Murder at the Seven Dials by Cara Devlin - Book Review

Murder at the Seven Dials by Cara Devlin

Series: Bow Street Duchess Mystery #1 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 28th Jan 2023

Genre: Historical Mystery 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: Interesting start to a new series 

*****

Bow Street Officer Hugh Marsden finds the Duke of Fournier with the murdered body of an opera singer. He arrests the duke, considering it a straightforward case. After all, Hugh got a chance to arrest a peer, and he wasn’t going to let it slip from his hands. 

What he didn’t expect was the Duchess of Fournier, Audrey Sinclair, to take an active role in the case and conduct her own investigation. She knows her husband is innocent and is determined to prove it. What secret ability does the duchess have that she is so sure of the duke’s innocence?

Hugh and Audrey continue to clash even as they work to solve the case for separate reasons. Soon, Hugh realizes that the killer is at large and that joining forces with Audrey is the only way to keep her safe. With secrets to safeguard and protect from each other, can the duo solve the case before either of them is targeted by the killer? 

The story comes from a limited third-person POV of Hugh and Audrey. 

My Thoughts: 

This is a steady-paced mystery with the right elements of danger, intrigue, and a touch of paranormal abilities. The story starts strong and continues to keep us hooked.

Audrey is no dainty flower, but she isn’t strong either. She is a mix of determination, vulnerability, fear, and stupidity. Audrey’s reasons justify her actions even if some of her decisions make us shake our heads and roll our eyes. 

Hugh’s character arc is well-done. He isn’t without faults but is also quick to acknowledge his mistakes. His murky past adds a layer of intrigue and makes him a sort of brooding hero from the regency era. The primary difference, of course, lies in the fact that Hugh is not one of the ton. 

The plot manages to create a subtle tension between the lead pair without overdoing it (given their character backgrounds). It has Lady Julia Grey (series by Deanna Raybourn) vibes, so I’m curious to see how this will be handled in the next books.

The mystery progresses well, revealing information in bits and pieces. I like how the suspect changes with each revelation. The paranormal element is just there, enough to show us what the duchess can and cannot do. 

As the first book in the series, it hits the right notes with ease. It provides enough backstory about the characters to set the stage and solve the case. 

To summarize, Murder at the Seven Dials is a well-written historical mystery with a good pace, an engaging plotline, and interesting characters. I look forward to reading the next book soon. 

Thank you, NetGalley and BooksGoSoical, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderattheSevenDials