Whom the Gods Love: A Julian Kestrel Mystery by Kate Ross

              Julian Kestrel is back again investing.  Although, this time, I think it’s quite reluctantly.  Julian is asked by Sir Malcolm Falkland, the father of the deceased Alexander Falkland, to look into his son’s murder.  Alexander was a well-loved and highly respected man.  When he was found murdered, it came as a great shock to everyone.  With so many admiring Alexander, no one has any idea as to who could possibly want him dead.               

                Despite Julian’s concerns at being hired by Sir Malcolm, who may himself be the culprit, he decides to take the case.  Working in tandem with Peter Vance of the Bow Street Runners, Julian is happy to have another investigative source at his disposal.  Despite this, Julian warns Sir Malcolm, he will still have to pry into every detail of Alexander’s life as well as the lives of those around him.  He may uncover things Sir Malcolm does not like, but in order to find the murderer, Julian tells Sir Malcolm this is what he has to do.  Sir Malcolm says he understands, but as it very quickly becomes clear, I don’t think he truly does.

                The reason I say this is because Julian meets a lot of resistance from Sir Malcolm as he goes about his investigation.  Being allowed to question Alexander’s widow, Belinda, becomes an especially difficult task.  Julian’s access to her is very limited, then when he is allowed to talk to Belinda, she avoids answering his questions.  Sir Malcolm and her maid Martha allow Belinda to do this, hindering Julian’s investigation, and making it more difficult than it already is.

                Dealing with Belinda’s half-brother Eugene is not much better.  Wallowing in self-pity and willing to claim credit for things he did not do because he thinks other will accuse him, Julian struggles to get to the truth of the matter with Eugene.  He also has to fight his own urges to protect the boy and take him under his wing as it is possible that Eugene is the murderer.

                These aren’t the only difficulties Julian encounters, though.  He must also deal with the personal accusations thrown his way.  Far too many people have too many theories has to who the culprit is, but of course they do not have any proof.  One particularly popular accused is David Adams, a money lender.  No one has any proof of Mr. Adams’s guilt, they just suspect him, in my view, because he is Jewish.

                Another possible suspect, and one Julian has a particular problem with, is Quentin Clare.  A law student, Julian suspects Clare of hiding things.  Not that he does not have a basis for these suspicions.  Practically every time Julian encounters Clare, he uncovers some new secret Clare is keeping.  Unfortunately, never do the secrets cast Alexander in a positive light.  In fact, the more Julian investigates, the more he uncovers about Alexander, leading one to wonder if Sir Malcolm ever truly knew his son at all.

                I really missed Dipper in this book.  Julian’s faithful valet, he was hardly in the story at all.  Usually Dipper plays a much bigger part in the investigation and in Julian’s life.  Not this time.  We did, however, get a lot of information about where Julian came from.  The story of his past is finally revealed while Julian investigates, and it comes from a very unexpected source.  This source is not someone we have met before, but I would like to see him appear again.