What Cannot Be Said by CS Harris, narrated by Amy Scanlon

What Cannot Be Said by CS Harris, narrated by Amy Scanlon. I still miss Davina Porter’s narration but Amy Scanlon did pretty well.

Every year I await with excited anticipation for the newest release in the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. This year’s offering, What Cannot Be Said, did not disappoint. While it wasn’t the best entry into the series, it was nonetheless solidly entertaining. I enjoyed spending time in Sebastian’s world, even though much of the story itself was pretty dark.

What Cannot Be Said takes place shortly after the British victory at Waterloo. The government and the Palace are deciding what they will do with Napoleon. Hero is now 6 months’ pregnant with their second child and is writing an article about children in foundling homes being essentially sold to small business owners (such as a chimney sweep or cheesemonger) for their labour, often with disastrous and tragic results. These sections of the book were especially heartbreaking, based as they are on real events. I knew being a chimney boy was grim but I didn’t realise just how bad it was.

When the bodies of an aristocratic mother and her 16-year-old daughter are discovered in Richmond Park, posed after having been shot, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called in by Bow Street to assist with the investigation. The case brings up painful memories and revelations for Magistrate Lovejoy; 14 years before, another mother and daughter were shot in Richmond Park and posed in the same way. They were Lovejoy’s wife and daughter. He still grieves.

Sebastian’s investigation, as it always does, goes to places Hero’s article covers, as well as implicating a by-blow of the Prince Regent – which of course bring the renewed antipathy of Lord Jarvis and the displeasure of the Palace. Hero assists with the investigation (I really like her increasing involvement in solving these crimes) as well. There are a number of suspects, including the widower and various others.

Was the killer the same one who killed Lovejoy’s family or is it a copycat? Was the man who was hanged for the murders 14 years ago innocent after all?

Meanwhile, Gibson continues to struggle with his demons but there is some light at the end of the tunnel there at last.

The killer was revealed a little earlier than usual and was not even on my list of suspects initially. It all made sense though. The crimes in the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries are all quite dark and What Cannot Be Said is no different in that regard so be ye warned.

I was pleased that my wonderings about Patrick were – to a degree at least – finally addressed in the text. I had wondered what society thought of him – looking so much like Sebastian. What was society thinking had occurred? What were the Devlins telling people? It seems Hendon accepts him (this was more implied than observed), Jarvis does not and society at large is rife with speculation. However, the story the Devlins tell is the truth (albeit not the whole of it): Patrick is the son of a man who save Sebastian’s life and they are raising him with Simon. It was nearly (but not quite) enough of a much needed clarification.

Amy Scanlon has big shoes to fill. Davina Porter narrated the first 16 books in the series but then retired (alas but good on her, I wish I could) and so a new narrator was needed. Anyone who’s ever listened to a book narrated by Davina Porter knows she is extremely hard to replace. Jenny Sterlin narrated books 17 and 18 – When Blood Lies and Who Cries For the Lost respectively. Personally, I did not much care for Ms Sterlin’s narration in When Blood Lies (mainly because Sebastian’s voice was just too high in pitch and inconsistent) and so I skipped the audiobook last year and read the ebook of Who Cries For the Lost instead. What Cannot Be Said has a new narrator again. I’m not sure why but in any event, I was willing to give Amy Scanlon a go. She’s not Davina Porter of course. No-one could be. (#notoverit) but she did a pretty good job of it. I liked her narration better than Jenny Sterlin’s and enough to continue with the series in audio (availability allowing). Ms Scanlon has a wide range of character voices. She doesn’t get Lovejoy right – he’s described in the books as having a peculiarly high-pitched voice for a man – and Hero is softer and not quite as formidable at Davina Porter makes her. Sebastian, who is, after all, the main character, is much closer to the mark; his voice is not as deep as the OG but it was not a disappointment.

Otherwise, the emotion, tone and pacing of Ms Scanlon’s performance is very good and kept me engaged in the story. (To be fair, Jenny Sterlin did very well with these aspect too.)

Truthfully, the mysteries themselves are the least interesting parts of the books for me; as others probably know by now, I’m all about the HEA and the best parts of the book are when I’m learning more about the successful relationship between Sebastian and Hero, their friends and their family. I enjoy the mysteries too but they’re not the big draw for me. The mystery here was personal because of the connection to Lovejoy and possibly a little sensational in the circumstance. What Cannot Be Said could have used a titch (I’ll take as much as I can get of course) more romance/affection between the Devlins but regardless, I was engrossed and entertained as I expected to be.

Grade: B