Sebastian Alistair St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, the son of Lord Hendon, Chancellor of the Echequer, is summoned to a meeting with Lord Jarvis. Jarvis, a distant cousin of the king, is the power behind the throne. He wants Sebastian to investigate the incident at the Pavilion, but Sebastian has no intention of complying with Jarvis’s wishes. He’s heading back to London.

Jarvis, however, knows something sure to arouse Sebastian’s interest. He directs Sebastian’s attention to the necklace around the neck of the dead woman. It is the necklace that Sebastian’s mother, the Countess of Hendon, was wearing when she was lost in a boating accident along with all others on board. It hasn’t been seen since. How could it reappear under these circumstances?

Sebastian picks up on several oddities. It appears that Lady Anglessey was not murdered at the scene but somewhere else. Who would arrange such a scene? Is this a plot to embarrass the Prince Regent and possibly bring down the regime?

Along with his lover, actress Kat Boleyn, Sebastian will delve into the mystery which has both personal and royal implications.

This sequel to What Angels Fear focuses more on the hero than the previous book. The whodunit plot is strong, but Sebastian’s personal life – particularly his love affair with Kat Boleyn – is just as important as the mystery. He’s an admirable character – intelligent, insightful, honorable, and dedicated. Just what a good series hero ought to be.

Kat Boleyn has a more significant role in this second work. She is actively works with Sebastian in solving the mystery. As to why she refuses to marry Sebastian, that’s revealed in this book – and it isn’t such a trivial reason as the difference in their social status.

Lord Jarvis is another returning character. A dark, Machiavellian character who refuses to take Sebastian’s ‘no’ for an answer, he’s interesting enough to continue as long as the series lasts.

It’s not necessary to have read What Angels Fear to enjoy When Gods Die, but like in other series, having read the books from the beginning helps in understanding the various characters and their connections.

--Lesley Dunlap