books

Julia Golding

Books: Mystery

Regency Secrets: The Persephone Code (2024)

Regency Secrets

The Persephone Code (2024)

The Persephone CodeSet in England in 1812

I started out enjoying this story: a doctor with an opium addiction from his time at war, and a plucky heroine making her own way in the world.

Vane was watching her with a supercilious smile.

‘Well done, Miss Fitz-Pennington. You are the first lady visitor I’ve had who didn’t rush forward to pet the creatures, much to the detriment of their muslin gowns.’

Dora wondered why he hadn’t bothered to warn her, unless he enjoyed seeing ladies having their dresses muddied and pawed.

I was unsure at a couple of points, but kept on, since I liked the characters and was curious about the mystery.

Then I became more unsure, especially upon reading this:

Bellingham, that Quaker from Birmingham

Bellingham? The deluded madman who murdered prime minister Spenser Percival?

I’ve read several historical mysteries where the murder of Spenser Percival plays a part, my favorite of which contains lots of references on where to learn more and specifies what was fact and what she made up.

This… was not one of those books.

Instead, we go from the Hellfire Club to … the Illuminati.

We get horrible people on both sides–the immoral and murderous Hellfire Club and the immoral and murderous Illuminati. Plus Dora’s horrible father and her only slightly less horrible brother. But she loved him! Despite everything! Such loyalty!

Yes, we’re left with the impression that the Illuminati were behind the murder of Spenser Percival.

It had an interesting start, but as it picked up speed it started to go off the rails, and I finished reading solely because I wanted it finished–but wasn’t quite willing to DNF it.

My recommendation is you skip this book and instead find A Dangerous Madness by Michelle Diener. You can read it without having read the first two books in her Regency London series (I think I read them all out of order (although I admit my favorite story in that series is the second)).

Characters: Miss Dora Fitz-Pennington, Dr Jacob Sandys, Sir Fletcher Vane, Reverend George Leighton, Ruby Plum, Jack Lammas, Anthony Pennington, Ezra Pennington, Matt Jenkins, Ned Black, Mrs Stock, Jeremy, Mother Clerk, Miss Helen Leighton, Mary Wheeler, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, William Bates, Virginia Lady Tolworth

Cover by Lucy Davey

Publisher: One More Chapter

Rating: 4/10