Too Hot to Handel by Sheri Cobb South

Narrated by Joel Froomkin

This fifth John Pickett mystery is a bit of a departure from the other books in the series in that our hero spends a rather large part of it unconscious, leaving his lady-love, Lady Julia Fieldhurst to the bulk of the sleuthing when it comes to solving the mystery of some missing diamonds. That said though, John is nonetheless a major presence in Too Hot to Handel, and Joel Froomkin’s hugely entertaining narration kept me engaged throughout, so I didn’t feel the slightest bit short-changed.

Note: There will be spoilers for earlier books in the series in this review.

It’s three months since Bow Street Runner John Pickett said farewell to the woman he fell in love with almost a year earlier, and a matter of weeks before the case for the annulment of the “irregular marriage” they inadvertently contracted in Scotland comes before the ecclesiastical court. At the end of the previous book, Dinner Most Deadly, he declared his love for Lady Julia Fieldhurst, but also said that they should not meet again; he has always known that the huge gulf in their stations makes any relationship between them impossible, and it’s become too painful for him to keep spending time with her while knowing she can never be his. For Julia it’s been three long, colourless months and none of her usual activities hold much interest for her any more. Even a night out at the theatre is dull until, on the way out, she hears a distressed older lady claiming that her jewels have been stolen. Recalling that the Duchess of Mallen’s rubies had also disappeared while that lady was at the theatre, and that they had been recovered by the Bow Street force, Julia suggests sending for a Runner, and for a few brief minutes, is excited at the prospect of seeing John again – only to come crashing down when someone else appears in his stead.

Bow Street magistrate Patrick Colquhoun has decided it’s time to put a stop to the current spate of jewel thefts, and is going to set a trap for the thief. The Russian Princess Olga Fyodorovna is known to possess some of the most valuable diamonds in existence, and she will shortly be a guest of some of the British royals at the Drury Lane theatre. With the permission of the royals and the Russian delegation, Colquhoun devises a scheme to apprehend the thief, and assigns each of his runners a specific duty on the night of the theatre visit.

At the same time, he indulges in a bit of last-minute matchmaking, allocating John a position inside the theatre in the box opposite the royal party. Suggesting he will stick out like a sore thumb sitting there alone, Colquhoun coyly suggests that perhaps John has a female acquaintance of sufficient rank and breeding who could accompany him to the theatre. With mixed feelings, but unable to resist the temptation of seeing her one last time, John writes to Julia asking for her help and she, just as excited at the thought of seeing John again, agrees, signing herself “Julia Fieldhurst Pickett” in her acceptance letter.

The would-be lovers are reunited for the evening, each trying to ignore all that lies between them when John notices something amiss in the royal box. He is about to investigate further when a commotion erupts below. The theatre is on fire, and when he and Julia attempt to exit their box, they find the door locked and have to effect a daring escape by climbing down three stories using a rope made out of curtains. Arrived safely outside, they witness the roof of the theatre crashing in and then John is knocked down and rendered unconscious by flying debris. Julia manages to summon help and gets him back to his lodgings in Drury Lane, where she refuses to allow anyone but herself to care for him. The prospect of losing her nominal husband at last forces Julia to admit the truth she’s known for some time – she loves John and wants to stay with him… but first she has to keep him alive.

The mystery of the stolen jewels is woven through the larger story of Julia’s coming into her own and the resolution of the irregular marriage storyline. As a widow, she’s had a degree of independence, but until now, hasn’t been ready to face the censure of society for falling in love a man so far below her socially. John’s injury – which, it turns out, may not have been accidental at all – finally brings home to her what is most important in her life, and she is at last ready to fight for him however she has to. Her previously frosty relationship with Colquhoun takes a turn for the better as they bond over their love for John, and I was cheering for Julia in the scene where she stands up to her stuck-up cousin, George, whose disapproval was what sent her into Scotland (and her irregular marriage) in the first place.

Joel Froomkin has quickly become a favourite narrator and he’s someone whose name on the cover of an audiobook will always make me stop for a second look. His narration in Too Hot to Handel is well-paced and skilfully differentiated, and his vocal depictions are perfectly suited to each character in the story. From Colquhoun’s broad Scottish brogue to George’s blustery drawl and Lucy’s cockney twang, each character is easily identifiable and Mr. Froomkin performs the recurring cast consistently from book to book. In terms of new characters, he gets to give his Russian accent a work-out when portraying the crusty Princess Olga and her companion. I can’t vouch for its authenticity as it’s not an accent I’ve come across often in real life, but to my ears, it sounded pretty good and isn’t so heavy as to be unintelligible. Once again, his version of John Pickett is charming – even when barely conscious! – and his portrayal of Julia is simply marvellous.

The mystery takes a bit of a back seat in Too Hot to Handel, but I’m not complaining because for me, this series has always been about John and Julia, and the mysteries the method of bringing together two people from opposite ends of the social spectrum. Listeners waiting for the resolution of their complicated relationship will be pleased, and Joel Froomkin’s excellent narration is also sure to delight.

Caz