Millstone of Doubt (Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries #2) by Erica Vetsch from Kregel Publications

My thoughts: This story is set during an explosive time in mankind's progressive history. The poor and working class are furious and given to festering outrage, destruction, and protest over the encroaching industrial revolution that will rob them of their ability to earn a living. Machines replacing people. Hence the poor get poorer while the wealthy get richer.

It is a time when gentlemen and gentle ladies, the dukes and earls, set the social mores and rules of social engagement. It is also the story of a poor boy, now grown, who has been the recipient of an unknown benefactor providing him with a life of ease, education, acceptance, good clothes, a good life.

The story also is about solving the mystery of a suspected mill's destruction and coincidental murders that take place in the environs.

The source of all this mystery, mayhem, and murder was hidden until it was reveal near the end of the book. Good job of keeping this reader wondering. The Thorndike and Swann Regency Mysteries are quite enjoyable reading and Erica Vetsch always has a way with Regency stories that capture our hearts.

About the book: Regency London's detective duo is back on a new case--and this one is going to be a killer Caught in the explosion of the Hammersmith Mill in London, Bow Street Runner Daniel Swann rushes to help any survivors only to find the mill's owner dead of an apparent gunshot.

Even though the owner's daughter, Agatha Montgomery, mourns his death, it seems there are more than a few people with motive for murder. But Daniel can't take this investigation slow and steady. Instead, he must dig through all the suspects as quickly as he can, because the clock is ticking until his mysterious patronage--and his job as a runner--comes to an abrupt and painful end. It seems to Daniel that, like his earthly father, his heavenly Father has abandoned him to the fates.

Lady Juliette Thorndike is Agatha's bosom friend and has the inside knowledge of the wealthy London ton to be invaluable to Daniel. She should be in a perfect position to help with the case. Still, her instructor in the art of spy craft orders her to stay out of the investigation. But circumstances intervene, dropping her into the middle of the deadly pursuit.

When a dreadful accident ends in another death on the mill floor, Daniel discovers a connection to his murder case--and to his own secret past. Now he and Juliette are in a race to find the killer before his time runs out.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Kregel Publications on behalf of the author to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.