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The Grenadillo Box
New Year's Day, 1755 The life of Nathaniel Hopson, journeyman to the illustrious cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, is about to take a chilling turn. He has been sent to Cambridge to install a new library at the country home of Lord Montfort. Moments after the foul-tempered Montfort storms away from the afternoon dinner, a gunshot is heard. Hopson runs to the library to find him dead. His nephew and lawyer believe the conclusion is obvious: Montfort, burdened with gambling debts, must have taken his own life. The gun near Montfort's hand suggests suicide, but there are bloody footprints on the library floor. And there is a strange detail: he is clutching a small, elaborately carved box of rare grenadillo wood. No sooner does Nathaniel become the unlikely investigator than another body is found, mutilated and frozen in the pond. Nathaniel knows this victim well -- but what was he doing on Montfort's estate? The search for answers takes Nathaniel from the slums of Fleet Street to the silk-draped rooms of the aristocracy that roil with jealousy and secrets. And he meets Madame Trenti, the alluring and mysterious Drury Lane actress and client of Chippendale's, who seems to have known not only Montfort but the dead man in the pond as well.
An ingenious first novel, "The Grenadillo Box" is a deliciously old-fashioned detective story, crafted with all the intricacy and polish of a Chippendale cabinet.
An ingenious first novel, "The Grenadillo Box" is a deliciously old-fashioned detective story, crafted with all the intricacy and polish of a Chippendale cabinet.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2002
10 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Janet Gleeson
22 books43 followersJanet Gleeson was born in Sri Lanka and has a degree in both art history and English. She has worked at Sotheby's, as well as at Bonham's Auctioneers, where she headed the Old Master Painting Department. A former art and antiques correspondent for House and Garden and editor for Reed Books, Janet Gleeson has contributed articles to numerous publications, including The Antiques Collector, Country Life, and Apollo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 14, 2022
In this work of historical fiction, our main character Nathaniel finds himself at Lord Montfort's manor on New Year's Eve 1755, installing a library on behalf of his master, Thomas Chippendale. During dinner, Lord Montford gets up from the table in a foul temper, retreats to the library, and is then found dead after everyone hears a gun shot ring out through the house.
There are some weird things about how his body is found however, and a disagreement ensues about whether it is murder or suicide. The manner of death of course affects who will inherit in terms of his will, which was very recently changed.
Found on his body was an elaborately carved box made out of grenadillo wood, which seems to be holding secrets of its own.
Nathaniel gets roped into the investigation and has to uncover Lord Montford's history and family complications to get to the bottom of it.
This was a very enjoyable murder mystery, which laid clues along the way that tied up together very nicely at the end, leaving me nodding in satisfaction at each reveal. I will say though that the writing was maybe a tad much, I feel like the author sat with a thesaurus next to her the entire time she was writing this.
There are some weird things about how his body is found however, and a disagreement ensues about whether it is murder or suicide. The manner of death of course affects who will inherit in terms of his will, which was very recently changed.
Found on his body was an elaborately carved box made out of grenadillo wood, which seems to be holding secrets of its own.
Nathaniel gets roped into the investigation and has to uncover Lord Montford's history and family complications to get to the bottom of it.
This was a very enjoyable murder mystery, which laid clues along the way that tied up together very nicely at the end, leaving me nodding in satisfaction at each reveal. I will say though that the writing was maybe a tad much, I feel like the author sat with a thesaurus next to her the entire time she was writing this.
June 8, 2014
Interesting, authentic read, based on exhaustive research and investigation of life in urban 18th century England, revolving around the horrific death of a grumpy lord during a lavish dinner at his country estate. The main character, Nathaniel Hopson, is a journeyman cabinetmaker, under the tutelage of the now famous furniture maker, Chippendale. He discovers the body while at the manor, as he has been charged with installing library furnishings made by Chippendale's shop. Nathaniel investigates, especially after his best friend, another talented cabinetmaker, has disappeared so that Nathaniel is sent to take his friend's place and install the library's new pieces, on time. The mystery is certainly complicated, and many false leads are strewn throughout the tale, except that neither Nathaniel nor the reader know which clues should be pursued and which are false. Throw in a little roguish behaviour, nitty gritty details describing life in the best houses, pubs, alleyways and craft shops, and you have a story that sweeps you back to another time- a time that fascinates me, but I am glad that that I did not have to eat many of the dishes mentioned throughout the course of this book! I am keen to see if Nathaniel can solve another mystery, and win the heart of the fair Alice Goodchild, in the process.
July 15, 2012
Review published in the New Zealand Herald, 17 April 2002
The Grenadillo Box
Janet Gleeson
(Bantam Press, 2002, $45.00)
Reviewed by Philippa Jamieson
Lord Montfort, in the library, with the pistol. Imagine a game of Cluedo, only much more intricate, in which the clues keep pointing to new and different conclusions. The Grenadillo Box is just this: a clever and absorbing historical murder mystery set in eighteenth century England. Several of the characters are based on real people, including cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale and his offsider craftsman Nathaniel Hopson, the protagonist of the story.
Hopson is sent to work in the country home of Lord Montfort. During a New Year's Day dinner a gunshot heralds the murder (or is it suicide?) of Montfort in his beloved library, and the next day Hopson finds the body of a friend in the grounds of the estate. His powers of observation and his determination to find his friend's killer lead him to unravel the secrets of the Montfort family, and discover the connections between the two deaths. His investigations take him hither and yon: to the boudoir of the flamboyant Madame Trenti, to the disgusting hovel of an aged crone and former wet-nurse, and to Alice Goodchild, a forthright timber merchant.
The grenadillo box is a curious object found in the hand of the dead Lord Montfort, made of rare grenadillo wood, which Hopson identifies with the help of Miss Goodchild. It holds a key to the mystery in a secret compartment. The more Hopson uncovers, the more he believes himself and Miss Goodchild, who becomes the object of his affections, to be in danger.
With this debut novel, Janet Gleeson demonstrates her abilities as a storyteller. Her writing is flowing and precise at the same time. She has done her homework in researching the history of the period, and has depicted it in vivid detail. The descriptions are evocative, whether they be of the richly furnished mansions of the gentry or the earthy atmosphere of an alehouse. The lusty young Hopson is sympathetically portrayed, albeit with his fair share of flaws, but at times I became frustrated with his self-centredness.
At nearly 430 pages, the book does sag in places, especially when Hopson is drawn off on convoluted tangents. Some of the events I found implausible and some too peripheral to warrant inclusion – more judicious editing could have produced a tighter story. More of an intellectual puzzle than a suspense story, overall this is an enjoyable read, with plenty of food for thought, and the loose ends are satisfyingly gathered together at the end.
The Grenadillo Box
Janet Gleeson
(Bantam Press, 2002, $45.00)
Reviewed by Philippa Jamieson
Lord Montfort, in the library, with the pistol. Imagine a game of Cluedo, only much more intricate, in which the clues keep pointing to new and different conclusions. The Grenadillo Box is just this: a clever and absorbing historical murder mystery set in eighteenth century England. Several of the characters are based on real people, including cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale and his offsider craftsman Nathaniel Hopson, the protagonist of the story.
Hopson is sent to work in the country home of Lord Montfort. During a New Year's Day dinner a gunshot heralds the murder (or is it suicide?) of Montfort in his beloved library, and the next day Hopson finds the body of a friend in the grounds of the estate. His powers of observation and his determination to find his friend's killer lead him to unravel the secrets of the Montfort family, and discover the connections between the two deaths. His investigations take him hither and yon: to the boudoir of the flamboyant Madame Trenti, to the disgusting hovel of an aged crone and former wet-nurse, and to Alice Goodchild, a forthright timber merchant.
The grenadillo box is a curious object found in the hand of the dead Lord Montfort, made of rare grenadillo wood, which Hopson identifies with the help of Miss Goodchild. It holds a key to the mystery in a secret compartment. The more Hopson uncovers, the more he believes himself and Miss Goodchild, who becomes the object of his affections, to be in danger.
With this debut novel, Janet Gleeson demonstrates her abilities as a storyteller. Her writing is flowing and precise at the same time. She has done her homework in researching the history of the period, and has depicted it in vivid detail. The descriptions are evocative, whether they be of the richly furnished mansions of the gentry or the earthy atmosphere of an alehouse. The lusty young Hopson is sympathetically portrayed, albeit with his fair share of flaws, but at times I became frustrated with his self-centredness.
At nearly 430 pages, the book does sag in places, especially when Hopson is drawn off on convoluted tangents. Some of the events I found implausible and some too peripheral to warrant inclusion – more judicious editing could have produced a tighter story. More of an intellectual puzzle than a suspense story, overall this is an enjoyable read, with plenty of food for thought, and the loose ends are satisfyingly gathered together at the end.
July 5, 2022
On the historical side, this is a well researched story set in 1755 and centres on Thomas Chippendales's workshop in London. Nathaniel Hopson is sent to install furniture in Lord Montfort's library. He soon becomes embroiled in mystery and murder.
Unfortunately, the book soon becomes ponderous in manner and extremely slow moving. The actual plot kept me going when it should rightly have been cast aside. This goes right to the end when it seems the tale is told and the perpetrator revealed, there is an aside that can only be said to have been tacked on to the ending, to what effect escapes me.
This is a might have been book saved only because the plot itself was sound and there had been extensive research. 2 stars.
Unfortunately, the book soon becomes ponderous in manner and extremely slow moving. The actual plot kept me going when it should rightly have been cast aside. This goes right to the end when it seems the tale is told and the perpetrator revealed, there is an aside that can only be said to have been tacked on to the ending, to what effect escapes me.
This is a might have been book saved only because the plot itself was sound and there had been extensive research. 2 stars.
September 1, 2017
I admit to being distracted when I first began this novel, so I wasn't immediately drawn in. Soon enough, however, the desire to understand John Partridge's death is strong, and you find yourself desperate to see Nathaniel Hopson stumble onto the all-important smoking gun. And even at the end, when you feel all has been explained, you remember just one more unsolved mystery. A great tale of suspense, with plenty of room for false assumptions that you've solved all. This one kept me pleasantly stumped. I am a fan of Gleeson's later fiction, and it was a delight to read this, her first novel.
May 12, 2017
refreshingly different ; Very unusual crime novel - 18th century -
June 21, 2018
"The truth didn't arrive to those who simply sat there and asked for it like a beggar with his hand out. Truth, like everything else in God's world, had to be earned" - Chippendale
July 18, 2018
Fun, entertaining mystery. Not too mushy, I liked that the main character was befuddled and flawed.
August 24, 2022
Brilliant book, cunning plot greatly enjoyed it.
December 18, 2011
Actual rating is probably 3.5 stars.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. But there was something--something I haven't quite figured out yet--that kept me from really liking it. I can't explain it.
It's an entertaining (if a tad predictable) mystery yarn set in the mid 1700's and focuses around Nathaniel Hopson, an apprentice to legendary cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale. Nathaniel becomes embroiled in a murder investigation when he's out on a job for Chippendale.
The writing style was pleasing enough, and the author seems to have a good grasp on the time period her characters inhabit. I also liked the fact that Nathaniel was not the typical 'leading man' character--he was somewhat gawky and bumbling, at times completely petrified over what was going on around him, and pretty much faints at the sight of blood/gore. He went through a great deal of emotional growth over the course of the novel, not only because the events surround the murders in the book, but because of his burgeoning feelings for Alice...the daughter of a wood supplier. Yet, he could also be rather annoying at times. And I have to admit, I enjoyed Nathaniel's character most in the scenes he shared with Alice. I wish there's been more of Alice in the book, she was interesting, and I like the way she challenged Nathaniel's perceptions of things, both in the course of the investigation and personally.
All in all, it's a nice historical mystery that is a quick and easy read.
My library has one other book by this author. I haven't yet made up my mind if I want to read it or not yet.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. But there was something--something I haven't quite figured out yet--that kept me from really liking it. I can't explain it.
It's an entertaining (if a tad predictable) mystery yarn set in the mid 1700's and focuses around Nathaniel Hopson, an apprentice to legendary cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale. Nathaniel becomes embroiled in a murder investigation when he's out on a job for Chippendale.
The writing style was pleasing enough, and the author seems to have a good grasp on the time period her characters inhabit. I also liked the fact that Nathaniel was not the typical 'leading man' character--he was somewhat gawky and bumbling, at times completely petrified over what was going on around him, and pretty much faints at the sight of blood/gore. He went through a great deal of emotional growth over the course of the novel, not only because the events surround the murders in the book, but because of his burgeoning feelings for Alice...the daughter of a wood supplier. Yet, he could also be rather annoying at times. And I have to admit, I enjoyed Nathaniel's character most in the scenes he shared with Alice. I wish there's been more of Alice in the book, she was interesting, and I like the way she challenged Nathaniel's perceptions of things, both in the course of the investigation and personally.
All in all, it's a nice historical mystery that is a quick and easy read.
My library has one other book by this author. I haven't yet made up my mind if I want to read it or not yet.
December 9, 2012
This book has me a bit torn - some things are great, some things are not.
Let's start with what's good: the description of 18th century England - both in London and in the country - is great, done by someone who knows what she is talking about and is a real joy. (Not surprising perhaps by someone who has written several non fiction books on the period.)
What is less good are the characters - does close to every man be extremely short tempered and quarrelsome? would people really go around pointing out the differences of social status quite often (wouldn't that be so obvious to everyone at the time that saying it outright would be rather superfluous?)? and the main character, Jonathan Hopson, is quite nice and likeable but given to womanising which doesn't work very well with the sudden and very pure love he develops for a woman (of a quite independent nature and of course not someone he tries to make a pass on) - a plot twist that mostly seems to be added to give Hopson the opportunity to act extremely irrational (on the brink of stupidity). The story would have been much better had that element been removed - and it could have been without much impact on the actual story!
And I have to wonder (but I really don't know): how likely is it that a visiting craftsman at a mansion would be roped in to help with waiting on an upper-class dining table?
Let's start with what's good: the description of 18th century England - both in London and in the country - is great, done by someone who knows what she is talking about and is a real joy. (Not surprising perhaps by someone who has written several non fiction books on the period.)
What is less good are the characters - does close to every man be extremely short tempered and quarrelsome? would people really go around pointing out the differences of social status quite often (wouldn't that be so obvious to everyone at the time that saying it outright would be rather superfluous?)? and the main character, Jonathan Hopson, is quite nice and likeable but given to womanising which doesn't work very well with the sudden and very pure love he develops for a woman (of a quite independent nature and of course not someone he tries to make a pass on) - a plot twist that mostly seems to be added to give Hopson the opportunity to act extremely irrational (on the brink of stupidity). The story would have been much better had that element been removed - and it could have been without much impact on the actual story!
And I have to wonder (but I really don't know): how likely is it that a visiting craftsman at a mansion would be roped in to help with waiting on an upper-class dining table?
October 9, 2010
A mystery historical novel taking place in 18th century between London and Cambridge. While installing a library at a wealthy Lord's residency in Cambridge, Nathaniel Hopson, an employee of Chippendale, finds the dead body of the Lord. But this is only the beginning...
As an observant person, and later on for personal reasons, he gets involved in trying to solve this mystery. Meanwhile, we get to learn something about cabinetmaking and wood.
The writing style didn't fascinate me and the story had some flaws. To begin with, I really doubt the book would be the account of Nathaniel Hopson's story to Alice. The whole narrative is written to a wider anonymous audience, instead of being an account for someone you hope to become intimate with...
Nevertheless it was entertaining, but I'm not curious enough to read more books from this author.
Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a copy of Chippendale's "Director..." book. :)
As an observant person, and later on for personal reasons, he gets involved in trying to solve this mystery. Meanwhile, we get to learn something about cabinetmaking and wood.
The writing style didn't fascinate me and the story had some flaws. To begin with, I really doubt the book would be the account of Nathaniel Hopson's story to Alice. The whole narrative is written to a wider anonymous audience, instead of being an account for someone you hope to become intimate with...
Nevertheless it was entertaining, but I'm not curious enough to read more books from this author.
Victoria & Albert Museum in London has a copy of Chippendale's "Director..." book. :)
November 16, 2008
New Year's Day, 1755 The life of Nathaniel Hopson, journeyman to the illustrious cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, is about to take a chilling turn. He has been sent to Cambridge to install a new library at the country home of Lord Montfort. Moments after the foul-tempered Montfort storms away from the afternoon dinner, a gunshot is heard. Hopson runs to the library to find him dead. His nephew and lawyer believe the conclusion is obvious: Montfort, burdened with gambling debts, must have taken his own life. The gun near Montfort's hand suggests suicide, but there are bloody footprints on the library floor. And there is a strange detail: he is clutching a small, elaborately carved box of rare grenadillo wood.
I liked this one, but it was not the author's best work.
I liked this one, but it was not the author's best work.
December 30, 2012
This was a fun read. The plot was interesting in that there is actually several things happening. There is the letter at the start of the book which seems innocuous but is really an important thread in the story. The murders, the journeyman and his attempt to solve the murder, his infatuation with Alice and by the way their relationship is interesting as it book progresses, but I find her very annoying. Set in 18th century England, the dynamics of the relationships between classes is front and center,and the protagonist who is the journey man for Chippindales really shines as a smart, deliberate, determine and compassionate individual. I also enjoyed the many twists and turns especially when the protagonists anaylses the clues of this very clever mystery.
February 15, 2014
What a charming book. A whodunnit set in the 18th century with more twists and turns than a maze. Mixing fictional and real characters it features an apprentice of Chippendale who is sent to a manor house to help install a library. During his first evening he encounters the dead body of the house owner in the library and his best friend frozen in the lake with his fingers smashed off! Unravelling the mystery becomes a dangerous and frustrating experience for our apprentice as he encounters love, lies, a puzzle box, secret cabinet doors and being run down by a cab. Beautifully written the author has a lovely researched knowledge of the London at the time in all it's filth and stench! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 5, 2008
I love historical mysteries. I love history, and I've loved mystery stories ever since I read THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES when I was 11. So when I read about this book, I knew I had to try it out for myself.
It doesn't disappoint. Set in one of my favourite periods of history - the 18th century - it begins with a murder in an old dark house and ends with a hunt for a serial killer. Gleeson has a fine grasp of the period - incorporating everything from social etiquette to toilet habits - and the atmosphere is thick. This wide-ranging novel is one of those unputdownable reads you just can't get enough of. Brilliant!
It doesn't disappoint. Set in one of my favourite periods of history - the 18th century - it begins with a murder in an old dark house and ends with a hunt for a serial killer. Gleeson has a fine grasp of the period - incorporating everything from social etiquette to toilet habits - and the atmosphere is thick. This wide-ranging novel is one of those unputdownable reads you just can't get enough of. Brilliant!
September 1, 2016
Hard for me to write a review of this book. I did like it, but didn't love it. The characters were all pretty unlovable, but the story was good, the description was good, and the historical detail was good. (The really only sympathetic character was the dead guy! I am trying to do this without adding any spoilers). The book could have been shorter with some judicious editing---too much repetition and the "detective" (journeyman cabinetmaker apprenticed to Chippendale) asking himself the same questions over and over. I liked the history enough that I will probably try another one of her books. This was her first novel, I think, so I will make allowances!
June 28, 2015
Nathaniel Hopson, an apprentice to Chippendale, stumbles across a murder while installing a library in a grand country house. Rather bizarrely, he ends up investigating the murder himself. It has some interesting and I guess authentic, historical detail, but it got very over - long, and kept on repeating things. As such, it was 400 pages long and I got bored. In fact, I barely cared who had "dunnit" by the end. There was also a rather odd revelation in the final pages which I had seen as obvious from about half way into the book.
January 21, 2008
Reminds me a bit of Quicksilver & The Last Witchfinder so far... (which is a good thing!)
Spent most of this afternoon engrossed in the story - only tearing myself away for a prior committment. Some of the twists are foreshadowed pretty clearly - others not so... and I'm still not sure if Nathaniel is just a bit dim, or if things really aren't as they seem.
SDMB Goodreads Book Club - Jan 2008
Spent most of this afternoon engrossed in the story - only tearing myself away for a prior committment. Some of the twists are foreshadowed pretty clearly - others not so... and I'm still not sure if Nathaniel is just a bit dim, or if things really aren't as they seem.
SDMB Goodreads Book Club - Jan 2008
February 24, 2008
This was a Group Book Read over on goodreads, and I ordered it from a dealer on Amazon on Jan. 16. Plenty of time to read it the first of February, I thought. But it took until Feb. 13 to get here, so I am behind. This is a mystery set in the 1700's, wrapped around the historical person of Thomas Chippendale, the famous furniture maker from London. It is written in fairly uneven first person, Hopson veering from brilliant deductions to cowardly churlishness.
May 24, 2009
A mystery involving Thomas Chippendale's journeyman in 1755 London. A good yarn with some interesting information on Chippendale, the famous furniture maker. Wish I had that furniture chest they talk about in the book....The Woodpeckers on Antique Roadshow would love it! You do guess the killer near the end but lots of twists and turns before you do.
December 11, 2010
"The Grenadillo Box" was a really well done historical fiction murder mystery. The character Nathaniel Hopson undergoes a rearranging of everything he believes is true after one fateful event. The exploration of not only the murder, but Hopson's own beliefs and values makes this a page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 24, 2011
Interesting historical murder mystery. A journeyman cabinetmaker goes out to solve the mystery of his co-worker's death at the hands of a serial killer. The novel really pulls you in, with letters and a first-person narrative. All of the loose ends are neatly tied up in a satisfying conclusion-- my favorite aspect of a good mystery.
June 16, 2012
I was afraid that the period writing would begin to grate. So far, it hasn't. I am a little concerned that I made some guesses about whodunnit at the beginning and that they'll be correct, but I always have that with murder mysteries. I'm usually at least a little surprised.
*** Update: SOME of the guesses were correct, but most weren't, thankfully. Really enjoyed this book!
*** Update: SOME of the guesses were correct, but most weren't, thankfully. Really enjoyed this book!
March 31, 2013
I liked the other books I had read by Janet Gleeson, so I saw this one for a penny on Amazon. It was well worth the price. Her first novel, I felt the characters revealed much more than I thought I would if I was trying to solve a murder mystery. But I enjoyed it & will try to find her other books as well.
October 27, 2013
An atmospheric, entertainingly little mystery that would have earned 3 stars had it not utterly fallen apart at the end. The denouement was as implausible as it was comically byzantine.
So, um...leeches. Come again?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2012
Through richly detailed characters and a well-written story, Gleeson constructs a mystery that is at once as memorable for its plot and pacing as it is for its unsettling ending.
Lovely characters, well-written story and generous language.
Lovely characters, well-written story and generous language.
June 23, 2013
I have a heart for the less than graceful detective who is far more skilled in other matters, and part of the joy of Gleeson's _The Grenadillo Box_ is her characters, like most of us, moving around assuredly in some aspects of their lives and floundering in others. Good summer read.
September 15, 2012
Well constructed and researched. Murder mystery set in 1755 involving Thomas Chippendale and other real characters. I enjoyed the detail and the characters. Kept me guessing until almost to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews