**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 Why Kill the Innocent....
**
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
Seaford, was accused of killing a beautiful young French émigré and
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 in disgrace 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.
