The Hanover Square Affair

Jane Thornton, Aimee a maid, Charlotte Morrison, and Matilda, a kitchen maid all vanished, without a trace at about the same time. Whether this is coincidence or linked occurrences Lacey ends up entangled. Investigating their disappearances and wondering, "why civilized England was so much more dangerous for a young girl than the battlefields of the Peninsula had been for soldiers like me" Lacey struggles to find his place in life, at moments to even want to live. He conducts interviews, follows up leads and roams the city of London as well as the countryside looking for the missing among the lost. It is a poignant journey. There were times I ached for Lacey though he would've resented any indication of pity. There were other times I show more believed he was doing exactly what he should to stave off the melancholia that might have swallowed him whole if he sat still too long.

I thoroughly enjoyed the vignette writing style employed to set up the mystery, introduce the players and reveal thread by seam by pocket just who Gabriel Lacey had been, was in the moment and might some day become. The dreadful realities balanced by the desperate hope gave him a ragged edge I really, Really, liked. Chillingly atmospheric, the details are razor sharp. This is not a book to skim or you'll miss a vital clue; a bead of exacting characterization. The dialog is almost abrupt at times but it suits Lacey. Others seem to be chuntering on in comparison; a nuanced difference Ms. Gardner uses well as she develops characters for the series and this mystery.

I recommend this book for any historical mystery lover. You won't groan or cringe over accuracy. But be advised their are mature themes - no graphic or lurid descriptions - and a hero that has a sharp edge not only to his prose but his confrontation of life. I call books like this my no calorie chocolate, worth the indulgence and semi-sweet aftertaste!
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Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: London, 1816
Cavalry captain Gabriel Lacey returns to Regency London from the Napoleonic wars, burned out, fighting melancholia, his career ended. His interest is piqued when he learns of a missing girl, possibly kidnapped by a prominent member of Parliament. Lacey's search for the girl leads to the discovery of murder, corruption, and dealings with a leader of the underworld. He deals with his own disorientation transitioning from a soldier's life to the civilian world at the same time, redefining his role with his former commanding officer making new friends--from the top of society to the street girls of Covent Garden.

My Review: This will be your only warning: AVOID THESE BOOKS IF YOU ARE OF A show more SERIES ADDICTIVE BENT

Have y'all left who're leavin'? Good.

Go get this Kindle freebie, everyone else, and settle in for the haul. This series, starring wounded warrior Captain Gabriel Lacey, will now grab you by the heartstrings and cause you to leak water from the vicinity of your eyes. I do not know what this phenomenon is called, but it is unsettling.

I read mysteries, as I've mentioned before, in order to assauage a weird little part of me that craves the World to do the right thing. It doesn't, as the Supreme Court has proven yet again, five old men in black dresses telling a bunch of religious dupes that they can decide who has access to birth control (as if this is anyone's goddamned business but the woman seeking it), but I still crave a glimpse, even in fiction, of a world where the right thing is done.

I am not talking about the law. The law is written by lawyers. This means less than nothing when it comes to doing the right thing, or even following the promptings of honor.

The right thing, in this story, is learning the fate of a powerless girl. Learning the reason a girl ups sticks and runs as fast as she can away from her loved ones. Learning the secrets of people so powerful that knowing they *have* secrets is a life-threatening prospect.

And learning, in the end, who one needs to forgive and what one needs to forget aren't necessarily obvious at first glance. And certainly aren't easy tasks. Forgiveness, if sincere, is seldom anything but hard-won and almost never without a heavy, heavy price.

I read this book in about half a day because it answered a call in me, and left me deeply satisfied that I'd found a friend. An honorable idiot, with a foul temper, and a complete and thoroughgoing unwillingness to do things the easy way. In short, an uncomfortable companion and an irreplaceable friend.

Ten more books await me. I am deeply satisfied by that knowledge. Make of this what you will, but remember that you were warned.


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I don't usually read Historicals or Regencies (my go-to is Urban Fantasy or Suspense/Thrillers), but I love, love, love this mystery series, and I've read every single book! I've read other reviews of this series that say the Regency atmosphere and social history is spot on. I found the historical parts of the book interesting, as well as the mystery plot.

To be honest, Book One's pacing starts out a little slow, but I think that gives the author a chance to flesh out the characters in more depth, so it's worth sticking it out. There's a better understanding of where Captain Lacy is coming from (and where he's going) at the beginning of the story, and I found myself invested in the characters after the first couple of chapters.

Cavalry show more Captain Gabriel Lacey is an extremely honorable gentleman who has just returned from the Napoleonic Wars with a leg injury he's slowly recovering from. Shortly after arriving in London, Captain Lacey finds himself reluctantly investigating the disappearance of three young women. He's cranky because his leg hurts, and his finances only support a poorer, damper living arrangement than he's accustomed to, so that's a contributor to his melancholy mood. He has some wonderful neighbors, however, that add a lot to the story. As we progress through the book, every chapter brings us closer to the surprise conclusion that, even though the clues are skillfully sprinkled throughout, you still don't realize "whodunit" until the very end. And I can tell you, each and every book is just as exciting, well-written and surprising!

All-in-all, I can highly recommend The Hanover Square Affair by Ashley Gardner as an extremely good read, and I'm giving this book a 5-Star TBR rating! show less

Gabriel Lacey is such a wonderful character. I love the time period and having as a lead character someone who sticks out in London society like a sore thumb and makes no bones about alienating certain members of society is a refreshing change from the usual "hero". Even though Lacey is a gentleman, he really is more a man of the people, more down to earth and holds to his strong convictions about morality and integrity, even when it is at odds with high ranking members of the military and society. Regency England is wonderfully presented as the cut-throat environment it was to live in where "who" you know is more important than what you "own" (although having assets is still considered a good thing). The mystery is well written and show more even I was surprised when the "who done it" for one of the crimes was revealed. I found Lacey's friend Grenville to be an excellent choice as Grenville's status and popularity in London society is a kin to Brummell's as an authority all society would bow to, providing a wonderful contrast to Lacey's poorer, post-military lifestyle. With past and potential future love interests for Lacey as secondary characters, the story has everything I want in a mystery/romance/historical fiction read.

Great first book in a series that I intend to continue reading. show less

Captain Gabriel Lacey has returned from the Napoleonic Wars with a limp and suffering from bouts of melancholia. When he is embroiled in a riot in Hanover Square and a man is shot in front of him, Lacey finds his sense of honor engaged in helping the man and his family. The man, Mr. Thornton, is protesting at the house of a prominent man who he believes has abducted his daughter, Jane.
I found this an interesting read in the vein of the Sebastian St Cyr mysteries which I love. It is a mystery set in Regency England, and the author does a good job of recreating that setting.
I didn't take to the characters as much; most are cardboard cutouts without much background to interest the reader. Perhaps later in the series, we'll find out more show more about them. I found Grenville the most interesting of the supplementary characters.
Lacey himself I didn't find all that likable. He's hot-tempered which along with the melancholia and his somewhat hound-dog view of women irritated me. But I'm willing to give him another chance as the mystery was good. show less

I just finished reading Ashley Gardner's first book in the Regency mystery series and really enjoyed it. It's a quick read, which is just what I needed after finishing the long, complex novel I had read just before!

But Gardner isn't just about escapist reading- she had a good plot, full of twists and turns involving not only the creme de la creme of society, but also those at the very bottom (who rarely turn up in Regency novels). She also gives her protagonist a GREAT mysterious history, hinting at all sorts of things about his past and his personality that, I hope, will come out as the series progresses. In that way, I am sure she has a loyal base of fans who will stay with her, just to learn more about the enigmatic Captain around show more whom the stories centers. All of his friends (and enemies) are also just as enticing- I'll be sure to pick up the rest of Gardner's books to read, too.

I like to change up my reading with one long book, and then one short book that serves as a refresher or brain candy. In my opinion, Gardner's series will be very much the brain candy sort- fun and easy to read, and perfect to reinvigorate me! show less

This was a good, fun story that became a bit unwieldy and overwrought. It started to become more and more implausible with characters showing up just in the nick of time or just at the right place. It was difficult to know how seriously it is meant to be taken. Also - it was a bit unnecessarily gruesome and there were a few bits of unfinished business which was frustrating.