Tom Benson

has written a real winner here. A Scot gets something from the family lawyer that puts him on a plane to the lovely city of Prague after his father's death. Both his parents die in mysterious circumstances which have him seeking answers and possibly, revenge. 

I'm trying to be careful to not give out spoilers. This one has enough twists and turns to keep you up far later than you should be. But that's what a good book is all about. I'm giving it 5 stars for a tale well told. 

 

 A regency mystery kick.

Has led me in several directions recently. C.S. Harris started me off since I was looking for something a little different. 

 It got so good, I went through one a night. I've already ordered the new one due out in April. I believe I posted about these earlier. Good books. 

Now we come to another author. I'm not sure how well known she is, but I've gone through the first series by Andrea Penrose, Wrexford and Sloane. They progress from the first one in a manner that drew me in and hooked me fast. 

Of course, I'm a real sucker for women not of the usual stripe. Those ready to brave their own paths through life. These move Ms. Sloane back into a world she left of her own accord after having sunk to a real low. For all her need to stay private, she is on the ragged edge of starvation. To earn a living she takes up her dead husband's idea and fleshes it out, more than he ever could. It becomes her own.

Enter the man she has maligned somewhat. He may well hang if he can't find who is to blame. So begins the association between Wrexford and Sloane. 

From there I made my way into the Arianna Hadley series. 

 

Sweet Revenge is indeed sweet. And I find I'm quite enjoying this series as much as the first. The bits  about chocolate are interesting in themselves. The plot pulled me in and refused to let go. A long book, this was a bit of a trial when I stayed up far too long. The perils of finding a good book. 

Arianna is another different female lead. Having survived by her wits alone as a young girl orphaned in the West Indies, she has a store of practical knowledge about some things and is woefully ignorant about others. 

The male lead is in bad straits when we first meet him. The poppy has its fangs in him due to a war wound. Not one of society's darlings, he is on the wrong side of someone with a great deal of power. 

In the back of each book you will find author's notes which read all the way through. Most interesting. 

I'm presently into book four and intend to devour all six before the month is over. 

Good reading crew.