No Good Duke Goes Unpunished is a romance story set in the past, written by Sarah MacLean and published by Avon in 2013. It is the third book in a series of four called the Rule of Scoundrels quartet. The novel received a RITA Award for Best Historical Romance and a Romantic Times award for Historical Romance of the Year.
Background
Sarah MacLean wrote her first historical romance in 2010. No Good Duke Unpunished is the third book in a four-book series called the Rule of Scoundrels quartet. The four books are connected, with the first two, A Rogue by Any Other Name and One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, hinting at secrets that are later revealed in No Good Duke Unpunished. The last two sentences of the epilogue in No Good Duke Unpunished give an important clue about the final book in the series, Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover.
This book is different from most in its genre because it does not take place in traditional London society settings. Instead, much of the story happens in a hidden world, a casino. The book was published by Avon on November 26, 2013.
Plot summary
The story begins in London in the year 1831. The main character, William Harrow, the Marquess of Chapin, is more commonly known as Temple. He works as a partner at a well-known casino called The Fallen Angel. Twelve years earlier, Temple was banished from his life as a noble family member with special rights. This happened after he was accused of killing his father’s fiancé, Mara. In reality, Mara had chosen to leave her life and hide because she did not want to marry a man who was much older than her. Later, Mara’s brother loses a large amount of money at The Fallen Angel. Mara then comes out of hiding to make a deal with Temple. She promises to prove she is still alive, which would clear Temple’s name, if he agrees to forgive her brother’s debts.
Reception
Reviewers highly praised the novel. Kirkus Reviews mentioned the "interesting and well-developed characters," and Lezli Patterson highlighted Mara as "one of the most fascinating and strong female characters ever created." In Library Journal, Barbara Hoffert wrote that the book "can be very disturbing," and Patterson warned readers that the novel might "make them cry." According to Kathe Robin in Romantic Times, "this is not just a wonderful romance, but a story in which the emotions and importance stay with readers long after they finish it."
The novel won the 2014 RITA Award for Best Historical Romance, for the second year in a row that MacLean received an award in that category. The novel also won Romantic Times' 2013 award for Historical Romance of the Year.