Sophia Rose Reviews: Murder at the Royal Botanical Gardens by Andrea Penrose

 

Today Sophia Rose shares her review of Murder at the Royal Botanical Gardens by Andrea Penrose #5 in her Wrexford and Sloane Historical Mystery series.
Enjoy!

Murder at the Royal Botanical Gardens by Andrea Penrose

#5 Wrexford and Sloane

Historical Mystery

Published:  9.28.21

Publisher:  Kensington

Pages:  304

Rating: 4.5

Format: ebook

Source:  Purchased

Sellers:  Amazon

GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

The upcoming marriage of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane promises to be a highlight of the season, if they can first untangle—and survive—a web of intrigue and murder involving the most brilliant scientific minds in Regency London...

One advantage of being caught up in a whirl of dress fittings and decisions about flower arrangements and breakfast menus is that Charlotte Sloane has little time for any pre-wedding qualms. Her love for Wrexford isn’t in question. But will being a wife—and a Countess—make it difficult for her to maintain her independence—not to mention, her secret identity as famed satirical artist A.J. Quill?

Despite those concerns, there are soon even more urgent matters to attend to during Charlotte and Wrexford’s first public outing as an engaged couple. At a symposium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a visiting botanist suffers a fatal collapse. The traces of white powder near his mouth reveal the dark truth—he was murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Charlotte and the Earl learn of the victim’s involvement in a momentous medical discovery. With fame and immense fortune at stake, there’s no shortage of suspects, including some whose ruthlessness is already known. But neither Charlotte nor her husband-to-be can realize how close the danger is about to get—or to what lengths this villain is prepared to go...

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

Could matters grow more fraught as Charlotte readies not only for a wedding, but a reunion with her brother after years of estrangement from her family?  A murder at a society event with political and scientific ramifications transpires drawing Wrexford and Charlotte into the case when dangers whispers close to their family.  Andrea Penrose’s pen continues to draw me into the world of her stories in this new favorite series.

 

Murder at the Royal Botanical Gardens is the fifth of the Wrexford and Sloane Regency Era mystery series.

 

Art and science, romance, family, and friendship provide exciting and engaging elements to mysteries set against the sparkling world of Regency London from the height of grand society to the murky back alleys and dockyards.

 

Many times, once the ‘I love you’s are voiced, the story seems to have little further advancement relationship-wise, but that is not the case here.  Charlotte and Wrexford may share love and a partnership in the pursuit of justice, but their pasts, particularly Charlotte’s continue to require they put the hard work into making their relationship work.  I enjoy getting the story from both their perspectives as they ponder their own selves, each other, and this amazing circle of friends and family they now have.

  Charlotte’s great-aunt, the Weasels and the rest of their eclectic band are there to help them not only with this latest case with a rare plant at the heart of it all, but also help Charlotte and Wrexford navigate their lives.

 

The story starts with the murder, then the investigation, a few great twists and wraps up with a thrilling climax action scene before a delightful and long awaited denouement scene.  Satisfying and triumphant and left me wanting more.  Historical Mystery fans really need to reach for this series.

 

 

Author’s Bio:

Andrea Penrose is the USA Today bestselling author of Regency-era historical fiction, including the acclaimed Wrexford & Sloane mystery series, as well as Regency romances written under the names Cara Elliott and Andrea Pickens. Published internationally in ten languages, she is a three-time RITA Award finalist and the recipient of numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery and two Gold Leaf Awards.

A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era’s swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks.

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.

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GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose