In 1811, two entire families were viciously murdered in their homes. A suspect–a young seaman named John Williams–was arrested. But before he could be brought to trial, Williams hanged himself in his cell. The murders ceased, and London slowly began to breathe easier. But when the lead investigator, Sir Edwin Pym, is killed in the same brutal way three years later and others possibly connected to the original case meet violent ends, the city is paralyzed with terror once more. 

Was the wrong man arrested for the murders? Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for assistance. Pym’s colleagues are convinced his manner of death is a coincidence, but Sebastian has his doubts. The more he looks into the three-year-old murders, the more certain he becomes that the hapless John Williams was not the real killer. Which begs the question–who was and why are they dead set on killing again?

I’ve listened to Davina Porter narrate sixteen novels in this series and I’m nervous about starting number seventeen because she’s retired and I’ll have to hear my favorite characters voiced by another narrator. I’m sure it will be fine, but sixteen books is a commitment! I think I’ve been trying to play catch-up on this series for four or five years- at least! Davina Porter does such an amazing job with accents and portrays men and women equally well. She is truly an artist and will be missed. I do wish her well in her retirement.

What keeps me coming back to these Sebastian St. Cyr stories? Despite the talented Davina Porter, it’s my love for these characters, their development, and especially the mysteries. The Viscount Devlin with his penchant for disguises and ability to not only interrogate his peers, but also the classes beneath him makes his character real allowing the reader to become a part of his thought process. What the Devil Knows was a little slower than some of the previous novels, but not because of a lack of action. I think Devlin survived two or three attempts on his life but never gave up his desire to find out the truth behind the malicious killings of these families. Very honorable!

If you love historical mysteries and are looking for a series to dive into, please give this one a try, but start with the first book! These characters grow and evolve and that has been a large part of why I’ve stuck with them and have continued to enjoy the characters. Enjoy! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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