Sebastian St. Cyr investigates the mysterious life and death of a nobleman convicted of murder in this
enthralling new historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Who Slays the Wicked. …
It’s June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the
Prince Regent’s invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoléon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout
Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British
nobleman long thought dead.
Eighteen years before, Nicholas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaforth, was accused of killing a beautiful
young French émigré and then transported to Botany Bay for life. Even before his conviction, Hayes had been disowned
by his father, and few in London were surprised when they heard the ne’er-do-well had died a convict in New South
Wales. But those reports were obviously wrong. Recently Hayes returned to London with a mysterious young boy in
tow—a child who vanishes shortly after Nicholas’s body is discovered.
Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is drawn into the investigation by his valet, Jules Calhoun, an old friend of the
dead man. With Calhoun’s help, Sebastian begins to piece together the shattered life of the late Earl’s ill-fated youngest
son. Why did Nicholas risk his life and freedom by returning to England? And why did he bring the now-missing
young boy with him? Several nervous Londoners had reason to fear that Nicholas Hayes had returned to kill them.
One of them might have decided to kill him first.
