This latest outing with my favorite members of law enforcement picks up pretty much where the last book Murder in All Honour, left off. Doyle is quite pregnant and will soon have to take some time off to have the baby but she is concerned as she feels she needs to keep an eye on Acton for she fears there is something afoot. She is still communicating with the ghosts at her husband’s ancestral home – or is it? His cousin has put forth a claim to the baronetcy. But Acton tells her not to worry, per usual he has it all in hand.

Doyle ends up on a case where a wealthy man has been coshed on the head. He is found in a sketchy part of town in an alley without his shoes. There was another case recently where a murder victim also did not have shoes – could they be connected? Acton seems to want to keep her away from what is going on but a familiar ghost in her dreams is pushing her to towards something she doesn’t quite understand. Will she find the answers in time?

I do enjoy the quirkiness, not to mention the underlying darkness of these novels. They aren’t the simple “murder of the week” type of thriller. While each one could be read as a stand alone, they are far richer for having been read in sequence as each book builds upon the next. Ms. Cleeland does an excellent job of weaving in the necessary information to keep her reader in the know but knowing the full back story gives you a fuller appreciation for the tale.

These are two of the most unique characters I have encountered in my reading and they are surrounded by a diverse and complicated mix of supporting players. As soon as I finish one book I can hardly wait for the next one. ( )

I enjoy this series. Kathleen is almost to term with her pregnancy and she's worried about Acton, Williams, Munoz, Trestles and the Santero. Her night-time dreams are telling her only she can sort it all out. She's working a case of a dead man in an alley when she accidentily learns that Acton is testifying at Westminster in the line of succession of the title of Lord Acton. She dumps the case on Gabriel and races to Westminster. This case overlaps several others bringing all the characters into play before she figures out who is behind the murders.

Awaiting the next book in the series and the birth of Edward and hoping to see the unflappable Acton a wreck when Doyle goes into labor. ( )