Barbara's rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Viscount Ware Mystery #4
Publication Date: 7/9/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 291
Excitement abounds in this latest addition to the Viscount Ware Mystery series. With a disappearing dead body, smugglers, French spies, blackmail, a disgruntled magistrate, and a love interest in danger, Lucien has his hands full. Luckily, his fellow agent, Andrew Sherbourne, supports him every step of the way. Of course, Lady Anne is front and center – in the mystery and in Lucien's heart.
When summoned to Whitehall, Lucien is told that the French spies they have been chasing have kidnapped the seventeen-year-old daughter of a Spanish diplomat so they can blackmail him into spying for them. Lucien and Sherbourne hardly have a clue where to begin since the kidnapping happened over a month ago.
Lady Anne Ashburn and her father are near the seashore mourning the death of her mother who passed away several months previous. When her father is suddenly called back to London to attend to parliamentary business, Anne stays behind. What can a young, unmarried lady do in a small coastal town when she is in mourning and cannot make social calls or attend any functions? Well, she can walk the beach and maybe explore the Singing Cave – and she does. She also finds the body of a young dark-haired girl in that cave. Except the body has disappeared by the time she returns with a constable who then treats her very dismissively. Where did the body go? She certainly didn't get up and walk away.
Can the body Lady Anne found be the missing Spanish girl Lucien is looking for? They'll have to find the body and ensure an identification, but Lucien is sure they are the same. Then, they'll have to turn the area upside down to find out what happened to her.
With an investigation that must be handled softly to assure the French are unaware of the finding of the body, it is difficult to proceed. Then, there is a town that doesn't want to talk for fear of prosecution for smuggling, a Magistrate who doesn't want to cooperate, and a grieving father to console. How can they ever find the man who is behind such a heinous act? Oh, they can find the street-tuffs who abducted the girl, but they aren't the ring leaders and that is who they have to find.
Luckily, Lucien, Sherbourne, and Lady Anne are just the ones to solve it all and take the French spies down. Arrogance can bring a villain down and it certainly did in this case. To me, the vilest villain was the one who got no real punishment, but to tell would be a spoiler. SIGH! So, if you are looking for an exciting, fast-paced, nail-biting, adventure, this is the book for you. Happy Reading!
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