London
1817: People outside the Covent Garden theater are jostling
to try and catch a glimpse of the celebrated actress, Hannah
Granville, including the Prince Regent himself. A shot rings
out and a man lies dead; presumably the intended victim was
the prince. Or was it? It is up to Hannah’s lover, Paul
Skillen, and his twin brother, Peter, to discover whodunit
and why.
I
always enjoy Edward Marston’s cocktail of ingenious
plots, engaging characters and immersive historical background,
and this entry is no exception. As usual, it hits the ground
running and keeps up the pace as the detectives (and their
bumbling Bow Street counterparts) dash up and down the country
hunting for clues. This is the fifth in the series, and habitual
readers know the characters by now, so finding out what they
have been up to and their interactions is all part of the
fun, as it is with all good series. The Runners are perhaps
a bit too Keystone Cops and seem unable to do even the simplest
task properly, adding up to plenty of broadly slapstick humor,
but this light relief is one of the series’ trademarks.
Expect a plot filled with twists and surprises and 100% pure
detective story with a blessed lack of veering off into other
genres. Recommended for all readers who love a good historical
mystery (and who have read the earlier books).
Reviews
of other titles in this series
Shadow
of the Hangman #1 [AMAZON]
Steps To The Gallows #2 [REVIEW]
Date With The Executioner #3 [REVIEW]
Fugitive From The Grave #4 [REVIEW]
Rage
of the Assassin
#5
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