When Blood Lies
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- Create Date：2022-04-06 21:21:59
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：C.S. Harris
- ISBN：B098PWYHZR
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Summary
Sebastian St。 Cyr， Viscount Devlin， has spent years unraveling his family’s tragic history。 But the secrets of his past will come to light in this gripping new historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of What the Devil Knows。
March， 1815。 The Bourbon King Louis XVIII has been restored to the throne of France， Napoleon is in exile on the isle of Elba， and Sebastian St。 Cyr， Viscount Devlin， and his wife， Hero， have traveled to Paris in hopes of tracing his long-lost mother， Sophie， the errant Countess of Hendon。 But his search ends in tragedy when he comes upon the dying Countess in the wasteland at the tip of the Île de la Cité。 Stabbed—apparently with a stiletto—and thrown from the bastions of the island’s ancient stone bridge， Sophie dies without naming her murderer。
Sophie had been living in Paris under an assumed name as the mistress of Maréchal Alexandre McClellan， the scion of a noble Scottish Jacobite family that took refuge in France after the Forty-Five Rebellion。 Once one of Napoleon’s most trusted and successful generals， McClellan has now sworn allegiance to the Bourbons and is serving in the delegation negotiating on behalf of France at the Congress of Vienna。 It doesn’t take Sebastian long to realize that the French authorities have no interest in involving themselves in the murder of a notorious Englishwoman at such a delicate time。 And so， grieving and shattered by his mother’s death， Sebastian takes it upon himself to hunt down her killer。 But what he learns will not only shock him but could upend a hard-won world peace。
March， 1815。 The Bourbon King Louis XVIII has been restored to the throne of France， Napoleon is in exile on the isle of Elba， and Sebastian St。 Cyr， Viscount Devlin， and his wife， Hero， have traveled to Paris in hopes of tracing his long-lost mother， Sophie， the errant Countess of Hendon。 But his search ends in tragedy when he comes upon the dying Countess in the wasteland at the tip of the Île de la Cité。 Stabbed—apparently with a stiletto—and thrown from the bastions of the island’s ancient stone bridge， Sophie dies without naming her murderer。
Sophie had been living in Paris under an assumed name as the mistress of Maréchal Alexandre McClellan， the scion of a noble Scottish Jacobite family that took refuge in France after the Forty-Five Rebellion。 Once one of Napoleon’s most trusted and successful generals， McClellan has now sworn allegiance to the Bourbons and is serving in the delegation negotiating on behalf of France at the Congress of Vienna。 It doesn’t take Sebastian long to realize that the French authorities have no interest in involving themselves in the murder of a notorious Englishwoman at such a delicate time。 And so， grieving and shattered by his mother’s death， Sebastian takes it upon himself to hunt down her killer。 But what he learns will not only shock him but could upend a hard-won world peace。
Reviews
Kathy
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Another winnerWith Napoleon's escape as background we learn more about Sebastian mother as he investigates her death。 As always the writing was clean and the story caught and kept my interest。 Harris always does her research incorporating events and figures believably into the plot。 Can't wake for the next one！ Another winnerWith Napoleon's escape as background we learn more about Sebastian mother as he investigates her death。 As always the writing was clean and the story caught and kept my interest。 Harris always does her research incorporating events and figures believably into the plot。 Can't wake for the next one！ 。。。more
The Lit Bitch
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The Sebastian St Cyr mystery series has been a favorite of mine for quite some time。 I started off reading the series randomly and our of order and then I went back and started from the beginning and read them all again in order。 I absolutely love this series even if at times it feels a little scripted meaning it follows a formula。 I still have loved the mysteries and characters so much and every time I see a new book is coming out I absolutely rearrange my calendar for it！If you like smart hist The Sebastian St Cyr mystery series has been a favorite of mine for quite some time。 I started off reading the series randomly and our of order and then I went back and started from the beginning and read them all again in order。 I absolutely love this series even if at times it feels a little scripted meaning it follows a formula。 I still have loved the mysteries and characters so much and every time I see a new book is coming out I absolutely rearrange my calendar for it！If you like smart historical mysteries with some grit that doesn’t transition over into ‘disturbing’ then this is a great series for you。 As I said， I have read the books out of order and was ok， however I did feel like I connected with the characters and the larger narrative much better after reading the series beginning to end。 If you haven’t read the series beginning to end but maybe most of the book then you should be ok with this one， however if you haven’t read the other books at all， I would say this probably isn’t the one you want to start with。This book focuses on Sebastian’s own family history that has been teased through a number of other books in the series。 It’s basically what I would call the ‘ultimate’ mystery for Sebastian and the larger narrative。 So if you haven’t read all of the books you can probably get by with having only read a few but if you haven’t read any then I think new readers will be lost in this book or at the very least miss all the nuances and significances of the story。Throughout the other books， Sebastian’s mother has been this sketchy figure with a checkered past and mysterious motives。 When she has come up in other books it’s usually tied to the immediate story but we don’t really get much about her overall past and motives and how they impact Sebastian。 So when I saw this book was coming out I was really excited to get to read ‘her story’ and find out more about that part of Sebastian’s life。 In this book Sebastian and his wife Hero are in Paris investigating his mother and then she is found dying by Sebastian which leads him into investigating her killer。 Honestly at first I felt really disappointed。 This reunion and story has been 17 books in the making and then his mother dies。 Like what？？！！ But I decided to trust the process—Harris hasn’t disappointed me yet and I was right， this book really did hit all my expectations and I was so hooked on it！What I liked about this book most was how well Harris used the history of this time to impact and heighten the mystery of this story。 She always includes such great historic detail that not only educates but entertains readers but this book really stood out in the use of political history to enhance the mystery and story。 Harris has a brilliant way of making history exciting and fun but in this book she really uses it to her advantage and bring it literally to life in the story。 This period in history is one I don’t know too much about but have grown to love and research more and more history thanks to this series。 This is an outstanding historical mystery series and I literally hope it goes on forever！I also loved that this book really took Sebastian’s character through a series of emotional events。 Sebastian and Hero make such an amazing team and I loved watching their relationship grow and change in this book。 Sebastian has changed so much as a character since the first book and I have loved seeing how much he goes through in this one。 I feel like I need to go back and re-read the books all over again just to fully appreciate Sebastian’s journey going into this one。 Needless to say I loved this book installment and felt fully satisfied with the events in the story and am so looking forward to the next book。 Do not miss this series， it’s just fantastic and I love everything about the books in this series！ 。。。more
Minna
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Thank you to NetGalley， Ms。 Harris， and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title。 An honest review was requested but not required。I'm a longtime fan of the Sebastian St。 Cyr mystery series and each time I find myself wondering， how could Ms。 Harris possibly top the last one？ And where could she possibly go from here？I should know better than to doubt， at this point。 This series in general is criminally underrated and every one just gets better and better。 In this installmen Thank you to NetGalley， Ms。 Harris， and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title。 An honest review was requested but not required。I'm a longtime fan of the Sebastian St。 Cyr mystery series and each time I find myself wondering， how could Ms。 Harris possibly top the last one？ And where could she possibly go from here？I should know better than to doubt， at this point。 This series in general is criminally underrated and every one just gets better and better。 In this installment Sebastian is in Paris （a city that apparently is one of the most alluring， romantic， exciting places in the world， to everyone BUT me）， trying to find his mother。 Sophie， Countess Hendon surfaces for all of half a tragic paragraph before she dies， leaving Sebastian devastated， dumbfounded and driven to find her killer。 Of course， this is a difficult time to be in Paris: Napoleon is ostensibly exiled to Elba， but the Bourbons are making no friends and the city is full of unrest。 Thickening the plot is the mystery of Sebastian's father， whom Sophie was unable to come clean about prior to her demise。 Apparently Sebastian bears a distinct and startlingly close resemblance to Sophie's longtime lover， Marshall Alexandre McClellan， who served under Bonaparte。The atmosphere of turmoil and distrust in Paris was palpable and served almost as its own character。 The French citizens whom Sebastian interacts with are likely not going to be recurrent characters （I missed Paul very much） but their straight-faced duplicity and copious ulterior motives certainly gave me echoes of previous books。 It was nice to see so much of Hero although I was worried for the boys nearly every page of the book。 And I was so happy to see poor little Patrick growing up alongside Simon in a loving home。 Very， very good （par for the course， really， in this series） and very much looking forward to the next book in the series。 。。。more
Michele bookloverforever
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Starts with a personal tragedy for our protaganist。。 Ends dramatically。 A bit disappointing that mother and son never got the conversation needed。
Make
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4。5 stars to WHEN BLOOD LIES by C。 S。 HarrisSebastian and Hero are such compelling figures。 Admirable and nuanced， they are larger than life， and I adore them both。 This is a series that never disappoints me， and WHEN BLOOD LIES is another tightly executed mystery and delight。 Historical mystery fans won’t go wrong is diving into this delicious series by the redoubtable Harris。See my full review at Fresh Fiction: https://freshfiction。com/review。php？i。。。 4。5 stars to WHEN BLOOD LIES by C。 S。 HarrisSebastian and Hero are such compelling figures。 Admirable and nuanced， they are larger than life， and I adore them both。 This is a series that never disappoints me， and WHEN BLOOD LIES is another tightly executed mystery and delight。 Historical mystery fans won’t go wrong is diving into this delicious series by the redoubtable Harris。See my full review at Fresh Fiction: https://freshfiction。com/review。php？i。。。 。。。more
Caz
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I've given this an A- at AAR， 4。5 stars rounded up。I eagerly await the release of a new Sebastian St。 Cyr book every year; we’re up to book seventeen with When Blood Lies and it’s one of the best of the recent instalments， a fabulous blend of whodunit and history set in Paris in March of 1815， in the days leading up to Napoleon’s escape from Elba。 As the author has picked up the long-running storyline relating to Sebastian’s search for the truth about his parentage， it’s impossible to write a re I've given this an A- at AAR， 4。5 stars rounded up。I eagerly await the release of a new Sebastian St。 Cyr book every year; we’re up to book seventeen with When Blood Lies and it’s one of the best of the recent instalments， a fabulous blend of whodunit and history set in Paris in March of 1815， in the days leading up to Napoleon’s escape from Elba。 As the author has picked up the long-running storyline relating to Sebastian’s search for the truth about his parentage， it’s impossible to write a review of When Blood Lies without reference to earlier books in the series， so please be aware there are spoilers ahead。For the last twenty-odd years， Sebastian St。 Cyr， Viscount Devlin and heir to the Earl of Hendon， believed his mother Sophia – who left her marriage and England when he was a boy – was dead。 But he has recently discovered that is not the case， and in the previous book （ What the Devil Knows） learned she was living in Paris， and was presently in Vienna， where negotiations between the various countries and states of Europe have been in progress for some time， as they work to rebuild following Napoleon’s defeat in 1814。When this story begins， Sebastian， his wife Hero and their children are in Paris where he hopes， at long last， to meet with his errant mother on her return to the city and to finally get some answers to questions long unasked – even though he isn’t sure he’s ready to hear them。 Walking the misty banks of the Seine one evening， he’s reached the Pont Neuf when his attention is caught by a glimpse of what looks like an out-flung arm down on the river bank; he hurries down the stone steps to discover the body of a tall， slim， well-dressed woman lying motionless at the water’s edge， her pale cheek smeared with blood。 Bolts of recognition and devastation hit Sebastian when the woman looks into his eyes before uttering a single word – his name。Sebastian has his mother taken to his house in the Place Dauphine， where he and Hero tend her as best they can while they wait for the doctor to arrive – but her injuries are too severe， and all the doctor can do when he arrives is accede to Sebastian’s request that he examine the body to see if he can give him some idea as to cause of her death。 Sebastian suspects， given where she was found， that his mother may have fallen or been pushed from the bridge; the physician agrees that her injuries indicate a fall， but also tells Sebastian that she was stabbed in the back before being lifted and thrown over the parapet。 Clearly， whatever happened was no accident – but Sebastian knows so little about his mother’s life over the past two decades that he has no inkling as to why she would be murdered。 But that isn’t going to stop him from doing everything he possibly can to find out – no matter that his investigation will bring him into conflict with the most powerful families and factions in France。You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance 。。。more
Melissa
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It took me a little bit to get into this one。 I kept picking it up and reading a little and then putting it down。 To be clear， this was a me problem， not a book problem。 Once I was in the right headspace， I couldn't put it down。 It was interesting to see Sebastian and Hero in a different locale -I like that they were out of their comfort zone - but still just as determined to see justice done as always。 I also enjoyed that Sebastian's penchant for murder investigations had clearly spread through It took me a little bit to get into this one。 I kept picking it up and reading a little and then putting it down。 To be clear， this was a me problem， not a book problem。 Once I was in the right headspace， I couldn't put it down。 It was interesting to see Sebastian and Hero in a different locale -I like that they were out of their comfort zone - but still just as determined to see justice done as always。 I also enjoyed that Sebastian's penchant for murder investigations had clearly spread through the gossip of Europe。 The one thing I wished for that didn't happen was a short epilogue showing them back in London but I guess I just have to wait until next year for the next book！ 。。。more
Sophia
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One of the most vibrant， yet gritty historical mystery series on the market today captivates and meets readers intellectually and emotionally with a remarkable tale that is much more than a clever mystery set in the Regency period。 This series is one of my most anticipated reads each year and makes my top favorites lists。Opening LineThursday， 2 March 1815One more day， he thought， one more day， perhaps two， and then… And then what？Loc 86Tragedy and TreasonWith the peace after Napoleon is exiled t One of the most vibrant， yet gritty historical mystery series on the market today captivates and meets readers intellectually and emotionally with a remarkable tale that is much more than a clever mystery set in the Regency period。 This series is one of my most anticipated reads each year and makes my top favorites lists。Opening LineThursday， 2 March 1815One more day， he thought， one more day， perhaps two， and then… And then what？Loc 86Tragedy and TreasonWith the peace after Napoleon is exiled to Elba， Sebastian and Hero come to Paris to meet the mother who abandoned her family when he was a child。 He can perhaps come to know her again， but also get answers about his real father。His long search leads to the heartbreaking moment he finds her not far from his house life nearly extinct。 He is determined to discover the answers about the murder of the woman of mystery known as Sophia Cappello even when he is warned to leave it alone。“In the past eleven months， we’ve torn down the tricolor and raised the white Bourbon flag， chipped the Emperor’s bees and eagles off our buildings， renamed squares and bridges， and replaced the prints of Napoleon in our shopwindows with those of Louis XVIII。 Such external changes are easy。 But beneath it all， resentments and hatreds linger。 Fester… be careful， my lord。 Be careful what questions you ask and be very careful whom you trust…”Loc 281Sebastian’s mother is not considered respectable after leaving her husband and children to be the mistress of one of Napoleon’s generals， but Sebastian learns she was more than an ornament on the man’s arm。 Sophie had an eclectic group of friends and interests and made some powerful enemies because of her startling politics。 Sophie’s recent journey took her to visit an island where a deposed Emperor sits in exile。 Was his mother involved in a plot to restore Napoleon？ Not So Friendly AdviceSophie’s secret activities are a powder keg to the new peace。 In delving into those secrets， Sebastian discovers that a ruthless killer will stop at nothing to know something she knew and many simply want Sebastian to leave off his hunt for the truth。 In the past， Sebastian’s encounters with his wife’s father have been smoldering with mutual dislike and Lord Jarvis is in Paris to help the Bourbons transition back into power and their latest encounter is far from cordial。“The last thing he wanted at that moment was a conversation with the British King’s powerful， Machiavellian cousin。 But he leapt up to take the seat opposite his father-in-law anyway…Jarvis’ steely gray eyes narrowed。 “There are things going on here about which you have no idea。 Things that are far great importance than the death of one woman。” “Not to me”… “I will not tolerate your interference in an already volatile situation。” “I’m not dropping this investigation。”Loc 1806While conducting the investigation， Sebastian is helped by his intrepid wife who aches for Sebastian’s grief and need for answers。 Hero will even plunge into the dank slums or face down armed thugs to discover the answers they need。 And， a surprise source of aid comes from the sly one-time criminal Vidocq， the head of the newly formed Surete’。 Most of those they question are holding back or outright lying and there is a menace toward Sebastian and those he holds dear。“It was when Hero was studying the stall’s array of gaily painted wooden horses that she felt it again – that intense awareness of being watched。 Of being watched by someone who did not wish her well。”Loc 3524Dynamic Detecting DuoSebastian and Hero are an incredible pair。 Their story is told over several books and they have come into their own as a deeply loving， mutually respecting couple both in marriage and shared interests like detection。Hero thinks of Sebastian: “How does one reduce a man to a few words？ He is brilliant but good-humored… noble but quick-tempered and hardheaded…cynical and yet somehow also idealistic。 And deadly when he needs to be。”Loc 3343And， Hero？“…while Lady Devlin…” He paused as if searching for the right words。 “She is a formidable woman。”Loc 5070Matters take their course and there are some breathtaking moments with a final blood-pumping scene before the book has a short denouement and an abrupt end that tantalizes the promise for the next installment。Vive le SebastianThe historical backdrop including real life characters and events， the twisting and often exciting mystery plot， and the complex relationships and situations all meld to deliver a fabulous and riveting book。 The author even gives a playful nod toward beloved Jane Austen as Sebastian’s contemporary and old acquaintance from a previous case。 While murder is the obvious element， the social injustices of the day as well as cultural history are brought to life so well that these are as much historical fiction as mystery which broadens the appeal to many more readers。 My parting advice to newbies is prepare to binge。I rec'd an eARC through NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
FV Angela
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Review to come at SmexyBooks
Ron
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Sebastian St。 Cyr and Hero are in Paris hunting for Sebastian's mother。 But when she is found dying， Sebastian finds a murder to investigate and a mystery to solve。 Why was her mother on this bridge？ Where had she been？ Where was she going？ And who among the host of suspects is the real killer？ As Sebastian and Hero unravel this crime， events are catching up with them as the conflict between the Bourbon dynasty and Napoleon come to a head。 A very interesting book in this series that uses the set Sebastian St。 Cyr and Hero are in Paris hunting for Sebastian's mother。 But when she is found dying， Sebastian finds a murder to investigate and a mystery to solve。 Why was her mother on this bridge？ Where had she been？ Where was she going？ And who among the host of suspects is the real killer？ As Sebastian and Hero unravel this crime， events are catching up with them as the conflict between the Bourbon dynasty and Napoleon come to a head。 A very interesting book in this series that uses the setting and timing of events to ratchet up the tension of the mystery。 A very good read！Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this volume！ 。。。more
Kathy
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Another stellar work in the Sebastian St。 Cyr mystery series。 After 16 books， Sebastian has finally found his mother。。。。and then she gets murdered。 This work is even more interesting than the usual St。 Cyr mystery because of the new location （Paris） and the time frame （starting March 2， 1815） which leads to a plot that will have you on the edge of your seat and scrambling for Wikipedia to look up more about all the amazing bits of history Harris touches upon。 Highly recommended！ I can't wait for Another stellar work in the Sebastian St。 Cyr mystery series。 After 16 books， Sebastian has finally found his mother。。。。and then she gets murdered。 This work is even more interesting than the usual St。 Cyr mystery because of the new location （Paris） and the time frame （starting March 2， 1815） which leads to a plot that will have you on the edge of your seat and scrambling for Wikipedia to look up more about all the amazing bits of history Harris touches upon。 Highly recommended！ I can't wait for the next one to find out what happens next。 。。。more
nikkia neil
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Thank Edelweiss for this ARC。C。S。 Harris knows how to keep a series exciting， earthy， and relatable。 This one will make you want to cry， laugh， and love Sebastian and Hero forever。 Hope this series never ends！
Kristin
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For fans of history as much as whodunnits， this series continues to deliver on both counts。 Taking place during the days leading up to Napoleon’s brief return to power， Sebastian and his wife Hero find his long-estranged mother just as she has been killed。 Some of the usual supporting characters were not on hand， because the action took place in France， but a couple of new faces made things interesting。 Has Sebastian also found his father？ This book ends with Napoleon’s return， and it felt like For fans of history as much as whodunnits， this series continues to deliver on both counts。 Taking place during the days leading up to Napoleon’s brief return to power， Sebastian and his wife Hero find his long-estranged mother just as she has been killed。 Some of the usual supporting characters were not on hand， because the action took place in France， but a couple of new faces made things interesting。 Has Sebastian also found his father？ This book ends with Napoleon’s return， and it felt like part one of two。 Political turmoil has increased， and so much remains unanswered。 One thing that was unusual and that I hope continues is that Hero did at least half if not more of the investigating。 The book also ends from her point of view。 I see a return to focusing on her soon。 Excellent。 。。。more
Nicole
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C。S。 Harris continues the Sebastian St。 Cyr in this installment。 The story focuses on Sebastian’s mother， Sophie， in France。 The mystery to solve is a personal one for him and the emotional journey parallels the story arc。 Sebastian and Hero’s growing family has a role in the story as well and I admit I just want more and more of it。 As with past books， the author’s writing sparks my interest in history。 After finishing the book I read more about Napoleon， the French Revolution and some of the s C。S。 Harris continues the Sebastian St。 Cyr in this installment。 The story focuses on Sebastian’s mother， Sophie， in France。 The mystery to solve is a personal one for him and the emotional journey parallels the story arc。 Sebastian and Hero’s growing family has a role in the story as well and I admit I just want more and more of it。 As with past books， the author’s writing sparks my interest in history。 After finishing the book I read more about Napoleon， the French Revolution and some of the specific inventions and settings mentioned in the story。 If you are a fan of this series you won’t be disappointed with this read， you will just wish that it didn’t end。 Thank you NetGalley for the ARC。 I am looking forward to listening to Davina Porter read the story to me when it is released on Audible via Recorded Books。 。。。more
AlwaysV
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9/22/21 ❣️ I'm already so blown away by the full blurb❣️And yes ~ 💯 certainty on my rating of Five Amazing Heart-Pounding Stars in advance of yet to be read book ❣️April 5th， 2022 seems like a decade away💥Can't wait until I get the already-preordered book & then return to edit this non-review🔥❣️10/22/21 ❣️Thanks so much to Ira💝 I've just seen the Most Haunting Cover 💦 Notre Dame without the Spire 💦 9/22/21 ❣️ I'm already so blown away by the full blurb❣️And yes ~ 💯 certainty on my rating of Five Amazing Heart-Pounding Stars in advance of yet to be read book ❣️April 5th， 2022 seems like a decade away💥Can't wait until I get the already-preordered book & then return to edit this non-review🔥❣️10/22/21 ❣️Thanks so much to Ira💝 I've just seen the Most Haunting Cover 💦 Notre Dame without the Spire 💦 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=When Blood Lies
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=When Blood Lies&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,When Blood Lies&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0