This one was unfortunately a DNF for me around the 60% mark. I found the idea of the novel interesting and really enjoyed the writing style, but there was something missing and I really struggled to stay engaged. I couldn't quite connect with the characters (I loved the idea of the characters, but they were missing that extra bit of something that I needed) and because I couldn't connect with the characters, I also couldn't connect with the romance and character dynamics. I kept putting this down and struggling to pick it back up, but I really hope to come back to this one because the concept and prose really drew me in.

Clever, twisty and full of Regency intrigue, A Murder of Rogues follows Cascabel Gray, who disguises herself as a boy to attend Oxford University.

Her carefully constructed plan unravels when Charles Lafleur, a member of the notorious Rogues Club, blackmails her. When Lafleur is found dead, Cascabel becomes the prime suspect and must infiltrate the Rogues Club to uncover the truth.

Switching between her male and female identities, Cascabel navigates a dangerous double life. Along the way she attracts the attention of fellow student William Grenville, a chambermaid known as Mouse, and even an Austrian prince. The tension builds as she tries to balance her secrets, her heart and her fight to clear her name.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is the nuanced exploration of Pom’s identity. Heap avoids forcing modern concepts onto the character, instead letting them navigate gender and self-understanding in a way that feels grounded in the period. This allows space for Pom to confront not only the prejudices of society but also some of their own.

An engaging historical mystery with layered character work and a fascinating look at identity in the Regency era.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A Murder of Rogues was a sensational YA historical mystery with wonderful queer and disabled representation. It is fantastically written and highly engaging.

Heap’s characterisation sings - they leap off the page and into your heart. Pom is a wonderful protagonist, driven by their desire to further their knowledge and pursue their career. Society does not wish for this, leading to their disguise and elaborate plot. This instantly sets the stakes as you root for the underdog to succeed against the odds. Their desire is simultaneously so huge and remarkably small. Injustices, discrimination and suppressing people are key themes of the book and feel unfortunately timely for current readers.

That idea of fear and shame defining your status and what goals you should have for life is horrifying. Pom defies this, but is all too aware of the risks they are undertaking. So when this comes under threat through blackmail and investigation, the reader is wholeheartedly rooting for Pom to find out the real culprit and untangle the mystery. I also have to shout out Mouse as a great character who Pom learns a lot from and is integral to their development. Mouse is shrewd and driven, but has to express this in a different way to Pom due to her own societal limitations.

The central mystery is well-plotted with a great sense of pacing. From the first page, the stakes are clearly set and then escalate as the pages turn. You get caught up in the sights and perils along with Pom, with some fantastic sideplots that weave into the larger picture. It is great writing that captivates you and fully pulls you into the story. I also really enjoyed the central romance - how the dynamic grows and develops over the course of the book. There is a beauty to it and also a poignancy.

A Murder of Rogues is an excellent queer YA historical read that should be gracing your shelves shortly.

As with many ARCs I’ve reviewed recently, A Murder of Rogues is a book that has potential but fails to fully deliver on it. To start with, I really enjoyed the premise of a non-binary main character sneaking into Oxford disguised as a man because they couldn’t have gotten an education otherwise, and having to investigate a crime of which they are accused but haven’t committed. That whole premise was fairly fun, and I appreciated the themes of gender identity, misogyny and homophobia that were discussed throughout the book.

What I have an issue with is the execution of this premise. Although they could have been extremely likeable, the characters were flat, with little personality beyond what served directly the plot, and I had a hard time getting attached to any of them. To me, the best stories are those where the characters feel real, whereas in this novel, they mainly felt like pawns through which Joe Heap told the story he wanted to tell. Similarly, the relationships between the characters were mostly one-dimensional, without any real depth even though I’m sure they could have been developed to something far more genuine. Even the romance, although cute, wasn’t as developed as it could have been.

The plot put me off from the very beginning because a lot is happening all at once, sometimes for reasons that feel a bit uncertain. It’s clear that Joe Heap had a lot of great ideas, but the plot was all over the place because all those ideas were implemented at the same time. I had a hard time getting into the novel at first because the plot was rushed and the inciting event comes out of absolutely nowhere, without, at the end, any explanation of how it even came to be. Speaking of which, the resolution was a bit too convenient for my taste, and didn’t leave me feeling entirely satisfied.

Overall, this book is one that could have been great but hasn’t been very well written and edited. That being said, those issues are things that can be improved with more practice and experience, so I might just pick up Joe Heap’s next books if the premise sounds interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic UK for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I’ve read by the author. First, the book’s cover and title immediately grab your attention. It was my first queer romance read and I LOVED it. Even though I’m not a big fan of historical fiction, the mystery and thriller elements made it an incredibly enjoyable reading experience. I really love the author's writing style. Everything is so clear and exciting. RECOMMENDED!!!

This is an ARC review. I appreciate receiving this copy from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

This book promises a lot of things going in – queerness, historical setting, mystery, dark academia – and all of those things are turned up to the max!

We follow our main character, Pom (and, side-note; this is the second book I’ve come across in the last couple of weeks where the promotional material fumbles the gender of the protagonist, but this isn’t the place to unpack that!) who disguises themselves as a young man in order to gain an Oxford education. Pom was such a brilliant narrator, witty and entertaining while still having the depth needed for a novel that explores so many different avenues. Their blossoming relationship with Mouse was extremely tender and wonderful, and gave the story so much heart.

The overarching plot is a murder mystery, and it really does keep you on your toes the whole way through. Along with Pom, I suspected so many different figures as the story went on, although I would have loved to have that ‘aha!’ moment before it was revealed to us.

I particularly enjoyed, however, the way Pom’s identity was explored. Heap resists the urge to push modern concepts onto them, instead allowing Pom to explore their own gender and identity from a more historically accurate starting point. This also means that some of the prejudices of the time remain with them, and at a pivotal moment in the book Pom is called to question some of their own preconceptions.

This was a really solid and entertaining read, and while I would have preferred a punchier ending and some more fleshed-out plot points here and there, I still thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

A Murder of Rogues is a fascinating historical mystery set at Oxford University in the regency era, brimming with romance and rich queer representation. We follow Pom, who applied to Oxford disguised as a boy in order to gain entry. Pom is non-binary, describing themselves as neither boy nor girl, but must flit between the identities of Thomas and Cascabel while investigating the chilling murder of a fellow student. Pom is a fierce protagonist; sharp, witty, and determined not to let anyone or anything stand in their way. An addictive story set in Regency England but with a bold, modern feel.

Recommended for fans of witty historical mysteries with queer heart.

This one wasn’t for me. I was so disappointed I had to DNF quite early on. I do however want to thank the publisher for an arc of this. I do appreciate it.

4.5 stars

This book was such a delightfully surprising read. A murder mystery in a dark academia setting is what drew me in but I stayed for the characters, the intrigue and the romance.

Set in Regency England, our main character Cascabel must disguise herself as her twin brother in order to go to Oxford and get the education and freedom she dreams of. However, someone discovers her secret and tries to blackmail her. When the blackmailer is found murdered Cascabel, under the guise of her brother, is now a suspect. Balancing her two personas Cascabel sets out to discover who the actual killer is while navigating her school, work, growing feelings for a chambermaid and infiltrating the infamous Rogues Club.

The story explores queer romance and gender identity which was beautifully done. I loved the academia setting, the writing felt very immersive, and the plot was fast paced and entertaining.

Thank you Scholastic for the advanced copy

I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the author's writing style as it hooks you in from the very first page and I didn't stop reading until the end. The story has enough adventure to keep me interested with good pacing and a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it.

I wasn't sure what this book would be like, but it hooked me from the first chapter.

A big part of it was the main character, Cascabel / Pom (I'll be using neutral pronouns to refer to them, as they describe themselves as both man and woman or neither — a fellow enby!). Anyway, gender relatability aside, I loved how curious, driven and bold they were! The story revolves around their desire to study in Oxford and to be intellectually challenged. For that, Cascabel pretends to be their twin brother, Thomas (but makes the name their own by using the nickname “Pom”).

During their time in Oxford, they meet several interesting characters — Garlick (a manservant who might have discovered their identity), Mouse (a deaf glovemaker and chambermaid), William (an earl’s son and member of a group of rowdy students known as The Rogues)... Honourary mention to Treacle the cat.

Anyway, things go fairly smoothly for Cascabel / Pom until they become a suspect in another student's murder.

The investigation itself was interesting, but let me tell you (and this is rare praise), there is a queer romantic subplot that was SO sweet and had me rooting for the relationship to go well. Yea, call me a bitter fucker, but I don't tend to care about romantic relationships. They're usually just eh for me. This one, though? It worked for me. It was built on vulnerability, growing trust, learning from each other and celebrating each other's strengths.

As a final note (and the reason why I held back on rating this 5*), the ending fell a bit flat for me. It was okay but didn't hit as hard as I would have liked.

Still, I would gladly recommend this to anyone who'd enjoy a historical novel with queer characters and a mystery at its core.

Really enjoyed this, was quick paced and easy to follow even with the split character. I enjoyed the storyline and the twists and turns, the second half of the book was much more fun than the first which meant I finished it in a could have hours! Overall really great book!