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Molly Titchen #1
Winter of the Comet
An historical crime thriller and mystery set in Restoration London among the world of Charles II’s court and the King’s theatre.
The action of this story takes place in the lively and pulsating world of Restoration London, with its bear-baiting and dog-fighting pits, with its taverns and bawdy houses, its libertines and Puritans, its fops and its society beauties.
In the cold winter of 1664, the Thames has frozen over, and a great comet has appeared in the skies above the city of London. The comet seems a portent of disaster because England is in a deeply troubled and divided state. The King, Charles II, had been welcomed back as a saviour four years before, but is now resented by increasing numbers of his own people. And war too is looming with the Dutch, England’s great seagoing trade rivals…
Molly Titchen is a precocious 16-year-old orange seller at the new King’s theatre in Drury Lane who dreams of becoming an actress, and strutting the stage in breeches parts. Yet being an actress in the King’s company seems to be a dangerous choice of profession at present as a succession of young actresses die in mysterious circumstances. The leader of the company, Sir Thomas Killigrew, asks a wealthy young physician and merchant, Henry Raven, to investigate the deaths of the actresses.
Raven and his lawyer friends Anthony Mawdsley and Adam Strange are regular theatregoers and the three soon become drawn into the mysterious affairs at the King’s theatre. Yet Mawdsley is also chief secretary to the Lord Chancellor, the 1st Earl of Clarendon, and the King’s chief minister, and therefore has his hands full with affairs of state. When a mysterious masked man threatens the life of the King, Mawdsley is forced to turn to his friend Henry Raven for help. Raven in turn needs the help of the aspiring actress Molly, which brings them together in their search for a wicked murderer and a scarred madman with an evil plan for London on his mind...
The action of this story takes place in the lively and pulsating world of Restoration London, with its bear-baiting and dog-fighting pits, with its taverns and bawdy houses, its libertines and Puritans, its fops and its society beauties.
In the cold winter of 1664, the Thames has frozen over, and a great comet has appeared in the skies above the city of London. The comet seems a portent of disaster because England is in a deeply troubled and divided state. The King, Charles II, had been welcomed back as a saviour four years before, but is now resented by increasing numbers of his own people. And war too is looming with the Dutch, England’s great seagoing trade rivals…
Molly Titchen is a precocious 16-year-old orange seller at the new King’s theatre in Drury Lane who dreams of becoming an actress, and strutting the stage in breeches parts. Yet being an actress in the King’s company seems to be a dangerous choice of profession at present as a succession of young actresses die in mysterious circumstances. The leader of the company, Sir Thomas Killigrew, asks a wealthy young physician and merchant, Henry Raven, to investigate the deaths of the actresses.
Raven and his lawyer friends Anthony Mawdsley and Adam Strange are regular theatregoers and the three soon become drawn into the mysterious affairs at the King’s theatre. Yet Mawdsley is also chief secretary to the Lord Chancellor, the 1st Earl of Clarendon, and the King’s chief minister, and therefore has his hands full with affairs of state. When a mysterious masked man threatens the life of the King, Mawdsley is forced to turn to his friend Henry Raven for help. Raven in turn needs the help of the aspiring actress Molly, which brings them together in their search for a wicked murderer and a scarred madman with an evil plan for London on his mind...
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2014
11 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 22, 2017
An entertaining romp set in Restoration London. The main character works in the theatre - as an orange seller with aspirations to become an actress. She becomes involved with a more serious young man, and together they work to turn plots to unseat the monarchy.
The setting is well portrayed, and although the plot becomes a little convoluted, and clearly sets the stage for book 2, it is very entertaining and introduces the reader to the world of theatre in the time of Charles II.
The setting is well portrayed, and although the plot becomes a little convoluted, and clearly sets the stage for book 2, it is very entertaining and introduces the reader to the world of theatre in the time of Charles II.
June 1, 2017
Interesting historical setting..
Interesting historical setting including real people of the time. Clever plot once it got going. Looking forward to the next book of the series.
Interesting historical setting including real people of the time. Clever plot once it got going. Looking forward to the next book of the series.
January 21, 2016
Historical thriller at its best
Really enjoyable read. All the protagonists are engaging and the novel never loses pace or excitement. Excellent read if you like historical thrillers with twists and turns! Looking forward to the next instalment!
Really enjoyable read. All the protagonists are engaging and the novel never loses pace or excitement. Excellent read if you like historical thrillers with twists and turns! Looking forward to the next instalment!
June 28, 2015
Took a good while to get going but very atmospheric, with a nice feel of the era. Good story in the end
February 28, 2015
Second half of the book wasn't so bad. I actually did enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews