Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries by C.S. Harris
FIC Harris
First Published: 2005
In this special series, our librarians are introducing you to more series and authors that keep them reading long into the night. In this post, one of our librarians talks about one of her favorite series: Sebastian St. Cyr by C.S. Harris:
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is a young, extremely intelligent, nobleman living in Regency London after serving as a spy during the Napoleonic Wars. His military career leaves him with what we now call PTSD. Along with his bad experience in the Wars, he has a very troubled family history. Sebastian is the third son of an Earl and his older brother dies leaving him one step closer to inheriting the title, but the fact that his father questions Sebastian's parentage complicates matters. He barely remembers his mother, who was lost at sea while running away with another man. The relationship with his father is rife with suspicion, disagreement on everything, manipulation and lies.
Further complicating his life, Sebastian doesn't act like how society expects a gentleman to act. He has uncommonly acute hearing and eyesight; his eyes are a “feral” yellow unlike the family’s shade of “St.Cyr blue”. He doesn’t act as a “gentleman” but involves himself in solving murders and dealing with the criminal classes, governmental and royal personages, and the theater world. He moves through all the levels of London society seamlessly using disguises when needed.
Sebastian's romantic life is equally complicated and troubled. He is in a relationship with Kat Bolyen, an actress. Unsurprisingly, his father is completely against this relationship and is constantly meddling with the relationship. His romantic life takes an even crazier turn when the daughter of his mortal enemy shows up in Sebastian's life, creating an unexpected love triangle.
Below are summaries of the first two books in the series, as well as the latest book in the series.
The first book, What Angels Fear, is set in 1811 when revolution may be at hand. A young woman is savagely murdered on the steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey. Found with the body is a dueling pistol belonging to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin. To clear his own name he must investigate the murder.
In When Gods Die, book two in the series, the young wife of an aging marquis is found murdered in the arms of the Prince Regent. Around her neck lies a necklace said to have been worn by Druid priestesses-that is, until it was lost at sea with its last owner, Sebastian St. Cyr's mother. Now Sebastian is lured into a dangerous investigation of the marchioness's death-and his mother's uncertain fate. As he edges closer to the truth-he confronts a conspiracy that imperils those nearest him and threatens to bring down the monarchy.
Published in April, this latest installment, Who Speaks for the Damned, is set in June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the Prince Regent's invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoléon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British nobleman long thought dead.
There are 15 books in the series. The romantic and swash-buckling Sebastian St. Cyr and the atmospheric historical detail will draw you into the story filled with action.
Keep Calm & Read On
