The Path of The Wicked

Liberty Lane #6

by Caro Peacock

Private investigator Liberty Lane’s latest case takes her to rural Gloucestershire to uncover the truth of a brutal murder

July, 1840. Liberty Lane has left London for Cheltenham, where she’s been hired by a local magistrate to establish the guilt or innocence of young Jack Picton, who stands accused of killing governess Mary Marsh. Picton is a known rebel and political agitator. But is he a murderer?

Liberty shares the magistrate’s doubts as to whether the right man is in the dock. But how can she help Picton when he refuses to reveal his whereabouts on the night of the murder? He’s certainly hiding something. But what?

As Liberty is about to discover, behind Cheltenham’s genteel façade lies a hotbed of vice including gambling, drunkenness and illicit love affairs. A place where the poor are driven to desperate lengths to escape the horror of the workhouse. A place which is harbouring a ruthless killer. Can Liberty uncover the truth in time?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Aka Gillian Linscott.

Caro Peacock grew up in a farmhouse that, for most of her childhood, contained half a dozen brothers, sisters and cousins, twice as many cats and dogs, no central heating and one bathroom that stopped working every time the spring that supplied it water silted up. This possible bred the habit of curling up in a quiet place with a book, and later, a passion for travel that led to a rather disrupted education. Somewhere along the line, she acquired a great interest in Victorian history––which she considers a much misunderstood period––and particularly the part played in it by independently minded women. Caro rides horses, climbs, trampolines and spends some time every year studying wild flowers in the Alps.

Caro Peacock is a pseudonym for Gillian Linscott.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had a long break from this series and this was a really great installment to come to.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, British female detectives! However, Liberty Lane (Don't you just love that name? Perhaps it's because I wanted Liberty as one of my daughter's name....) is not a police officer, she's a private detective in 1830s London.

Liberty is hired to find out if a young rabble-rousing hoodlum is actually guilty of murder. He's a bad guy, yes, but is he a murderer?

She's surprisingly wealthy, prickly, secretive, and a labor union supporter - shocking! I do want her to find romance, but since this is her 4th book, I need to read more to determine her romantic prospects.

Far better than the much lauded "Death Comes to Pemberley," the villain of the book was a disappointment, but engaged me in the character's life.

[Val Sanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liberty Lane is a woman who won't stand on propriety when there's investigating to be done. With Tabby and Amos, Liberty delves into a murder with a complicated answer. Though her first leap toward the truth should have been noticed by those in charge, it nonetheless sets her on a trail of rape, murder, betrayal and eventually to love; to love spoken and unspoken. To the love of friendship, family and lovers. Liberty is more modern and pragmatic than most women in the 1830's in London. But she's a fun protagonist and a champion for women who can't protect themselves. Can't wait for the next book.

[Maryanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely enjoyable Regency era mystery, with a most appealing protagonist, investigator Liberty Lane. Love her intelligent style and social-justice politics, with an array of quirky, well drawn side-kicks. First one I read, and will now go back to the first book and read from there. Beautiful writing - plain and energetic, some lovely analogies sprinkled in - 'His voice was as flat and level as a slab on a grave', and '...dark stubble was already appearing on his cheeks, as impatient as the rest of him to get on with things.'

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this storyline and enjoyed having Tabby and Amos more involved with Liberty's case work again. I love it when the 3 of them are working together - somehow they are better collaborators than they are working alone. Not sure where the author is heading with their relationships, but I'm along for the ride.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable good story and exciting finale.

[jammaster_mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery finds Liberty traveling to the countryside to investigate a murder that is weeks old. Usually this is a job she would pass on but a conversation that didn't go well with a powerful man sends her running from London and her anger. She is not totally on her own with Amos and Tabby joining her. Amos is making his way back home for the first time since meeting Liberty and there is a surprise waiting for him there.

I enjoyed this story and how Liberty untangled the mess of clues to get to the truth. Justice was served in the only way possible given the circumstances. Having the new and different characters from the English countryside was a nice change. I am looking forward to the next book and to seeing what resolution lies in Liberty's future to her own personal issues.

[Eric Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This case for 19th Century Private Investigator Liberty Lane takes her away from her London comfort zone into the wilds of Gloucestershire . Commissioned to make sure that the right man is due to hang for murder , she quickly concludes that justice is not to be done. But the prisoner is a common rebel rouser , while the guilty is most likely a rich , influential local predator of young women . Can someone this untouchable be brought to justice or should the patsy take the fall . Shades of the 21st Century in this entertaining read..

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good tale and well written. There's not a lot of historical information, though the setting is well established, especially the constraints on women in the early 1800's England. The main character is pretty amazing, maybe even hard to believe, but that makes the story very entertaining.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very slow beginning, but the end is worthwhile.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just didn't engage me as others have.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

will read more of the series but our library only has 3 of the series.

[Katharine Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great addition to the series.

I lived in Cheltenham for a while so I really enjoyed reading about all the places I knew.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My new favorite historical mystery series. This one did not keep my interest as fully as previous books in the series. I will continue to read them because I like Liberty Lane.