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Marwood and Lovett #6
The Shadows of London
Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!
London 1671
The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the capital. When a man’s brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins of an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate.
It’s possible the victim could be one of two local men who have vanished – the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner;
the second, a possibly treacherous employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations.
The pressure on Marwood mounts as Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in his activities – and Marwood soon begins to suspect the murder trail may lead right to the heart of government.
Meanwhile, a young, impoverished Frenchwoman has caught the eye of the king, a quiet affair that will have monumental consequences…
London 1671
The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the capital. When a man’s brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins of an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate.
It’s possible the victim could be one of two local men who have vanished – the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner;
the second, a possibly treacherous employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations.
The pressure on Marwood mounts as Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in his activities – and Marwood soon begins to suspect the murder trail may lead right to the heart of government.
Meanwhile, a young, impoverished Frenchwoman has caught the eye of the king, a quiet affair that will have monumental consequences…
480 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2023
216 people are currently reading
1058 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Taylor
61 books724 followersAndrew Taylor (b. 1951) is a British author of mysteries. Born in East Anglia, he attended university at Cambridge before getting an MA in library sciences from University College London. His first novel, Caroline Miniscule (1982), a modern-day treasure hunt starring history student William Dougal, began an eight-book series and won Taylor wide critical acclaim. He has written several other thriller series, most notably the eight Lydmouthbooks, which begin with An Air That Kills (1994).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
May 8, 2023
This is book six in the series, which can stand alone. Once again, Cat Hakesby (previously Lovett) and James Marwood are united in their effort to resolve a murder case.
London, 1671. An architect, Cat Hakesby, is forced to stop her restoration project after the Great Fire due to man’s body found in the ruins. Delayed work means financial strain on her business. Thus, she tries to help in solving the case.
She knows James Marwood who is ordered to investigate. And they had some tangled moments previously. Marwood is good at extracting information, but the trail where it leads gets complicated.
The author continues to created fascinating characters and complex plot that intrigues. The story is alive with historical figures and events. With the fast pace, the reader is set on a fascinating mystery journey.
I found book five, The Royal Secret, as character driven. This book is more plot driven.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
London, 1671. An architect, Cat Hakesby, is forced to stop her restoration project after the Great Fire due to man’s body found in the ruins. Delayed work means financial strain on her business. Thus, she tries to help in solving the case.
She knows James Marwood who is ordered to investigate. And they had some tangled moments previously. Marwood is good at extracting information, but the trail where it leads gets complicated.
The author continues to created fascinating characters and complex plot that intrigues. The story is alive with historical figures and events. With the fast pace, the reader is set on a fascinating mystery journey.
I found book five, The Royal Secret, as character driven. This book is more plot driven.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2023
Another instalment with the Hakesley-Marwood duo, whom fate forces to co-operate in investigation concerning the death of an unrecognizable man found on the premises of Cat's current project. There's more to the story as Charles II has his eye on a young French lady who seems to be mysteriously connected with the Duke of Buckingham.
Mr Taylor drew on real historic figures, again, and managed to create historical fiction that will be appreciated by its fans. Personally, I never get tired of reading about the 17th century England, especially London and I am grateful for all the details which make the background of the series.
*A big thank-you to Andrew Taylor, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Mr Taylor drew on real historic figures, again, and managed to create historical fiction that will be appreciated by its fans. Personally, I never get tired of reading about the 17th century England, especially London and I am grateful for all the details which make the background of the series.
*A big thank-you to Andrew Taylor, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
May 26, 2023
I've given this a B+ at AAR, 4.5 stars
The Shadows of London, book six in Andrew Taylor’s fabulous series of historical mysteries set in post-Restoration London, finds our protagonists, James Marwood and Cat Hakesby (née Lovett) once again embroiled in an intricate and cleverly constructed murder mystery. Like the earlier books in the series the mystery in this one stands alone, but I’d recommend reading them in order so as to gain a fuller understanding of the relationship between the two principals.
It’s been five years since the Great Fire that destroyed so much of London, and since the night Marwood and Cat first met. Reconstruction of the City continues, and Cat, who took over the running of her husband’s architectural firm after his death, has been awarded the contract to build a new almshouse and some new brick houses in Chard Lane, on the site of the ancient almshouse destroyed in the fire. But when a the body of a man is discovered partly buried beneath piles of rubble and old bricks, his face beaten so badly as to be unrecognisable, the work has to be halted. Frustrated at at the delay, which could mean severe financial loss, Cat reluctantly asks James Marwood if he can do anything to help.
Marwood is in the employ of Lord Arlington who, as Keeper of the Privy Purse, is the second most powerful man in England, answerable only to the King. Marwood, who is part clerk, part spy, has frequently been directed by Arlington to conduct murder investigations, and when ‘My Lord’ hears about the body in Chard Lane, he tells Marwood to find out everything he can about the murder – although he isn’t, at this stage, willing to intervene on Cat’s behalf.
The first thing to do is to identify the victim, and Cat and Marwood soon work out that there are two likely candidates. One is the young man who had been employed as French tutor to the daughter of Mr. Hadgraft – who is currently Cat’s employer as commissioner of the Chard Lane project – the other is a man named Iredale, who is employed as a clerk at the Council of Foreign Plantations. Both are nonentities, making the motivation for murder unclear, but when Cat and Marwood learn of the involvement of one of the Duke of Buckingham’s henchmen – a dangerous, violent man with whom they’ve had dealings before – they realise that there is much more at stake than it initially seemed. For Buckingham, who hates Marwood and takes every opportunity to denigrate him, to be taking an interest in the murder of a nobody is strange, to say the least, and as Cat and Marwood dig deeper, it becomes clear that whoever the victim was, this murder is somehow linked to those at the very heart of power at the English court.
As with the other books in the series, Andrew Taylor does an absoutely superb job of weaving together fact and fiction, skilfully incorporating a number of actual historical figures and events into his original story. Here, he adds a third narrator to the mix; in addition to Cat and Marwood, we also hear from a young Frenchwoman named Louise de Kéroualle, who has been brought to England by the French Ambassador, with the specific intention of making her the mistress of King Charles II. Louise is widely regarded these days as a gold-digger, but as the author points out in his note at the end, while that may have been the case, that doesn’t preclude her having been a victim; she was young and vulnerable and basically manouevered into her ‘position’ by the French, who want her to act as their spy, “a pliant girl who will do what they tell her in the interestes of France. Someone to whisper in his [Charles’] ear whatever they want to say”.
The mystery is full of unexpected twists and turns – especially the big reveal – and the author paints a vivid picture of the sights and sounds of Restoration London, seamlessly integrating observations about the way the society of the time functioned and how precarious life was for pretty much anyone not born to privilege. Marwood has, for some time, been in the employ of Lord Arlington and his star has risen accordingly, to the extent that he’s become a respected figure, but the corruption at the highest levels has never sat all that well with him, and in this book he begins to realise the truth of the old adage about touching pitch and being deflied. Even Cat – who is hardly soft or unsceptical – sees how Marwood has become harder and more cynical, and doesn’t like it. Both of them have come a long way since we first met them, and their relationship has been always fraught with tension. Cat is tough and clear-sighted, she isn’t always kind and has certainly not always been so towards Marwood, although over the last couple of books, she’s realised that she’s come to depend on him far more than she realised – or intended, and that their lives are inextricably intertwined. That Marwood has had something of a crush on Cat has been obvious for a while, but only recently has Cat begun to feel the same – or been prepared to admit it to herself – and there are clearly big changes ahead for both of them.
The one criticism of the book isn’t to do with the story but with the way it’s laid out; in the copy I had – which was an ARC, so things may have been changed – the scene breaks are not marked, so I would be reading in Cat’s PoV, turn the page and then be in Louise’s PoV or Marwood’s (Marwood is written in first person, the others in third), and I’d sometimes have to go back to work out whose head I was in. I don’t recall that being an issue with the other books in the series.
But don’t let that minor issue put you off. Marwood and Lovett is one of my favourite historical mystery series, and The Shadows of London is another enthralling instalment. The historical background has obviously been extensively researched and permeates the stories in a way that is far more than simple ‘window dressing’, the characters are extremely well-rounded and the political intrigue is fascinating. I’m not sure whether there will be a book seven given the way this one ends, but I’ll certainly be picking it up if there is.
The Shadows of London, book six in Andrew Taylor’s fabulous series of historical mysteries set in post-Restoration London, finds our protagonists, James Marwood and Cat Hakesby (née Lovett) once again embroiled in an intricate and cleverly constructed murder mystery. Like the earlier books in the series the mystery in this one stands alone, but I’d recommend reading them in order so as to gain a fuller understanding of the relationship between the two principals.
It’s been five years since the Great Fire that destroyed so much of London, and since the night Marwood and Cat first met. Reconstruction of the City continues, and Cat, who took over the running of her husband’s architectural firm after his death, has been awarded the contract to build a new almshouse and some new brick houses in Chard Lane, on the site of the ancient almshouse destroyed in the fire. But when a the body of a man is discovered partly buried beneath piles of rubble and old bricks, his face beaten so badly as to be unrecognisable, the work has to be halted. Frustrated at at the delay, which could mean severe financial loss, Cat reluctantly asks James Marwood if he can do anything to help.
Marwood is in the employ of Lord Arlington who, as Keeper of the Privy Purse, is the second most powerful man in England, answerable only to the King. Marwood, who is part clerk, part spy, has frequently been directed by Arlington to conduct murder investigations, and when ‘My Lord’ hears about the body in Chard Lane, he tells Marwood to find out everything he can about the murder – although he isn’t, at this stage, willing to intervene on Cat’s behalf.
The first thing to do is to identify the victim, and Cat and Marwood soon work out that there are two likely candidates. One is the young man who had been employed as French tutor to the daughter of Mr. Hadgraft – who is currently Cat’s employer as commissioner of the Chard Lane project – the other is a man named Iredale, who is employed as a clerk at the Council of Foreign Plantations. Both are nonentities, making the motivation for murder unclear, but when Cat and Marwood learn of the involvement of one of the Duke of Buckingham’s henchmen – a dangerous, violent man with whom they’ve had dealings before – they realise that there is much more at stake than it initially seemed. For Buckingham, who hates Marwood and takes every opportunity to denigrate him, to be taking an interest in the murder of a nobody is strange, to say the least, and as Cat and Marwood dig deeper, it becomes clear that whoever the victim was, this murder is somehow linked to those at the very heart of power at the English court.
As with the other books in the series, Andrew Taylor does an absoutely superb job of weaving together fact and fiction, skilfully incorporating a number of actual historical figures and events into his original story. Here, he adds a third narrator to the mix; in addition to Cat and Marwood, we also hear from a young Frenchwoman named Louise de Kéroualle, who has been brought to England by the French Ambassador, with the specific intention of making her the mistress of King Charles II. Louise is widely regarded these days as a gold-digger, but as the author points out in his note at the end, while that may have been the case, that doesn’t preclude her having been a victim; she was young and vulnerable and basically manouevered into her ‘position’ by the French, who want her to act as their spy, “a pliant girl who will do what they tell her in the interestes of France. Someone to whisper in his [Charles’] ear whatever they want to say”.
The mystery is full of unexpected twists and turns – especially the big reveal – and the author paints a vivid picture of the sights and sounds of Restoration London, seamlessly integrating observations about the way the society of the time functioned and how precarious life was for pretty much anyone not born to privilege. Marwood has, for some time, been in the employ of Lord Arlington and his star has risen accordingly, to the extent that he’s become a respected figure, but the corruption at the highest levels has never sat all that well with him, and in this book he begins to realise the truth of the old adage about touching pitch and being deflied. Even Cat – who is hardly soft or unsceptical – sees how Marwood has become harder and more cynical, and doesn’t like it. Both of them have come a long way since we first met them, and their relationship has been always fraught with tension. Cat is tough and clear-sighted, she isn’t always kind and has certainly not always been so towards Marwood, although over the last couple of books, she’s realised that she’s come to depend on him far more than she realised – or intended, and that their lives are inextricably intertwined. That Marwood has had something of a crush on Cat has been obvious for a while, but only recently has Cat begun to feel the same – or been prepared to admit it to herself – and there are clearly big changes ahead for both of them.
The one criticism of the book isn’t to do with the story but with the way it’s laid out; in the copy I had – which was an ARC, so things may have been changed – the scene breaks are not marked, so I would be reading in Cat’s PoV, turn the page and then be in Louise’s PoV or Marwood’s (Marwood is written in first person, the others in third), and I’d sometimes have to go back to work out whose head I was in. I don’t recall that being an issue with the other books in the series.
But don’t let that minor issue put you off. Marwood and Lovett is one of my favourite historical mystery series, and The Shadows of London is another enthralling instalment. The historical background has obviously been extensively researched and permeates the stories in a way that is far more than simple ‘window dressing’, the characters are extremely well-rounded and the political intrigue is fascinating. I’m not sure whether there will be a book seven given the way this one ends, but I’ll certainly be picking it up if there is.
July 6, 2024
4.5 stars. Another cracking good read in the Marwood series which is hopefully going to continue (this is the most recently published).
As the book opens, Marwood is still employed by Lord Arlington, the most powerful man in England after King Charles II, and Cat Hakesby is becoming a well known and well respected architect. A mutilated body is found buried in the grounds of her latest project and Marwood becomes involved in trying to solve the mystery of who it is and who murdered him.
The plot is based on the introduction of Louise de Keroualle to Charles II’s court. She had been based in the Duchess of Orléans’ household (Henrietta, Charles II’s sister). When she died, Louise came to London where she was installed in Queen Catherine of Braganza’s household. She became Charles’ mistress, under circumstances manipulated by Louis XIV, Lord Arlington and others, for political gain. Was she a spy? We may never know for sure.
Taylor writes these novels with great pace and this was no exception. It doesn’t take long for me to become invested in them and very quickly find the book difficult to put down. The only reason that this is 4.5 rather than 5 stars for me may then seem churlish but, for me, Taylor overdid the ‘shadows’ theme. There are 33 references in the book to shadows, that’s one every 14 pages on average, and it became irritating. A small price to pay for such a good read though and I am eagerly waiting for the next in the series.
As the book opens, Marwood is still employed by Lord Arlington, the most powerful man in England after King Charles II, and Cat Hakesby is becoming a well known and well respected architect. A mutilated body is found buried in the grounds of her latest project and Marwood becomes involved in trying to solve the mystery of who it is and who murdered him.
The plot is based on the introduction of Louise de Keroualle to Charles II’s court. She had been based in the Duchess of Orléans’ household (Henrietta, Charles II’s sister). When she died, Louise came to London where she was installed in Queen Catherine of Braganza’s household. She became Charles’ mistress, under circumstances manipulated by Louis XIV, Lord Arlington and others, for political gain. Was she a spy? We may never know for sure.
Taylor writes these novels with great pace and this was no exception. It doesn’t take long for me to become invested in them and very quickly find the book difficult to put down. The only reason that this is 4.5 rather than 5 stars for me may then seem churlish but, for me, Taylor overdid the ‘shadows’ theme. There are 33 references in the book to shadows, that’s one every 14 pages on average, and it became irritating. A small price to pay for such a good read though and I am eagerly waiting for the next in the series.
March 1, 2023
Marwood and Lovett #6
London 1671. The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the Capital. When a man's brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins if an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious that he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate. It's possible the victim could be one of two men who have vanished - the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouse's owner; the second, a possibly treacherous employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations.
Set five years after the Great Fire in London, this is a good murder mystery. This is the first book I've read by the author and the sixth book in the series. The story is descriptively written. The characters are well rounded, and I felt as if I really knew them. The pace is fast. The story mixes fact with fiction perfectly. This book reads well as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #AndrewTaylor for my ARC of #TheShadowsOdLondon in exchange for an honest review.
London 1671. The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the Capital. When a man's brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins if an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious that he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate. It's possible the victim could be one of two men who have vanished - the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouse's owner; the second, a possibly treacherous employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations.
Set five years after the Great Fire in London, this is a good murder mystery. This is the first book I've read by the author and the sixth book in the series. The story is descriptively written. The characters are well rounded, and I felt as if I really knew them. The pace is fast. The story mixes fact with fiction perfectly. This book reads well as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #AndrewTaylor for my ARC of #TheShadowsOdLondon in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2023
For the first quarter of the Shadows of London I was adrift, not really enjoying all the people and gruesome events. It all seemed to chop and change. The thread, if it was there, was tangled but not in an enticing way like most thrillers. Then it improved, the stakes became clearer, the confusion dwindled, and a really exciting historical tale unfolded.
But there is one thing I finally worked out about this series: why I feel uncomfortable with the two main characters. It’s not to do with their peronalities or characters, or their motivation, which is usually excellent. It’s the writing of them. And in the kindle versions I’m reading, there is little to distinguish one paragraph from another. You can go from a paragraph involving ‘her’ meaning Cat Hakesby, straight into a paragraph involving ‘her’ meaning Louise de Keroualle, the young Frenchwoman not even awarded a name in the blurb. I lost count of the number of times I had to go back and reread a paragraph or three once I realised we had changed characters.
And then.. the same thing would happen when switching from events involving Cat to events involving Marwood, although after a couple of paragraphs, I realised that we were now in first person, whereas Cat is in third. In fact, I is always Marwood.
And that jarred me – is this the root of my whole problem with this series? I do not associate I with Marwood. In the book, I think of I as Cat. I am a woman. So the question comes, is Andrew Taylor actually writing for male readers?
If his editors and publisher haven’t discussed this with him, I really think they should.
So good story, eventually, yet flaws in the writing. I may not bother with the others in the series after all..
But there is one thing I finally worked out about this series: why I feel uncomfortable with the two main characters. It’s not to do with their peronalities or characters, or their motivation, which is usually excellent. It’s the writing of them. And in the kindle versions I’m reading, there is little to distinguish one paragraph from another. You can go from a paragraph involving ‘her’ meaning Cat Hakesby, straight into a paragraph involving ‘her’ meaning Louise de Keroualle, the young Frenchwoman not even awarded a name in the blurb. I lost count of the number of times I had to go back and reread a paragraph or three once I realised we had changed characters.
And then.. the same thing would happen when switching from events involving Cat to events involving Marwood, although after a couple of paragraphs, I realised that we were now in first person, whereas Cat is in third. In fact, I is always Marwood.
And that jarred me – is this the root of my whole problem with this series? I do not associate I with Marwood. In the book, I think of I as Cat. I am a woman. So the question comes, is Andrew Taylor actually writing for male readers?
If his editors and publisher haven’t discussed this with him, I really think they should.
So good story, eventually, yet flaws in the writing. I may not bother with the others in the series after all..
March 7, 2023
This is a fabulous addition to one of the very best historical fiction series there is. I love its portrayal of the rank court of a decaying Charles II. This is a significant novel in the series for various reasons. It's also a fascinating depiction of the options open to women trying to be independent. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
August 8, 2025
XVII a., Londonas. Cat Hakesby gauna viliojantį darbo užsakymą – perstatyti seną prieglaudą. Viskas atrodo gerai, kol statybvietėje, šiukšlių krūvoje, neaptinkamas vyro lavonas neatpažįstamai sudarkytu veidu. Kol vyks tyrimas, statybos sustabdomos, o tai reiškia nemenkus nuostolius. Aišku, į tyrimą įsitraukia Marwoodas, tiek norėdamas pagelbėti Cat, tiek ir pareigos vedamas.
Netrukus paaiškėja, kad nužudytasis veikiausiai vienas iš dviejų be žinios pradingusių žmonių – arba užsienio plantacijų komisijos klerkas, arba prancūzų kalbos mokytojas.
Kuo toliau Cat ir Marwoodas gilinasi, tuo aiškiau, kad į visą reikalą įsipainioję galingi asmenys – ne veltui gi tyrimui visaip trukdo hercogas Buckinghamas?
Į pabaigą (na, turiu tokią nuojautą, kad seriją eina į pabaigą, nors kas tą Taylorą žino?) serija gerėja. Pagrindinių veikėjų porelė vis mažiau erzina, vis rečiau kvailai elgiasi.
Tai šitam istoriniam detektyvui jau ir be jokių nuolaidų ar išlygų – keturi iš penkių.
Netrukus paaiškėja, kad nužudytasis veikiausiai vienas iš dviejų be žinios pradingusių žmonių – arba užsienio plantacijų komisijos klerkas, arba prancūzų kalbos mokytojas.
Kuo toliau Cat ir Marwoodas gilinasi, tuo aiškiau, kad į visą reikalą įsipainioję galingi asmenys – ne veltui gi tyrimui visaip trukdo hercogas Buckinghamas?
Į pabaigą (na, turiu tokią nuojautą, kad seriją eina į pabaigą, nors kas tą Taylorą žino?) serija gerėja. Pagrindinių veikėjų porelė vis mažiau erzina, vis rečiau kvailai elgiasi.
Tai šitam istoriniam detektyvui jau ir be jokių nuolaidų ar išlygų – keturi iš penkių.
July 29, 2024
Strong showing.
January 24, 2023
A new book in Andrew Taylor’s Marwood and Lovett series is always something to look forward to! This is the sixth in the series and another one I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re new to these books they do all work as standalones, but I would recommend reading all of them in order if possible so you can watch the relationship develop between James Marwood and Cat Lovett.
The Shadows of London is set around six years after the devastation of the Great Fire of London in 1666. The city is continuing to rebuild and Cat Lovett – now the widowed Mistress Hakesby – is working on the restoration of an ancient almshouse. Having taken over the running of her late husband’s architecture business, Cat is establishing a reputation for herself as a talented architect in her own right, and she and her partner, Brennan, have received a commission to rebuild the almshouse and construct new brick houses on the adjoining land. When a dead body is found on the site, bringing the project to a halt, Cat approaches her friend James Marwood to ask for his help in speeding up the investigations so that work can continue.
Marwood is now working as private secretary to the powerful statesman Lord Arlington. When it emerges that the dead man could be a clerk employed at the Council of Foreign Plantations, Arlington instructs Marwood to find out all he can about the murder. As he and Cat begin to investigate, however, they begin to uncover a trail that seems to be leading to the royal court and to Marwood’s old enemy, the Duke of Buckingham.
The investigation also has implications for another young lady, Louise de Kéroualle, formerly a maid of honour to Charles II’s sister, Minette. The King has his eye on Louise and she has been brought to England to serve as lady-in-waiting to his queen, Catherine of Braganza. It will suit certain people in both England and France to have a Frenchwoman in the King’s bed, but Louise has other things on her mind. Her lover, a French tutor, has gone missing – could he be involved in the almshouse murder?
As with the other five books in this series, Andrew Taylor blends fact and fiction together perfectly. Although the story of the dead man on the building site is fictional, it weaves in and out of the government intrigues and court conspiracies in a way that almost convinces you it could really have happened. While it was good to meet Cat and Marwood again, as well as some of the recurring characters I’ve become quite fond of, such as Marwood’s servants Sam and Margaret Witherdine, I also enjoyed getting to know Louise de Kéroualle. It was interesting to read Taylor’s author’s note where he discusses the politics behind Louise’s seduction by Charles II – with letters from the period as evidence – and why his interpretation of her story is more sympathetic than some.
Long-term readers of the series will be wondering whether this is the book where Cat and Marwood finally get together after what has been a bit of a love-hate relationship. Well, I’m not going to tell you that, but I do think you’ll be pleased to know that, unlike in some of the previous novels, there are plenty of interactions between the two of them and they work closely with each other to solve the mystery. I found the ending of the book quite satisfying, but I’m hoping there will be a book seven as I would love to see what’s in store next for Marwood and Lovett!
The Shadows of London is set around six years after the devastation of the Great Fire of London in 1666. The city is continuing to rebuild and Cat Lovett – now the widowed Mistress Hakesby – is working on the restoration of an ancient almshouse. Having taken over the running of her late husband’s architecture business, Cat is establishing a reputation for herself as a talented architect in her own right, and she and her partner, Brennan, have received a commission to rebuild the almshouse and construct new brick houses on the adjoining land. When a dead body is found on the site, bringing the project to a halt, Cat approaches her friend James Marwood to ask for his help in speeding up the investigations so that work can continue.
Marwood is now working as private secretary to the powerful statesman Lord Arlington. When it emerges that the dead man could be a clerk employed at the Council of Foreign Plantations, Arlington instructs Marwood to find out all he can about the murder. As he and Cat begin to investigate, however, they begin to uncover a trail that seems to be leading to the royal court and to Marwood’s old enemy, the Duke of Buckingham.
The investigation also has implications for another young lady, Louise de Kéroualle, formerly a maid of honour to Charles II’s sister, Minette. The King has his eye on Louise and she has been brought to England to serve as lady-in-waiting to his queen, Catherine of Braganza. It will suit certain people in both England and France to have a Frenchwoman in the King’s bed, but Louise has other things on her mind. Her lover, a French tutor, has gone missing – could he be involved in the almshouse murder?
As with the other five books in this series, Andrew Taylor blends fact and fiction together perfectly. Although the story of the dead man on the building site is fictional, it weaves in and out of the government intrigues and court conspiracies in a way that almost convinces you it could really have happened. While it was good to meet Cat and Marwood again, as well as some of the recurring characters I’ve become quite fond of, such as Marwood’s servants Sam and Margaret Witherdine, I also enjoyed getting to know Louise de Kéroualle. It was interesting to read Taylor’s author’s note where he discusses the politics behind Louise’s seduction by Charles II – with letters from the period as evidence – and why his interpretation of her story is more sympathetic than some.
Long-term readers of the series will be wondering whether this is the book where Cat and Marwood finally get together after what has been a bit of a love-hate relationship. Well, I’m not going to tell you that, but I do think you’ll be pleased to know that, unlike in some of the previous novels, there are plenty of interactions between the two of them and they work closely with each other to solve the mystery. I found the ending of the book quite satisfying, but I’m hoping there will be a book seven as I would love to see what’s in store next for Marwood and Lovett!
March 17, 2023
The Shadows of London by Andrew Taylor is historical crime fiction, the 6th book in his James Marwood and Cat Lovett Restoration series. I’ve read all of the previous books, set in 17th century England, during the reign of Charles II, and thoroughly enjoyed each one So I was delighted to find that this one is just as good, maybe even better. Although it does work as a stand-alone book I do think it’s best to read them in sequence to get the full background of the Restoration period and the relationship between James Marwood and Cat Hakesbury (formerly Lovett).
At the beginning of the book there is a list of the main characters, which I find very useful. It includes where they live and their professions and relationships with each other, including the real historical characters. There is also a Historical Note at the end of the book in which Taylor explains that the origins of the novel had germinated over a number of years following the Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein cases, whilst the catalyst came when he read Dr Linda Porter’s Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II. In one chapter Dr Porter focuses on the career of Louise de Keroualle, who became Charles II’s chief mistress during the second half of his reign. In The Shadows of London the story of Louise’s seduction with its political implications, based on fact, is interwoven with the mystery of the murder of the man found dead, brutally killed, in the grounds of a ruined almshouse that Cat’s workman were restoring.
The murder mystery is complicated first of all because the victim had no face, and nothing by which he could be identified. Both the characters and the settings are well described and the mixture of fact and fiction works well. It is fast paced, full of action and intrigue. The narrative is told from both Cat’s and James’s viewpoints switching from one to the other throughout the book. Their relationship continues to develop as they work together to find the culprit and it reaches a turning point in this book. I hope that there will be a 7th book as I really want to know what happens next …
One of the things that I really enjoyed in this book is the picture it paints of John Evelyn, the writer and diarist, bibliophile and horticulturalist. He was a contemporary of Samuel Pepys. His diary covers the years from 1640 to 1706 when he died. And now I want to find out more about him.
Andrew Taylor is a bestselling crime and historical novelist, and the winner of the Diamond Dagger of the Crime Writers Association, the Gold Crown of the Historical Writers Association and many other awards. He’s written nearly fifty books, listed here, three of which have been televised. I’d leave to see the Marwood and Lovett series adapted for television!
My thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for my review copy.
At the beginning of the book there is a list of the main characters, which I find very useful. It includes where they live and their professions and relationships with each other, including the real historical characters. There is also a Historical Note at the end of the book in which Taylor explains that the origins of the novel had germinated over a number of years following the Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein cases, whilst the catalyst came when he read Dr Linda Porter’s Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II. In one chapter Dr Porter focuses on the career of Louise de Keroualle, who became Charles II’s chief mistress during the second half of his reign. In The Shadows of London the story of Louise’s seduction with its political implications, based on fact, is interwoven with the mystery of the murder of the man found dead, brutally killed, in the grounds of a ruined almshouse that Cat’s workman were restoring.
The murder mystery is complicated first of all because the victim had no face, and nothing by which he could be identified. Both the characters and the settings are well described and the mixture of fact and fiction works well. It is fast paced, full of action and intrigue. The narrative is told from both Cat’s and James’s viewpoints switching from one to the other throughout the book. Their relationship continues to develop as they work together to find the culprit and it reaches a turning point in this book. I hope that there will be a 7th book as I really want to know what happens next …
One of the things that I really enjoyed in this book is the picture it paints of John Evelyn, the writer and diarist, bibliophile and horticulturalist. He was a contemporary of Samuel Pepys. His diary covers the years from 1640 to 1706 when he died. And now I want to find out more about him.
Andrew Taylor is a bestselling crime and historical novelist, and the winner of the Diamond Dagger of the Crime Writers Association, the Gold Crown of the Historical Writers Association and many other awards. He’s written nearly fifty books, listed here, three of which have been televised. I’d leave to see the Marwood and Lovett series adapted for television!
My thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for my review copy.
June 14, 2023
This was the best so far! I really couldn’t put this down, which is rare for me as I prefer to have a few books on the go at once. There is a deep satisfaction in seeing characters grow and change over the course of the series. I still find the restoration period fascinating, as described by Taylor. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
July 14, 2025
Серія закінчилася, а я вже звикла до героїв, може, навіть, трохи полюбила.
January 3, 2024
Fabulous series if you enjoy historical fiction.
May 31, 2025
Cat has a new commission: building an almshouse on some land leased from the Bishop. Work is stopped when a mutilated body is found on the site. Why didn't the watchman see who it was, also why didn't his dog raise the alarm? Her porter is attacked as is Marwood's shortly after, their limbs are stabbed and they are beaten around the head. Marwood is also attacked and awakes a captive. A beautiful woman, an off-the-book slavery deal, two missing menn, secrets at the Royal Court, and the downfall of a wealthy man are all in the mix. Can Marwood untangle the puzzle is just one of the big questions in this book.
Another good outing for the pair. Their on-off relationship doesn't spoil the story and it's in the back ground and a nice touch. Really enjoy these books and looking forward to the next one.
Another good outing for the pair. Their on-off relationship doesn't spoil the story and it's in the back ground and a nice touch. Really enjoy these books and looking forward to the next one.
March 11, 2023
My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Shadows of London’ by Andrew Taylor. I combined reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Leighton Pugh.
This is the sixth in Taylor’s highly successful series of political thrillers set in Restoration Britain. It’s been a couple of years since Book 5, ‘The Royal Secret’, and I welcomed the return of government clerk, James Marwood, and architect, Cat Hakesby (nee Lovett).
Taylor opens with a list of main characters, including their professions. I always appreciate when authors include this kind of information as it serves as a handy reminder for returning readers. While background is provided for new readers, it is such an excellent series that I am always keen to recommend it.
London 1671. Cat Hakesby is currently undertaking restoration work on an ancient almshouse damaged during the Great Fire. However, when a man’s brutally disfigured body is found in its ruins, work on the project is stopped. Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate the murder.
Unfortunately due to the condition of the body the victim cannot be identified. There are two possibilities in local men who have recently vanished: a French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner and an employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations, who may have been involved in shady activities.
Pressure mounts on Marwood as two of Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in his activities. Marwood begins to suspect that the murder investigation may lead right to the heart of government. Therefore, he has to walk a metaphorical tightrope.
Central to the plot is an impoverished young French noblewoman, who has caught the eye of the ageing king. Could she be linked to the murdered man?
As always after the main text, Andrew Taylor provides details about the historical figures and events that informed the novel. I was somewhat familiar with Louise de Keroualle from Anthony Capella’s ‘The Empress of Ice Cream’ and it was interesting to see her story told from a different perspective.
Overall, I found this an excellent work of historical fiction. I feel that aside from a riveting political thriller, Andrew Taylor effortlessly captures a sense of life in 17th Century London portraying characters from a variety of social classes. I look forward to whatever comes next for James and Cat.
Highly recommended.
This is the sixth in Taylor’s highly successful series of political thrillers set in Restoration Britain. It’s been a couple of years since Book 5, ‘The Royal Secret’, and I welcomed the return of government clerk, James Marwood, and architect, Cat Hakesby (nee Lovett).
Taylor opens with a list of main characters, including their professions. I always appreciate when authors include this kind of information as it serves as a handy reminder for returning readers. While background is provided for new readers, it is such an excellent series that I am always keen to recommend it.
London 1671. Cat Hakesby is currently undertaking restoration work on an ancient almshouse damaged during the Great Fire. However, when a man’s brutally disfigured body is found in its ruins, work on the project is stopped. Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate the murder.
Unfortunately due to the condition of the body the victim cannot be identified. There are two possibilities in local men who have recently vanished: a French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner and an employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations, who may have been involved in shady activities.
Pressure mounts on Marwood as two of Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in his activities. Marwood begins to suspect that the murder investigation may lead right to the heart of government. Therefore, he has to walk a metaphorical tightrope.
Central to the plot is an impoverished young French noblewoman, who has caught the eye of the ageing king. Could she be linked to the murdered man?
As always after the main text, Andrew Taylor provides details about the historical figures and events that informed the novel. I was somewhat familiar with Louise de Keroualle from Anthony Capella’s ‘The Empress of Ice Cream’ and it was interesting to see her story told from a different perspective.
Overall, I found this an excellent work of historical fiction. I feel that aside from a riveting political thriller, Andrew Taylor effortlessly captures a sense of life in 17th Century London portraying characters from a variety of social classes. I look forward to whatever comes next for James and Cat.
Highly recommended.
March 10, 2023
It's 1671, the Great Fire of London was only five years ago and much of London is still rubble. Mistress Cat Hakesby and her business partner Brennan have a lucrative commission to build a row of almshouses for a local businessman, Robert Hadgraft. But work is halted when a disfigured naked corpse is found amongst the rubble, and the local magistrate Mr Willoughby Rush insists the area must remain untouched until the Bishop whose aegis the land falls under has sent his own man to investigate the murder. Haemorrhaging money paying labourers and suppliers without getting any money back from their client, Cat turns reluctantly to James Marwood, clerk to Lord Arlington the current Secretary of State, to help in resolving the red tape and save her from being bankrupted.
As always, what seems to be a single incident spirals and Cat and Marwood are drawn into royal politics, treading a fine line between angering either Lord Arlington or his sworn enemy the Duke of Buckingham.
Yet another triumphant novel, exposing the corruption and power politics in the court of Charles II where lives are ruined at the whim of the aristocrats as they jostle to gain favour. Both Cat and Marwood are subject to the caprices of wealthy men pushing and pulling them in different directions. What I like about Andrew Taylor's novels is although the investigation process may be convoluted I often suspected the person from the start so the unveiling of the murderer's identity has a sense of rightness to it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
As always, what seems to be a single incident spirals and Cat and Marwood are drawn into royal politics, treading a fine line between angering either Lord Arlington or his sworn enemy the Duke of Buckingham.
Yet another triumphant novel, exposing the corruption and power politics in the court of Charles II where lives are ruined at the whim of the aristocrats as they jostle to gain favour. Both Cat and Marwood are subject to the caprices of wealthy men pushing and pulling them in different directions. What I like about Andrew Taylor's novels is although the investigation process may be convoluted I often suspected the person from the start so the unveiling of the murderer's identity has a sense of rightness to it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 18, 2023
Immerse yourself in the murky world of Restoration London, where intrigue rules supreme, men such as Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham use whatever resource they can acquire to keep themselves close to the King and the power he wields. The Shadows of London is the sixth in the Marwood and Lovett series and Andrew Taylor has managed to create a world which is totally believable using historical facts and characters who existed at the time. It is a fascinating period which can be overlooked in British history and fiction so it makes this series rather special for anyone who loves great historical crime fiction.
In this sixth outing Taylor places Marwood and Cat in the heart of Charles II's court, the King desires a young impoverished French woman and so those in power realise that by using this woman they may be able to achieve their desires, patriarchy at work.
This is a brilliant, absorbing series which entertains and informs and is highly successful with a growing readership.
Many thanks to HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this proof.
In this sixth outing Taylor places Marwood and Cat in the heart of Charles II's court, the King desires a young impoverished French woman and so those in power realise that by using this woman they may be able to achieve their desires, patriarchy at work.
This is a brilliant, absorbing series which entertains and informs and is highly successful with a growing readership.
Many thanks to HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this proof.
February 14, 2023
The Shadows of London is book 6 in the Marwood and Lovett series.
Architect, Cat Hakesby, and her partner have been redeveloping an ancient almshouse when a disfigured body is found on site. The body has clearly been murdered so all work comes to a halt.
The victim could be either of two missing persons, so Marwood, Lord Arlington's private secretary, is tasked with investigating.
This is an atmospheric murder mystery set in Restoration London. It's full of political intrigue with a great mix of fact and fiction.
I love these and hope there will be more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC
Architect, Cat Hakesby, and her partner have been redeveloping an ancient almshouse when a disfigured body is found on site. The body has clearly been murdered so all work comes to a halt.
The victim could be either of two missing persons, so Marwood, Lord Arlington's private secretary, is tasked with investigating.
This is an atmospheric murder mystery set in Restoration London. It's full of political intrigue with a great mix of fact and fiction.
I love these and hope there will be more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC
May 30, 2023
Cat Lovett has gone into partnership with Brennan and James Marwood is in the service of Lord Arlington at Whitehall. There has become a rift between himself and Cat which he begins to regret and the Duke of Buckingham and his bullies are still wanting to settle their grievance with the "Marworm". Then Cat's workmen discover a body in the spoil heap at her latest design project.
Lots of intrigues within the story as it explores the corrupt world of the Royal Court. How will the pair come through this latest adventure and how with the reader find them at the end? Good reading and 4 stars.
Lots of intrigues within the story as it explores the corrupt world of the Royal Court. How will the pair come through this latest adventure and how with the reader find them at the end? Good reading and 4 stars.
August 5, 2024
Belting Cat and Marwood novel as they become embroiled in a murder at one of Cats building projects that leads them back into the politics of the Royal Court and their nemesis the Duke of Buckingham. Rattles along and a couple of beautiful twists. Excellent.
July 21, 2025
This series had its ups and downs. As is my complaint with most male authors, Andrew Taylor cannot write women characters, however, I don’t necessarily fault him this, because the series is well-researched and never dull. I like the universe he’s woven together between Marwood and Lovett, and I do get particularly attached to some of the minor characters. All in all, an enjoyable romp through 17th century London.
March 16, 2024
i do enjoy a camp little historical thriller
August 29, 2023
I imagine this is the end of this series since the ends appear pretty well tied up or as much as they could be since the books exist in the on-going flow of history. Watching Cat create a place for herself in the world of men is very satisfying as is the fact that Lord Arlington hires her for her skill and the belief that he will be pleased with what she designs. Brennan becomes more comfortable working with her and their partnership has become solid.
Mr Taylor has created a different story for Louise de Kerouaille, a version in which she is more victim than anything else. If you can't see your way out of the situation then taking what you can for your own benefit is pretty much all that's left you. As she says in the book how would she be as a humble nun in France? It just wouldn't do and she would be a stone in the abbess' shoe for sure.
This is one story with rapidly recurring bouts of violence where the victim actually feels the violence and has to recover before he can carry on. It's difficult to explain to your noble employer that you didn't make it in to the office because you were beaten unconscious in the street the night before. Somehow they don't seem to want to hear about it and when you do make it in there are inevitable raised eyebrows over the bruises, scars, and torn garments.
Very good. It allows for the standards and views of the time while admitting of the possibility of slight nonconformity.
Mr Taylor has created a different story for Louise de Kerouaille, a version in which she is more victim than anything else. If you can't see your way out of the situation then taking what you can for your own benefit is pretty much all that's left you. As she says in the book how would she be as a humble nun in France? It just wouldn't do and she would be a stone in the abbess' shoe for sure.
This is one story with rapidly recurring bouts of violence where the victim actually feels the violence and has to recover before he can carry on. It's difficult to explain to your noble employer that you didn't make it in to the office because you were beaten unconscious in the street the night before. Somehow they don't seem to want to hear about it and when you do make it in there are inevitable raised eyebrows over the bruises, scars, and torn garments.
Very good. It allows for the standards and views of the time while admitting of the possibility of slight nonconformity.
September 8, 2023
Another good book by this author.
March 2, 2023
Another wonderful outing for Kat and Marlow. These books go from strength to strength and I love how each character evolves through each book. The fact that real historical characters are so well intermingled with fictional characters is a major strength of the author as the books are written so well that you could not distinguish between fact and fiction.
I am so looking forward to the next in the series,
I am so looking forward to the next in the series,
March 10, 2023
Rating 2.5 stars
When a man’s brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins of an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious that he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate.
The victim could be one of two local men who have vanished – the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner; the second, an employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations who upon inquiries has been selling secrets.
The pressure on Marwood mounts as Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in the investigation and Marwood soon begins to suspect the murder trail may lead right to the heart of government.
Whilst this is set during Charles II's reign, the atmosphere of the book generally doesn't feel like that - it almost feels like London anytime up to the Victorian era, there is nothing to really make it stand apart. There's the odd thing thrown in such as the Great Fire of London or mentioning Christopher Wren, but I'd like more atmosphere. Maybe even mentioning Charles II instead of 'the king' would help with setting the time.
Some of the novel is told from Cat's point of view and then it switches to Marwood. However, there isn't much of a gap, so at times I got confused as to who was narrating. Not all of it is set in London, with the story moving up to Euston (not the London one based on the distance) and the Newmarket area.
The parts with a new mistress for Charles II didn't really add much to the plot even though it's linked to the missing men.
The story doesn't half-waffle on at times and made it much longer than it needed to be. Overall, I was disappointed with the novel. Even though it's part of a series, this can be read as a stand-alone novel.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
When a man’s brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins of an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious that he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate.
The victim could be one of two local men who have vanished – the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner; the second, an employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations who upon inquiries has been selling secrets.
The pressure on Marwood mounts as Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in the investigation and Marwood soon begins to suspect the murder trail may lead right to the heart of government.
Whilst this is set during Charles II's reign, the atmosphere of the book generally doesn't feel like that - it almost feels like London anytime up to the Victorian era, there is nothing to really make it stand apart. There's the odd thing thrown in such as the Great Fire of London or mentioning Christopher Wren, but I'd like more atmosphere. Maybe even mentioning Charles II instead of 'the king' would help with setting the time.
Some of the novel is told from Cat's point of view and then it switches to Marwood. However, there isn't much of a gap, so at times I got confused as to who was narrating. Not all of it is set in London, with the story moving up to Euston (not the London one based on the distance) and the Newmarket area.
The parts with a new mistress for Charles II didn't really add much to the plot even though it's linked to the missing men.
The story doesn't half-waffle on at times and made it much longer than it needed to be. Overall, I was disappointed with the novel. Even though it's part of a series, this can be read as a stand-alone novel.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
May 12, 2025
3,5/5 my least favourite of the marwood-series. It´s a bit similar to the previous ones, therefore a bit less enthralling. But nonetheless is Taylor a great writer of historical fiction.
January 31, 2023
It is 1671 in Andrew Taylor's latest addition to his marvellous historical series set in London and featuring the now relatively powerful confidential Whitehall agent to Lord Arlington, James Marwood, and the architect and widow Catherine 'Cat' Hakesby. Cat is working on the restoration of an old Chard Lane almshouse for the wealthy Robert Hadscraft, who has a beautiful and alluring young daughter, Grace. However, work is halted when the brutally murdered and disfigured unidentifiable man's body is discovered on the site. With costs mounting that she cannot afford, she hopes that Marwood investigating will be able to help get work restarted, Arlington wishes him to pursue the matter. The victim it turns out could be one of get 2 men who have disappeared, a possibly corrupt copyist employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations and Grace's sacked French Tutor.
Influential King Charles II's courtier, George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, a man who hates Marwood and takes every opportunity to denigrate him, is showing an interest in his inquiries and to the horror of Marwood and Cat, his man Roger Durrell is making his dangerous presence felt. French lady in waiting to the Queen, the young, desperate and beautiful penniless Louise Keroualle finds herself trapped between a rock and a hard place, having caught the eye of the King, intent on making her his mistress. Politically pressurising her in this direction is the French ambassador, Colbert de Croissy and the Arlingtons, moves the powerless and despairing Louise is not in a position to resist. Marwood finds his livelihood and life under threat as his investigation takes him right to the heart of government intrigue, lies, deceptions, and secrets.
This is a fascinating addition to the series, with its detailed focus on the crude overt inequalities faced by women, unable to control their fates, and the machinations of the powerful, nations and men. Marwood finds himself encountering the unpalatable side of those in power which makes him feel that he is being inevitably touched himself by the dark side, given he is subject to orders from above. This is an insightful and informative blend of fact and fiction, a historical examination of the position of women, the manner in which they were used and abused, highlighting the present day contemporary #MeToo movement. On the plus side, whilst the world around him crumbles, there are significant developments in Marwood's relationship with Cat, I cannot wait to see what happens next! Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Influential King Charles II's courtier, George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, a man who hates Marwood and takes every opportunity to denigrate him, is showing an interest in his inquiries and to the horror of Marwood and Cat, his man Roger Durrell is making his dangerous presence felt. French lady in waiting to the Queen, the young, desperate and beautiful penniless Louise Keroualle finds herself trapped between a rock and a hard place, having caught the eye of the King, intent on making her his mistress. Politically pressurising her in this direction is the French ambassador, Colbert de Croissy and the Arlingtons, moves the powerless and despairing Louise is not in a position to resist. Marwood finds his livelihood and life under threat as his investigation takes him right to the heart of government intrigue, lies, deceptions, and secrets.
This is a fascinating addition to the series, with its detailed focus on the crude overt inequalities faced by women, unable to control their fates, and the machinations of the powerful, nations and men. Marwood finds himself encountering the unpalatable side of those in power which makes him feel that he is being inevitably touched himself by the dark side, given he is subject to orders from above. This is an insightful and informative blend of fact and fiction, a historical examination of the position of women, the manner in which they were used and abused, highlighting the present day contemporary #MeToo movement. On the plus side, whilst the world around him crumbles, there are significant developments in Marwood's relationship with Cat, I cannot wait to see what happens next! Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
January 11, 2024
Well, well, well, with the sound of wedding bells in the air and the prospect of the pitter - patter of tiny feet running around the house by the sign of the Rose in Henrietta Street, it can tell me only one unfortunate thing, it's the end of the road for the brilliant Marwood and Lovett series.
I had been hoping that even although this was the last book on offer at the moment, that it was just, "so far", but with all the loose ends being effectively tied up, as in - Cat and Marwood finally falling into each other's arms and agreeing to tie the knot, the union already being blessed with pregnancy, and all this on top of Marwood's loss of position in Whitehall with Lord Arlington, makes any future outings, if not impossible, highly unlikely!
We can only keep our fingers crossed and hope!
The final bow, again sees Cat and Marwood cross swords with the Duke of Buckingham and unfortunately, this time the Duke wins the day and conspires to see Marwood or "Marworm" as he childishly calls him, unceremoniously canned from his lofty position as private clerk to Lord Arlington.
The Duke had egregiously accused Marwood of the murder of his henchman Durrell, where a duplicitous magistrate, Mr Willoughby Rush, whom Marwood had thought an ally, falsely bore witness against him.
Lord Arlington managed to get the Duke to drop the charges, but with the concession that the Lord cast Marwood out of Whitehall and his position both as Arlington's clerk and from the Board of the Red Cloth.
Marwood had been warned previously by his last employer, Mr Williamson (Lord Arlington's undersecretary) that taking the role with Lord Arlington might very well end in tears, as the Lord was not predisposed for doling out second chances and would throw Marwood to the dogs without skipping a beat. So looking at it in black and white, he may ultimately only have him self to blame.
With both the first and last books having "London" in their title, we have come full circle in this incredibly enjoyable series and we're all the better for it!
I started off in my review of the first book "Ashes Of London", by lamenting the fact that the author had written for "The Spectator" and ended up giving a groveling apology because I'd so thoroughly enjoyed the tale from start to finish, and so it has continued throughout the entire series, with not a single chapter to paragraph being either boring, repetitive or dull in any way, shape or form, which for six whole novels is remarkably excellent form!
Andrew Taylor has most definitely, both course and distance and as well as becoming one of my favourite authors will see me putting his entire oeuvre on my to-do list!
All hail Andy!!
I had been hoping that even although this was the last book on offer at the moment, that it was just, "so far", but with all the loose ends being effectively tied up, as in - Cat and Marwood finally falling into each other's arms and agreeing to tie the knot, the union already being blessed with pregnancy, and all this on top of Marwood's loss of position in Whitehall with Lord Arlington, makes any future outings, if not impossible, highly unlikely!
We can only keep our fingers crossed and hope!
The final bow, again sees Cat and Marwood cross swords with the Duke of Buckingham and unfortunately, this time the Duke wins the day and conspires to see Marwood or "Marworm" as he childishly calls him, unceremoniously canned from his lofty position as private clerk to Lord Arlington.
The Duke had egregiously accused Marwood of the murder of his henchman Durrell, where a duplicitous magistrate, Mr Willoughby Rush, whom Marwood had thought an ally, falsely bore witness against him.
Lord Arlington managed to get the Duke to drop the charges, but with the concession that the Lord cast Marwood out of Whitehall and his position both as Arlington's clerk and from the Board of the Red Cloth.
Marwood had been warned previously by his last employer, Mr Williamson (Lord Arlington's undersecretary) that taking the role with Lord Arlington might very well end in tears, as the Lord was not predisposed for doling out second chances and would throw Marwood to the dogs without skipping a beat. So looking at it in black and white, he may ultimately only have him self to blame.
With both the first and last books having "London" in their title, we have come full circle in this incredibly enjoyable series and we're all the better for it!
I started off in my review of the first book "Ashes Of London", by lamenting the fact that the author had written for "The Spectator" and ended up giving a groveling apology because I'd so thoroughly enjoyed the tale from start to finish, and so it has continued throughout the entire series, with not a single chapter to paragraph being either boring, repetitive or dull in any way, shape or form, which for six whole novels is remarkably excellent form!
Andrew Taylor has most definitely, both course and distance and as well as becoming one of my favourite authors will see me putting his entire oeuvre on my to-do list!
All hail Andy!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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