Romance – just because I would not call it “romance” just yet, but there is potential for the next book Enter the third wheel in our story, the mysterious Kage (aka Hollywood), a trigger-happy American, who keeps showing up to 'help' Dom on his latest case. And to tempt him in all the worst kind of ways too😈.

The last couple of books in this series have been enjoyable but had rather lost their focus. This was much more tightly plotted, with some important character developments and interesting reflections on the great and the good. At the beginning of the book there is a list of the main characters, which I find very useful. It includes where they live and their professions and relationships with each other, including the real historical characters. There is also a Historical Note at the end of the book in which Taylor explains that the origins of the novel had germinated over a number of years following the Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein cases, whilst the catalyst came when he read Dr Linda Porter’s Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II. In one chapter Dr Porter focuses on the career of Louise de Keroualle, who became Charles II’s chief mistress during the second half of his reign. In The Shadows of London the story of Louise’s seduction with its political implications, based on fact, is interwoven with the mystery of the murder of the man found dead, brutally killed, in the grounds of a ruined almshouse that Cat’s workman were restoring. I really felt immersed in the period of the time and the historical facts and characters many of whom were real to that time were really believable. It went along at a good pace ensuring I wanted to read on to the end to find out who did what and why. Alexander Kempthorne, the shady billionaire, is a character that I found really intriguing and interesting.Book 6 of the series, by the end I don’t know that there will be a 7 as it kind of ended at a point where our duo can finally live peaceably. Twisted Pretty Things is a magical, urban fantasy mystery, set on the streets and in the shadows of London. And there's Kage "Hollywood", who seems to pop up whenever Dom is in trouble, saving him more than once (but sadly very trigger-happy).

The secondary characters are equally lovable and after the life Dom has had? I think he deserves all the love and cake in the world. Like I'd personally hand him a rainbow cake stuffed of happiness and peace. Definitely has the found family troupe. All the characters, though, have a past that is either traumatic or has some event in it with enough dark mojo going on, which shaped them into what they are today, but wait until y'all get to know what makes an object an artifact. That's just messed up. Twisted Pretty Things was full of the usual fabulous world building that we have come to expect from Ms Nash, but I feel like we have just been exposed to the tip of the iceberg in book one. I absolutely loved Dom, despite his harsh childhood and experiences in the military, he was totally hilarious, a bit of a romantic and yet tough as nails. And then.. the same thing would happen when switching from events involving Cat to events involving Marwood, although after a couple of paragraphs, I realised that we were now in first person, whereas Cat is in third. In fact, I is always Marwood. Amy reminds Joe how as a kid she misquoted the Star Wars saying. “ May the forks be with you!” And it's still something she'll say when out to dinner with her friends. In a thrilling twist, Joe discovers that the victim is critically important to the future and what starts out as a straightforward mission soon becomes a race to unravel a mystery—one that threatens the very timeline he fought so hard to protect. Joe must dig deeper than ever, master his newfound skills, and save the woman before the past catches up with him for good.A time traveler ready to settle into a new home and a new reality is convinced to return to the past to prevent a gang murder. I imagine this is the end of this series since the ends appear pretty well tied up or as much as they could be since the books exist in the on-going flow of history. Watching Cat create a place for herself in the world of men is very satisfying as is the fact that Lord Arlington hires her for her skill and the belief that he will be pleased with what she designs. Brennan becomes more comfortable working with her and their partnership has become solid.

Joe is now living in a posh loft above his antique shop and woke to noises downstairs where he surprised a burglar who left behind an odd radio before she rushed out the door. The radio, a red Roberts radio, was turned on and the volume increased. When Joe reached for the dial he was instantly transported to London in 1963, in his pajamas, holding his iPhone. Believing this to be the notorious work of W.P. Brown, Joseph suspects the old cane-toting time traveler just couldn't take no for an answer. Set five years after the Great Fire in London, this is a good murder mystery. This is the first book I've read by the author and the sixth book in the series. The story is descriptively written. The characters are well rounded, and I felt as if I really knew them. The pace is fast. The story mixes fact with fiction perfectly. This book reads well as a standalone. Andrew Taylor offers us a completely convincing portrait of life in the city and at court in Restoration London. An absolute delight in a series that goes from strength to strength.” - S.G. McLean, prize-winning author of the Seeker seriesI am late to this series not realising there are several more Cat and Marwood adventures before we get to Shadows of London. However it does not spoil the enjoyment of this read as you get an idea of their relationship and the world they live in through this one without it feeling like the author is dragging up all the previous book plots into this one. This kept me thoroughly entertained with a very interesting plot. I just struggled at times to see Joe as a modern, young guy and wanted more of what I can only call emotion from him. He was undoubtedly likeable but for me perhaps a little weak but he definitely thought on his feet and I would be very interested in reading more about his exploits.