Book Review: Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit by Patricia Marcantonio

Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit
Author: Patricia Marcantonio
Series: Felicity Carrol (Book 1)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (February 12, 2019)

Description: Amidst the heraldry of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations, a string of brutal murders rocks Britain's upper crust—and could threaten the realm itself—in the spellbinding debut of Patricia Marcantonio's Felicity Carrol mysteries.

Felicity Carrol is interested in everything—except being a proper young matron of Victorian society. Brilliant and resourceful, Felicity took refuge in science and education after her mother died and her father abandoned her to servants. Now, all he wants is for her to marry into a family of status and money.

Felicity has other ambitions—but her plans shudder to a halt when her mentor is murdered at the British Museum and his priceless manuscript of King Arthur lore is stolen. Tapping into her photographic memory and the latest in the burgeoning field of forensic detection, Felicity launches an investigation. Handsome Scotland Yard Inspector Jackson Davies is also on the case, and finds Felicity as meddlesome as she is intelligent. But when more nobles are murdered and their King Arthur relics stolen, Felicity must journey on her own into the dark underworld of antiquity theft, where she uncovers a motive far more nefarious than simple profit.

As the killer sets his sights on a new victim—a charismatic duke who has captured Felicity’s imagination—the stakes rise to impossible heights. It’s a case that could shake the kingdom in Patricia Marcantonio’s series debut, Felicity Carrol and the Perilous Pursuit.

My Thoughts: This story begins with a fire and an explosion when something goes wrong during one of Felicity Carrol's scientific experiments. It is a great introduction to a young woman far more interested in science, history, and medicine than in following the path of most rich, well-bred young women into marriage.

She has no relationship with the father who has ignored her since the death of her mother and older brother when she was a small child and left to the servants to raise. However, she found a new father figure in Earl William Kent who was her mentor when she attended the university. When she learns that Kent has been murdered and a valuable artifact related to his strong interest in King Arthur stolen, Felicity is determined to bring his killer to justice.

Scotland Yard is also on the case in the person of Inspector Jackson Griggs Davies who isn't necessarily eager for Felicity's help. However, her photographic memory and extensive knowledge of history do give him clues he wouldn't otherwise know. When Kent's murder is only the first of a series of murders where the victim is distantly related to royalty and a collector of items related to King Arthur, Felicity needs to increase her knowledge of the new science of forensics which includes taking fingerprints to find the murderer.

This story has an intriguing main character who is brilliant but also vulnerable. Her desire for her father's love and respect made me feel sorry for her. I did like that she wasn't afraid to venture into situations that were unfamiliar to her like visiting thieves and villains. I liked her relationship with Davies.

This was a good start to a historical mystery series with a great setting and interesting characters.

Favorite Quote:

He blinked his eyes in curiosity only for a moment. "Miss Carrol, if you don't leave, I shall pick you up and carry you out."

She smiled. "No one has ever threatened to throw me out of anyplace. It's quite thrilling and frightening at the same time."

"You don't make anything easy do you, Miss Carrol?"

"One of my curses in life, Inspector. But please let me show you what I have found."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.