Who Cries for the Lost by C. S. Harris @csharris2 @recordedbooks

the setup…
Irish surgeon Paul Gibson’s latest autopsy victim presents a challenge. The man was pulled from the Thames but his face was obliterated by the killer, his body emasculated and he was wearing only a shirt and one sock. Identification is probably hopeless…until Paul’s lover Alexi Sauvage recognizes him from his scars, one’s she had treated. The victim is Major Miles Sedgewick but when she knew him, it was as her husband Miles Sauvage, a man who deceived her into a sham marriage. Meanwhile, all of London waits as Napoleon and his enemies prepare for the final reckoning at Waterloo. Sebastian St. Cyr, Lord Devlin, who is Paul’s best friend, inserts himself in the investigation of Sedgewick’s murder, unleashing more suspects and intrigue than he was prepared to meet in the midst of this time of turmoil, especially when more mutilated bodies arise from the Thames.

the heart of the story…
I’m always prepared for a complex story in this series, never succumbing to the obvious, but this one was gnarly with so many twists and detours. There was much duplicity, even from Alexi who Sebastian has a tense relationship with anyway. Though this is a tale of fiction, the author’s use of time, place and setting is factual and authentic, serving to not only entertain but educate in a most compelling way. The people of London are extremely anxious as they wait for Napoleon’s imminent attack, heightening the tension around the investigation. I felt certain these deaths were somehow linked but there were quite a few other angles and suspects. Hero, Lady Devlin again factors into Sebastian’s case as you know her father, Lord Jarvis had to be knee deep in whatever was going on. But it was Alexi’s role and backstory that was fascinating as we finally learn more about her mysterious background.

the narration…
This is only my second time listening to a story in the series and it’s a new narrator since Davina Porter has retired. I liked her and thought she did well with most of the characters and the storytelling but I was troubled with her voice for Sebastian who sounded so different in my own head. I’ll learn to adjust.

the bottom line…
Obviously there’s a lot going on and assembling the facts, clues and host of players was quite the challenge. But, I love historical mysteries when they educate in the process and what I learned about this moment in history was illuminating. Sebastian was still recovering from injuries sustained in the last book so his mobility was hampered. Still, a lame Sebastian is quite formidable and I love how he and Hero continue to work as a team. There are also a few side stories of a personal nature that may significantly impact the lives of people important to Sebastian and Hero. This was a tangled web of lies and intrigue that kept me engaged from the start and with a surprise ending.

Book Info

• Release Date: April 18, 2023
• Series: Sebastian St. Cyr #18
• Narrator: Jenny Sterlin
• Audio Length: 11 hours
• Publisher: Recorded Books

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