It's Valentine Redgrave's turn to infiltrate the Society, hoping to get more information to bring it down. Daisy Marchant is on a mission to find her sister who has somehow run afoul of one of the men in the Society. Together, they make a good team with Daisy's practicality and Val's wit. Along the way, they also fall in love.
I originally read this book several years ago and just reread it. I didn't change my mind on the three star rating. The story is fairly typical of one with a hellfire club plot. While I like both Val and Daisy, I wasn't quite sure about the attraction between them. In some ways, it felt forced and kind of bland. Though I could see them being friends, I had more trouble with them being in love/lust, especially with Val acting embarrassed about Daisy's lower rank. Something just didn't work there for me. But this furthered the series and I'm ready for the final book. ( )

fabulously mysterious...with delightfully droll interludes!

A return to Regency England with the threat of a Bonaparte inspired invasion all too real!
A family's investigation into its duplicitous, treasonous and debauched past, relating to an organization called the Society.
Leading the investigation here is Valentine Redgrave, youngest brother of the Earl of Saltwood. Michaels describes him as 'outwardly dangerous as a dandelion.' Delicious!
Enter Miss Daisy Marchant, 'governess-on-a-mission.' The two come into contact at a house party held by Lord Charles Mailer, debauched martinet, cad, and possible member of The Society.
Daisy wonders, 'Was Valentine a badly needed ally, or an exceedingly clever foe?'
Valentine mistakenly believes Daisy is a government spy sent by Downing Street. He is not amused.
Mystery and darkness surrounds The Society. It's membership, it's purpose, it's monthly meetings. Young women are disappearing, wives have died in odd circumstance. All grist for the mill.
As some mysteries are resolved others wait like patient serpents waiting to take their place.
Some of the characters have a definite touch of Heyerism, but with descriptive sexual encounters. Valentine's grandmother, Trixie, keeps reminding me somewhat of the older Duchess of Avon. Daisy is definitely akin to one of Heyer's steadfast heroines.
I loved the repartee between the Valentine, Daisy and Piffkin, Valentine's valet.

I must confess that when I first began reading this I had to leave the story after just a few pages. It seemed too confusing at the beginning with the hierarchy of depraved ancestors who were members of a secret, diabolical, hellfire club that continues still--minus the Redgraves. . Somehow I lost my way. I am unsure as to whether it was me or the start of the novel.

Fortunately for me, I decided to return and I'm glad I did! Guess what?
This time the story all hung together so much more precisely and delightfully than I anticipated that I am now a convert. I am addicted to the family's story and am rushing off to savour the rest in the series.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

We once again are immersed in the Redgraves' plot to stop the Society, that terrible hellfire club from the previous two books. This installment we get Valentine, who is the youngest and probably my favorite though we haven't met Max yet. I loved his humorous take on life and all his exchanges with Piffkin were great. Daisy was a women that could probably keep him in line along with his wonderful grandmother, Trixie.

I was at first a little confused when I started this book as the conversation between Valentine and Spencer was hard to follow until I read it a second times. I don't know if it was my copy of the ebook or if I just wasn't paying attention but the words didn't flow. After I got to the point where Valentine and Mailer were traveling by coach it seemed to straighten out and became a very enjoyable read.

I'm wondering if Max's book will give a look from inside the club or if we will just see the usual look at the Society and its eventual downfall. Though I've enjoyed the series so far I'd like to finally have an end so this family can finally have a happy and scandal free life.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. ( )