It may sound like an exaggeration, but it feels like I have been waiting all year for Murder at Somerset House, the ninth book in the Wrexford and Sloane mystery series by Andrea Penrose. I love this series, so much so I slowly add new releases to my bookshelf collection when the right print size is released, and I have been wanting a regency era murder mystery for some time now to reset the balance of my reading scales.

Beyond the gilded ballrooms and salons of Regency London lurks a sinister web of intrigue and deception, and when a murder occurs during a scientific meeting at the Royal Society’s stately headquarters at Somerset House, Lord Wrexford and Charlotte are the perfect pair to unravel it. But it soon becomes clear that things are not what they seem… A welcome interlude of calm has descended on Wrexford and Charlotte, though with three lively young boys in their care and an unconventional circle of friends and allies, quiet rarely lasts long. And sure enough, in the dead of night, an old acquaintance appears and asks for help. His brother-in-law has been accused of murdering a fellow member of the prestigious Royal Society at their London headquarters in Somerset House. Wrexford agrees to investigate, and with a little unexpected help from their young charges, discovers that what seemed a simple crime of passion may be part of a far darker and dangerous plot, where science, money, and politics collide. A mysterious new technical innovation threatens to ignite a crisis throughout Europe, with frightening consequences for London’s financial world. There is also personal upheaval for Wrexford and Charlotte, when a shocking secret from the past brings a profound change to their family, testing the bonds of loyalty and trust as never before…

This team of multifaceted sleuths never fails to provide an incredible plot for consumption, with tense action scenes, insightful social and political commentary, and a slow burn romance that warms the embers of my heart along the way. From Charlotte and Wrex, individuals who can never seem to catch a break when it comes to mischief and mayhem, to Cordelia and Sheffield, a pair that are both brilliant and delightfully soft at heart, the aviary of troublesome street-urchins-cum-wards within the houses’ walls, and the amazing staff at hand with more than a few tricks up their sleeves. The cast of characters make for such engaging, witty, and heartwarming scenes.

I don’t know what it is, but a story with multiple angles and details never fails to keep my interest. While this is a regency-era mystery, it has its fair share of technological marvel, scholarly discussions, sinister happenings underfoot, and a found-family mystery that stands. to combat the evils wreaking havoc in the dark. I love the balance of all the elements, from the lush historical fiction setting to the dated science fiction plot, the romance between the curtain, the action in the face of danger, and the good old murder mystery at the heart of the novel. Murder at Somerset House has everything you could want and more.

I cannot wait to add this to my collection in 2026, because not only is the story one I will gladly revisit, but the cover is just gorgeous. I love the colours, and I can see the potential direction for future colour combinations which makes me giddy for some reason. If historical fiction is your forte, I would highly recommend picking up the Wrexford and Sloane mystery series. I have yapped about it many times, but it is well deserving of praise in my eyes.