Literature & Fiction
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The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes: A Novel (London Highwaymen, 2)
Cat Sebastian returns to Georgian London with a stunning tale of a reluctant criminal and the thief who cannot help but love her.
Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. Of course, the evil, murderous man deserved what was coming to him, but now she must flee to the countryside. Unfortunately, the only person she can ask for help is the charismatic criminal who is blackmailing her-and who she may have left tied up a few hours before…
A highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain, Rob Brooks is no stranger to the wrong side of the law or the right side of anybody's bed. He never meant to fall for the woman whose secrets he promised to keep for the low price of five hundred pounds, but how could he resist someone who led him on a merry chase all over London, left him tied up in a seedy inn, and then arrived covered in her husband's blood and in desperate need of his help?
As they flee across the country-stopping to pick pockets, drink to excess, and rescue invalid cats-they discover more true joy and peace than either has felt in ages. But when the truth of Rob's past catches up to him, they must decide if they are willing to reshape their lives in order to forge a future together.
Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. Of course, the evil, murderous man deserved what was coming to him, but now she must flee to the countryside. Unfortunately, the only person she can ask for help is the charismatic criminal who is blackmailing her-and who she may have left tied up a few hours before…
A highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain, Rob Brooks is no stranger to the wrong side of the law or the right side of anybody's bed. He never meant to fall for the woman whose secrets he promised to keep for the low price of five hundred pounds, but how could he resist someone who led him on a merry chase all over London, left him tied up in a seedy inn, and then arrived covered in her husband's blood and in desperate need of his help?
As they flee across the country-stopping to pick pockets, drink to excess, and rescue invalid cats-they discover more true joy and peace than either has felt in ages. But when the truth of Rob's past catches up to him, they must decide if they are willing to reshape their lives in order to forge a future together.
Editorial Reviews
"With The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, Cat Sebastian's newest, we get the full Georgian-era experience: coffeehouses, lace cuffs, noblemen in pastel silks and ballad-worthy highwaymen whose thieving days are almost, almost behind them....Highwayman, it turns out, is a pitch-perfect role for a queer historical hero. If you're already risking your neck to steal purses and harry the gentry, you'll think nothing of risking your neck for someone you love... The book does not so much tear down class boundaries as dynamite the very idea of class itself, which is becoming a satisfying theme in Sebastian's work. Laws that exist only to hurt people are unjust; systems that depend on people's misery should be subverted and dismantled at every chance. The right to love and be loved as we are is a compass that always points toward justice." - New York Times Book Review
"Cat Sebastian is a queen of queer historical romance...Sebastian never disappoints." - Entertainment Weekly
"Cat Sebastian is an author at the absolute top of her game." - Erin Sterling, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Hex
"The Queer Principles of Kit Webb kept me up all night! I simply couldn't put it down." - Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
"Their sexual tension is a living, breathing thing on the page, but mercifully, Sebastian doesn't leave them in want for long. And there's plenty of sparkling dialogue to go with their physical connection. Kit has very clear opinions about the privilege Percy is fighting to protect, and their conversations about class and politics are uniformly excellent and fascinating. Kit Webb will surprise and delight not only fans of Sebastian and queer historical romance but also readers who are new to both." - BookPage (starred review)
"Sebastian's prose is entertaining and delightful, with many steamy scenes...It's also full of intelligent and thought-provoking political debates...An irresistible story of love and adventure that will delight both newcomers and regular readers of queer romance." - Kirkus Reviews
"Cat Sebastian is a queen of queer historical romance...Sebastian never disappoints." - Entertainment Weekly
"Cat Sebastian is an author at the absolute top of her game." - Erin Sterling, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Hex
"The Queer Principles of Kit Webb kept me up all night! I simply couldn't put it down." - Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
"Their sexual tension is a living, breathing thing on the page, but mercifully, Sebastian doesn't leave them in want for long. And there's plenty of sparkling dialogue to go with their physical connection. Kit has very clear opinions about the privilege Percy is fighting to protect, and their conversations about class and politics are uniformly excellent and fascinating. Kit Webb will surprise and delight not only fans of Sebastian and queer historical romance but also readers who are new to both." - BookPage (starred review)
"Sebastian's prose is entertaining and delightful, with many steamy scenes...It's also full of intelligent and thought-provoking political debates...An irresistible story of love and adventure that will delight both newcomers and regular readers of queer romance." - Kirkus Reviews
Readers Top Reviews
LauraJKindle Jam
The story starts off with Rob blackmailing Marian and then getting to know each other via letters. The romance feels very real between these two and the sex scenes were different and wonderful.
Emily S.PunieLaur
Loved the dialogue and the way I felt like I could walk into any of the settings and the interesting people inhabiting them. The descriptions and dialogue are so seamless that you really are immersed in another time and place, and isn't that what historical fiction is about? Reading fiction in general is all about escapism, and this novel provides a wonderful escape.
Valerie A KaderJ.
I love historical romances! I’ve read a few of this author’s books and loved them, so I thought I’d try this one. I wasn’t sure about the premise - duchess kills duke, then seeks help from thief. The heroine, Marian (as in Maid), was a mixed bag - plain and cranky, but also mis-used. The hero, Rob (as in Hood), was less compelling - handsome and loyal, but very adolescent. They had intermittent chemistry but plenty of sizzle. The storyline was clever and unpredictable. Overall, not a bad book that I just never connected with.
Kimberley Staffor
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is a great accompaniment to The Queer Principles of Kit Webb. It can be read alone, but the books seem to go hand in hand to me. Rob and Marian are indeed chaos bisexuals as I’ve seen them described elsewhere, and a great example of grumpy/sunshine. Each accept the other just for what they are and make great partners in crime. Their physical relationship is much different than what I’ve read in other historicals. Marian literally will die if she has another child so intercourse is an absolute no. Any type of penetration in fact is a boundary not to be crossed. Rob is happy to honor her limits and they enjoy very satisfying times together. The portrayal of a woman’s limits not only honored but enjoyed was a very appreciated part of the story. And it was so refreshing not to read about how he magically made what she didn’t want suddenly all she wanted. The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is fun, intelligent, sexy and subversive in a great way. I had a great time reading it.
