The series has devolved.
This installment sees Hunter Lloyd, a barrister, and Sibyl Smiles, sister of Meg Smiles, heroine of "All Smiles" become involved. Sibyl has decided for some inexplicable reason that she's getting old, not going to find a husband, and wants a child of her own without the benefit of such. (Even though her sister, who is several years older than her, just got married a year or so before this book takes place, and does actually have a child).
Meanwhile, Hunter has defended a friend of the King's in a rather confusing case, and is about to be knighted. For some unexplained reason, several people don't want this to happen, and a couple of others think the other person involved in the case is innocent and should be released from incarceration. This little subplot seems to be an excuse for a villiany type to beat up Sibyl so Hunter can insist on keeping her 'safe' in his room, instead of down stairs in her own room. Whatever.
The other characters who've appeared in the first two novels in the series, as well as Hunter and Sibyl themselves, seem to be very much different in this volume than they were before. One of my biggest peeves in books is for characters to suddenly act 'out of character' in order to advance (or in this case, create) the plot. The Sybil Smiles in the first two books would not dream of attempting to seduce anyone, and the Latimer More (the next book in the series contains his romantic tale) of the previous stories would never be described as "the most daring lover in all England." It's all vaguely concealed device.
I don't even want to get into the whole "Sir Septimus Spivey" issue. (See my other reviews of this series, if you're interested) except to say that even he doesn't act with any kind of consistency.
Having said all that, there were good bits in this book. Cameron writes sex better than anyone I've read, and the set up for the final book in the series has been ongoing, and seems intriguing enough to make me keep reading. Hopefully, this third book is the 'stinker' of the series, and we'll get back on track with the next two. ( )