What Darkness Brings (Sebastian St. Cyr, #8) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Oct 27, 2016 Mary Beth rated it really liked it

This is another series that is a fave! The books tend to get better and better. I highly recommend this series to those who like historical mysteries. If you want to know in more detail what this series is about you can read my review What Angels Fear which is the first book. ...more

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May 26, 2016 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, historical-mystery, 16000-in-2016

When a renowned gem dealer is found dead in his home with the supposed murderer standing over his body, Sebastian is asked to help investigate. Russell Yates has been accused of the crime and he's facing execution in days. Of course, he cries foul.

This was one of the most complicated mysteries with a host of suspects given the victim was despised by everyone who knew him. The missing diamond had its own murky history, adding another element of intrigue. While it was sometimes difficult to keep ...more

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Dec 28, 2022 Anita rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm loving this series and finding it hard to move on to other books - it's just that good. I have given up trying to divine who the killer is with these books, too much brain work involved. I've decided that with the many characters and suspects that I will just enjoy the ride.

As Sebastian arrives home after helping the wife of a former military comrade deal with his death, he learns that Russell Yates, husband of his former mistress, Kat Boleyn, has been charged with the murder of a less than ...more

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Sep 23, 2013 Veronica rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-mystery

Four and a half stars

This series has always woven actual events from the time period into the story, incorporating it into the mystery du jour in unusual and interesting ways. I can't tell you how many times these books have sent me to my nearest internet capable device to Google something or another. It's part of the fun and this book is no exception. This time around the murder involves a rather nasty man and the infamous Hope Diamond which, according to reports, actually did surface in London Four and a half stars

This series has always woven actual events from the time period into the story, incorporating it into the mystery du jour in unusual and interesting ways. I can't tell you how many times these books have sent me to my nearest internet capable device to Google something or another. It's part of the fun and this book is no exception. This time around the murder involves a rather nasty man and the infamous Hope Diamond which, according to reports, actually did surface in London back in 1812. Obviously some things are tweaked or invented for the sake of drama but it all works well together to make an entertaining puzzle for Sebastian to solve.

I will admit to a certain amount of trepidation going into this book when I saw that the murder suspect was Kat's husband. Kat being Sebastian's first love and all. Like Aunt Henrietta, I don't like anything that brings Sebastian back into his former flame's orbit. I think my wariness going in caused me to negatively overreact to every interaction the two had - and really, there were not that many if I'm honest. When I went back through and re-read certain parts, however, I had a much clearer picture of what was really happening and in the end, I think things were handled well. There was the definite sense of a dawning realization on Sebastian's part that the future he had once been so sure of with Kat may not have been the true Happily Ever After he had thought it would be. I know, I know, it seems like a long time in coming but when you consider that only a year has elapsed since the two former lovers were driven apart, it makes more sense.

On the other hand, there is some wonderful growth in the relationship between Sebastian and Hero, who are now about six weeks into their marriage. They functioned as more of a team than ever and I think Sebastian is realizing more and more that he can have a true partner in Hero. The deepening feelings between them were heartfelt and were expressed (finally!) in a way befitting them both. It is still far from an idyllic situation however as Jarvis' presence continues to make itself felt and it remains to be seen whether or not the fledgling love between Sebastian and Hero will survive it. It will be interesting to see how the arrival of the newest St Cyr will impact things. Or not.

Having now caught up with the series, I'm already in Sebastian/Hero withdrawals and am looking forlornly at that March 4th date on my calendar, when Why Kings Confess goes on sale. In the meantime, I'm already planning my re-read for February (though I'll probably just start with book four, and Hero *wink*). I'm also very happy to hear from the author that there are at least four more books in the series to come. :) ...more

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Sep 11, 2016 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: writer-heroine, bluestocking-heroine, magic-and-witchcraft, regency, historical-mystery, gemstones

What Darkness Brings
4 Stars

At the request of his estranged father, Sebastian St. Cyr looks into the death of a wealthy jeweler when Kat Boleyn's new husband, Russell Yates, is arrested for the crime. Sebastian soon learns that the victim was keeping some dark and dangerous secrets and had numerous powerful enemies many of whom were interested in locating an infamous missing blue diamond. As he closes in on the killer, Sebastian must also confront the shadows of his relationship with Kat and deci ...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Dianne rated it really liked it

Shelves: action-and-adventure, netgalley, suspense, adult-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery

If you like fictional historical mysteries that actually weave fact in with the fiction, I think you’ll find What Darkness Brings by C. S. Harris to be a great read! Taking place in the early nineteenth century in England, aristocratic investigator Sebastian St. Cyr and his new wife Hero dig deep to find the truth regarding who murdered a notorious London diamond merchant, Benjamin Eisler. Russell Yates,the husband of Sebastian’s former lover Kat Boleyn is accused of the murder, but swears he is ...more

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Sep 13, 2016 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it really liked it

Shelves: britain, historical-fiction, fiction, suspense, mystery, historical-mystery, 1800s

RATING: 4 STARS

Kat's new husband, Yates was found standing over a dead man, but claims to be innocent. Unless Sebastian can find the real murder, Yates will be hung for the death. Sebastian decides to help Kat, more out of his loyalty to their past love. The case leads to him dangerous avenues, and one being his own wife. What he chose to keep from her about Kat may just come back to haunt them. Eeek, I was feeling for poor Sebastian with this one. Stuck between past and present love, and how di ...more

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Jun 04, 2015 Logan rated it really liked it

Shelves: borrowed-library, borrowed-ebook, historical-fiction, mystery, 2015-books-read

I love this series! This one involved the Hope diamond which was awesome because I got to learn some interesting facts about it. The mystery was complicated enough to keep things interesting without ever seeming dull. Sebastian also made some new strides in his personal life, though the conflict with Jarvis continues to feel like it will never resolve. I'm getting close to catching up on this series so I want to push through to see what's up next for the St. Cyr family. ...more

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Oct 19, 2023 Eadie Burke rated it really liked it

London, September 1812. After a long night spent dealing with the tragic death of a former military comrade, a heart-sick Sebastian learns of a new calamity: Russell Yates, the dashing, one-time privateer who married Sebastian’s former lover Kat Boleyn a year ago, has been found standing over the corpse of notorious London diamond merchant Benjamin Eisler. Yates insists he is innocent, but he will surely hang unless Sebastian can unmask the real killer.
This was an excellent book in the series of ...more

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May 12, 2020 Sharon Kallenberger Marzola rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, audio-whispersync, love-heroine, love-hero, favorites, series, unique-and-or-twists, review-needed, historical, great-support-characters

What Darkness Brings is a great mystery. I love this series and the characters. My problem is Kat. I'm disappointed in the way the author pits Sebastian's love for Kat against his love for Hero. For me, this isn't resolved nicely. I know that I need to review the author's story and not what I want the story to be, but I'm angry and can't get past it. Oh well, 90% of the story is 5 Stars. ...more

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Aug 05, 2016 Charlene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: group-read, crime, group-author-book, series-by-author, public-library, rated-not-reviewed, regency, adult-themes, law-enforcement, follow-this-series

A great mystery series, must be read in order.

Some historical events, clarified by author at end. One featured item is the Hope Diamond before it became that, reputed to be from the French crown jewels. Most of the mystery, of course, is fictional.

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Jun 30, 2018 Meera rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery

2.5
This one didn’t keep my interest as previous ones. I prefer mysteries that don’t come with spy intrigues and treasure hunts. Maybe I also wasn’t in the right mood for this one since I enjoyed the previous ones.

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