Band Sinister

Band Sinister (2018) KJ Charles

Set in England in the 1810s

I do love this story. First and foremost because of Guy.

Philip’s candle had only been a stub. It guttered now, and went out in a soft sigh, and he stood in the darkness, listening to a sick woman moaning, while her brother wept because he loved her.

“I suppose I look a fright,” she added regretfully.

“You look wonderful.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“You look wonderful,” Guy repeated. “Because you aren’t feverish and you aren’t lying there barely breathing and I’m not afraid of—of— Don’t do that again, Manda, please.”

But also because of Amanda.

“Oh, nonsense,” Amanda said, far too airily. “He won’t read it, and if you go around belonging to a hellfire club called ‘the Murder’ and having orgies, you can’t complain if people wonder about you. And my publisher assured me they would protect my anonymity. And it’s not even meant to be him anyway.”

“When you say all that in court, put the last part first.”

And also because of the Murder.

And then there were men all round him, the short round-faced one yelping with glee, Mr. Raven shaking his hand, Lord Corvin enthusiastically proclaiming Dr. Martelo’s virtues—in fact the lot of them rejoicing at Amanda’s deliverance with as much honest pleasure as though they weren’t a notorious hellfire club at all.

And also because people listen to each other.

“And what would happen if you decided you no longer wanted a little country innocent?”

Philip bit back his first response. It was a fair question. “I would hope I should behave decently, but I don’t expect you to wager both your futures on that.”

Characters: Mr. Guy Frisby, Sir Philip Rookwood, Miss Amanda Frisby, David Martelo, Viscount (Octavian) Corvin, John Raven, Mr. Sheridan Street / Mrs. Harry Salcombe, Mr. Harry Salcombe, George Penn, Ned Caulfield, Sinclair, Cornelius, Lovett, Mrs. Harbottle, Jane, Mrs. Fossick, Mr. Welland, Dr. Bewdley, Lady Beatrice Cavendish, Lord Paul Cavendish, Hugh Peyton, Mr. Dent

Cover art by Lexiconic Design

Rating: 9/10

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