This nimble series starter from Barnes (author of The Gentlemen Authors series, among others) prowls the dark streets and undercover activities in the London of 1817. When the latest young woman turns up murdered—the third victim of an increasingly vicious killer preying on society women—Chief Constable Peter Kendrick and his Bow Street supervisors face serious pressure over their failure to solve the crimes terrorizing the city, and he’s pressured, in the meantime, to score a victory, going after a wealthy family suspected of illegality. Enter Adrian Croft, son of a tyrannical father known for his powerful influence and shady business dealings. Set up to succeed his father as the “King of Portman Square,” Adrian is in fact disgusted with his family’s gritty transactions with the London underworld—but when the killings connect to his own life, his thirst for vengeance might undo him.

Barnes blends procedural and espionage elements with a vividly evoked London of fog, jouncing hackneys, and churchyards where the gravestones suggest “crooked teeth in the darkness.” A smart setup pits two savvy characters against each other, with a dash of romantic tension: as he strives to look out for his sister Evelyn, Adrian’s targeted by a highly secretive ring of female spies known as The Nightingale Project, with Samantha Carmichael, the star agent, tasked with infiltrating Adrian’s life and securing his family’s secret files.

Barnes maintains a steady clip, deftly combining mystery and romance elements to spin an enticing tale of intrigue, passion, and danger. As Samantha grows closer to Adrian and Evelyn in an effort to win their trust, she uncovers a side of Adrian that sparks a deeper connection between the two, even as they each continue to harbor distrust for each other. Barnes builds to a startling ending that leaves their future hanging in the balance. Readers will be eager for the next in the series.

Takeaway: Intrigue, romance, and murder combine in this lively old London series starter.

Comparable Titles: Nicola Cornick’s House of Shadows, Ellen Marie Wiseman’s What She Left Behind.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A