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Chaloner’s Sixth Exploit in Restoration
London
Susanna Gregory
Sphere (Little, Brown)
20 January 2011 / ISBN 1847442536
Historical Crime /1664 London
Amazon US
|| UK
Reviewed
by Rachel A Hyde
Thomas Chaloner is doing
something that he actually wants to do for once – getting
married. But even at this happy event a body is found in the church
bearing the sinister message “do not interfere”. Could
this have any bearing on the other body that was found in the Thames
recently who just happens to be Thomas’ former Dutch brother-in-law?
There is a delegation from Holland in London engaged in talks and
trying to bring about peace between the two countries. Then there
is a plot to steal the crown jewels, and just who is it who is trying
to ensure that whatever happens there will be a war?
It can truthfully be said that there is nothing quite like Ms Gregory’s
inimitable mix of eccentric characters, humor, murder, espionage
and history. Books set during the Restoration are sadly rare (I’ve
always wondered why) and as usual there is plenty to fill up a fat
novel with; court intrigue, the uneasy relationship with the Dutch,
coffee houses, newspapers and of course plenty of furtive backward
glances at the recent Commonwealth period. You can expect plenty
of story in one of these books and you won’t be disappointed
in this sixth adventure; plenty of surprises too and as many twists
and turns as London’s maze of seedy alleys. As ever with a
series like this you can find out more about the various characters
and even when nothing much is going on…well, I guess there
never actually is a moment that can be thusly described. I’m
not even sure that editing is needed as despite the considerable
length the action never lets up, so I can happily say that this
series shows no sign of running out of steam and this particular
entry is the best yet. Who said the Restoration was boring anyway?!
Reviews of other
titles in this series
A
Conspiracy of Violence
Blood
On The Strand
The
Butcher of Smithfield
The
Westminster Poisoner
A
Murder on London Bridge
The
Body in the Thames
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