Stevie‘s review of Lady Notorious (Royal Rewards, Book 4) by Theresa Romain
Historical Romance published by Zebra 26 Feb 19
I’ve been greatly enjoying the Royal Rewards series and was delighted to learn that this latest instalment concerns the female half of a duo we encountered in the previous book: Cassandra Benton, who works unofficially as a Bow Street Runner alongside her twin brother, Charles, who is gainfully employed by that fine establishment. The pair also carry out private investigative assignments, and it’s on one of those that we first encounter them this time around. Many years ago, the Duke of Ardmore entered into a tontine with nine of his friends: an investment scheme in which the bulk of the money will eventually be inherited by the last surviving member. Now the duke’s son, George, Lord Northbrook, suspects someone in the group may be trying to hasten the deaths of the other men. George, therefore, is paying Cass and Charles to pose as servants in the household of the next potential victim and find out what’s afoot. All well and good, except Charles is flirting with the lady of the house, and Cass keeps finding herself in awkward situations with George. And then Charles falls out of a window.
Fortunately Charles’ leg isn’t too badly broken, so while he’s stuck at home in their rented rooms recuperating, Cass and George have to come up with a new plan by which they can investigate the mystery. Realising that Charles’ fall wasn’t an accident, George insists that Cass move out of the house where she was posing as a maid and take on a very different role – one that will enable him to keep a closer eye on her – by posing as his disreputable cousin, recently returned from the continent and fleeing an abusive husband. Cass agrees, and soon finds herself staying with George’s family and attending social events, all the while trying to look after Charles and keep up with their work for Bow Street while Charles is laid up.
I love Cass’ solutions to the problem of being in three places at once, especially as it meant we got to see more of a fun secondary character from the previous book. I also like the glimpses we got of some very different facets of society: Bow Street, the upper echelons, and Cass and Charles’ respectable, but not at all high-class, lodgings. I’m also very taken with the segments of the story that take place outside London, notably at Duke of Richmond’s Goodwood Estate.
The solution to the mystery, when it came, was a little disappointing, and I did wonder whether the villains of the piece were being adequately dealt with. Then again, the solution that George and Cass came up with did seek to protect innocent family members from being tainted by association with their relatives’ bad deeds. I enjoyed the friendships that were formed with characters from the previous book and the background romance that Charles had going on while he was laid up. Not my favourite of the series, but charming nonetheless.
Grade: B
Summary:
Cassandra Benton has always survived by her wits and wiles, even working for Bow Street alongside her twin brother. When injury takes him out of commission, Cass must support the family by taking on an intriguing new case: George, Lord Northbrook, believes someone is plotting to kill his father, the Duke of Ardmore. Decades before, the duke was one of ten who formed a wager that would grant a fortune to the last survivor. But someone can’t wait for nature to take its course—and George hopes a seasoned investigator like Cass can find out who.
Cass relishes the chance to spy on the ton, shrewdly disguised as handsome Lord Northbrook’s notorious “cousin.” What she doesn’t expect is her irresistible attraction to her dashing employer, and days of investigation soon turn to passionate nights. But with a killer closing in and her charade as a lady of the ton in danger of collapsing at any moment, Cass has no choice but to put her life—and her heart—in the hands of the last man she ought to trust…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
