Murder at the Merton Library is the seventh book in author Andrea Penrose’s Wrexford & Sloane series. The setting is Regency London, but it’s far different from the London you will see in books like the Bridgerton series. Penrose addresses the inequities of the time, as well as focusing on the scientific endeavors of the period, rather than the social machinations of the Elite.

The Earl of Wrexford, Wrex as he’s known to most of the other characters, receives a letter from Neville Greeley, who is the head librarian at the Merton Library at Oxford University. Greeley also happened to have served with Wrex’s younger brother, Thomas, in the Peninsular War against Napoleon and was the only one to have survived a disastrous retreat. Wrex arrives to find out that Greeley has just been found murdered and there’s a missing rare manuscript.

Meanwhile, his closest friend, Kit Sheffield has been drawn into an investment opportunity for a steam engine for an ocean-going vessel. The race has been on among the British, Americans, and even Russians to make this amazing breakthrough. While paddle-wheel steamships are beginning to appear on rivers, especially in America, an engine powerful enough to maneuver on the high seas seems to be an insurmountable. His fiancee, Lady Cordelia, is hesitant about investing in this consortium that promises they have made great strides in this area.

One of the consortium’s competitors suffers a devastating fire at his laboratory. It seems to be arson. Countess Charlotte Wrexford is determined to keep out of this one. Her alter-ego is the notorious satirical artist A.J. Quill and she has been focusing on the condition of the veterans of the Peninsular War, many of whom are living in the streets and starving. However, the intrigue with the various groups working toward the goal of developing an ocean-crossing steam vessel draw her into the investigation.

All of this will come togther as the intrigue reveals ties between all of this, as well as the identity of a mole in the British service who was responsible for the death of many men during the war.

I recently recommended this series to someone, describing it as “Regency England for intelligent people.” Penrose touches on all of the conditions of being a member of Elite Society during this time, but it’s really no more than part of the setting for what’s going on. Elite Society states that the men must not act as entrepreneurs and have a profession. Kit bristles against this. He and Cordelia have already developed a profitable shipping business (women are not allowed to own businesses, either) and he’s trying to do more to get ahead while not disturbing his status. Kit has actually evolved quite a bit since the first book in the series, and it’s been great to watch.

Charlotte has always been quite introspective, second-guessing herself again and again. In Murder at the Merton Library, it’s Wrex who is wrestling with his past. He’s always been quite mercurial, but this book brings up his feelings regarding the loss of his younger brother, Thomas, as well as conflicts with his father. Wrex has regrets about retreating into himself following Thomas’ death and not being there for his father while he was grieving. This propels him to find the person who murdered Greeley as well as bring the turncoat to justice.

The mystery was a lot of fun. I didn’t find the technical information too over my head this time, as has happened in a few of the books. The science and inventions of the time period are quite interesting. I really enjoyed the information Penrose gave us in her afterword about advances in steam engines during this time, as well as telling us what parts are rooted in actual history versus what she made up for the book. Several of the names here actually did work on developing a steam-powered ocean vessel.

Finding this series has been a real joy for me. Murder at the Merton Library is a great addition. The mystery that Wrex & Charlotte find themselves immersed in is a good one and a bit different from the others. Their circle of friends comes through for them again while the characters all have their own strengths and concerns which add to the story. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

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