The Fire Court

Marwood and Lovett #2

by Andrew Taylor

From No.1 bestselling author Andrew Taylor comes the sequel to the phenomenally successful The Ashes of London

Somewhere in the soot-stained ruins of Restoration London, a killer has gone to ground ...

The Great Fire has ravaged London, wreaking destruction and devastation wherever its flames spread. Now, guided by the incorruptible Fire Court, the city is slowly rebuilding, but times are volatile and danger is only ever a heartbeat away.

James Marwood, son of a traitor, is thrust into this treacherous environment when his ailing father claims to have stumbled upon a murdered woman in the very place where the Fire Court sits. Then his father is run down and killed. Accident? Or another murder ...?

Determined to uncover the truth, Marwood turns to the one person he can trust - Cat Lovett, the daughter of a despised regicide. Marwood has helped her in the past. Now it's her turn to help him. But then comes a third death ... and Marwood and Cat are forced to confront a vicious and increasingly desperate killer whose actions threaten the future of the city itself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Crime, Historical Mystery, 17th Century

417 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2018

About the author

Andrew 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).

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Taylor takes us back to the 17th century in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London in The Ashes of London, to the setting up of The Fire Court with 3 judges, designed by the king to get London rebuilt, resolving land and property disputes that have have arisen due to the fire. James Marwood is doing relatively well with two clerkships under two different masters, and served by the loyal and courageous Sam and Margaret, his housekeeper. His religious father, Nathaniel, has not recovered from his years in prison, is afflicted with dementia, this has him thinking he is following his dead wife, Rachel, to the Clifford's Inn, where he sees a dead sinful woman, he assumes to be a whore. A disbelieving James puts this tale down as a product of his father's failing mental health. The death of his father has him descending to a stupor of grief, compounded by guilt when he realises Nathaniel was telling the truth.

Marwood is driven to find out what is going on, which leads him to encountering the sinister Lucius Gromwell of Clifford's Inn and Sir Philip Limbury bent on acquiring the lucrative rights to plan and rebuild Dragon's Yard, but they are opposed by other tenants and leaseholders, primarily led by Roger Poulson. Cat Lovett is living under the radar as maid, Jane Hakesby, with family member, Simon Hakesby, a struggling architect and builder. Marwood draws Jane into his investigations which bring considerable danger to the two of them. The dead woman turns out to be wealthy widow Celia Hampney, the niece of Poulson, with a considerable stake in Dragon's Yard, with the capacity to impede Limbury's plans for the place. Celia's murder is the first of many, and Marwood finds himself caught between court and political chicanery, corruption and intrigue, forced to choose between Joseph Williamson and William Chaffinch who has the ear of the King. Marwood pays a heavy price for continuing to search for the truth as he finds himself scarred for life, and Cat is drawn into the web of danger as she seeks to help Marwood.

Taylor writes compelling historical fiction, evoking a London undergoing tumultuous change, where survival is a struggle, poverty is everywhere and the only rights that count are those of the aristocracy and those with political power. It is to be expected that many ambitions, rivalries and jealousies are rampant, with many looking to make a pretty penny through their connections and corruption. Taylor captures this exquisitely with the picture he paints of a London where, thanks to the fire, much is at stake and peoples' lives are hanging by a mere thread. Marwood and Cat are enterprising and determined central characters, compelling and charismatic. The acute deprivations and lack of rights suffered by women applies across the classes as can be seen by the treatment that Jemima undergoes at the hands of her husband. This is brilliant historical fiction, a worthy sequel to the wonderful The Ashes of London. Highly recommended! Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning for the second in this 17th century series, Andrew Taylor takes readers back to the streets of London, with another historical mystery. With strong characters and a plot that will keep readers guessing, the book proves as entertaining as the series debut. As the ashes continue to cool after London’s Great Fire, it is time to consider rebuilding and getting back in order. The King has decided that this cannot be done entirely without direction and he creates a Fire Court to handle disputes emanating from the fire and the vast destruction it caused. James Marwood is also trying to keep things in order as a clerk, while tending to his sick father, Nathaniel, who is still bitter about his time in prison for Regicide. When the elder Marwood wanders off, he is said to have come across the body of a woman in the building used by the Fire Court. His religious sentiments has him brand her a whore, which he recounts to his son, while also saying that he saw his long-dead wife, Rachel. However, Nathaniel’s mind is clouding and he dies in a freak accident days later. Marwood first dismissed his father’s ravings as dementia, but now cannot help but wonder if there is a grain of truth, and begins looking into the claims. It would seem that there are a few who wish to bend the ear of the Court to begin a lucrative building project called Dragon’s Yard. Marwood comes face to face with these men, both of whom are eager to push through their plans, letting no one stand in the way. Cat Lovett has been living under the radar as a house maid. She is pulled into the investigation when Marwood comes to find her and they discover that there are some definitive links between the Fire Court’s decision on Dragon’s Yard and the murdered woman. Marwood and Lovett are in great danger, but must risk it all to bring a murderer from out of the shadows. Taylor uses the time period and a slow, drawn-out mystery to his advantage in this piece. Recommended to those who love time period pieces, especially the reader who finds mysteries to their liking.

Andrew Taylor does well in this follow-up novel that delves deeper into the world of 17th Century London. There is little time for the reader to get their bearings, as the history emerges on the opening page. It would seem that Andrew Taylor feels there is no better way to get involved than to toss the reader off the literary deep end. Taylor brings back a few strong characters to shape this novel, including the dual protagonists. James Marwood grows in this story, showing more of his personality through the actions he undertakes. Taylor portrays Marwood as a dedicated worker, but also a son who has been saddled with dealing with a father whose mental capacity is quickly slipping away. Marwood will not let justice go unheeded, as he pushes through this tale, chasing down a killer who appears to be disposing of anyone standing in the way of a conniving plot. The reader will see a little backstory and some character development in this piece, adding a stronger foundation that can be useful in the upcoming novels in this series. Cat Lovett is again seeking to stay off the radar, partially because of her connection to a known plotter of Regicide. Cat tries her hand at blending in, but is soon summoned to help out. She finds herself helping her fellow protagonist, shedding a little more light onto her character and true colours. There are many who appear throughout the narrative and provide the reader with both entertainment and historical education about life in these times. Taylor has created wonderful storylines that include these various characters, all of whom complement the larger story and the protagonists’ progress. The story remained sound, leaving the reader to enjoy some of the historical references and banter. There are countless political and regal influences within the narrative, as in the first novel, which were also of great interest to me. I am eager to see where Taylor takes us in the third novel, which awaits me as soon as I post this review.

Kudos, Mr. Taylor, for another entertaining read. I am learning so very much with this series and cannot wait to discover more.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I felt when I read Ashes of London, that plot and pacing were patchy and yet I really enjoyed it for its historical detail. Having read The Fire Court, I see that the first book was largely setting the scene for this one. Here we become much more invested in the characters. James Marwood is coming into his own and gathering his friends and supporters around him. Cat Lovett / Jane Hakesby also plays a larger part. The story line was a good murder mystery with a last minute twist. The pace was good throughout and I really appreciate that Marwood and Lovett have not been shoved together as a team. A great piece of historical fiction!
Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to The Ashes of London. A historical novel, set just after the first one finishes and just after the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is a fairly standard murder mystery, but it is very well plotted. There are plenty of twists and layers and one or two things which take it away from the conventional. This outing revolves around the work of the Fire Court. The Fire Court was set up to decide on the complexities of who owned what and who could rebuild what after the fire: particularly in the case of freehold and leasehold. It is a bit of a slow burn, but that isn’t a complaint.
As previously Marwood’s side of things is told in the first person and Catherine’s in the third. I enjoyed the immersion in the seventeenth century and it didn’t tax the brain too much, which was what I needed post surgery.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good sequel to The Ashes of London. As before, another murder mystery for Marwood and Cat to solve. This time, the background is the Fire Court which the King set up after the fire to decide who was responsible for rebuilding properties damaged or destroyed by the fire. Taylor brings this London to life. His descriptions of crossing the Thames and of London Bridge, of life at Court, in the courts and in the city in general, are excellent. There are a few twists and turns along the way and plenty of excitement to keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next in the series, The King’s Evil.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable murder mystery with James Marwood.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Fire Court is the sequel to Andrew Taylor’s The Ashes of London, an historical mystery that opened dramatically during the Great Fire of London and then proceeded to unravel a tale of murder and betrayal stretching back decades, to the reign of Cromwell and Charles I.  This novel reunites the protagonists of the earlier book – James Marwood and Cat Lovett – as they become entangled in the complicated business of the Fire Court, a body set up to oversee and settle any disputes that arise as a result of the rebuilding of the city after the fire.  With so many buildings damaged or destroyed, Parliament is eager to rebuild as soon as possible, and the Fire Court is charged with helping that along by settling legal disputes about leases, land boundaries and other matters pertaining to property ownership.  With greed and corruption snaking through the business of the court, the stakes are high for many – and for some, are high enough to commit murder.

Seven months after the events of the previous book, James Marwood is comfortably settled and is prospering financially in his posts as clerk to Joseph Williamson (Under-Secretary of State to Lord Arlington) and clerk to the Board of Red Cloth, a department attached closely to the king’s household.  He is still caring for his elderly, mentally unstable father, but early in the story, Mr. Marwood senior dies in an accident leaving his son with little other than some confused ramblings about his mother, the rookeries and a woman decked out like a cheap whore in a yellow dress.

Cat Lovett, who ran from her well-to-do family in order to avoid marriage to her smarmy cousin (who raped her) is still in hiding and has adopted the name and persona of Jane Hakesby, cousin and servant to Simon Hakesby, a well-respected architect.  Cat is a talented draughtsman herself, although as a woman, the profession is barred to her, but Hakesby - who is not in the best of health – allows her to assist him on occasion and to make her own designs under his auspices.  At the beginning of the novel, she is attending the proceedings of the Fire Court, partly to take notes (and to practice her newly learned shorthand) and partly to attend her master, who is there to watch out for the interests of one of that day’s petitioners.

Marwood and Cat have not encountered each other in the intervening months and don’t expect to do so, as they move in very different circles.  But they are drawn together again after Williamson instructs Marwood to accompany him to view the body of a woman found dead in the ruins of what seems to have been the cellar of a house.  The woman’s garish clothing suggests she may have been a whore, but that isn’t the case; she’s identified as a wealthy widow, which explains the government’s interest in the woman’s fate.  Charged with finding out as much as he can about the murder, Marwood is suddenly reminded of his late father’s last ramblings – which it seems may not have been ramblings at all.  But while Williamson wants answers, Chiffinch, Keeper of the King’s Private Closet (and Marwood’s other employer) wants things left alone; but Marwood is already too involved to stop looking for answers – which come at a very high personal cost.

As in the previous book, Marwood’s portions of the tale are told in the first person, while Cat’s are in the third, and I had no problems whatsoever with the juxtaposition of styles.  We find out a little more about both characters here, as they do about each other; in The Ashes of London, they encountered each other only briefly although their stories intersected frequently, and in the dramatic climax of the story, Marwood saved Cat’s life. It’s this that prompts her to go against Hakesby’s wishes when Marwood asks for her help, and leads to her being drawn into intrigue and danger as she, too, becomes involved in the investigation into the murder.

My one criticism about The Ashes of London was that I didn’t quite feel as though I got to know either Cat or Marwood, but here, they’re starting to feel more fleshed out.  Marwood is a pleasant young man who just wants to live a comfortable, quiet life as he tries to live down his father’s reputation as a radical and former Fifth Monarchist. I sympathised with his conflicting feelings for his difficult, sometimes demanding father,  and with the dilemma of his divided loyalties and the need to make a choice between his two employers.  Cat continues to be prickly and defensive, but her position is a precarious one; she cannot risk being found by her family or she will be forced into an unwanted marriage.  She’s observant and sharp-tongued, brave and loyal, and I was pleased to see the slowly developing trust between her and Marwood.

Although I found the book a little slow to start, I was hooked within a few short chapters and eager to see where things were going.   Mr. Taylor’s research is impeccable and has clearly been extensive; his descriptions of post-Fire London are incredibly evocative, and he paints a wonderfully vivid picture of a city in a state of flux, where poverty is rife and life is a daily struggle for many.  It’s not essential to have read The Ashes of London in order to enjoy and understand this novel, although I’d recommend it in order to gain a fuller appreciation of the historical context and of the evolution of the relationship between Cat and Marwood.  The Fire Court is a complex, absorbing read, full of political and legal intrigue, high-stakes situations for our two protagonists, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fans of intricate, well-written historical mysteries will find much to enjoy, and I’m eager to see what’s in store for Marwood and Lovett in the next book in the series.

 

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Now, for the first time, I realized there had been no division between the two men in the same body, between the tyrant of my childhood and the gentle, decayed fool of his last years."

James Marwood is suddenly robbed of his father and gets wrapped up in a murder his father may have been witness to. Cat Lovett is attempting to lead a life in the shadows to avoid being recaptured by her family but she fails miserably. The two get wrapped up in the political struggle of rebuilding London and the bodies the chaos leaves in its wake.

As good as the first one, better at some points but also a little sloppy at others. For example, there was no such thing as pencils. If there was common charcoal to write with, it was used by commoners but certainly not by the gentry. Jemima using a pencil is therefore very unlikely but I will let it slide! The book was lovely, I flew through it as I flew through the last one. It holds up lovely in terms of worldbuilding (also as London in the 1600s is relatively easy to imagine with a it of historical knowledge), plot and characters. I have to say I am especially pleased with the bond between Marwood and Lovett. There is obviously something there but there is no rush, no crazy pushing people together but a realistic trudge to something that could be good. But now Hakesby is in the way and I hate that. I supposed something had to be...

The next one is a bit lower on my reading list but the third book is already on my shelves! Looking forward to it already.

[Helen Carolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second terrific offering in this series. When Marwood's father dies he tells his son of the strange woman he followed into the fire court and moments later found dead. Marwood initally does not believe his father but when he's sent to view a body near the fire court he realises his father was right. Terrific read.

[Mark Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent sequel but did not quite hit the heights of the first book as the two heroes from that book investigate a murder at the Fire Court and the death of a loved one. Clever story with a nice twist here and there but just a little unsatisfying by the end.

[Claire Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

More slow-moving intrigue in Restoration London. 3.5/5 stars.

This review was originally posted on my book blog.

I read the first installment in this historical mystery series - The Ashes of London - right before moving onto this book. And while I'm sure you could read and enjoy The Fire Court without having to read book 1 - it is a new mystery which introduces a group of new characters - I would recommend seeking out The Ashes of London first. A lot of my enjoyment in reading book 2 came from seeing how established characters and their relationships developed under the pressures of this plot, and in this regard there certainly is a great deal going on. I can only praise the author for giving us high stakes: he isn't afraid to put his main characters in true peril and let them get hurt. I lost count of the number of times Cat had call to use or threaten to use her knife in self-defence!

The details of London and life in the aftermath of the Great Fire continue to be fascinating. I had a nice chuckle at a reference to the dissolute Earl of Rochester (who wrote some poetry as scandalous as his behaviour) and realised that I did learn something about the period at university after all! I particularly enjoyed the reminder that London Bridge once had buildings on it, similar to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence - a featured which is important to the story's climatic action.

I would repeat the warning I made in my review of book 1: if you're looking for a past-faced murder mystery, this isn't it. To give you an idea: a woman is murdered in chapter 1, but we don't find out who she is until a third of the way through the book. If you prefer your stories to shift along in higher gear, this probably isn't the series for you.

While I enjoyed the character development and setting, I wasn't overwhelmingly intrigued or gripped by the mystery itself which is basically a legal thriller with all the suspicious deaths tracing back to a post-fire property case. Perhaps fans of legal dramas and court-case thrillers should give this a try?

Overall: if you enjoyed book 1 then I recommend you let Taylor take you back to 1667 for some more intrigue in the smoldering ruins of the capital.

[Natalie aka Tannat · Rating 2 out of 5]

The relationships and interactions between the characters in this book all felt forced in order to serve the plot.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent follow up to The Ashes of London, set in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London. As London attempts to rebuild its ruins, a great deal of money is at stake. Murder ensues and James Marwood's father is one of the first to die. It couldn't be more personal - or more painful - for Marwood. Andrew Taylor sets the scene perfectly in what is a marvellous and pacey historical mystery. Review to follow shortly.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely big book from Harper Collins, weighing in at 440 pages. This is a follow-up book to The Ashes of London, but the first for me by author Andrew Taylor.
Site of action: London, 1667 or thereabouts.
The characters are introduced well enough to read this book as a stand alone, but if you like it you will likely wish to read more of the main characters. The way this one ends I will want to follow on to see how things pan out for the main characters.
Our narrator is James Marwood, clerk to two men. Another leading character is a young woman who Marwood evidently rescued from the ruins of St Paul's in the previous book and who works under assumed name for her own protection since her father was a Regicide who had died in the previous year plotting against the King.
Marwood's aged father kicks off the action in this book by wandering away from home following a woman who he thinks is his wife Rachel, long ago deceased. In doing this he ends up entering a building adjacent to the Fire Court where lawyers have offices, believes he has seen evidence of sin and murder in one of the suites and eventually arrives back home with blood stains and a confused story. Marwood is haunted by the mumblings of his father after his return home, trying to remember precisely what he told him before going to sleep. The next day would be the father's last as he was trampled in the street.
Cat provides support to Marwood after more than one disaster in his pursuit of truth when more people die. He is not a dashing cavalier but a determined young man who tries to find truth seeking justice for victims. He must decide which of the two men he serves is the one to serve. The one he chooses is not entirely sympathetic as he tells him: "You had two masters, Marwood. Now you have one. Take care you do not end up with none."
I think that is all I should say so as not to ruin the reading experience for others.

[Keith Currie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing with fire

A sequel to The ashes of London and featuring many of the same characters, this is an intelligent and well-written murder mystery. While it is clear that there is much illegal activity happening in the wake of the Great Fire of London, much of it concerned with property fraud, there is also the possibility that James Marwood’s Puritan father, a sufferer of Dementia, has witnessed the murder of a young woman close to where the Fire Court sits. This court has been set up by King Charles to expedite property cases and to hasten the rebuilding of the city.

When Marwood’s father dies in a street accident shortly after making his confused revelations, Marwood becomes obsessed that his father had been telling the truth about a murder and begins an investigation. This quickly becomes dangerous for him and for his rather reluctant ally, Cat Lovett. There are red herrings galore here and there is a clever twisting plot which leads Marwood to much suffering, both emotional and physical. Marwood’s relationship with the prickly Cat Lovett takes a number of surprising turns. The solution to the mystery is unexpected, but, I confess, a bit depressing too.

[Gintautas Ivanickas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Po 1666 metų gaisro, nusiaubusio Londoną, miestą teks atstatyti. Kas, kokiom sąlygom, už kokius pinigus, etc. atstatinės konkretų pastatą ar kvartalą, kokias teises po to į jį turės – sprendžia Gaisro teismas.
Senyvas Jameso Marwoodo tėvukas, kuris neretai nebeskiria savo kliedesių nuo realybės, tvirtina, kad matė nužudytą moterį. Jamesas nurašo viską tėvuko vaizduotei, o kitą dieną senukas papuola po vežimu ir žūsta. Ar tikrai tai nelaimingas atsitikimas? O gal tėvukas iš tikrųjų kažką matė ir jam „padėjo“ nukristi po vežimo ratais? Vos tik Marwoodas pradeda kapstyti, darosi aišku, kad tas jo šniukštinėjimas kažkam labai nepatinka. Virš jo, o ir virš ne savo noru į Marwoodo tyrimą įsitraukusios Cat Lovett pakimba pavojus.
Antrasis istorinių detektyvų ciklo romanas. Ir, tiesą sakant, maloniai nustebino. Ne, ne viskas puiku, bet, jei pirmoji knyga buvo verta labai skysto trejeto, tai šita jau visai tempia ketvertui. Vis dar lengvai erzina abu pagrindiniai personažai, bet neblogai susukta detektyvinė intriga gelbsti.
Keturi iš penkių. Ne iš granito iškalti, bet vis keturi.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in Andrew Taylor’s new historical mystery series set during and after the Great Fire of London. The first book, The Ashes of London, set in 1666, deals with the Fire itself and the devastation it causes, as well as introducing us to our protagonists – James Marwood, son of a Fifth Monarchist, and Cat Lovett, daughter of a regicide involved in the execution of King Charles I. It’s not completely necessary to have read The Ashes of London before beginning The Fire Court as they both work as standalone mysteries, but I would still recommend it.

In The Fire Court, we watch as London begins to rebuild in the aftermath of the Great Fire. With so much of the city destroyed, so many homes and businesses burned to the ground, there’s a lot of rebuilding to be done! Naturally, this gives rise to disputes between landlords and tenants, and disagreements as to how land should be redeveloped and who is responsible for paying for it. A special court is established to deal with all of this: the Fire Court.

At the beginning of the novel, James Marwood’s elderly father dies after falling beneath the wheels of a wagon in a London street, but not before he has time to tell James about a horrific discovery he made in one of the chambers of the Fire Court – the body of a murdered woman, with blood on her yellow gown. At first, Marwood dismisses these claims as the ramblings of an old, ill man, but when he begins to investigate he comes across some clues which suggest that maybe his father was telling the truth after all.

Marwood wants to find out more, but it seems that his employers – Joseph Williamson, the Under-Secretary of State, and William Chiffinch, Keeper of the King’s Private Closet – would prefer him to leave things alone. He can’t walk away now, though; he’s already much too deeply involved. Others have become caught up in the mystery too, among them Cat Lovett who, following the events of the previous novel, is now living in the household of her cousin Simon Hakesby, the architect – and another young woman, Lady Jemima Limbury, whose marriage, it appears, is based on lies and deceit. All of these people have a part to play in the mystery that unfolds and none of them know who to trust.

I enjoyed The Ashes of London, but I thought The Fire Court was even better. The plot was a complex, interesting one and with the focus on lawyers and court cases, it reminded me at times of CJ Sansom’s Shardlake novels, which I love. Being the second book in the series, I felt that both main characters – Marwood and Cat – are starting to feel more fully developed now. I sympathised with Marwood’s conflicting feelings for his father and the dilemma he faces when he is forced to choose between his two masters, Williamson and Chiffinch. As for Cat, she continues to be in a dangerous position should her true identity be discovered, so she has taken the name Jane Hakesby and is pretending to be her cousin’s servant. In her situation, you would think it would be a good idea to keep a low profile, but with her courageous and fiery personality, she does nothing of the sort! I really like the way the relationship between Marwood and Cat is progressing; it has taken a while, but they are beginning to trust each other and work together.

There are some interesting secondary characters in this book too, ranging from Marwood’s servant, Sam, who lost a leg in the wars against the Dutch, to the sinister Lucius Gromwell, in whose room the murdered woman was found. I particularly enjoyed reading about Jemima Limbury: her background and lifestyle are very different from Cat’s but the situation in which she finds herself is no easier to endure.

I’m looking forward to reading more books about James Marwood and Cat Lovett!

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Taylor at the top of his game. An utterly fabulous title that manages to even outdo Ashes of London, the first one in this series.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Fire Court”, a sequel to “The Ashes of London” is an excellent historical novel, in my opinion. It takes up the stories of James Marwood and Cat Lovett in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1666, each trying to settle into their lives again after the great catastrophe. However. obstacles prevent them from continuing with their chosen paths. These obstacles are a series of deaths, all of which are linked in some way to Clifford’s Inn and the Fire Court.

The Fire Court was set up to determine the rights of property owners and leaseholders to rebuild after the fire. The aim was to deal with all in a fair manner, but for some influential people, the fairness of the judges was secondary to their needs. The novel unfolds to reveal corruption, murder and intrigue and it is this web of evil that ensnares Marwood and then Lovett.

As well as being an intriguing murder mystery, this is also a novel full of period detail. I could picture clearly the devastation of London after the fire; the extreme poverty of many; the disdain and contempt with which women were treated. As well as this attention to the setting, I also enjoyed the characters portrayed in this novel. I especially like Cat Lovett, her feistiness developing throughout the book.

All in all, this is a historical novel that is well worth reading: an authentic setting, intriguing storylines and interesting characters.

Thank you to LoveReading for sending me a copy of this book to review.

[Lora Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This started with a list of characters, something I always skip past. They don't mean anything until they become a part of the story!

However, once the story began, some familiar characters from the first book of the series appeared, most notably Catherine Lovett and James Marwood. Marwood's father, an old man without all his faculties, starts off in a sequence wherein he follows a woman thinking she is his wife, Rachel, who actually died years ago. He finds a body of a different woman and eventually discovers that the woman he followed is not Rachel.

Thus starts the mystery and intrigue that will shape the story. I found the pace a little slower in the first part of the book than in Ashes of London, the first book of the series, but still interesting and I'm glad I stuck with it as it gets better as more connections fall into place.

The pace actually gets very fast and dramatic in the later part of the book and the spiderweb of connections that have been set up throughout the story all fall into place. In a lot of ways it's a whodunnit, but with political intrigue and a lot of very human emotions involved. It's extremely well-written and I will be looking for a third book, which is hinted at by the very end.

The outcome surprised me not once but twice with plot twists I never saw coming. That's pretty rare!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark gritty historical fiction full of intrigue that will keep you turning the page. I enjoyed book one The Ashes of London, but I think The Fire Court is even better. James Marwood is the son of a traitor - a man who claims to have stumbled upon a murdered woman, James thinks it's just his father's failing mind. But suspicion starts to creep in as he starts to investigate. Marwood eventually turns to Cat Lovett - THe daughter of a despised regicide for help and it's not long before both their lives are in danger.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wealthy widow is found murdered whilst dressed as a whore; an old man wanders into the path of an oncoming carriage where he's knocked down dead. James Marwood is asked to look into matters by his boss on the orders of Lord Arlington. This brings him into the orbit of the Fire Court and the lawyers of one of London's inns. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

[Ruhani · Rating 3 out of 5]

The historical period is evoked very well in this book and the characters are good but for some reason the story didn't really grab me. Probably because I read the audio book and my mind was wandering (?) it was a bit difficult to keep track of the characters and therefore the story. I also thought it dragged a bit towards the end. This doesn't mean that I will not read the rest of the series though - maybe I need to try reading a physical book next time.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow going because of the antiquated language, and the plot doesn’t exactly thicken. The first book in the series was better so this was disappointing. Moving on!

[Keith Chawgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Taylor’s follow-up to the successful ‘Ashes of London’ is an interesting read and picks up the threads of his two main characters lives. Again, we are faced with an investigation which leads our man Marwood through the political and social background of 1600’s London.

The book is an interesting follow-up and although it does not live up to the first book, there is still enough richness within the pages to keep fans hungry for more. The characters are well drawn but as this is the second book in the series, some of the information is drummed up again so readers new to the series can be caught up whilst the story progresses. As a fan of the first book, this for me was a bit to repetitious but totally understanding the reasons for this. I feel that all books in a series can suffer from this such as the reason why the Harry Potter books got fatter as the catch up became more page filling than the actual story by the last book. This can be difficult for a fan of the series and grudge reading but for the first time reader it does catch them up.

The character of Cat is still an interesting character and one of the highlights of the series. Although her character is more engaging in the first novel, her appearance in this and her story carry on given her some extra dimension and depth. Her character is probably has the most growth in personality and stems from the events in the previous book.

Marwood on the other hand seems to not have much growth and still acts pretty much the same as the first book. It seems as he is going to be the steadfast soldier with little to no change in his personality. He is an interesting character and he narrates his part of the story in the first person, it is important to have a character that is likeable and steady.

Overall, the Fire Court hits all cylinders and at times it does get bogged down in historical detailing that can sometimes become repetitive, overall it is a good addition and follow up to Ashes of London. There is still room for more to come and I will eagerly await for the next instalment. I do believe that Taylor could be a bit more clever in catching the reader up who are new to the series so we do not have a catch up session from what we already read previously but as stated, this is a small complaint. Interesting, Historical murder mystery thriller written by an upcoming author who does deliver the goods.

[Laura Newsholme · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very readable but ultimately quite forgettable novel that didn't quite match up to the intrigue of the first book in the series for me. This tells the continuing story of James Marwood as he navigates through post-great fire London and the political intricacies of the Restoration court, along with Cat Lovett and her attempts to become an architect in a purely male world. Once again, Cat is incredibly compelling and her feisty nature has not been dulled at all in this second instalment. For me however, there just wasn't enough of her in this narrative, which focuses quite closely on the proceedings of the Fire Court, which was set up to make rulings regarding the legality of new building proposals following the Great Fire. Although this is a fascinating institution, I don't think that Taylor went into enough detail about the intricacies of the Court, choosing instead to include a rather lacklustre murder and blackmail plot which left me a little cold. Absent too was any further discussion about the religious upheavals of the time that had been such an interesting aspect of the first novel. With that being said, this is a good book that is very readable and those who liked the first book, will find much to enjoy here too. For me though, it just didn't have the depth of The Fires of London, but I will definitely be continuing with the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on warmdayswillnevercease.wordpress.com

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Andrew Taylor, and the publisher, HarperCollins UK, for this opportunity.

I enjoyed The Fire Court slightly more than the first book in the series, The Ashes of London, which is unusual.

The setting of seventeenth-century London is immersive and the book is full of historical detail which is exactly what you'd want from this type of book. It's clear that a lot of work has been put into making sure that things are as historically accurate as possible. I also really liked the plot of this book. It's an engaging story with thrilling plot twists and interesting characters. It's very interesting and clever.

Once again, it was the writing style that didn't sit well with me. I did enjoy the differing points of view because it adds variety to the book and it really lets you get to know the characters in the novel. However, some of the language choices seemed a bit odd and the writing was a bit harsh in places. It just seemed to pull me out of the plot because it felt too modern and slightly out of place.

[Juniper · Rating 2 out of 5]

while i still think the characters of marwood and lovett are interesting, i found this second book in the series dragged quite a bit. taylor's writing is good, and he well captures the feel/sights/sounds/smells of late-1660s london. but it just felt too bogged down by the various goings on. taylor does leave readers with a 'what, what now?' at the end... so i that will have me checking out the third book, whenever it comes out. :)

[Karen Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book. I didn't realise when I started reading it that it was the second of a series but it didn't really matter and now I can look forward to reading the first one. Set just after the Great Fire of London it is full of mystery and intrigue and I felt as though I was walking through restoration England. Brilliantly written and so well researched.

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the build-up and the intrigue and the journey into this interesting period of English history. But I thought the ending was poor, it was as if the author, having created this array of characters, could not decide what to do with them and decided to wind up the project. I won't be reading any Mre in this series!