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Sir John Fielding #10
The Price of Murder
Investigating the death of a young girl whose body has been discovered in the Thames, blind eighteenth-century London judge Sir John Fielding and his sidekick Jeremy wonder about the girl's missing mother and follow clues to the racetrack, where they uncover a dangerous, high-stakes competition. 15,000 first printing.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
61 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Alexander
53 books121 followersPseudonym of American journalist and author Bruce Cook.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Bruce Alexander Cook (1932–2003) was an American journalist and author who wrote under the pseudonym Bruce Alexander, creating historical novels about a blind 18th century Englishman and also a 20th century Mexican-American detective.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Bruce Alexander Cook (1932–2003) was an American journalist and author who wrote under the pseudonym Bruce Alexander, creating historical novels about a blind 18th century Englishman and also a 20th century Mexican-American detective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 14, 2023
An enjoyable, lightweight historical mystery!
The novel opens on a shocking, dark and deeply tragic note with a waterman's unsettling discovery of five year old Maggie Plummer's naked body floating in the Thames. That she has been brutally sexually molested outrages and appals the brilliant, blind magistrate, Sir John Fielding, who institutes an immediate, urgent investigation with the assistance of his protégé, Jeremy Proctor, and Jeremy's fiancée, Clarissa Roundtree. Jeremy and Clarissa, the intrepid and stalwart Constable Patley and Maggie's uncle, the celebrated jockey Deuteronomy Plummer (who is heart-broken at his niece's death), determine that Maggie's mother, a gin-soaked doxy from Seven Dials, sold her daughter and promptly disappeared to parts unknown. Subsequent investigation reveals that Maggie's mother, thinking she was giving up her daughter to a better life through adoption to a wealthy family, had been tricked into selling her into prostitution and slavery. The plot thickens as key witnesses are murdered and the evidence begins to point to London's upper class.
THE PRICE OF MURDER is a delicious, eminently readable potpourri of styles - first person narration of the tale by Jeremy Proctor in the style of Conan Doyle's Watson; a finely crafted,immensely satisfying mystery plot reminiscent of Agatha Christie's efforts; and a darker, earthier, much more candid representation of Georgian England's working and criminal class that might have been penned by the likes of Anne Perry. I personally would have preferred a deeper exploration into the criminal class and a story that probed prostitution, slavery and trafficking in children as opposed to the less controversial exploration of the horse-racing class in England which the reader was given. That particular disappointment was perhaps a little more profound than it otherwise might have been had Alexander not whetted my appetite so strongly with such a cruel, hard opening to his story!
The sub-plot of the disappearance of Clarissa's erstwhile friend, Elizabeth Hooker, effectively wove in and out of the main narrative and was used to provide a very cute, clever ending which it would be quite unfair to disclose. You'll have to read the story yourself for that! The atmosphere and ambience that many other writers of historical fiction would have chosen to provide through the use of extensive descriptive passages or exposition of surrounding historical facts and details was, in a word, absent! Nevertheless, the reader is granted a pleasing feel for the period by Proctor's first person narrative that provided period appropriate conversations, motives, characteristics and actions, for example, appropriate to the stimuli that would have driven a resident of 18th century Georgian England.
Equal parts historical fiction, police procedural and mystery with just the tiniest dash of UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS tossed in for good measure, THE PRICE OF MURDER is a thoroughly enjoyable, light, fast-paced read. You won't regret taking a copy to the cottage or the beach!
Paul Weiss
The novel opens on a shocking, dark and deeply tragic note with a waterman's unsettling discovery of five year old Maggie Plummer's naked body floating in the Thames. That she has been brutally sexually molested outrages and appals the brilliant, blind magistrate, Sir John Fielding, who institutes an immediate, urgent investigation with the assistance of his protégé, Jeremy Proctor, and Jeremy's fiancée, Clarissa Roundtree. Jeremy and Clarissa, the intrepid and stalwart Constable Patley and Maggie's uncle, the celebrated jockey Deuteronomy Plummer (who is heart-broken at his niece's death), determine that Maggie's mother, a gin-soaked doxy from Seven Dials, sold her daughter and promptly disappeared to parts unknown. Subsequent investigation reveals that Maggie's mother, thinking she was giving up her daughter to a better life through adoption to a wealthy family, had been tricked into selling her into prostitution and slavery. The plot thickens as key witnesses are murdered and the evidence begins to point to London's upper class.
THE PRICE OF MURDER is a delicious, eminently readable potpourri of styles - first person narration of the tale by Jeremy Proctor in the style of Conan Doyle's Watson; a finely crafted,immensely satisfying mystery plot reminiscent of Agatha Christie's efforts; and a darker, earthier, much more candid representation of Georgian England's working and criminal class that might have been penned by the likes of Anne Perry. I personally would have preferred a deeper exploration into the criminal class and a story that probed prostitution, slavery and trafficking in children as opposed to the less controversial exploration of the horse-racing class in England which the reader was given. That particular disappointment was perhaps a little more profound than it otherwise might have been had Alexander not whetted my appetite so strongly with such a cruel, hard opening to his story!
The sub-plot of the disappearance of Clarissa's erstwhile friend, Elizabeth Hooker, effectively wove in and out of the main narrative and was used to provide a very cute, clever ending which it would be quite unfair to disclose. You'll have to read the story yourself for that! The atmosphere and ambience that many other writers of historical fiction would have chosen to provide through the use of extensive descriptive passages or exposition of surrounding historical facts and details was, in a word, absent! Nevertheless, the reader is granted a pleasing feel for the period by Proctor's first person narrative that provided period appropriate conversations, motives, characteristics and actions, for example, appropriate to the stimuli that would have driven a resident of 18th century Georgian England.
Equal parts historical fiction, police procedural and mystery with just the tiniest dash of UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS tossed in for good measure, THE PRICE OF MURDER is a thoroughly enjoyable, light, fast-paced read. You won't regret taking a copy to the cottage or the beach!
Paul Weiss
August 14, 2017
My first Bruce Alexander novel read, and I'm wondering why I never heard of him before. I'll go back and start to read from the first in the series, Blind Justice. Meanwhile I enjoyed dropping in on the lives of these characters, who have obviously been together for a long time, without feeling like I'm entering a party where everyone knows each other as with some series. The plot is clever, revolving around a dead child fished out of the river Thames, and introducing us to a variety of surprising characters (a famous jockey, a fast young woman) along with the household of Sir John Fielding, the blind justice, whose assistant tells us the story. The language captures something of the flavor of the period. One thing that surprised me, but that I enjoyed, was that solving the mysteries just seemed to happen without that driving, single-minded quality some mysteries have.
February 20, 2024
Great series, & a solid entry in the Sir John Fielding mysteries. I like the fact that the story is built on an actual personage, John Fielding (magistrate) being the brother of Henry Fielding (author). And the recurring characters who support the ‘Blind Beak’, as he was known, continue to live right above the Bow Street Court where he presides. The narrator Jeremy Proctor is a young man of seventeen or so in this particular point in the series. He acts as Sir John’s amanuensis, or eyes & ears, whenever they must investigate some crime. This one weaves together two separate strands—the death of an 8-yr.-old girl and the disappearance of a 15-yr.-old shop assistant. They both seem to involve sexual abuse, which is dealt with in a fairly straightforward manner for 18th c London. Much of the action takes place on the outskirts or even towns like Newmarket where horseraces are held and aristocrats are used to getting away with murder.🏇🏾
September 21, 2021
Sorry, while I love the series, “The Price of Murder” isn’t up to standard. There is a major connection in the plot that I found implausible, and Jeremy’s romance is more of a distraction than an asset to the book.
January 12, 2018
3.5 rating.
Third of this series I have read. Enjoyed the story and the continued character development as Jeremy grows in his role as assistant to Sir John Fieldng, the blind judge.
Third of this series I have read. Enjoyed the story and the continued character development as Jeremy grows in his role as assistant to Sir John Fieldng, the blind judge.
January 2, 2023
While I always enjoy this series of books, this wasn't the strongest outing of the tales. Each deals with the late 18th century judge Sir John Fielding, a blind judge whose Bow street runners and strong judicial sense was very formative in English law enforcement. The young law student and clerk who narrates the story starts as a 13 year old boy and grows to maturity in the house of Fielding, learning the law and helping to investigate crime.
In this novel, the story centers on the discovery of a little girl in the Thames who was raped and molested then dumped dead in the river to dispose of her. The story unfolds revealing all the lives destroyed and the darkness of both the poor and very wealthy parts of London, and meanwhile young Jeremy continues his relationship with another young person in Fielding's household Clarissa.
Unfortunately, unlike the other books, all the main characters seem more spectators to the events that take place than participants. Events unfold that would have whether they were even alive or not. Repeatedly, contrived events take place to ensure the plot unfolds in a certain way, avoiding trials or even investigation to force a sequence of events.
Further, a good half of the book is taken up by horse racing, a huge departure and distraction from the main story, particularly frustrating because while it is historically informative, most of it adds nothing at all to the story or the mystery. As this is the second-to-last book in the series, I found it quite disappointing despite a very interesting first half.
In this novel, the story centers on the discovery of a little girl in the Thames who was raped and molested then dumped dead in the river to dispose of her. The story unfolds revealing all the lives destroyed and the darkness of both the poor and very wealthy parts of London, and meanwhile young Jeremy continues his relationship with another young person in Fielding's household Clarissa.
Unfortunately, unlike the other books, all the main characters seem more spectators to the events that take place than participants. Events unfold that would have whether they were even alive or not. Repeatedly, contrived events take place to ensure the plot unfolds in a certain way, avoiding trials or even investigation to force a sequence of events.
Further, a good half of the book is taken up by horse racing, a huge departure and distraction from the main story, particularly frustrating because while it is historically informative, most of it adds nothing at all to the story or the mystery. As this is the second-to-last book in the series, I found it quite disappointing despite a very interesting first half.
May 11, 2018
Bruce Alexander's second to last of Sir John Fielding Series. What a wonderful book. This was most definitely one of my favorites. There are multiple story-lines in this novel where some are separate while others become smoothly entwined and then surprise and twist at the very end. I do not know if Bruce Alexander intended to conclude with 11 books, but it appears he started to dot his 'i's" and cross his "t's with many of the central characters in the last few books. I almost do not want to continue with Book 11 because that would be the End.
April 7, 2008
I've read the entire Sir John series and am a strong admirer. I think Alexander is highly talented in his abilities to bring to life the gritty, dirty,and often violent streets of old London. I find Sir John to be a terrific character - with the gift of "seeing" into the hearts of men better than most blessed with perfect vision.
August 12, 2016
I really found this tenth book boring. The main storyline was boring and developed to slow. My dislike with Clarissa was such that I really couldn't stand that girl at the end. I really don't know what Jeremy is seeing in her, she is an irritating girl. Overall, this part was boring and I missed Sir John in it, he was more of a secondary character in this part, sadly.
July 15, 2013
Seemed like more about horse racing than solving a murder.
July 8, 2020
Sir John Fielding, the blind eighteenth-century London judge, and his young apprentice Jeremy Proctor return in the tenth novel of Bruce Alexander's historical mystery series, “The Price of Murder.” Alexander’s carefully crafted plots and his excellent use of local color bring Georgian London alive. In “The Price of Murder,” Sir John and Jeremy are drawn deep into the notorious Seven Dials section of London with a disturbing discovery of the brutal murder of a little girl whose mother had sold her into slavery. The trail leads Jeremy into the world of horse racing, as he joins forces with the young victim's uncle, legendary jockey Deuteronomy Plummer.
Sadly, there is only one more book in this delightful series. I love Alexander’s story-telling even when little suspense exists. Bruce Alexander is a good story teller, and his plots are clever and provide enough twists to satisfy most readers. Readers should be aware that there are some disturbing details relating to some of the murders. Set in the era of Johnson and Boswell, this is one of the best historical fiction series that I have read. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a well carefully crafted historical mystery. I would recommend adding this series in order to fully appreciate these dynamic characters - their growth and development from novel to novel. (FYI – the first book in the series is “Blind Justice”.)
Sadly, there is only one more book in this delightful series. I love Alexander’s story-telling even when little suspense exists. Bruce Alexander is a good story teller, and his plots are clever and provide enough twists to satisfy most readers. Readers should be aware that there are some disturbing details relating to some of the murders. Set in the era of Johnson and Boswell, this is one of the best historical fiction series that I have read. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a well carefully crafted historical mystery. I would recommend adding this series in order to fully appreciate these dynamic characters - their growth and development from novel to novel. (FYI – the first book in the series is “Blind Justice”.)
December 12, 2019
Deuteronomy is an extraordinary jockey for he is also a Gifted horse whisperer... and this ability he used to extract revenge upon the pedophile who destroyed his very young niece's future as well as ended her life... for the girl was just 8 years old but more like 5 in stature and too trustingly naive into the bargain. The events leading to the meting out of a form of Justice that may not be legal (but to a certain degree would be Moral and Just) would take Jeremy to the world of horse racing and of course betting... knowing this, Clarissa asked him to bet their meager life savings on 'favorable odds' with a Prayerful attitude... he also had the dubious honor of venturing into the infamous Seven Dials rookery to interview a witness. And so Jeremy's continuing adventures and lessons in life are once again given color and depth in this work, taking the enthralled reader along with him.
October 25, 2021
The Price of Murder is the tenth book of the series and the last published before the author's death. Overall it has been a very enjoyable series!
Bruce Alexander (Cook) continues to offer great use of the old English language and colorful descriptions of 18th century London's places and people. This is a murder mystery featuring Sir John Fielding (a real Judge and one of the founders of modern day policing). His young protege, Jeremy, is entirely fictional. The author continues to grow Jeremy's character from a young orphan to a seasoned young man studying the law.
Although there are multiple story-lines, this episode centers around a diminutive jockey and features lots of horse racing in the English style. It was another good read from a great storyteller, although I would suggest trying to read the series from beginning to end!
Bruce Alexander (Cook) continues to offer great use of the old English language and colorful descriptions of 18th century London's places and people. This is a murder mystery featuring Sir John Fielding (a real Judge and one of the founders of modern day policing). His young protege, Jeremy, is entirely fictional. The author continues to grow Jeremy's character from a young orphan to a seasoned young man studying the law.
Although there are multiple story-lines, this episode centers around a diminutive jockey and features lots of horse racing in the English style. It was another good read from a great storyteller, although I would suggest trying to read the series from beginning to end!
February 8, 2018
Baby-simple plot, only 1 obvious suspect, MUCH elaboration and digression, predictable conclusion.
"In The Price of Murder, Sir John and Jeremy are drawn deep into the notorious Seven Dials section of London, where they must contend with the most sordid inclinations of both the working class and the aristocracy.
When the body of a young girl is pulled from the Thames, Sir John and Jeremy begin to investigate; but the girl's mother is nowhere to be found, until Jeremy's search for clues leads him to the racetrack. There, he discovers just how dangerous the high-stakes battle is that he has gotten himself into-and, when an acquaintance of his own suddenly disappears, just how terribly steep the odds."
"In The Price of Murder, Sir John and Jeremy are drawn deep into the notorious Seven Dials section of London, where they must contend with the most sordid inclinations of both the working class and the aristocracy.
When the body of a young girl is pulled from the Thames, Sir John and Jeremy begin to investigate; but the girl's mother is nowhere to be found, until Jeremy's search for clues leads him to the racetrack. There, he discovers just how dangerous the high-stakes battle is that he has gotten himself into-and, when an acquaintance of his own suddenly disappears, just how terribly steep the odds."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2017
This series has a Dickensian feel in the characters, setting and plots. They're engrossing and enjoyable, mainly due to the narrator, who is a young man working to make his way in the world. There are also several different themes that are woven very neatly into the story, from the crimes investigated, in this case the worst is child molestation and murder, to the personal relations of the main characters of the series.
September 18, 2018
The first few pages almost had me convinced that this was going to be the driest of writing and that I would tire of the proper English.
I'm SO glad I kept reading!
Although it touches on some truly disturbing and despicable acts, the awfulness is handled with care and not belabored. The body count was high, but so was the interest level, so there you have it.
(Now I have to go back and read some of the first mysteries in this series...DANG!)
I'm SO glad I kept reading!
Although it touches on some truly disturbing and despicable acts, the awfulness is handled with care and not belabored. The body count was high, but so was the interest level, so there you have it.
(Now I have to go back and read some of the first mysteries in this series...DANG!)
November 17, 2019
Always enjoyable, but I must admit I'm getting a little annoyed at Jeremy. He's supposedly so bright and eager to learn, yet he is in so many ways clueless and easily prone to umbrage when he thinks he's being slighted (when it's all in his clueless mind). Oh, well....I'll plow my way through the rest of the series :-)
April 8, 2022
Clarissa is determined to get married,, so when investigations move toward the Newcastle race track, Jeremy learns about horse racing and places his bets on an intelligent horse. There are abductions and pseudo-abductions as pamphleteers rile up a mob.
February 2, 2018
Really enjoyed this one, Alexander has a really deft touch bring Victorian England's underworld alive.
August 27, 2018
I enjoyed this book (and most of the previous books in this series) very much. I'm sad that there is only one more to go!
February 2, 2019
Not the most exiting „who done it“, but I loved the atmosphere and especially the language.
October 4, 2019
I just love this series - the writing is impeccable - I have come to love the characters & the time period is one of my favorites - I will be sad when there are no more to enjoy.
February 15, 2020
Wondering at the 4+ rating. Have only read Bruce Alexander's "Blind Justice." I liked it, and although this isn't a total wash, it's a thinner production. You can do better.
July 16, 2020
Wrapped up the series nicely.
May 31, 2021
Another good read.
November 1, 2021
I'm so sad that there's only one more book in this series. Wonderful characters, wonderful depictions of London in the late 18th century. I really enjoyed this installment.
March 11, 2022
Well written, but I didn't care enough about the characters. I have also read "Smuggler's Moon" by the same author about six years ago, and can't remember anything about it at all.
December 30, 2023
Still loving this series, can’t wait to read the next one.
May 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews