If you like historical fiction and/or mysteries, Cara Devlin‘s Courier of Death is a must read. Steadily, but quickly, paced, this third entry in the Spencer and Reid series will entice you from the outset.
How and why are the deaths of a police constable and an MP’s aide related? That is what Detective Inspector Jasper Reid is determined to find out, aided by his friend, Leonora Spencer. As this story is set in the London of 1884, the subplot of women’s right to vote adds historical interest.
Devlin endowed her protagonists with great personalities. Leonora, Leo to her friends, is smart, outgoing, and impetuous at times. Of course, her impetuosity gets her into trouble. From which Jason must extricate her. Leo works as an assistant in her uncle’s morgue, outshining male assistants, to the chagrin of the males. Jason’s intelligence and courage stand him in good stead as a Detective Inspector at Scotland Yard. The slow-burn romance between Leo and Jason complements murder and extortion to form a cohesive plot.
As mentioned, this is the third in a series by Cara Devlin. I plan to read the first two books in the Spencer and Reed series as well as other books written by this author. Devlin has also published a second English mystery series, a romance series, and a stand-alone romance, both set in the western United States.
I received a free Advance Reader Copy. This is a voluntary, fair and honest review.
Courier of Death
by Cara Devlin
© 2025
First Cup Press