A Body in Berkley Square
by Ashley Gardner
In Ms. Gardner's latest Regency-set mystery series, Captain Gabriel Lacey is called to the scene of murder by his former sergeant, now Bow Street Runner, Milton Pomeroy. Mr. Pomeroy knows that Captain Lacey will be interested because the chief suspect is his former Colonel, Aloysius Brandon. Gabriel and Aloysius have a very strange relationship since each knows too much about each other. Colonel Brandon has always been jealous of the relationship Gabriel has with Louisa Brandon; never mind that it is entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.
Brandon refuses Gabriel's help but Gabriel cannot allow Louisa to doubt her husband's innocence. The murdered man has been blackmailing people for a number of years from information he has encountered over his time in Society.
As Gabriel sets out to prove Brandon's innocence, he will learn more about the Colonel than he already knows. This knowledge will increase his belief in the Colonel's innocence but cause even more damage to Lacey's opinion of his former commander. Gabriel's investigations will expose a series of people who had the motive for murder. Determining the real killer will require nerves of steel.
In this latest installment of the Lacey series, we see Garbriel becoming more interested in Lady Breckenridge as the story develops. He will be able to use the influence of Lucius Grenville to further his investigations while he smoothes the waters between Lucius and his mistress. The mysterious James Denis will make another appearance furthering Gabriel's indebtedness to him.
Gabriel is still the honest man who will continue to tread where others may not want him to. However, he is more forgiving of others' weaknesses as he learns that his interference has a great potential to cause damage to others as well as to himself. There are fewer recurrences of his melancholia as his need to learn the truth develops his interest in the outside world and others. If you are a fan of the series, you won't want to miss this one!
“Captain Lacey is handed the opportunity to disgrace his former commander. ”
December 2005, 252 pages
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 0425207285
When Gabriel Lacey is called to the scene of the murder of a society dandy, he must prove his former commander is innocent of the crime. As Lacey investigates, he uncovers dark and unnerving secrets about Colonel Brandon's past that will change things forever.
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Other Books by Ashley Gardner
A Covent Garden Mystery
“Gabriel Lace is called on by Bow Street to find the killer of several prostitutes. ”
– Leanne Davis
The Sudbury School Murders
“Captain Lacey can find mischief even when he moves away from London.”
– Leanne Davis
The Glass House
“Captain Lacey is drawn into investigating the mysterious deaths of young prostitutes”
– Leanne Davis