When Maidens Mourn

When Maidens Mourn (2012) C.S. Harris

I’ve been pretty forthright about how rarely I buy hardback books. But C.S. Harris is on the extremely short list of authors I’ll buy and read in hardback.

So why, you may ask, if his book came out over a month ago–and I’ve had it in my hands for that long–did it take me so long to read it?

Because this was one of the series Grandmom liked, and in reading it myself, I’m reminded that I won’t be sharing this book–or any other–with her again.

That said, once I did pick up the book, I didn’t set it back down until I finished it.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount of Devlin has been married now for only a few days. He and Hero must learn to trust one another, else their marriage fail before it has even begun. But just as they are taking the first tentative steps towards getting to know each other, one of Hero’s friends is found murdered–and Hero has reason to fear her father might be involved.

But because it is Hero’s friend who has been killed, Sebastian agrees to the request of Sir Henry Lovejoy to help discover the murderer. Unfortunately, because he and Hero don’t yet fully trust one another, they may be working at cross purposes. And they are definitely not willing to share all the information they learn–Sebastian for fear his information will hurt Hero, and Hero because her information may implicate her father.

A lot of the reviews on Amazon don’t seem to care much for this book in comparison to past stories. I have to say I was rather pleased in how things she worked things out. Sebastian was not going to be allowed to remain unmarried, and as lovely as Kat might be, she’d make a terrible wife for Sebastian, on many levels. But assuming they can work out their differences (ie, Lord Jarvis) Sebastian and Hero could be very good for one another.

I will admit that in this book the mystery took second place to Hero and Sebastian working out their differences, and in fact was simply a vehicle for them to do so.

But I’m OK with that. I like both characters very much, and enjoyed spending time with them in this book, even if the mystery took second place.

Though I am hoping the next book returns to a stronger mystery.
Rating: 8/10

Published by NAL

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