I had not previously read anything by C.S. Harris, but mysteries set in Regency period England are generally my cup of tea, and this one kept my attention throughout. This is Harris' third in her Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery series. The other two are "What Angels Fear" and "When Gods Die." I plan on going back to read those in order to learn more about the Viscount sleuth and his forbidden liaison with a London actress.
The mystery to be solved is who is murdering the sons of several seemingly unrelated members of the nobility and the gentry in and around London and the Kent countryside. The first order of business is to discover a connection in the clues, which turns out to be a poem by John Donne called "Go and Catch a Falling Star." Symbols from that poem end up stuffed in the mouths of the unlucky victims.
The second part of the mystery is to determine the connection between all of the victims. Were the boys all at school together? Is there some connection between the fathers or the mothers? St. Cyr finally solves that part of the puzzle, something I won't reveal here.
The subplot is the romance between St. Cyr and his paramour, Kat Boleyn, an Irish woman who has made her mark on the London stage. Kat is hiding a secret that she fears will ruin her relationship with the Viscount. The Viscount, once he discovers what that secret is, feels that marrying his lover is the only way to keep her safe from a ruthless lynchpin to the royal throne, Lord Jarvis. There are some surprising twists and turns to the romance, just as there are to the murder investigation.
The characters are compelling, the plot absorbing, if on occasion a bit melodramatic, and the historical details interesting.
I give "Why Mermaids Sing" a thumbs up for those who like Regency period mysteries and romances.
Liz Nichols
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