Tuesday, August 06, 2024

Book Tour & Giveaway: A Vengeful King Rises (House of Croft, #1) by Sophie Barnes


A Vengeful King Rises
House of Croft, Book One
by
Sophie Barnes

Mystery / Romance
Publication Date: July 30, 2024
Page count: 492 pages

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SYNOPSIS: 

The only thing more lethal than his need for revenge, is the woman who's tasked with bringing him down.

Adrian Croft dreams of quitting the shady business he stands to inherit, of settling down, and of raising a family free from a life of crime. But when tragedy strikes, this fanciful dream is destroyed. All he wants now is revenge. His anger, however, threatens to cloud his judgment, making it harder for him to recognize danger when it approaches in the form of a beautiful woman.

Trained for covert operations as part of a secret government program, Samantha Carmichael's mission is to give British law enforcement a reason to prosecute the most powerful man in the country. But when common sense and duty begin to blur, can she remain steadfast in her goal, or will her loyalties shift as she gradually loses her heart to the one man she cannot afford to love?

-One series, one couple, and the brutal challenges they must face-

If you like What Angels Fear, Silent in the Grave, and Murder on Black Swan Lake, you’ll devour Sophie Barnes’ thrilling new series.

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REVIEW:
5 stars!

Suspenseful and dark, a serial killer stalks the ballrooms of London. 

A Vengeful King Rises is the first book in author Sophie Barnes’s new historical mystery series, the House of Croft, and it is a fabulous debut. With engaging main characters pitting their wits against each other, a suspenseful plot, and a darkly atmospheric London setting, I was completely absorbed in the tale from its shocking opening to the final resolution. 

Adrian Croft turned his back on the family’s shady but lucrative business as soon as his father died. But when his younger sister becomes the mistaken victim of a serial killer stalking the upper-class debutantes who have developed “a reputation,” he decides to resurrect his father’s old organization to find the killer. Chief Constable Peter Kendrick, the lead investigator of the murders, has hit a brick wall, and his superiors are feeling the heat from even higher-ups. Rumors about the Croft family ‘business’ have circulated for decades, and more recent ones have hinted at its possible involvement in the deaths of the young society women, so Kendrick is tasked with ensnaring the new head of the family. The chief constable is more inclined to stay on the trail of the serial killer, and this smokescreen to divert attention from his lack of progress goes against the grain. 

To assist him in uncovering Adrian’s secrets is Miss Samantha Carmichael, a specially trained undercover operative and the perfect tool to gain Croft’s trust. She’s a fascinating main character, a modern woman, with her early childhood spent in an orphanage before being adopted by a member of the upper class. The result of her secret training has made her a clever and deadly foe of whomever she has in her sights. 

The plot hits the ground running, and the pace never slackens, with shocking twists and revelations complicating the intriguing mystery. The author tells a mesmerizing story, incorporating two different Londons: the privileged, high-flying one of the nobility and the dark and shadowy London of the poor and desperate. I felt like the killer was breathing down my neck as their thoughts became part of the narrative, someone obvious but hidden in plain sight. 

With its great characters, tense plot, and non-stop action, I recommend A VENGEFUL KING RISES to readers of historical mysteries and thrillers.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages. With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.



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3 comments:

  1. This looks like a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Thank you so much for being part of the tour and for taking the time to read and review! I'm so glad you enjoyed this story :)

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  3. Nice review. This sounds really interesting. Thanks.

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