A Scheming in Parliament by Erica Vetsch

A Scheming in Parliament
by Erica Vetsch

ISBN-13: 9780825448638
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: August 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating the halls of Parliament from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he’s quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club.

Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?

Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening England's government.


My Review:
A Scheming in Parliament is a Christian romance set in 1816 in England. This is the second book in a trilogy about Philippa and Bertrand and continues their story. While it can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading the trilogy in order.

Philippa had to deal with the challenges of running a mission to help prostitutes learn a skill and find a job in another trade. One woman that took refuge there had been drugged, abused, and barely managed to escape the men forcing her into sexual slavery. Bertrand acted as a spy in the House of Commons to discover who was managing to pressure other MPs to vote his way. He joined the men's club at the center of the scheming and discovered how the blackmail was carried out.

They worked together to uncover information and then rescued some people who were being held captive. Philippa enjoyed the respect that Bertrand showed her, but her reputation was already iffy so I was disappointed that he risked her reputation (if she'd been recognized) several times. The ending, where Philippa's determined to never marry in one scene and agreed to a pretend engagement in the next, left me surprised by the sudden change. However, overall, it was an enjoyable story with engaging characters.

Historical details were woven into the story. There was an ongoing theme of everyone asking themselves, "Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?" Which is a little odd for spies to be asking, as obviously they think their job is justified, but hey. Philippa explained to several woman about God's forgiveness through Christ. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.