Dana reviews The Gentleman’s Thief (Resurrectionist series Book 2) by Isobel Starling (Published by Decent Fellows Press, June 12, 2020, 387 pages) A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
To read the ebook review of The Shooting Season (Resurrectionist Book 1) click here.
To read the audiobook review of The Shooting Season (Resurrectionist Book 1) click here.
Blurb:
Book 2 in a new historical M/M series from award-winning author Isobel Starling. Word count 67,391 words.
Tuesday 28th December 1897. Mr. Benedict Hannan, the owner of Hannan’s Auction House in Fitzrovia, London, receives an unexpected visitor at his Bloomsbury home. The man on his stoop sends Benedict’s heart into a flutter, and on inviting the mysterious stranger into his house, he is inviting mystery, adventure, and volcanic desire.
Sebastian Cavell—master thief, gives the impression he has sought out Benedict for the sake of business, but the kind of business Sebastian has in mind has nothing to do with making money!
Cavell has been tasked with finding the whereabouts of a missing German aristocrat. With Benedict’s society connections, Sebastian gains access to his Gentleman’s Club and to men whose behavior is not so gentlemanly!
Benedict is pulled into the circle of a dangerous secret society and he not only learns the truth about the mysterious Sebastian Cavell, but learns the truth about himself and all he truly desires.
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Compared to book one of this series, The Gentleman’s Thief is a lengthier read. I was so glad that the author continued the story of the thief Sebastian Cavell and the slightly older gentleman Benedict Hannan. In this book we know who the characters are and we know a bit about Sebastian’s life of many disguises. It is still interesting to see him take on other personas, but it is nice knowing that there is one person who knows the truth about who he is and will keep his confidence. Since the story is told from Benedict’s point of view, I don’t feel like we truly know Sebastian as well as I’d personally like to, but what I do know has made him a character I love to see in action. I do believe he has a good heart and his work is intended to be righting past wrongs.
Benedict is still a bit prudish, and I don’t mean that in a negative way in regards to him. His religion and his one past relationship with a man have made him believe his desires are truly wrong. Still the heaven he feels in Sebastian’s arms makes Benedict feel like what they share can’t be wrong. I feel for Benedict and I hope that the more time he spends in his relationship will help him eradicate those feelings of guilt once and for all.
In this book, we get to see Benedict help Sebastian in one of his escapades. Instead of stealing a precious artifact or artwork from someone who gained it through dishonest means, he must retrieve a person who was lured away by a cult of men who enjoy homosexual acts and believe that they can achieve immortality through the consumption of certain bodily fluids. The leader of the cult is quite the schemer and I am unsure of his end game. Benedict’s boyhood lover Euan, who tried to trick Benedict in the first book also makes an appearance in this book and is the subject of the somewhat cliffhanger ending that happens in this book. I am feeling fairly confident in the romance that is taking place between Benedict and Sebastian but I have a feeling that the ex lover might try to throw some wrenches in the pending HEA. There are several questions that I hope will be answered in the next book and I will be sure to pick it up when it comes out.
9/10 Pots of Gold (90% Recommended) – Compares to 4.5/5 Stars
Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art in Ireland. Now she writes full-time and runs her publishing company, Decent Fellows Press.
The Shatterproof Bond series is Gay Romance bestseller in the US, Germany and France. It is also a bestseller in audiobook format, narrated by Gary Furlong
Isobel is currently working on “The Dark Harvest”, (The Quiet Work #2) The follow up to her successful Fantasy novel “Apple Boy”
When that book is done Isobel will be working on “Infernal Vices” book #3 of the Resurrectionist Historical MM series, and then “The Rebel Candidate ” Book #6 in the Shatterproof Bond series.
Rainbow Gold Reviews 