Murder at the Seven Dials

 I accepted the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot, although it started stronger for me than it ended. The genre is mystery, but there's a slow-burn romance simmering under the surface that I imagine will have a payoff in a future installment. 

The Duchess of Fournier's husband is accused of killing an opera singer believed to be his lover. The duchess is sure he neither had an arrangement with the singer nor killed her. The Bow Street Runner who was alerted to the death, and was first on the scene, is convinced the duke is guilty. He was found covered in blood and catatonic. 

The duchess, Audrey, has the ability to perform psychometry – touch items and read their histories – and decides to use this skill to prove her husband's innocent. The Bow Street Runner keeps discovering her in the process of her investigation, and almost seamlessly, they begin working together. 

I really liked the opening of the book, which felt gritty and dark, but that tone for long periods gave way to what felt a little more of a romance novel vibe. I also like, love, romance novels, but the beginning kinda sold me on the idea of something grittier. I mean, there's a lot at stake, more death, guns, and I'm in no way saying it's tame. The autopsy scene was plenty gross!

The mystery kept my interest steady. This book reminded me a little of the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas, and those mysteries work a little better for me in terms of surprises and misdirects, but the mystery here worked well. 

The dialogue and use of Regency vernacular really worked for me. I went down a lot of historical rabbit holes as a result, which is a thing I like, and those details set the mood for me. I think it's the quality that made me know I'd enjoy the book. 

I liked Audrey, and Marsden, and their chemistry. And I know I'm interested in what happens in future books. I'd like to see Audrey come into her own. This could be a really good series.