This is the third book in author Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford and Sloane series, set in Regency London. You will not find Bridgerton here, although the lead characters exist on the periphery of that. Both Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford view that level of society with quite a bit of disdain, although this book marks Charlotte’s return to society.

In her previous life, Charlotte was a titled noble. However, she rejected that to marry her drawing teacher and they eloped to Italy. The previous books gave that background, and in Murder at Kensington Palace, she becomes drawn back into society when one of her cousins and close childhood friend is murdered and his twin brother is accused of the crime. However, the crime had the appearance of being one in a series of murders, and Charlotte is sure Nicholas could not have murdered Cedric. The three were thick as thieves growing up and adored each other. However, there is a good deal of evidence stating that he did.

Charlotte asks for the Earl’s help. Many places are closed off to her as a woman, including the prison where Nicholas is being held. Charlotte disguises herself as a street waif and is allowed to accompany the Earl when he visits the prison. After talking to Nicholas, Charlotte is more convinced he could not have murdered his brother.

Like many of the books in the Wrexford & Sloane series, there is a deep delve into the science of the times. Wrexford is a scientist at heart, and the mystery seems to point to Cedric’s scientific acquaintances as possibly knowing more than they are letting on. In addition, both Cedric and another man were vying for the affection of the same woman, who happens to be the ward of one of the leading natural scientists in London. Some of this science might go over people’s heads. I struggled with it at times as well. It involved something called a voltaic pile, which was actually the first form of a battery.

The cast of characters is the same as in other books. Charlotte is in her new townhouse which is a step up from how she was living. Her two wards, Raven and Hawk, live with her and the depth of affection between the three of them is real. The boys’ abilities are starting to come out, thanks to the tutoring that Wrexford had found for them. They are becoming more than just street urchins, which makes the argument that education should be open to all to enrich their lives and advance society. Wrex’s housekeeper. McLellan is living with Charlotte still, helping her out as needed in the household.

However, to save Nicholas, Charlotte feels she must once again make a place for herself in society. This will enable her to sit among those she wants to talk to to learn more about Cedric and his involvement with the mysterious Eos Society.

The tension is also rising between Charlotte and Wrexford. They shared a kiss at the end of the previous book, but here they are both trying to set aside those feelings and deal with the matter at hand. Still, it seems to keep coming up between them.

The details are extensive and fill in a lot, although I had to research for myself what a voltaic pile was. It’s much more than a typical who-dun-it. The characters keep growing without undoing what was written about them in the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder at Kensington Palace despite some of the grisly descriptions. Depicting the two main characters as having to exist in Regency England without actually embracing all that being a member of society is about is a bit different. However, I like that Charlotte is reconnecting with her family again. The overtures she makes to a beloved Aunt when she wants to help Nicholas are steps she should have taken long ago to at least let them know she was still alive and healthy. Having been introduced to this series a few books after this one, I already knew a few names would be sticking around and didn’t count them on my list of suspects, even when one might have been. I can’t wait to start the next one in the series!

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