The Prisoner's Key: Glass and Steele, Book 8

I just finished The Prisoners Key and the clever plot and all my favorite characters rallying around to solve the mystery and care for and love each other just keeps me driving to the end of this series….i am soooo tempted to read book 13 right now but I’m making myself read all in order,,,i just can’t put the books down. Grab book 1 and get started on this wild ride!

MY RATING SYSTEM5 stars--WOW4 stars--would read again3 stars--was good, won't read again2 stars--read it, but didn't enjoy it1 star--didn't finish, it was so awfulDo I need to read books before this one: yesCliffhanger: yesSUMMARYAll but Aunt Letitia help Catherine and Ronnie clean and move into the shop. India claims a long clock and the one that won't keep time to take home. Abercrombie is no longer the guild master.India asks Matt to accompany her home before she meets with Fabian for lessons. She tells him she made the deal with Coyle to get Cox to marry Patience. Matt is angry.Lady Louisa is at Fabian's house. She says Hendry married last week. India sets rules about Louisa's involvement in spellcasting lessons (can watch but not listen or take notes). Creditors arrive to reclaim furniture. India wonders if Fabian's been cut off.The friends again make Matt and India make up. India, "You're wrong if you think Coyle would leave me alone if I hadn't gone to him about Cox. He would have found something else to trap me, or made something up. At least this way we can face him together. If I'd never gone to him, and you married Patience, I would be on my own against him." Hugs and commitment. Aunt Letitia says Beatrice and the girls are coming for tea next week.Studies with Fabian continue for a week, then Fabian has to move to Chelsea. India overhears an argument: Louisa wants Fabian to marry her, she has loads of money. He would never be welcome home if he does.Afternoon tea with the ladies becomes family dinner. Aunt Beatrice asks India about Fabian, learns he's not the eldest son. Charity pulls India aside, asks about Cyclops because they kissed in the stables while India was on her honeymoon. Hope wants to know how India got Cox to marry Patience. Aunt Beatrice asks about Coyle. She knows people are talking about Cox's and Patience's back-and-forth wedding plans, worries about Patience's secret. She wants Hope married well and soon so people will forget about the circumstances leading up to Patience's wedding. India will arrange the dinner.Cyclops tells them all how Charity accosted him in the stables. Matt and India think, because Charity thinks Cyclops is a servant, she wants him dismissed so he'll come begging her for help. The butler brings a note that Fabian is in prison.Because Fabian's family has the means to pay his loans, he was put in prison. His family cut him off because he won't marry an American industrialist's daughter to join businesses. His older brother married a magician, so continuing the magic lineage isn't a concern. But for Fabian, magic is his passion, so he wants to marry for magic. India asks to pay his debts; Louisa arrives, offers the same. Fabian assures them he'll be out soon.The next morning, India is helping in the shop when Matt comes, says Fabian has escaped from prison and is now the prime suspect in the murder of Douglas McGuire, the man he owes money to, because his handkerchief was found at the scene.EVALUATIONSo many times, I found myself singing, "Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no no." Cyclops, Charity, and Catherine. Hope and Coyle. Louisa's hunt. Coyle and Cox. Plus the murder with its dangers. And again, I didn't get it figured out.An excellent story! I'm glad it didn't end when Matt got healthy or when they got married. I like these people. I want more about Duke.FAVORITE QUOTESIndia asks Cyclops, "May I see your fingernails? Charity says they're lovely.""You're a nasty little wasp who likes to sting. It was you who came in search of Cyclops and waited until he was alone in the stables. It was you who backed him into a stall.""We'd be happy to answer your questions, Inspector. Anything to clear Fabian's name. What do you want to know?" "Why do you meet with him every afternoon?" "I can't tell you that."POSSIBLE TRIGGERS (SPOILERS)Sex: kissesLanguage: 0 F words, 16 Lord's name in vain, 0 S wordsViolence: sexual assault, spousal abuse, arson, kidnapping, assault and battery, gun threat, strangulation, gunshot

Love this series ❤️ onto book 9, much excite, who told Lord Cox? I'm on bated brain electricals!! On I must go...

I love this series! I was so intent on reading the book, that I was done in no time. I felt like I should have been reading longer. That is what CJ Archer's books do to you, they pull you in and before you know it you are parting again from characters that have worked their way into your heart. They are like family & you wonder what will happen next.India and Matt are back from their honeymoon & before they know it, are pulled into another mystery involving the magical community. This time, India's friend & teacher of lost magical language is accused of murder. India, Matt, Willie, Duke, and Cyclops are on the trail of a killer. And that's just one item to sort out!You will laugh & growl at the antics of Matt's family. Worry about what Lord Coyle is going to do with his debt from India. Want to send Chronos to the corner with a spank! The characters are richer & development of the side stories are great.I highly recommend this book & all the books in the Glass & Steele series. To get the most out of your reading, I highly recommend reading the series from the beginning! Character development & learning the background of the individuals is important. Trust me, you do not want to miss a thing!This is my honest and voluntary review.

The magic has disappeared from the Glass & Steele books. The characters lack growth. The mysteries are dull, where they used to be exciting. I wish Ms. Archer would consider the reader more while writing, and less about what seems to amuse her. Matt has become useless, India seemingly mindless, and the other characters are stuck in time and place -- the only exception is Catherine, India's best friend, who steps out of her comfort zone and performs a masterful acting job. I have 2 more books in the series, and will see if I can get through them. My husband disliked them, but we don't always agree on writers and writing.

The relationships of the characters are developed more with each book of the series. The introduction of bit players along the way increases the intensity of each scenario broached. I can't get enough of India & Matt! This is a remarkable series for anyone to read & try to solve!

I'm on the fence about this book. While I enjoyed it more than the last few Glass and Steele books, i still wasn't in love with it. I did enjoy seeing India and Matt as a married couple - I had gotten exhausted by the angst of the previous books. I also enjoy some of the other less prominent characters side stories that are emerging (ie. Willie, Cyclops and Catherine) and I hope the remaining books address these plot lines. While I liked the plot of this story better, I'm beginning to get tired of the Lord Coyle storyline - I'm losing interest in him. I'm also starting to be exhausted by Matthew's extended family's drama and also that of Louisa. It's becoming too predictable and takes away from bigger parts of the storyline. While I still am undecided about the book as a whole, I will most likely continue the series because I'm intrigued enough to see how it might conclude.

As we start the eighth book in this wonderful series, we immediately feel part of this close knit family group, as we settle into their humorous conversations, their banter and their love for one another. C.J. Archer's love of these characters shines throughout this book as the characters become ensconced in another plot, with twists and turns and betrayals moving through the chapters. Although humorous, this book is also touchingly emotional and poignant. As India and Matt return from their honeymoon, they have to deal with the awful Lord Ryecroft and his vile family, as trouble brews in a different area to the case they are solving. Catherine and Nate's relationship begins to spark, though I hope it will ignite in the next episode, as I would love to see their relationship blossom. I am really looking forward to the next one, as this series just gets better and better.

Another good read from Glass and Steele or Glass and Glass!... I read books 1-7 before and got way laid but during these not so nice times we are living in... I read from the beginning and straight onto book 8. Good characters Matt and India, Cyclopes, Duke and Willie (Aunt Letty too) and the rest (How nice would it be to be invited for one of there many tea and cake mornings, afternoon and late afternoons!!) Story lines are always good! and follow through nicely with one another.... Ready for book 9

Each book can be read as a stand-alone but starting at the beginning and reading the whole series works best. I love the main characters and their 'family'. The unconventional members give the storyline that extra something. The magic is minimal in its appearance but creates the reason why India & her husband are able to investigate. I have fallen in love with this series and can't recommend it highly enough!

Another excellent book in the series. I was so engrossed in the story I found I was unable to put it down. Once again, Glass and Steele set out to help the police solve a murder. However, things have a habit of getting in the way. A most enjoyable read.

These get better every book .. Matt and India are superb , Aunt L and Willie are very funny but grown together in friendship . And respect for each other ..the other Characters are fabulous all work together in the story line. Can't wait to see what happens in Feb 20..when next book is out love the glass and steel books .please keep.writing Cj..