The Queen and the Knave

The Dread Penny Society Series, Book 5

By: Sarah M. Eden

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Romance and mystery come full circle in the fifth and final book of Sarah M. Eden’s bestselling Victorian Proper Romance series.

London, 1866.

Móirín Donnelly has spent the last five years working in the shadows for the Dread Penny Society, a secret fraternity of penny dreadful authors who use their profits, influence, and street smarts to protect the poor and vulnerable of Victorian London. But spending so much of her life in secret is taking its toll on her soul—and her heart.

When members of the Dread Penny Society begin disappearing, Móirín turns to her friend Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington for help. The two have developed a friendly rapport, and Móirín feels like she can trust him, though perhaps not with all of her secrets.

Fitzgerald Parkington has a sixth sense when it comes to tracking down criminals, which is why he’s recently been transferred to the Detective Department at Scotland Yard. But when roadblocks and red tape keep him from tracking down the criminal mastermind known as “The Tempest", he must rely on the one woman who has unexpectedly captured his heart—the brash, bold, and fiery Irish lass, Móirín Donnelly.

As the Tempest’s deadly reach threatens to overwhelm all of London, Móirín and Fitz are caught in an elaborate game of cat and mouse that leads down back alleys, through dark London buildings, and right to the gates of Kensington Palace. Móirín has one chance to save Fitz and the Dread Penny Society from the Tempest, and she might have to sacrifice her one chance at love to do so.

©2023 Sarah M. Eden (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Good ending to this series

Good ending to this series. Very entertaining, low body count (a couple of villains die, but aren’t lingered over) action/romance

The value of posit relationships

I liked the conclusion, the heroine and hero were smart and didn’t have stupid disagreements. I liked how they were intelligent and resourceful.

5 Stars for the Series!

I absolutely love this book. All five of them. Love the narrator, love the story, everything. Sad to see you go. 

great final book, irritating narration

definitely not a standalone book, but great if you enjoyed the series in full. I'd say its less of a romance than some of the others, but it's also an older couple so there is far less angst naturally.

that being said - the narrator voices the two lead characters, especially the FMC, like they are in their late 80s. from be book'd own timeline they can't be older than 50?! they aren't croaking-every-word decrepit, even in the setting at hand.

Perfect Ending

This is a great ending to a great series! If you like regency romance or a good mystery - these are the books for you! The narrator is one of my favorites too and really brings you into the story.