Book Review: The Queen and the Knave

By Sarah M. Eden
368 pages
Shadow Mountain, 2023

Back Cover Description:

London, 1866

Móirín Donnelly has spent the last five years working in the shadows for the Dread Penny Society, a secret fraternity of penny dreadful authors who use their profits, influence, and street smarts to protect the poor and vulnerable of Victorian London. But spending so much of her life in secret is taking its toll on her soul—and her heart.

When members of the Dread Penny Society begin disappearing, Móirín turns to her friend Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington for help. The two have developed a friendly rapport, and Móirín feels like she can trust him, though perhaps not with all of her secrets.

Fitzgerald Parkington has a sixth sense when it comes to tracking down criminals, which is why he’s recently been transferred to the Detective Department at Scotland Yard. But when roadblocks and red tape keep him from tracking down the criminal mastermind known as “The Tempest”, he must rely on the one woman who has unexpectedly captured his heart—the brash, bold, and fiery Irish lass, Móirín Donnelly. 

As the Tempest’s deadly reach threatens to overwhelm all of London, Móirín and Fitz are caught in an elaborate game of cat and mouse that leads down back alleys, through dark London buildings, and right to the gates of Kensington Palace. Móirín has one chance to save Fitz and the Dread Penny Society from the Tempest, and she might have to sacrifice her one chance at love to do so.

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I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The final installment in the Dread Penny Society series, The Queen and the Knave lived up to all of my expectations. The whole series shows masterful execution of a really unique idea that I’ve never seen done by anyone else. The premise is that there is a group of penny dreadful authors who use their skills and the proceeds of their sales to help the less fortunate in Victorian London. Throughout the series, the stakes get higher and more people are added to the group as couples form and the plot thickens. Each book includes penny dreadful installments from at least one of the authors, which is a really fun addition.

The Queen and the Knave follows Moirin Donnelly and Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington as they work with the rest of the Dreadfuls in an attempt to thwart the Tempest, a ruthless foe who wreaks havoc throughout London, once and for all. It’s a dangerous game with deadly consequences, and it seems Moirin is the only one who can possibly defeat the Tempest.

It’s a fast-paced story with lots of adventure and mystery as they try to uncover the villain’s motivations. It was also fun watching Moirin and Fitz’s relationship bloom through witty dialogue and learning to rely on each other. All the characters in this book (except the Tempest, of course) are really likable and easy to root for. I do recommend starting at the beginning of the series for maximum enjoyment. Anyone who likes a historical romance with elements of mystery and adventure will love The Queen and the Knave.