency England during the Industrial Revolution where classes define society and the beau monde and aristocrats play by their own rules. Lady Charlotte Sloane defies society as a widow and an undercover satirical artist pointing out the flaws in society. The Earl of Wrexford is a man of means and has a scientific mind specializing in the field of chemistry. Their differences make them an effective team in solving nefarious crimes committed on the streets of London.
When Lady Cordelia and her brother, Jameson Mansfield, the Earl of Woodbridge, go missing after the brutal murder of a man on the wharf, Charlotte and Wrexford are intrigued by the connection between the dead man and their friends. When it is determined the dead man was a clerk with the East India Company and Lord Woodbridge recently opened an account at a local bank for this company, their suspicions start to rise. Lady Cordelia has exceptional mathematical abilities, however, her brother has a penchant for making bad business decisions. Could they have entered a dangerous business endeavor? As the plot thickens, Charlotte and Wrexford uncover secret players, a numbers computing invention, a sketchy financial scheme, illegal opium trading, arbitrage, smuggling, and an unlikely ringleader willing to kill to keep his profitable operation running.
This is by far one of my favorite series that spotlights Regency England and the Industrial Revolution. This time period is fascinating and Penrose expertly incorporates an important scientific invention of the time into her mysteries. Here it is the numbers computing engine. The storyline weaves and bobs and is filled with complexities and moving parts. It is both rich with historical details and filled with ambiance. As a reader, I found myself immersed in Lady Charlotte’s and Wrexford’s worlds. One of my favorite aspects is the incorporation of the two young street urchins, Hawk and Raven, who Charlotte has informally adopted. The two young boys struggle to fit into polite society, but their skill and adeptness in traversing the streets of London to uncover clues and assist with the investigations heightens the tension and provides amusing situations. I could literally see the scene where a carriage accident allows Raven to snatch some important documents while a street sweeper lends him a hand in his escape.
The relationship between Wrexford and Charlotte is also multi-layered and develops with each new mystery. The mutual admiration between the two is palpable and their intellectual strengths make them a formidable crime-solving duo.
The strong leads, complex plot, lively secondary characters, and suspense-filled ending, make MURDER AT QUEEN’S LANDING an outstanding addition to the Wrexford and Sloane series. Readers will enjoy this trip to Regency England! So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and prepare to be thoroughly entertained.
The murder of a shipping clerk . . . the strange disappearance of trusted friends . . . rumors of corruption within the powerful East India Company . . . all add up to a dark mystery entangling Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford in a dangerous web of secrets and lies that will call into question how much they really know about the people they hold dear—and about each other . . . When Lady Cordelia, a brilliant mathematician, and her brother, Lord Woodbridge, disappear from London, rumors swirl concerning fraudulent bank loans and a secret consortium engaged in an illicit—and highly profitable—trading scheme that threatens the entire British economy. The incriminating evidence mounts, but for Charlotte and Wrexford, it’s a question of loyalty and friendship. And so they begin a new investigation to clear the siblings’ names, uncover their whereabouts, and unravel the truth behind the whispers. As they delve into the murky world of banking and international arbitrage, Charlotte and Wrexford also struggle to navigate their increasingly complex feelings for each other. But the clock is ticking—a cunning mastermind has emerged . . . along with some unexpected allies—and Charlotte and Wrexford must race to prevent disasters both economic and personal as they are forced into a dangerous match of wits in an attempt to beat the enemy at his own game.
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