Charlotte and Wrexford are weeks from their wedding and working on entering society as a couple. When they attend a botanical event at the Royal Botanic Gardens, they hope to keep a low profile, but the murder of one of the presenters upends their plans. Furthermore, Hawk may have witnessed the murder while drawing in the greenhouse.
As the family pulls together to help Griffin find the killer, Charlotte also faces reconnectinig with her estranged brother. The meeting, arranged by Allison, proves successful and offers a clue to the murder. Further investigation reveals a nefarious plot for continued slave trafficking as well as theft of an important medical therapy that require not only the future Wrexford family, but all of their street urchin friends as well as Kit and Cordelia to both solve the murder and to save Tyler.

This series is a favorite of mine, and I was really excited to get this ARC. This is a strong installment to the series, but I agree with another reviewer that the relationship between Wrexford and Charlotte has stagnated a little bit. I think that most slow burn couples lose a little something when they finally get together, so that's understandable. I'm looking forward to the next book and the next chapter in their relationship.

I love the amount of research Penrose does for this series, and how interesting and unexpected the plots are. I'm looking forward to the next book!!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. ( )

Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens -Penrose
3 stars

This is the fifth book in the Wexford & Sloan series. I usually enjoy listening to this kind of cozy historical mystery. But, I’ve given up on the reader of these books. His narration is too ponderous and his female voices are painful. In text this was a quick read and I find it easier to skim over awkward sentences and stilted dialog.

I do have problems with the writing. However, I enjoy the characters. There’s a predictable pattern to the murder mystery that entertains without keeping me awake at night. The historical setting always includes a well researched inclusion of 19th century scientific advances. This mystery revolves around botanical medicine with lush descriptions of the plants in the Royal Botanic Gardens. It made me want to take a time traveling visit. ( )

Set aside two days and keep a tissue handy for this complicated family-friendly Regency mystery which starts just as Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford are about to make their first public appearance as an engaged couple at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London. An advantage of the print edition is the lovely cover, which allows one to chortle in public without raising so many quizzical eyebrows. My own ARC copy was lost for far too long in a book slide of the TBR mountain, but I am delighted to have found it and finally offer this voluntary review. ( )

It had been a while since I read a Wrexford & Sloane novel, but I had no problem jumping right back into the world. There were characters that at first I didn't remember but Andrea Penrose did a good job of reminding us and quickly moving on with the story. You could probably read this without the other ones, but would miss the background of this little put together family. Hawk and Raven are growing up and it's a joy to see them becoming little gentlemen weasels. Also the banter between Wrexford and Charlotte with a bit more romance in this book is sweet.

It is still very mystery focused as in this book we are trying to figure out who murdered a botanist who made an important discovery. The backdrop and details of the Royal Botanic Gardens is a nice change of landscape and is interesting in it's own way. You can tell a lot of research was done. There is a lot of guessing in who could have been the murder and every character introduced is fleshed out really well. The pace picks up a lot towards the middle and we get to see more of Charlotte's family and past friends. I was still guessing up till the end and found it enjoyable.

I'm one book behind, but I'm excited to pick up Murder at the Serpentine Bridge.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )