Patricia Wynn

Sir Walter is found dead dressed in coronation robes at the Frost Fair on the iced over Thames....

Mrs. Kean is requested by Lord Harrowby to investigate the death of Sir Walter, who had introduced Harrowby to his current mistress, in order to find out who else might have the secret that Sir Walter threatened Harrowby with.

Mrs. Kean asks St. Mars for help... and so their relationship continues

The story, while interesting, surely did drag on & on....

I'm not interested in all the never-ending Hanoverian & Jacobite drama. I find it boring & that it interferes w/ the story.… (more)

I enjoyed the plot & characters... but it could have been at least 100 pages shorter.

Most all single men are in lust w/ Isabella, who has no dowry except her body & looks, and they want to marry her. Isabella's mother is a harridan & known woman of vice, wants Isabella to marry Title & Money; her cousin Mrs Kean, a poor relation forced into service as a maid to Isabella's mother.

Gideon Viscount St. Mars, is on of her suitors. When visiting his father to tell him of his plans to engage Isabella a fearful argument breaks out & Gideon leaves.... After Gideon leaves, his father is murdered, but not before wounding his attacker.

Late that night, on his way to a ball (where he meets & befriends Mrs Kean), Gideon is attacked & wounded by a masked man... Gideon is then accused of murdering his father and a warrant for his arrest is published.

Gideon's cousin is then named as heir and he marries Isabella, while Gideon & Mrs Kean unmask the murderer.... but as there is no proof, Gideon must sneak away & remain hidden.

There was no concrete ending, the book leaves the reader hanging, thus insuring the author a series… (more)