Who Speaks for the Damned

Summary

Sebastian St. Cyr investigates the mysterious life and death of a nobleman convicted of murder in this enthralling new historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Who Slays the Wicked. Its June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the Prince Regents invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoléon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British nobleman long thought dead. Eighteen years before, Nicholas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaforth, was accused of killing a beautiful young French émigré and then transported to Botany Bay for life. Even before his conviction, Hayes had been disowned by his father, and few in London were surprised when they heard the neer-do-well had died a convict in New South Wales. But those reports were obviously wrong. Recently Hayes returned to London with a mysterious young boy in towa child who vanishes shortly after Nicholass body is discovered. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is drawn into the investigation by his valet, Jules Calhoun, an old friend of the dead man. With Calhouns help, Sebastian begins to piece together the shattered life of the late Earls ill-fated youngest son. Why did Nicholas risk his life and freedom by returning to England? And why did he bring the now-missing young boy with him? Several nervous Londoners had reason to fear that Nicholas Hayes had returned to kill them. One of them might have decided to kill him first.