But did he? Chingford refuses point blank to offer any defence, believing that his station as the heir to a marquess means he’s untouchable and doesn’t have to explain his actions to anyone, even the police. Could Chingford conceivably have done such a thing? Kim thinks so, yes. But when Kim’s brother – and their father’s heir, Lord Chingford – is accused of murdering a fellow member of the Symposium Club, the peaceful life they’ve been building together is shattered. Effectively sacked from his job with the Private Bureau, he’s now helping out at Darling’s Used and Antiquarian, the bookshop Will inherited from his late uncle, but even though he’s turned out to be surprisingly suited to the work – organising the shop and acquiring some valuable collections – neither he nor Will is cut out for the quiet life, and both of them know it. It’s been a few months since Will Darling and Kim Secretan uncovered the identity of the head of Zodiac, a dastardly, secret criminal organisation dedicated to destroying the structures of power – and Kim’s world fell apart. There are spoilers for those books in this review.

Note: Subtle Blood is the third instalment of a trilogy which has an overarching plotline listeners are advised to listen to Slippery Creatures and The Sugared Game first. With old and new enemies against them, and secrets on every side, Will and Kim have to fight for each other harder than ever – or be torn apart for good. Worse, it brings them up against Kim’s noble, hostile family, and his upper-class life where Will can never belong.

It’s starting to feel like he’s got his life under control.Īnd then a brutal murder in a gentleman’s club plunges them back into the shadow world of crime, deception, and the power of privilege. His business is doing well, and so is his illicit relationship with Kim Secretan – disgraced aristocrat, ex-spy, amateur book-dealer. This title may be downloaded from Audible via Amazon

Subtle Blood by K.J. Charles