The Hanover Square Affair by Ashley Gardner
Review by Jerelyn (I-F-Letty)
The Hanover Square Affair is the debut mystery novel from Ashley Gardner. A damaged army Captain returns to England after the Peninsular War. Lacey is struggling to come to grips with his past and how to get on in life. He is no hero, nor is he rich. He is an honorable man who takes it upon himself to find the missing daughter of a man shot down in cold blood. Danger comes when his inquires come too close to the powerful. The dark side of London society is exposed; sexual previsions and complicity stand in stark contrast to Lacey’s code of honor. The conflict between Lacey and his ex-best friend and ex-commanding officer is reignited; old wounds are opened when Colonel Brandon wife Louisa tries to broker peace between the two men.
You realize just how hard it was for the men that fought Napoleon only to come home to nothing. He is wounded both physically and mentally. He struggles to live as a gentleman retired on half pay. He has an estate but no money to run it. He loves a woman who is not his. His wife has run off with his child leaving him just as the war began, The reason he must find this abducted girl is that his child would be just about the age of the girl he seeks.
In his inquires Lacey deals with prostitutes, criminals and the underworld boss of London who see the threat that men like Lacey pose to his enterprise. You also meet the toast of London society Grenville, rich, powerful and intrigued by Lacey. Lacey doesn’t want anything from Grenville but friendship which is a novelty for Grenville everybody always wants something from him.
Great characters and a fine writing style. I read it in one sitting. The glitter and glamor of the Regency period are here but at the edge of Lacey’s world. It is an engaging mystery there are five others in the series with a seventh due out in e-book format in September.
