C.S. Harris brings new intrigue to her Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series with its 21st entry, When the Wolves Are Silent. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is the heir to an earldom, but he cannot stand to live the usual life of a wealthy dilettante, even though Regency society despises him for it. Along with his wife, Lady Hero Devlin, who writes articles spotlighting the plight of London's poor, Sebastian seeks to bring justice for those who need it.
Sebastian's investigative work hits closer to home when his disreputable nephew, Bayard, begs him to solve the murders of two friends. London is already restless; many of the soldiers who fought for Great Britain in the Napoleonic wars are now back home, yet homeless. Hero's father, Lord Charles Jarvis, is one of the prince regent's most trusted advisers, and he's determined to keep the monarchy strong. But there aren't enough jobs, the political situation is tense, and the actions of Bayard's dissolute group of friends have not helped.
Fans of lighter Regency novels like the Bridgerton series might be surprised by the grittiness of Sebastian's world; Harris focuses on backstreets rather than ballrooms. But Sebastian and Hero are intrepid characters, and with keen insight, Harris brings an era of extreme inequality sharply into focus through them. Readers who love history or suspense are sure to appreciate the propulsive When the Wolves Are Silent. --Jessica Howard, former bookseller, freelance book reviewer