What do you think?
Rate this book
Thomas Chaloner #9
Murder on High Holborn
In 1665 England is facing war with the Dutch and the capital is awash with rumours of conspiracy and sedition. These are more frenetic than normal because of the recent sinking in the Thames of one of the largest ships in the navy - a disastrous tragedy that could very well have been caused by sabotage.
As an experienced investigator, Thomas Chaloner knows that there are very few grains of truth in the shifting sands of the rumour-mill, but the loss of such an important warship and the murder of Paul Ferine, a Groom of the Robes, in a brothel favoured by the elite of the Palace of White Hall makes him scent a whiff of genuine treason.
As well as investigating the murder, Chaloner is charged with tracking down the leaders of a fanatical sect known as the Fifth Monarchists. He suspects his masters are not particularly concerned by their amateur antics, and that the order for him to infiltrate the group is intended to distract him from uncovering some unsavoury facts about Ferine and his courtly associates.
Then, as he comes to know more about the Fifth Monarchists and their meetings on High Holborn, he discovers a puzzling number of connections - to both Ferine's murder and those involved with the defence of the realm. Connections that he must disentangle before it is too late to save the country ...
As an experienced investigator, Thomas Chaloner knows that there are very few grains of truth in the shifting sands of the rumour-mill, but the loss of such an important warship and the murder of Paul Ferine, a Groom of the Robes, in a brothel favoured by the elite of the Palace of White Hall makes him scent a whiff of genuine treason.
As well as investigating the murder, Chaloner is charged with tracking down the leaders of a fanatical sect known as the Fifth Monarchists. He suspects his masters are not particularly concerned by their amateur antics, and that the order for him to infiltrate the group is intended to distract him from uncovering some unsavoury facts about Ferine and his courtly associates.
Then, as he comes to know more about the Fifth Monarchists and their meetings on High Holborn, he discovers a puzzling number of connections - to both Ferine's murder and those involved with the defence of the realm. Connections that he must disentangle before it is too late to save the country ...
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2014
35 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Susanna Gregory
87 books433 followersSusanna Gregory is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cruwys, a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. She is married to author Beau Riffenburgh who is her co-author on the Simon Beaufort books.
AKA Simon Beaufort
She writes detective fiction, and is noted for her series of mediaeval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew, a teacher of medicine and investigator of murders in 14th-century Cambridge.
These books may have some aspects in common with the Ellis Peters Cadfael series, the mediaeval adventures of a highly intelligent Benedictine monk and herbalist who came to the Benedictine order late in an eventful life, bringing with him considerable secular experience and wisdom combined with a deal of native wit. This sets him apart from his comparatively innocent and naíve monastic brethren. His activities, both as a monk and a healer, embroil him in a series of mysterious crimes, both secular and monastic, and he enthusiastically assumes the rôle of an amateur sleuth. Sceptical of superstition, he is somewhat ahead of his time, and much accurate historical detail is woven into the adventures. But there any resemblance to the comparatively warm-hearted Cadfael series ends: the tone and subject matter of the Gregory novels is far darker and does not shrink from portraying the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages. The first in the series, A Plague on Both Your Houses is set against the ravages of the Black Death and subsequent novels take much of their subject matter from the attempts of society to recover from this disaster.
These novels bear the marks of much detailed research into mediaeval conditions - many of the supporting characters have names taken from the documentation of the time, referenced at the end of each book - and bring vividly to life the all-pervading squalor of living conditions in England during the Middle Ages. The deep-rooted and pervasive practice of traditional leechcraft as it contrasts with the dawning science of evidence-based medicine is a common bone of contention between Matthew and the students he teaches at Michaelhouse College (now part of Trinity College, Cambridge), whilst the conflict between the students of Cambridge and the townsfolk continually threatens to escalate into violence.
Another series of books, set just after the Restoration of Charles II and featuring Thomas Chaloner, detective and former spy, began with A Conspiracy of Violence published in January 2006, and continues with The Body in the Thames, published in hardback edition January 2011.
AKA Simon Beaufort
She writes detective fiction, and is noted for her series of mediaeval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew, a teacher of medicine and investigator of murders in 14th-century Cambridge.
These books may have some aspects in common with the Ellis Peters Cadfael series, the mediaeval adventures of a highly intelligent Benedictine monk and herbalist who came to the Benedictine order late in an eventful life, bringing with him considerable secular experience and wisdom combined with a deal of native wit. This sets him apart from his comparatively innocent and naíve monastic brethren. His activities, both as a monk and a healer, embroil him in a series of mysterious crimes, both secular and monastic, and he enthusiastically assumes the rôle of an amateur sleuth. Sceptical of superstition, he is somewhat ahead of his time, and much accurate historical detail is woven into the adventures. But there any resemblance to the comparatively warm-hearted Cadfael series ends: the tone and subject matter of the Gregory novels is far darker and does not shrink from portraying the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages. The first in the series, A Plague on Both Your Houses is set against the ravages of the Black Death and subsequent novels take much of their subject matter from the attempts of society to recover from this disaster.
These novels bear the marks of much detailed research into mediaeval conditions - many of the supporting characters have names taken from the documentation of the time, referenced at the end of each book - and bring vividly to life the all-pervading squalor of living conditions in England during the Middle Ages. The deep-rooted and pervasive practice of traditional leechcraft as it contrasts with the dawning science of evidence-based medicine is a common bone of contention between Matthew and the students he teaches at Michaelhouse College (now part of Trinity College, Cambridge), whilst the conflict between the students of Cambridge and the townsfolk continually threatens to escalate into violence.
Another series of books, set just after the Restoration of Charles II and featuring Thomas Chaloner, detective and former spy, began with A Conspiracy of Violence published in January 2006, and continues with The Body in the Thames, published in hardback edition January 2011.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 8, 2020
Murder on High Holborn is from Susanna Gregory's Thomas Chaloner series, set in Restoration London. Thomas Chaloner is a spy in the employ of Joseph Williamson, chief of King Charles II's intelligence network.
England is about to go to war against the Dutch. The narrative opens as HMS London, one of the largest ships in the Navy, mysteriously sinks in the Medway estuary, with 300 sailors and various dignitaries on board. There are only 24 survivors.
London is awash with rumours and conspiracy theories. Chaloner is ordered to investigate the murder of Paul Ferine, a courtier who is alleged to have been able to foretell the future. The murder happened in a brothel owned by Temperance, an old friend of Chaloner's. The patrons of this establishment are a curious mixture – some of the leading lights in the aristocracy, including such notables as the Duke of Buckingham and Prince Rupert, and an equal number of tradesmen, general lowlifes and hardened criminals.
The plot is extremely complicated. Murders become ever more frequent, together with an increasing number of characters. I must confess I had some difficulty in remembering who some of them were as the plot progressed. As well as trying to solve all the murders, Chaloner is told to investigate a group of dissidents known as the Fifth Monarchists, who may be planning an insurrection at Easter.
Chaloner infiltrates the group by masquerading as an explosives expert (which is partially true). As he gets to know more of the Fifth Monarchists, he realises there are tentacles connecting them to the murders - in fact, nearly everyone he knows is implicated, including the Duke of Buckingham and, most of all, Prince Rupert, who comes out as a very nasty piece of work. The Fifth Monarchists, he soon discovers, intend to blow up the Tower of London, kill the King and replace him with the resurrected Jesus.
Extraordinary events follow one another in rapid succession. Chaloner is variously almost killed by shooting, stabbing, drowning and strangling, but miraculously escapes.
I have to say I found some of these adventures very unconvincing, but when I eventually got to the end (it is a longish book), and read the author's Historical Note, I was astonished to discover that most of the huge cast of characters were real people, and many of the events actually happened.
I certainly commend Susannah Gregory for her brilliant research. I couldn't put the book down!
England is about to go to war against the Dutch. The narrative opens as HMS London, one of the largest ships in the Navy, mysteriously sinks in the Medway estuary, with 300 sailors and various dignitaries on board. There are only 24 survivors.
London is awash with rumours and conspiracy theories. Chaloner is ordered to investigate the murder of Paul Ferine, a courtier who is alleged to have been able to foretell the future. The murder happened in a brothel owned by Temperance, an old friend of Chaloner's. The patrons of this establishment are a curious mixture – some of the leading lights in the aristocracy, including such notables as the Duke of Buckingham and Prince Rupert, and an equal number of tradesmen, general lowlifes and hardened criminals.
The plot is extremely complicated. Murders become ever more frequent, together with an increasing number of characters. I must confess I had some difficulty in remembering who some of them were as the plot progressed. As well as trying to solve all the murders, Chaloner is told to investigate a group of dissidents known as the Fifth Monarchists, who may be planning an insurrection at Easter.
Chaloner infiltrates the group by masquerading as an explosives expert (which is partially true). As he gets to know more of the Fifth Monarchists, he realises there are tentacles connecting them to the murders - in fact, nearly everyone he knows is implicated, including the Duke of Buckingham and, most of all, Prince Rupert, who comes out as a very nasty piece of work. The Fifth Monarchists, he soon discovers, intend to blow up the Tower of London, kill the King and replace him with the resurrected Jesus.
Extraordinary events follow one another in rapid succession. Chaloner is variously almost killed by shooting, stabbing, drowning and strangling, but miraculously escapes.
I have to say I found some of these adventures very unconvincing, but when I eventually got to the end (it is a longish book), and read the author's Historical Note, I was astonished to discover that most of the huge cast of characters were real people, and many of the events actually happened.
I certainly commend Susannah Gregory for her brilliant research. I couldn't put the book down!
November 9, 2021
Read this book in 2014, and its the 9th volume of the wonderful "Thomas Chaloner" series.
Set in March, Ad 1665, and London in uproar, when facing a possible war with the Dutch and from rumours of sedition and conspiracy.
Also the sinking of one of the largest ships of the navy in the Thames is producing a lot of tension.
The murder of, Paul Ferine, a Groom of the Robes, in a brothel favoured by the elite of White Hall Palace feels for Thomas Chaloner as a kind act of treason.
Starting his investigations about this murder, he's also instructed to track down a fanatical sect, calling themselves "The Fifth Monarchists", and try to infiltrate in this group of conspirators.
The more he becomes involved with the Fifth Monarchists and their meetings on High Holborn, he will become more and more convinced that the murder of Paul Ferine and people who are supposed to defend the realm are connected.
What will follow is an intriguing and exciting mystery, in which Thomas Chaloner has to use his wits and cunning to entangle this web of treason and death, and before he's able to solve this case of conspiracy and murder, he has to survive several dangerous situations before he's able to reveal the culprit(s) and save his country.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Terrific High Holborn Murder Mystery"!
Set in March, Ad 1665, and London in uproar, when facing a possible war with the Dutch and from rumours of sedition and conspiracy.
Also the sinking of one of the largest ships of the navy in the Thames is producing a lot of tension.
The murder of, Paul Ferine, a Groom of the Robes, in a brothel favoured by the elite of White Hall Palace feels for Thomas Chaloner as a kind act of treason.
Starting his investigations about this murder, he's also instructed to track down a fanatical sect, calling themselves "The Fifth Monarchists", and try to infiltrate in this group of conspirators.
The more he becomes involved with the Fifth Monarchists and their meetings on High Holborn, he will become more and more convinced that the murder of Paul Ferine and people who are supposed to defend the realm are connected.
What will follow is an intriguing and exciting mystery, in which Thomas Chaloner has to use his wits and cunning to entangle this web of treason and death, and before he's able to solve this case of conspiracy and murder, he has to survive several dangerous situations before he's able to reveal the culprit(s) and save his country.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Terrific High Holborn Murder Mystery"!
July 10, 2024
This is the first book of the series I've read. I was amazed at the intricate details of going from place to place (to place ) in London and of the absolute foolishness enacted by the major players, all while holding so much power and there being so much at stake. I was interested to read the author's afterword regarding the actual history of the events. She certainly did an excellent job of weaving the story and building the characters so that the ending was something of a surprise.
May 6, 2016
This is the 9th in Gregory's Thomas Chaloner murder/mysteries set in Charles II's England. I love her books because they are chock-full of actual people and events. This story takes place in 1665 after England has just declared war with the Dutch in hopes of gaining trade route supremacy. The HMS London, one of the largest ships in the Navy mysteriously blows up, sending 300 to their watery graves. In addition to investigating that disaster, Thomas is charged with infiltrating a group of plotters, the Fifth Monarchists, who want to depose Charles II and replace him with 'King Jesus'. Welcome to the world of spies, double agents, dabblers in the occult, liars, thieves, religious fanatics, corrupt officials and dissipated courtiers!
March 14, 2015
Another enjoyable romp with thomas chaloner during the reign of Charles II and illustrative of the fact that people always yearn for equity. Lots of skullduggery and misdirection of who did what to who, but a fun read and always educational. Love the mystery of whodunit with the ship.
February 11, 2022
Thomas Chaloner is asked to infiltrate a sect of fanatics called the Fifth Monarchists, who are planning to rebel against Charles II and set up a new Holy Kingdom of peace and justice. When a courtier called Paul Ferine is found murdered in a brothel, Chaloner begins to wonder if there are connections to the Fifth Monarchists, and a wider conspiracy in play.
Susanna Gregory brings Restoration London to life, with its brothels, coffee houses, palaces and hovels. The instability of the era is constantly present, with spies and traitors everywhere, religious turmoil prevalent, and a grumbling populace resentful of a profligate King and his arrogant Court. Chaloner is a likeable hero and the other regular characters of the series - his wife Hannah, the surgeon Wiseman, and the spymasters Williamson and Thurloe - make memorable appearances here.
The plot is rather convoluted and involves several connected threads that only come together at the end, with a dizzying amount of double crossing and betrayal. Witchcraft, military secrets and religious fanaticism all have a part to play, and I had to concentrate to keep track of all the characters and their roles, but it was an enjoyable task and I found this an entertaining adventure.
Susanna Gregory brings Restoration London to life, with its brothels, coffee houses, palaces and hovels. The instability of the era is constantly present, with spies and traitors everywhere, religious turmoil prevalent, and a grumbling populace resentful of a profligate King and his arrogant Court. Chaloner is a likeable hero and the other regular characters of the series - his wife Hannah, the surgeon Wiseman, and the spymasters Williamson and Thurloe - make memorable appearances here.
The plot is rather convoluted and involves several connected threads that only come together at the end, with a dizzying amount of double crossing and betrayal. Witchcraft, military secrets and religious fanaticism all have a part to play, and I had to concentrate to keep track of all the characters and their roles, but it was an enjoyable task and I found this an entertaining adventure.
December 18, 2019
Book 9 in the Thomas Chaloner series. Chaloner has recently returned from Russia. Due to a shipwreck, his mission was unsuccessful, and this gives the Earl of Clarendon the excuse to remove him from the payroll, giving him an alibi to investigate a plot by the fifth monarchists to rid England of Charles II and make way for the coming of “King Jesus”. He is investigating the plot at the instructions of Prince Rupert, Spymaster Williamson, and the Earl of Clarendon. His “removal” from Clarendon’s payroll enables him to join the rebel ranks undercover, as someone who is wanting revenge.
Meanwhile, a murder takes place in Temperance’s club, which sees a significant dip in the club’s popularity. Temperance asks Tom to investigate the murder for her, so she can try rebuild her business.
A sorcerer/physician in the pay of the Duke of Buckingham, called Dr Lambe has been predicting all kinds of sinister events, including deaths. Something doesn’t add up about him though.
Chaloner thinks that all these crimes are somehow linked, but he has to solve them to discover how.
Meanwhile, a murder takes place in Temperance’s club, which sees a significant dip in the club’s popularity. Temperance asks Tom to investigate the murder for her, so she can try rebuild her business.
A sorcerer/physician in the pay of the Duke of Buckingham, called Dr Lambe has been predicting all kinds of sinister events, including deaths. Something doesn’t add up about him though.
Chaloner thinks that all these crimes are somehow linked, but he has to solve them to discover how.
December 7, 2020
The plot was too slow throughout - with multiple subplots that served only to confuse rather that intrigue. Some characters were so ridiculous even Dickens would have blushed to pen them, and in an historical thriller they jarred rather than added any kind of picturesque element. Occasional anachronisms in characters sensibilities (this is meant to be the 17th century not the 20th) further spoiled the atmosphere. Things improved in the last quarter of the book when the pace picked up and some of the sub-plots were cleared out of the way, hence three stars as opposed to two or even one, however this would have been a better book the author had cut the length in half by chopping out the sub-plots and dropping the parade of sub-Dickens grotesques in favour of a shaper narrative and more believable characters
November 18, 2017
didn’t enjoy it. Not sure why but had trouble getting it finished
December 14, 2021
Cool and scary
February 24, 2025
Plots within plots within plots!
Fascinated and intrigued how the author weaved the story together with actual historical figures and events with fiction.
Fascinated and intrigued how the author weaved the story together with actual historical figures and events with fiction.
January 29, 2014
I was looking forward to reading the latest Tom Chaloner mystery and I was definitely not disappointed. England is now at war with the Dutch and Thomas is back from his ill-fated mission to Russia where, because of a shipwreck, he lost the missives and jewels he carried on behalf of his master, the Earl of Clarendon. This is used as an excuse to to remove him from the Earl's payroll, thereby giving him an alibi to investigate the activities of a seditious group of Fifth Monarchists for Williamson, the Spymaster, the untimely death of Ferine, a Groom of the Robes, in Temperance's Gentleman's Club and the mysterious sinking of the Warship, London, in the Thames with the loss of many lives.
Unfortunately, Thomas is saddled with an inept sidekick, the revolutionary turncoat Leving and struggles to discover the exact plans of the Fifth Monarchists to blow up London on Easter Sunday. It doesn't help that Williamson, Prince Rupert and Clarendon are obviously keeping crucial information from him pertaining to the manufacture of a new type of cannon which Thomas comes to suspect May be connected to the sinking of the London and the uprising planned for Easter Sunday. At the same time, High Holborn appears to be the focus of a series of ghostly sightings of the deceased Eliza Hatton and the court is full of the ghoulish predictions of a mystic named Lambe, employed by the Duke of Buckingham, whose prophecies appear to be coming true.
All these events and the protagonists seem to be connected to Temperence's club which is deserted by its rich clientele because of Ferine's death and then the murder of its most popular prostitute, Snowflake (real name Consti Pate). She happens to be related to the mild mannered Fifth Monarchist, Atkinson and has a stepfather in Temple Mills, Hackney, the location of some mysterious, heavily guarded industry with links to Prince Rupert and Lawson, Admiral of the doomed warship, London.
Once again, Thomas is racing against the clock as he has only a few days before Easter Sunday to avert the atrocity planned by the Fifth Monarchists and to ensure Temperence is not ruined by lack of business at the club. To make matters worse, Thomas is becoming disenchanted with his wife, the Queen's Lady in Waiting, Hannah, whose lavish spending has them mired in debt, a difficulty exacerbated by Thomas being without a salary for the duration of his investigation.
I really like that a nonconformist sect such as the Fifth Monarchists have such a prominent role in this mystery. Their belief in the Last Millenium, the Glorious Design and the installation of King Jesus on the throne, as well as more mundane objectives like full employment and justice for all, give a compelling picture of the religious troubles facing 17th century England and the disenchantment of ordinary people with the dissolute Restoration monarchy. The growing friendship between Wiseman the surgeon and Thomas is a plus, as he has so few people he can trust except Thurloe and is always surrounded by deceit, false friends and betrayal. The fleshing out of the characters of Prince Rupert and the Duke of Buckingham as alchemists and scientific experimenters is also welcome and the fascination that these subjects held is well conveyed.
This book is superb and skillfully weaves real people and events with fictional characters into an inventive plot. It is sharp, fast-paced, politically astute and also has real humour. Who knows where Miss Gregory will take Thomas in future books, but I do hope he survives to have more escapades and perhaps makes some money for once without compromising his principles.
Unfortunately, Thomas is saddled with an inept sidekick, the revolutionary turncoat Leving and struggles to discover the exact plans of the Fifth Monarchists to blow up London on Easter Sunday. It doesn't help that Williamson, Prince Rupert and Clarendon are obviously keeping crucial information from him pertaining to the manufacture of a new type of cannon which Thomas comes to suspect May be connected to the sinking of the London and the uprising planned for Easter Sunday. At the same time, High Holborn appears to be the focus of a series of ghostly sightings of the deceased Eliza Hatton and the court is full of the ghoulish predictions of a mystic named Lambe, employed by the Duke of Buckingham, whose prophecies appear to be coming true.
All these events and the protagonists seem to be connected to Temperence's club which is deserted by its rich clientele because of Ferine's death and then the murder of its most popular prostitute, Snowflake (real name Consti Pate). She happens to be related to the mild mannered Fifth Monarchist, Atkinson and has a stepfather in Temple Mills, Hackney, the location of some mysterious, heavily guarded industry with links to Prince Rupert and Lawson, Admiral of the doomed warship, London.
Once again, Thomas is racing against the clock as he has only a few days before Easter Sunday to avert the atrocity planned by the Fifth Monarchists and to ensure Temperence is not ruined by lack of business at the club. To make matters worse, Thomas is becoming disenchanted with his wife, the Queen's Lady in Waiting, Hannah, whose lavish spending has them mired in debt, a difficulty exacerbated by Thomas being without a salary for the duration of his investigation.
I really like that a nonconformist sect such as the Fifth Monarchists have such a prominent role in this mystery. Their belief in the Last Millenium, the Glorious Design and the installation of King Jesus on the throne, as well as more mundane objectives like full employment and justice for all, give a compelling picture of the religious troubles facing 17th century England and the disenchantment of ordinary people with the dissolute Restoration monarchy. The growing friendship between Wiseman the surgeon and Thomas is a plus, as he has so few people he can trust except Thurloe and is always surrounded by deceit, false friends and betrayal. The fleshing out of the characters of Prince Rupert and the Duke of Buckingham as alchemists and scientific experimenters is also welcome and the fascination that these subjects held is well conveyed.
This book is superb and skillfully weaves real people and events with fictional characters into an inventive plot. It is sharp, fast-paced, politically astute and also has real humour. Who knows where Miss Gregory will take Thomas in future books, but I do hope he survives to have more escapades and perhaps makes some money for once without compromising his principles.
October 1, 2015
This book is number 9 in the Thomas Chaloner series, and it's just as exciting and deadly as the other books in this wonderful series. The time is spring 1665 in London. King Charles II is on the throne and his subjects are getting tired of his profligate ways. There is a lot of mumbling and grumbling about the king at this time. Lots of weird and wacky sects have formed because people are sick of the high taxation and the wasteful spending. Thomas gets drawn into a particularly fanatical one as he tries to find out what it is the Fifth Monarchy has planned. He uncovers lots of treacherous plots and not all are from the Fifth Monarchy. As he digs deeper he finds it touches all levels, including the King's Privy Council and even a family member of the King. Chaloner find himself in grave danger as the plot appears to become more and more far-reaching. Ms. Gregory's books are based on true historical happenings that she weaves into her very intricate and tight plots. Always a delight.
April 30, 2015
Ah, love Chaloner, one of my fave 1600's characters, a spymaster of the highest caliber. Gregory bring him to life w/ his colorful tolerance of his new wife, Hannah, and his relationship w/ his old friend, the x-spymaster. Even though he works for a man he is not fond of, he does his job and that of many others as well. In this case, he was discharged from service so he could have an excuse to infiltrate a uprising of Religious fanatics against the current political reign (sounds familiar somehow). He has a side line job of finding out who killed one of his friend's women of pleasure at her club, and a man killed there that was hurting her business. Then a friend asks him to find out who sabotaged his ship and killed 300 sailors working for him. So he is pulled in many directions and danger, of course is always close at hand.
March 21, 2016
I enjoy all of Susanna Gregory's historical novels and I am slowly working my way through them all. I have been reading 2 separate series, one of which is set in the mid 1300's in Cambridge University while the second series is set in Restoration London, involving the exploits of a spy named Thomas Chaloner. This one is about a suspected plot to overthrow the government. As usual in Gregory's novels there are lots of shady, ruthless characters and lots of risky action as Chaloner tracks down who is doing what. It is, as usual, complex and chaotic but with such colourful characters it is easy to remain engaged. There are also many real characters at play and real historical themes involving religious persecution and political conflict to add interest and realism.
February 6, 2014
Another excellent book in the series. As always, it's not the plot that sticks in my mind - quite the reverse, as it's so complex and the characters so double-dealing that it's hard to recall the details even a few hours after finishing - but rather the snapshots of Restoration London: particular to this book are the scenes of witchcraft, the insurgents' meetings, the muddy Thames Estuary, the absurd domesticity at Temple Mills. And, of course, the characters we know and love (or love to hate). And, as in all the most recent books, no doubt part of the appeal to the female reader is the certainty that we would be a much better wife than Hannah.
January 1, 2017
It occurs to me that sometimes I select books for silly reasons .... this one was because it was cheap, but also because my forbears were married at St Andrews High Holborn, so it seemed as good a reason as any to read it ..... very entertaining Restoration era murder mystery set among the political classes of London. I confess to a fondness for the cavalier era and all that went with it, and to have this tale peopled with neatly characterised versions of Buckingham, Prince Rupert and other True historical figures made it all the more enjoyable. Fascinating era brought to life with great effect.
March 7, 2015
I'm afraid I struggled with this one, which I have read for a forthcoming crime reading group. It looked so good from the blurb, and I love period crime novels. From the start, though, I didn't feel drawn into the story. I found the plot complex, with just a few too many crimes being investigated and a few too many characters! I did warm to Chaloner as time went on, and I did find myself wanting to know who the culprit(s) were, but for some reason (sorry I can't be more specific), I just didn't find it a page-turner. I look forward to learning my fellow readers' opinions at the group!
February 2, 2014
Thomas is back from Russia and life just never seems to get any easier for the poor chap. Clarendon has sacked him, or has he been set another near impossible task in aid of King and Country? Complex but compelling. Read it for yourself.
November 10, 2014
Eh. Maybe 2.5 stars? I didn't feel involved with any of the characters, the plot wasn't terribly gripping, and my god that dialogue was awful. The whole Lambe and Eliza thing seemed like an unnecessary complication.
Read
October 22, 2014Thomas Chaloner investigates a couple of murders, the sinking of the admiral's flagship and 5th Monarchists while various conniving lords and their lackeys try to thwart him at every step. In 1665 England.
October 25, 2014
Another excellent book in Susanna Gregory's tales of super spy Thomas Chaloner. More twists and turns than a twisty-turny thing and brilliant descriptive text that brings Restoration London to life. Can't wait for the next adventure.
November 10, 2015
Didn't finish it. There were so many characters I couldn't keep them straight. There was a little too much going on to sustain my focus on who was doing what for what reason. I enjoyed the main character and the historical atmosphere.
March 16, 2016
Mystery set in 1665 with Charles the 2nd on the throne, and a plot to overthrow him. Don't often read historical fiction, but I found this an enjoyable read. Quite a busy plot with a lot going on so didn't always follow it.
June 1, 2016
Picked this book up in a little London bookshop on a whim (and probably should have known better.) I love the setting and historical details but the plot is disjointed and hard to follow. Probably would have given it 2.5 stars.
January 21, 2014
I love this series. Of course the fact that it's set in Restoration London helps. Good fun!
March 4, 2014
Always enjoy reading about Thomas & his friends.
September 12, 2016
This series can go on for ever as far as i'm concerned.
November 8, 2014
Intrigue, dissolute courtiers, conspirators, murder and mayhem. Another day in the life of Challoner. Good plot, nice twists and turns with the normal crescendo. Very enjoyable read.
July 13, 2015
Good return to Chaloner's London.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews