Cindy Anstey

From the author of Suitors and Sabotage comes a suspenseful and enthralling new Regency novel, perfect for readers who like their Jane Austen classics with a side of mystery and murder. 1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from. Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak. With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions. Fans of Cindy Anstey's previous novels won't want to miss The Hummingbird Dagger, a dark and twisty new offering that blends romance, danger and mystery. Praise for Duels & Deception: "Delightful ... It is Jane Austen spiced with action, suspense, and humor." —VOYA, starred review "Jane Austen fans in need of a good new book, look no further." —Entertainment Weekly

The Hummingbird Dagger

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

A stage-coach accident leads a handsome young lord to rescue an unconscious young woman covered in bruises and wearing filthy clothes. When she wakes, she has no memories of who she is or what happened, and at night she screams in terror as she dreams of a hummingbird dagger dripping in her blood. A suspenseful, escapist read with Darcy-esque romance for Young Adult fans of Jane Austen and Regency historical fiction.

Candyce Kirk

I've previously read Cindy's other books and thought they were entertaining. The Hummingbird Dagger also caught my attention. Memory loss, murder and mystery sound like the perfect combination.

The Hummingbird Dagger starts off pretty intense. An accident at night, an injured woman and some circumstances that don't seem proper. I love reading books that are set in the fast, because it's always fun to read about how things were done and how things we don't even think of these days are frowned upon.

James, Caroline and Beth are great characters. I loved how much James and Caroline felt the need to help Beth. They knew nothing about her, but were determined to find out her story! It was interesting to see their relationships grow as the story continued and they slowly discovered different facts. Their brother Walter seemed like the one who did everything wrong, but I really enjoyed him! 

I loved trying to figure out what actually happened to Beth, but at times it took too long. I think this mystery could've been solved a lot faster. The little pieces of dreams and memories made The Hummingbird Dagger interesting and a few reveals kept me going, but I think it dragged a bit at times. I think this made the tension/suspense wilt a bit in comparison to what it should've been.

I received an ARC of this book and at times the formatting made reading more difficult. There was no clear space between switching POVs and because of no spacing between time frame, I was quite confused at times. I felt that this took me out of the story and made it harder to keep my attention on the story. This doesn't change what I thought of the story, but it did make my reading experience less enjoyable. I hope this is changed in the final copy!

I think this is the darkest Cindy Anstey book I have read and I loved the aspect of Beth not remembering who she is. That added a lot to the mystery and suspense throughout the story. The Hummingbird Dagger is an interesting story and I couldn't figure out who was behind everything until it was revealed. I love when mysteries aren't easy to solve!

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this book from Swoon Reads and Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 1.5/5

Publication Date: April 16, 2019

Genre: Mystery Romance

Recommended Age: 15+ (lots of dialogue and a murder)

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Pages: 352

Amazon Link

Synopsis: 1833. After young Lord James Ellerby witnesses a near-fatal carriage accident on the outskirts of his estate, he doesn't think twice about bringing the young woman injured in the wreck to his family's manor to recuperate. But then she finally regains consciousness only to find that she has no memory of who she is or where she belongs.

Beth, as she takes to calling herself, is an enigma even to herself. She has the rough hands of a servant, but the bearing and apparent education of a lady. Her only clue to her identity is a gruesome recurring nightmare about a hummingbird dripping blood from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth slowly begins to unravel the mystery behind her identity and the sinister circumstances that brought her to their door. But the dangerous secrets they discover in doing so could have deadly ramifications reaching the highest tiers of London society.

Review: I felt that the characters in this book were really interesting and the premise behind the book was interesting. 

However, that was all I found interesting about the book. The book was really flat. It was a struggle to read the book and the plot wasn’t there. There was a mystery here and while it was interesting in theory, it felt like there was never anything done to it. The whole book felt like there was nothing done to it. There’s zero action in this book and I felt like there was nothing really making it special from any other regency novel. The characters are never fully developed and I feel like I didn’t retain anything that I read from the book. Also, this is yet ANOTHER book where you have to read the synopsis to under the book.

Verdict: If you like light action and lots and lots and lots of dialogue, this is your book.

Heather Harrington

It was just an ordinary day for Lord James Ellerby, until a carriage accident caused in part by his younger brother, leaves in his care a mysterious unconscious young woman. When she awakens, the Ellerby's find that she has no recollection of who she is, where she came from, or why she's completely bruised and battered. Beth, as she calls herself, has no memory of her identity, the only thing she can recall is a reoccurring nightmare of a hummingbird with blood dripping from its steel beak. James, along with his sister Caroline, vow to help Beth unravel the mystery of who she is and retrace the events that led her to their door. But nothing can prepare them for the escalating threats that seem to keep cropping up and the consistent attempts on Beth's life.

I didn't know much about this before going into it, but I ended up really enjoying this. I love a good mystery and Victorian England, so meshing the two together makes for an instant read for me. I really enjoyed the story and characters. I think Beth was very interesting and I couldn't wait to find out more about her past and the events that got her to where we found her. I also loved watching her relationship with James blossom, I thought they were so cute together. The mystery itself really kept my attention with all its twists and turns. There was always more information to uncover. If you're looking for an engaging mystery, check this one out.

The Hummingbird Dagger

Reviews