“Betrayal” by Wendy Bayne

“Betrayal” is the second book in the Crimes Against the Crown historical crime and adventure series by Wendy Bayne. Just as I predicted in my review of the first instalment of the series “Untitled”, upon beginning to read the continuation of the story, I had no smallest idea what to expect from it.

After the head-spinning adventures Lissa, Miles, and a versatile set of characters went through in “Untitled”, “Betrayal” doesn’t disappoint in the action department. Events you couldn’t have envisaged happen in every chapter, and you simply can’t stop yourself from turning the pages. Similarly to the first book, the second one is also packed with mysteries, risky endeavours, hard-to-catch villains, as well as heart-melting love stories.

Set in the 19^th century, “Betrayal” takes the reader on a risky journey between high society mansions and the neighbourhoods of the poor. The author masterfully portrays the life of different classes, with vivid strokes of her words drawing a picture of human motives and destinies, all with infinite variations and thus, incredibly exciting.

I loved the feeling of “joining the big family” that filled me reading this book. There are a lot of characters in this series, each of them essential to the story and remarkably well-developed. Although Magda probably is the most charismatic of the female characters, I am in the Lady Bruce team. Mothers-in-law remain the same through centuries, countries, and continents – fiercely protective of their sons’ well-being and interests. Even though their vision of what their grown-up sons want and what is best for them, doesn’t always correlate with the ideas of the men in question. Aunt Millicent is an embodiment of a mother-in-law from anecdotes, suspicious of any woman who comes close to her sons. But at the same time – and I applaud the author for having achieved that – you can deeply relate to her inner turmoil since her bad temper comes from the deepest love she feels for her children.

Lissa and Miles are a lovely couple in the centre of the story. After getting married, they are thrown into a whirlwind of events – most of them dark and sinister – and instead of sailing away into the honeymoon, they are forced to deal with investigating murders. Surrounded by their numerous family members, all with their own personal issues that have to be solved in addition to untangling the mysteries for the Crown, the newlyweds do their best to adapt to their life together.

I enjoyed the second book as much as I enjoyed the first. I appreciated the side stories of secondary characters woven into the main plot. I can’t wait to see what happens next.