Devon’s review of His Wicked Sins by Eve Silver
Historical Romance released by Zebra 5 Aug 08

Like many a reader (I suspect), I found my way to romance through Gothics. Not the old school nineteenth century ones (though I’ve read many of those too), but books by authors like Barbara Michaels, Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. Nothing was more compelling than an innocent young heroine, alone in an unfamiliar place, which filled with secrets, and the mysterious man she was unsure she could trust. If your heart once thrilled to read such stories of mystery and romance, you might want to check out His Wicked Sins, a classic Gothic with all of the elements I’ve listed above.

Beth Canham, the impoverished and troubled heroine, was quite interesting. She is plagued by fears and anxieties, and has developed certain routines and rituals to deal with them. Today she would definitely be diagnosed with OCD tendencies. But instead of seeming weak, Beth is very strong. She is able to face her fears, because she has developed a mechanism for dealing with them. Her own troubles have also made her empathetic toward others, and practical in her outlook on life. I could see why the hero would be drawn to her.

The hero, Griffin Fairfax, was less interesting. He’s handsome, wealthy and regarded with suspicion by everyone. The locals suspect him of killing his wife. That’s not a spoiler, is it? The guys in Gothics are always suspected of having killed their wives. It’s what really happened that’s the mystery. That may be why I was less interested in him. He’s pretty much standard issue broody guy, and I was like, c’mon I know you’re not teh ebil, get over yourself. But he dealt with Beth’s anxieties well, and they managed to generate enough chemistry to keep my interest.

The mystery regarding the secrets of Burndale Academy was creepy, and perhaps a bit gory. I was intrigued and it kept me on my toes. The story flips between “present day” and seventeen years earlier, before coming together in a very satisfactory, “A-ha” sort of way. My only quibble was with the identity of the villain, but I hesitate to say more because it’ll be spoiler-y.

His Wicked Sins wasn’t the most memorable book I’ve read this year (I had to look up the hero’s name when writing the review). But it definitely kept my interest while reading. The atmosphere of menace is done just right, the heroine is likeable, and the romance works. I definitely recommend it to those who miss Gothics, or who would like to try one.

Grade: B-

The Summary:
In the quiet hamlet of Yorkshire, the hallowed halls of Burndale School stand…and evil lurks in its dark corners. For a serial killer with a proclivity for blonde women has struck again-this time, murdering two of its teachers. Now everyone is wondering when the killer will seek his next victim…

Elizabeth Canham has accepted a teaching position at the local boarding school in Yorkshire. But her quiet life takes a surprising turn when she meets Griffin Fairfax-the handsome father of one of her pupils. His mesmerizing stare quickly draws her in, and she can’t deny the fierce attraction between them…

Griffin Fairfax appears to be a doting father and gentleman. But one disturbing truth lies at the heart of the murders-all of the victims were intimately connected to him. When Elizabeth discovers this, she wonders if it’s a mere coincidence or if Griffin could be a charming, seductive killer so many women have lost their hearts-and lives-to…

Read an excerpt here