Crooked in His Ways (Lightner and Law Mystery #2) (2024)

Crooked in His Ways by S.M. Goodwin brings plenty of atmosphere to the second book in the Lightner and Law historical mystery / police procedural series. The main characters are Detective Inspector Jasper Lightner, who is the second son of a duke, and Hieronymus (Hy) Law, a New York detective.

Except for the prologue, this novel takes place in New York City in 1857. New York is very unsettled as Jasper continues his year-long assignment to train police detectives in modern (for the times) criminal investigative techniques. Instead, there is conflict everywhere and many that do not want him there. When Albert Beauchamp appears in multiple pieces more than a year after his disappearance, Jasper and Hy get the case.

Jasper are Hy are likeable but flawed protagonists. They come from very different backgrounds, but both have faced challenges. Whether it is intelligence, wit, or brawn, their skills meshed well and the characters came alive for me. Their friendship grew significantly in this book and we got to see some additional depth in both their working relationship and their interactions with secondary characters. Jasper’s household staff adds another dimension to the relationships. Humor is also weaved into the story making it even more delightful to read. It all builds up to a fantastic ending.

The author does a great job of showing a dark and gritty New York City in turmoil. The details appear to be well-researched. What follows is a complex plot with a lot of characters. The plot is suspenseful, fresh, and entertaining. The writing style and story line pulled me in quickly, but the characters and situations that developed kept me reading. As they dig into Albert’s background, they discover that many people had reasons to kill him. But who did it? Where will the trail lead? Is it even possible to discover the killer with only primitive forensic capabilities? Themes include murder, relationships and arranged marriages, infidelity, poverty, gangs, racism, drugs, corruption, assaults, false imprisonment, PTSD and much more.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which was suspenseful, engaging, and atmospheric. It is not your typical historical mystery. Pay close attention to the details, as they matter. Which of the secondary characters will show up in future books in the series? This is the second book that I have read by this author. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Jasper and Hy. I recommend this to those that like dark and gritty historical mysteries and historical police procedurals.

Crooked Lane Books and S. M. Goodwin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be September 7, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I read the first in the series and have looked forward to this book. I absolutely enjoyed the main two characters and their crime solving. They both are well fleshed out and the mystery was interesting. I am at a 5* for character development and 3* for the mystery as it was tooooo convoluted for my taste. Since I adore the characters, I will look forward to the next book (I hope there is a next book) and ended up with a 4* read.
3/5/23 I just read in a review that 5 more books are planned.

Not quite as good as the first book, but I’m still giving it five stars, as I liked the pacing and the mystery quite a lot. It was not quite as gritty as the first and the two detectives didn’t spend a much time in the under belly of New York City with gangs and whor* houses etc. This one featured the murder of a shister and extortionist and we saw more about middle and lower class life at the time. The backdrop of New York City, pre-civil war was exciting as we got glimpses of rioting, gangs, and the corruption and change of metropolitan police forces that was happening at the time, all while Lightner and Law investigated one murder, then two and the bodies kept dropping and adding up.
Police procedure played a big part in this book and we get to see the investigation, interviewing, examination of bodies, searching for clues etc and it was really interesting if you are into that stuff, which I am. I love the nitty gritty and we got to see a lot of it. The progression of both characters and their working relationship was also well done. You can see how Law has learned and grown under Lightner’s mentorship and the mutual respect they now have of each other.
Goodwin writes in a straightforward style that is easy to follow and uncover the murderers along with the detectives. It was still not obvious who the murderer(s) is early on and you get to take the journey with the detective as they work it out.
Lots of tension was built up during the book, great side characters in Lightner’s servants Paisley, John and Mrs. Freedman as well as all the suspects that came in and out of the investigation. None of the villains were obvious, moustache twirlers, and it kept you guessing until the end.
I liked that we got some more glimpses into each of the detectives daily life and read from both of their perspectives in third person pov.
The ending did leave us on a cliff hanger though and I have no information on when the next book in the series is coming out. Hopefully it will be soon. Lightner and Law are my new favourite paring, almost better than Sherlock and Watson.
The narration of the audiobook was done by Rupert Degas, as it was in the previous book, and he is just as impressive here. Amazing talent with accents and voices to distinguish the many, many different characters that come along in this story.
This is worth a listen for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries and police procedurals as well as grisly murders.

Barbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Lightner and Law Mystery #2
Publication Date: 9/7/21
Period: New York, 1857
Number of Pages: 336

This series is based on the delightful premise of pairing a wealthy, aristocratic, proper, stuttering son of an English Duke with an Irish-American partner who was raised in an orphanage in the slums of New York. While it sounds like a recipe for failure of the partnership – oil and water don’t mix – it turns out to be quite engaging and a great pairing of complementary strengths and talents. I did not read the first book in the series, and while I don’t feel that it detracted from this story, I do think it would have provided a better foundational understanding of Lightner’s being in New York. Still, I didn’t need that to enjoy the story.

There is definitely a LOT going on in the story and you’ll have to pay close attention as you read or you won’t keep it all straight. We have multiple victims and hundreds of suspects. The victim who sets the case in motion is found in multiple pieces – packed with salt – in a crate on a New York City dock. With nothing on the body to identify the victim, Lightner and Law start out behind the eight-ball. When they finally identify him, they discover what a despicable man he was and discover a list of people he has been blackmailing. Any one of the people on the list could be the murderer – or it could be someone they’ve not even heard of yet. Then, there are more bodies of people associated with the case that turns up. Uh-Oh -- busy times ahead!

While the investigation continues, we meet some really unsavory characters as suspects. While we root for one or all of those unsavory people to be the culprit, we also root for those very likable characters to find happiness after they are out from under the thumb of the blackmailer. Lightner and Law’s lives are at risk multiple times – and that is particularly dangerous for Lightner who was severely injured in the Crimea and now has a metal plate in his head and holes in his memory.

I enjoyed watching Lightner and Law become closer friends and seeing their respect for each other grow. I loved Paisley, Lightner’s valet, as well as his cook, a freed slave named Mrs. Freedman. I thought the addition of the street urchin/pickpocket, John Sparrow, to the household was a great idea. I thoroughly enjoyed his character and I think he’ll be a marvelous addition to the series. One character I didn’t care for – and I hope he disappears from the series, is the ‘boss’, Captain Davies.

I chose not to read the first book of the series because – and this is totally a personal flaw – I don’t usually seem to enjoy books set in New York City – especially during the time this book takes place. However, I heard so many good things about the first book that I decided to give the second one a try. I’ll quickly admit I still did not enjoy the setting – but I did enjoy the writing, the story, and the characters. It was a bit darker and grittier than I normally enjoy, but it had a bit of lightness woven into it since Lightner is assigned a dog-napping case. The dog in question is owned by one of the richest men in New York and he has personally requested that Lightner handle the case.

I can recommend this book to you if you don’t mind darker, grittier reads. If you require a bit of romance with your mysteries, I can tell you this series doesn’t have any – at least not yet. I really enjoyed the characters, but I didn’t enjoy the turbulence in New York City while the story was unfolding. Yes, I understand that is what was happening at the time, it just isn’t my prime choice. All of that said, I will probably go back and read the first book in the series and then I’ll decide if I’ll want to read more. Again, this is a personal thing because it is darker than I normally like and set in a place/time I don’t normally care for. The writing is excellent and the story is fast-paced and well-delivered.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fans of the Sebastian St. Cyr, Captain Lacey and the Wrexford and Sloan series can really appreciate this gem. This one was so tangled I couldn't figure out who did what to whom. (I did figure out who did it, but that didn't knock down my enjoyment of reading Jasper and Hy scramble to figure it out.) Heck I even wanted to kill the bad guy because he was such a stain of a human being. Well done and I am looking forward to the next Lightner and Law!

Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
Another gripping historical thriller with the duo of detectives Jasper Lightner and Hieronymus Law, “Crooked in His Ways”, by S. M. Goodwin (Crooked Lane Books), gives readers the second investigation by these wonderful protagonists and the lovely side characters introduced in the first installment.
There’s a lot to love about this story/series and the author’s excellent writing style; for me it’s the sheer originality of joining two unlikely and very lovable people, one of them a peculiar wounded hero, in the fascinating and harsh setting of 1857 New York City.
I’m totally biased because I love these characters, Jasper particularly: his kindness, intelligence, humor and even both his simplicity and elegance as a member of British aristocracy. His perfect and damaged mind and the even-tempered and gentle soul.
While S. M. Goodwin gives the reader a vivid portrait of a city run by gangs, with plenty of historically well researched and interesting details, the narrative centres around the investigation conducted by the two detectives and I was completely drawn to them and their interactions.
It’s awesome that the author created two characters with two different kinds of stutter; and besides loving the relationship between Jasper and his protégé I adored how the phase of each stammer was written accordingly to the personality and age.
The mutual respect and friendship between Jasper and Hy, and the building of emotional bonds and affection among the cast of secondary characters is wonderful to watch. One could almost imagine them as real people.
The effects of Jasper’s injuries are beautifully written. Jasper’s personality fascinates me and I’m just so curious to see the kind of feminine character he will be matched with.
The mystery was satisfactory although I found it a bit difficult to keep track of all the characters, but I really didn’t mind about it.
I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next story.

Albert Beauchamp disappeared just before Christmas in 1856. When he reappears more than six months later, he's in several pieces, packed in salt in a shipping crate that’s travelled to New Orleans & back to New York. NYC inspectors Jasper Lightner and his partner, Hieronymus Law, are called in to investigate--but the further they dig into the wealthy financier's background, the dirtier the story gets. On the surface, Beauchamp had a lot of friends. But, as they discover, each had a good reason to hate him. Beauchamp's last will and testament--stashed away in a safety deposit box, along with a king's ransom in jewels--yields few clues, but Jasper and Hy discover something even more valuable: a little black book filled with names, dates, and a cache of damning details.
This is the second in what is becoming a must read series. It’s not a cosy mystery by any means but is dark & gritty with some lighter moments thrown in. What it is, is a very well written murder mystery with wonderful characters. I love Jasper & Hy, they really complement each other & during this book their respect for each other has grown, they are also becoming friends. The secondary characters also have depth & I love Paisley who is the quintessential butler & more, I also really like Mrs Freedman & the addition of John the stuttering waif to the household is inspired. The suspects, of which, there are many are also well portrayed & a couple sent shivers down my spine. The body count does rise throughout the book as do the number of suspects, the pace is fast & there are edge of the seat moments. The ending leaves you with a huge surprise, so I hope there’s not too long to wait for book 3. I loved it & devoured it in two sittings
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Excellent! Looking forward to more in this series. The narrator Rupert Degas's performance is outstanding and perfect for this series.

The second Lightner and Law mystery has the duo investigating the death of Albert Beauchamp who was dismembered, packed in salt, and shipped to New Orleans before being returned to New York City. That would seem to be enough of a mystery, but their boss also wants them to find a lost dog.

As the two men investigate Beauchamp's murder they quickly learn that he was not who he seemed. Seems he had a number of previous names and left a trail of dead wives and financial chicanery behind him. Ledgers discovered when they opened his safety deposit box shows evidence of extortion which widens to pool of those who might want him dead. Even his tenants in the house and carriage house next door have ample reason to want him dead. Things get more complicated when they begin dying too.

The setting of this story - New York City in 1856 with competing and corrupt police forces - adds a lot to this story. Lord Jasper Lightner is a veteran of the Crimean War who took injuries including a head wound that has caused memory issues. Law is a local boy raised in a Catholic Charity Home after the death of his parents and Grandmother. Their very different backgrounds give a chance to see different parts of the city as they investigate.

I really liked this story. The historical detail was interesting. The characters were well-developed and the plot was nicely twisty.

Crooked in His Ways is the second book in S.M. Goodwin's Lightner and Law Mystery series. I didn't read the first book. (Story of my life!) Did I miss anything? Of course... I missed what appears to be fascinating background information on our two leads. Did it impair my enjoyment of this book? Not in the least! Besides, the mystery in this book was stand-alone, so it's all good. I was absolutely engrossed in this book and devoured it! I'm very excited to find a fabulous historical mystery series that is sure to become a favorite of mine.

Just before Christmas in 1856 New York City, Albert Beauchamp simply disappeared. He did return about a year later; unfortunately for Albert, he returned in pieces packed in salt in a shipping crate. NYC inspectors Jasper Lightner and his partner, Hieronymus "Hy" Law, are assigned to the case. The wealthy deceased seemed to have a lot of friends; who could possibly want him dead? However, when Lightner and Law opened Beauchamp's safe deposit box, they find amongst a fortune in jewels a book detailing just how Beauchamp made his money: blackmail! And suddenly there is a long list of suspects who would have wanted him dead. Suddenly there are more murders connected to this investigation. Just who is pulling the strings?

This book was absolutely fascinating! Lightner and Law are both extremely compelling characters. Lightner is the second son of a duke and a Crimean war veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury. He is also possessed of a stammer. He is highly intelligent and well educated; however, he is prone to losing time and memory besides suffering from severe pain due to his injuries. Law is an Irish-American young man who was orphaned at an early age and was raised in a Catholic orphanage. Like Lightner, Law's life has not been full of rainbows and sunshine. Though totally different, they seem to make excellent partners. I loved the mystery, but it was the characters who really drove the story. The members of Lightner's household are a joy to spend time with. There is Percy (the persnickety manservant who runs the household), Mrs. Freedman (the cook, a freed slave) and John Sparrow (a young pickpocket with a severe stammer who now works for Lightner). The mystery was quite thrilling, with lots of possible suspects ranging from the wealthy to the other end of the spectrum. There were red herrings galore. At times I got a bit confused keeping everyone straight, but I was having so much fun I just didn't care! I thought I figured out who the killer was; I was totally thrown for a loop when it was revealed. Depictions of life in New York City in 1856 were quite interesting, from political corruption to crooked cops to street gangs. I am eager to get my hands on the next book...and I'm quite excited that I have book one to read, also!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

It's 1956 and someone really had it in for Albert Beauchamp. Not only did they kill him, they dismembered him and shipped his body (parts) to New Orleans. Jasper Lightner and Hy Law, a bit of an odd couple detective pair, find themselves exploring the secrets Beauchamp had collected and used to blackmail others. Who wanted not only to stop him, but also had the resources and creativity to kill him? No spoilers from me but Jasper and Hy have a number of suspects. While the procedural and atmospheric aspects of this series (this is only the second one and terrific as a standalone) are well done, it's the characters that make it special. Jasper suffered a terrible head wound in the Crimean War, has a plate in his head, and struggles with the effects of PTSD and the effects of the tbi. Hy has some darkness in his background as well. Then there's Jaspar's household. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A great read and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Superfluous gyrations but the likable characters kept it at 3 stars.

-3.5 stars, rounded up this time. Complicated plot, so I’m unclear on all the twists, although I think I understand who committed which murders.
-Bad writing: Author has Jasper informing man’s daughter of his death before anything approaching firm identification of the corpse.
-I’m glad Jasper remains unattached and like how he steered Law towards the young woman..that could be fun.
+I’m least happy with the weird family ending. What?? And they all sailed weeks to New York?
-And Goodwin..”Reticent” is NOT a synonym for “reluctant!!”
-Narrator: Mispronounced “Houston” street in NYC (sloppy) and “mulish” (3 times).

S.M. Goodwin's Crooked in His Ways is the second volume in the Lightner and Law series. Reading volume #1 was a treat—a new series with interesting characters and solid plotting! The central characters are an "odd couple" pair of detectives in 1850s New York. Lightner is from a noble British family: a younger son, badly injured in Crimea, and sent to New York so his injuries, stammer, and pedestrian occupation won't embarrass his family. Law is Irish-American, orphaned and raised in a Catholic orphanage, class conscious, and awkward. The two make a great team. Lightner, being nobility and all that, also has a staff: a stiff, proper valet; a cook who is a Black freedwoman; and a new jack-of-all-trades, a pickpocket to whom Lightner is giving a shot at an honest living. It's a fun crowd to spend time with.

This volume in the series has a surfeit of nasty characters. The victim at the center of the mystery is a blackmailer with his thumbs in all sorts of pies—his body has been found in a shipping crate in New Orleans, dismembered and packed in salt. When the body is returned to the man's home city of New York, Lightner and Law are assigned the case. There's also at least one additional blackmailer, several violent men, and some crooked cops. And on the lighter side, there's a millionaire's missing dog, a case which Lightner has been ordered to prioritize because of the millionaire's political connections.

Crooked in His Ways offers a wealth of insights into life and class in mid-19th Century New York. It also moves at a quick, complex pace that makes it an engaging read. I would recommend that you read the first volume in the series, Absence of Mercy, before picking up this title. Having the backstory makes volume #2 even more enjoyable.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Albert Beauchamp disappears and appears a year later - but in a crate in New Orleans, very well salted. Inspector Lightner alias Lord Jasper and Hieronymus Law are the detectives on the case. Investigations reveal that Albert was a very unsavory character. Blackmail was his chosen occupation and he bled many not just the high and mighty but even the humble and poor till they were left with nothing. Suspects abounded and many were glad that he was dead but justice had to be meted out.
On the other hand Inspector had his own burdens. Disliked by the powers that were in the New York City Police because of his background, his cleverness, his free of corruption and the inability to be bribed reputation - the Police Force were considered the most corrupt in the country, Lightner had to fight a lone battle along with Law and a few supporters to find out who the killers were. The closer he got to the killer, the worse and more dangerous it became.
I found Jasper to be a character to be much admired for his simplicity, his style and elegance. Law was a perfect foil. Liked the setting too of 1856 New York.

When a man returns from a six months trip from New York to New Orleans and back, you wouldn't think anything of it, unless he turns up in pieces on ice in a shipping crate. Once again Jasper Lightner and Hieronymus Law are on the case. As they dig deeper into the murder of Alfred Beauchamp, they find lots of questions with little answers. When more bodies show up related to the case, things get more interesting and confusing. When two minds are thinking together it isn't long before clues start to fall into place. I love this series! Humor mixed with death can be very entertaining. I highly recommend reading both books in the series! Believe me they aren't boring!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Audio Version-Chirp
Narrator: Rupert Degas
1857
NYC
Jasper Lightner, Hieronymus (Hy) Law

I love this series by new to me author S.M. Goodwin. Read both books back to back and am anxiously awaiting book 3. Unique concept... Englishman Jasper Lightner, Crimean War hero, younger son of a duke, comes to NYC to help train, work with their fractured police department. He is aided by a disgraced detective Hy Law who is trying to rebuild his reputation. Jasper is a great hero, but not without a few demons of his own.

I've enjoyed this book as well, maybe not as much as the first one in this series.
There were a lot of characters and at times it was hard to keep up with all the names.
Nevertheless a great mystery and very well written!

Looking forward to the next one!

💸 Crooked in His Ways 💸
A Lightner and Law Mystery #2
✒️ S. M. Goodwin
http://www.smgoodwin.com/
Release Date 09/07/2021
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PYFQDWW/...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

Perfect for fans of C. S. Harris and Will Thomas, the murder of a wealthy financier unleashes a torrent of deadly secrets in pre-Civil War New York society in S. M. Goodwin's second book in the Lightner and Law mysteries.

Albert Beauchamp disappeared just before Christmas in 1856. When he reappears more than a year later, he's in several pieces, packed in salt in a shipping crate in New Orleans. NYC inspectors Jasper Lightner and his partner, Hieronymus Law, are called in to investigate--but the further they dig into the wealthy financier's background, the dirtier the story gets. On the surface, Beauchamp had a lot of friends. But, as they discover, each had a good reason to hate him.

Beauchamp's last will and testament--stashed away in a safety deposit box, along with a king's ransom in jewels--yields few clues, but Jasper and Hy discover something even more valuable: a little black book filled with names, dates, and a cache of damning details.

Following a trail of leads that reaches back to the early 1840s, the detectives uncover a sordid litany of high society scandals that still threatens the city's moneyed establishment. And the shadowy figure who knows their dirtiest secrets re-emerges with a devious new plan that goes far beyond simple blackmail.

The dark shadows grow longer as Jasper and Hy close in on the truth--and a killer lies in wait for his ultimate prey.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

When greed spreads like a virus and leaves death on its wake …

After the first book, I was quite enamored with both detectives. Even if there could not have been two more different persons, from age, breeding, origins, upbringing and status.
This is no romance, with not even a dash of it.
But I know when I read S. M. Goodwin, I do not read Minerva Spencer.
The first book provided a bit of romantic tension for Hy and Jasper, alas for both it ended very sadly.
I would encourage anyone who reads this book or wants to, to also read the first one as it gives all the clues about those two.
Jasper is the spare son of a Duke, he came back from the Crimean battlefields gravely wounded, with a partial memory loss and other scars. To evict him from the media scene as his father is furious to see his inspector of a son’s name making too often the London newspapers headlines, he is firmly sent to NY allegedly to help restructure the police.
But his arrival is a far cry seen as a welcome as all sections are all tearing each other apart.
Hy has been rescued by Jasper at a time he was in a bad pass, rotting in jail for a crime he had been framed for. He has known the poor house, hunger and working for the police department did not help him better his life as it was like landing a snakes pit, difficult to navigate it without being bitten.

So we meet them again a week after the end of their first case, as Jasper reacted badly to the demise of a woman he came to admire, so he let his demons and addiction to drug take the best of him for a few days.
This new case while still horrible is in some way less gruesome than the first. It deals with greeds not the abuses and offenses of the prior affair.
Yet it is them against everyone as the corruption is still rampant and they can trust few people to help them.
I loved how Jasper takes his chance with Little John Sparrow, feeling a kinship as his stutter is similar to his when he was a child. This book gives a bit more insight about Paisley, Jasper’s Jack-of-all-trade valet, a devoted man who guards jealously his employer’s affairs. There is too the cook Mrs Freedman.

In all, the friendship between this unlikely pair deepens, as they now rely more and more on the other. As Hy observes and learns from Jasper, and the unflappable Lord trusts his colleague to have his back.
I can’t wait to see when their next adventure will lead them.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 none

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Crooked Lane Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Crooked in His Ways is the second Lightner and Law historical mystery by S.M. Goodwin. Released 7th Sept. 2021 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a skillfully written and well researched historical mystery set in pre-civil war New York in 1857. A wealthy businessman who had disappeared a year earlier is found, dismembered and packed in salt in a shipping crate, far away from where he had vanished. The mystery is exceedingly well constructed and impressively engineered. I generally have a good idea by midway through a mystery who did what and to whom (and why) and this one managed to surprise me on several levels.

Despite being the second book in the series, the author is adept at providing the necessary backstory and the mystery is self contained in this book. The real-life period history is skillfully interwoven into the story with enough craft that it's not always clear where the real history shades over into fiction.

Although it's not at all derivative, this is a series which will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Will Thomas, C. S. Harris, and Andrea Penrose. The writing is superb and the plotting is precise and full of twists (possibly slightly too convoluted? - the jury's out). There were two small issues for me with the read: the cast of secondary characters is massive and I found it difficult to keep them straight, and the author's meticulous representation of Lightner's stammer in the dialogue, which often slightly yanked me out of the story because it was so pervasive. Kudos to the author for being true to the character, however. Neither problem was insurmountable and I found myself hopping over places where I couldn't remember a secondary character.

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 11 hours 20 minutes and is read with magnificent facility by Rupert Degas. He manages the narration of the characters flawlessly. The accents are widely divergent; from upper class Victorian minor noble (with stutter), through American, both male and female. It's -rare- to find a narrator who can manage both minor British nobility and born and bred American (New Yorker, no less) without mangling one or the other painfully. I found that listening to the stutter as read by the narrator *much* less intrusive or disruptive than reading the book in print. I would recommend the audiobook for that reason alone, but the narrator's performance itself is a huge bonus.

Five stars. This is a strong entry in a very good series. The audiobook version is also currently the best narration of 2021/2022 so far in my estimation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Crooked in His Ways b y S.M. Goodwin
Lightner & Law Mystery #2

New York in 1856 was not like it is today and a transplanted English Duke’s second son on loan to train police detectives is not always at home in the city although he is often in demand. The unlikely detective duo of Jasper Lightner and Hieronymus Law is one of opposites and yet works well. Aged, culture, status, education, and more separate the two but the work binds them closely together. In this case they have a murder to solve…a murder that leads to a few more and in addition to that case there is a dognapping to solve.

What I liked:
* Jasper: English, aristocrat, ex-military, survivor, traumatic brain injury from battle, son, brother, leader, knowledgeable, capable in more than one venue, and a whole lot more…really like him and look forward to getting to know him better in future books.
* Hy: native New Yorker, orphaned young, dedicated, savvy, partner to Jasper, lives with a cousin, good friend ~ I feel there is more to him than we have seen so far and I am eager to find out more about him in future books.
* Paisley: manservant and more to Jasper, runs the household, is in charge, has been in service for decades, cares deeply for a few people, gruff but perhaps warmer than he lets on, adds to the story in a nice way.
* Gloria Freedman: Jasper’s cook, free woman (not sure if once a slave or not), warm, skilled in the kitchen and healing arts, potential love interest or friend for Paisley.
* John Sparrow: tween, pickpocket now working for Jasper, like a sponge when learning new life skills, stutters, interesting relationship developing between him and others.
* The relationships within Jasper’s staff that were shared in this book
* Learning more about the main characters
* The plot, writing, police procedural aspects of the story
* Reading about New York as it was in that era
* That the baddies were eventually determined and dealt with
* The hook at the end that sets up the next book in the series
* Everything really except…

What I didn’t like:
* The baddies…they were evil to the core.
* Knowing that times were just as bad back then as they were portrayed in this story.
* Having to wait for the next book in the series to be published.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This historical series has become one of my 'must Read' series. Jasper Lightner, 2nd son of a British Duke brought shame to his family by becoming a very talented police officer. When things become very uncomfortable at home he heads for New York to train the New York police in new methods of investigation. Hy Law is from the opposite end of society having been made an orphan early. He's a detective who becomes Jasper's partner and what a great team they make.
This is their second case and it's 1856. Things are about to get very, very strange when a well traveled shipping crate becomes a hot potato between New York police and New Orleans police. It contains the salted remains of Albert Beauchamp - only 6 pieces as one piece has gone missing. The crate broke on the pier upon arrival in New Orleans and the police hastily repacked the gentleman and sent him back to New York. Jasper's boss wants to do the same but Jasper and Hy have already begun their investigation so no do overs. It soon becomes clear that, while on the surface Albert was well liked, below that smooth, rich facade he was a sleazy operator with a very long list of people ready to see him dead. He also has a dangerous little black book and a safe deposit box fit for a king.
The setting is gritty on one hand and posh on the other as are the characters. From John, the 13 year old street urchin and crooked cops to the very top of New York society, the story finds a wonderful balance between the two. The people who comprise Jasper's household are so well drawn - his cook, Gloria Freedman going toe to toe with his valet is perfect. The case of Albert Beauchamp is running at the same time Jasper and Hy are told that they have to track down a kidnapped dog and claim the hefty reward. For every gritty piece there is a humorous bit to balance it. Put it all together with a well crafted puzzle and I had no trouble giving it five stars. I'm eager for the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

S. M. Goodwin pulled me into Crooked in His Ways immediately just as she did the first book in the series, Absence of Mercy. As a physician I enjoyed her descriptions of Jasper Lightner, a Crimean War hero with post-traumatic stress syndrome and a traumatic brain injury—and am fully aware of how lucky he was to have survived in those pre-Civil War days when there was no such thing as a sterile procedure. The second son of a cold-hearted duke, Jasper inherits enough money to become independent of his father and begins working as a Detective Inspector on London’s Metropolitan police. In 1857 Jasper is sent to New York City to train American policemen on investigative techniques. Some time later, still in the States, he is sucked into another grisly murder, that of a blackmailer. Even he feels challenged when the list of victims—and thus suspects—surpasses one hundred.

Goodwin has created some marvelous characters, both major and minor, and populates them in a NYC that rings true to the times with pre-Civil War politics and Tammany Hall. Jasper faces both American fascination with and prejudices against titled Brits, the latter of which survives though the Revolutionary War ended some eighty years earlier. Though Jasper predates Sherlock Holmes by some years, he too has an addiction: opium helps the headaches generated by his traumatic brain injury.

This fantastic detective novel has plenty of twists and turns, yet there are no loose plot bunnies Eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

Riveting!

I thoroughly enjoyed this well researched and well crafted second book in the Lightner and Law series.

The developing relationship and the growing trust and respect between Jasper and Hy in the first book clearly demonstrates that their abilities and personalities complement each other. Throughout the second book their working association has improved further and we see Hy’s skills have evolved under Jasper’s guidance. The secondary characters: Paisley, Mrs Freedman, Patrolman O’Malley and John Sparrow are also very well drawn and believable.

The murders are set against a background of corruption, a changing police force, vicious gangs and rioting within a dangerous New York landscape, which adds depth and increases tension to this dark, unflinching novel. The historical detail is admirable.

To add to the readers enjoyment of the novel the murder is complex and possible suspects are many. Although I did guess the murderer of the first victim early on I wasn’t completely sure and there were some surprising revelations towards the end both in terms of the murders and also regarding Jasper’s personal life.

I have tried to source a date for the release of the next book in the series with no success. Is there anyone who has this information?

I’ll admit it, I am addicted to stories filled with some of my favorite tropes, and this one fills the bill on several counts. The author created a rich history of life in New York City during the mid-1850's, included some surprising twists and turns, and offered up some well-done sleuthing by the oddly matched detective team of Lightner and Law—a high-born English lord and low-brow Irish-American street fighter. The two men could not have come from more opposite backgrounds, yet they play off each other using both wit, brawn, and disparate survival skills, which makes for an enjoyable read fraught with just the right amount of tension. The author even managed to create some wildly opposite secondary characters via Lord Jasper's household staff which made the story even more entertaining. I would’ve given this story five stars except some words were missing here and there to distract me (usually an article, and easily corrected prior to the book's release). Nonetheless, this was a most enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more of the Lightner and Law series. I received an advance copy from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Too Many Suspects

With lots of twists and turns and a hundred suspects the detectives Jasper Lightner, the duke's son, and detective Law his partner try to solve the mystery of the murdered man in the crate. Since the murder victim had so many people that could have wanted him dead it became very hard to solve the case, then more victims turned up.

All of this takes place in New York in 1856 with gangs roaming the streets, hackney cabs the transportation and all the excitement of July 4th celebrations. After some narrow escapes and some fight and escape scenes they solve the case.

This was a good historical fiction mystery read, delightful characters and one ugly dog. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it as a good sit down enjoyable read. it has humor and action and mystery. What's not to like. I know if you like mysteries and you like historical books you will love this one. I recommend it.

Thanks to S.M. Goodwin, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.

The gruesome murder of a notorious blackmailer and extortionist is at the center of this captivating and highly entertaining historical whodunit set in NYC at the tail end of the 1850s. In this second installment in the Lightner & Law Mystery series, we once again meet the awesome Crimean War veteran, detective Jasper Lightner and his partner Hay Law as they painstakingly try to untangle the rather complex circ*mstances and leads linked to the racketeer's death. Taking place in a booming city at the threshold of the American Civil War and teeming with a cast of unforgettable characters, this delightful and colorful murder mystery offers to the reader a delicious slice of American history within a highly suspenseful fictional journey full of action and lots of surprises....A wonderful novel to be enjoyed without any moderation!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date

I had read the first book in this series, Absence of Mercy, and enjoyed getting to know Lightner and Law. When I saw the next book in the series was available for preview, I jumped at the chance to read it -- and I was not disappointed. I very much enjoyed this following story of the development of the relationship between Lightner and Law and how they are coming together to solve seemingly impossible crimes and dealing with resentful superiors and the suspicious public. Also I am enjoying the interplay with Lightner's staff. I enjoy a really good historical mystery where the emphasis is on the characters and the mystery and not insta-lust romance. For those who enjoy Anne Perry, C. S. Harris, Harriet Smart, Ashley Gardner, Abir Mukherjee, etc., I recommend this book. I eagerly await the next book in the series. Many thanks to #CrookedLaneBooks for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC. #CrookedInHisWays #NetGalley

CROOKED IN HIS WAYS is the second book by S.G. Goodwin in the Lightner and Law mysteries when a murder of a wealthy financier unleashes a torrent of deadly secrets in pre-Civil War New York society. NYC inspectors Jasper Lightner and his partner, Hieronymus Law, are called in to investigate—but the further they dig into the wealthy financier's background, the dirtier the story gets. On the surface, Beauchamp had a lot of friends. But, as they discover, each had a good reason to hate him.

CROOKED IN HIS WAYS has a deliciously wicked plot, captivating characters, conspiracies, street gangs and so much more. Prepare yourself for a wild ride with Jasper and Hy in their sleuths for answers in this noir historical mystery. If you enjoy CROOKED IN HIS WAYS, be sure to read S.M. Goodwin's first book: ABSENCE OF MERY. I received this complimentary ARC copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was so happy to have the chance to read the next book in this series. I have read the first one in the Lightner and Law series, and I really liked it. This one did not disappoint. This is a series that takes place in pre-Civil War New York. In the winter of 1856 wealthy financier Albert Beauchamp disappears. Several months later, his body appears in pieces in a crate. Lightner and Law are called in to find out what happened to him. This series is so well-written. I love all the details-I felt like I was there in the city and I could easily picture the characters in my mind. I hope the author continues to write more stories in this series-it's one of my favorites!