The Ashes of London- free sampler

by Andrew Taylor

From the No.1 best-selling author of The American Boy and The Silent Boy comes a brand new historical thriller set during the time of the Great Fire of London. The first of an exciting new series of novels.

London, September 1666. The Great Fire rages through the city, consuming everything in its path. Even the impregnable cathedral of St. Paul’s is engulfed in flames and reduced to ruins. Among the crowds watching its destruction is James Marwood, son of a disgraced printer, and reluctant government informer.

In the aftermath of the fire, a semi-mummified body is discovered in the ashes of St. Paul’s, in a tomb that should have been empty. The man’s body has been mutilated and his thumbs have been tied behind his back. Under orders from the government, Marwood is tasked with hunting down the killer across the devastated city. But at a time of dangerous internal dissent and the threat of foreign invasion, Marwood finds his investigation leads him into treacherous waters – and across the path of a determined, beautiful and vengeful young woman.

Genres: Historical, Fiction, Historical Fiction, London, Crime

Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2016

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

[Lizzie J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book as a gift, and it certainly wasn't bad. I enjoyed the setting and voices of the two main characters, but the story itself was rather slow and seemed to be lacking in some important parts. I never fully understood the "mystery" or followed along with what was being "solved" since the characters mostly wandered around and then happened to bump into traces of the other. I have overall noticed though that people enjoyed the author's other books better, so perhaps I'll try again with one of those instead.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blazing historical fiction.
Well written, engaging and above all else laced with political and religious intrigue.

My only complaint really was the lack of scenery detail, its a minor thing I can easily overlook because the core of this novel is the mystery and character arcs not so much the sight seeing but much of the detail was sort of brushed over in some parts and I forgot where I was.

Overall impressed I want more.
That's all.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex mix of intrigue, betrayal and mystery set in London during and after the Fire of London. Cat and James are both living with their fathers’ treason against the crown and the constant fear that the clemency shown to them could be snatched away.
I really enjoyed this book and was fascinated by the politics and history of the period. I look forward to reading the sequel.
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.

[mikaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the historical details. However i did not get attached to the characters at all i couldnt care less. Then i learned that its a series and i dont think i will read the other books. But it was a fun read.

[Rose Gan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent historical thriller but rather plodding with many repetitive scenes. The big reveal was lame and the aftermath overly complicated. I expected more of Taylor.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1666 and London is burning.

My goodness I enjoyed The Ashes of London. It opens dramatically and continues with a fast, sometimes brutal, pace that makes the plot fly past right up to the exciting end. I was entirely entranced by Andrew Taylor’s writing. His style is accessible and yet authentic for the era with direct speech especially well attuned to convey class, social standing and gender.

The story is steeped in politics, intrigue, betrayal, control and mystery so that I became absolutely spellbound in its telling. There’s a delicious blend of real and imagined characters lending an authenticity that enhances the narrative still further and reading The Ashes of London is a bit like peeling back the layers of history and society so that the reader feels as if they were actually present.

I found the descriptions of London vivid, convincing and authentic with every sense catered for so that I could not have been more impressed by the quality of research and realism in this brilliantly conveyed narrative. The Ashes of London has a filmic quality I thought was simply fabulous.

Whilst I found Cat’s narrative so tantalising, there’s more here from James Marwood’s perspective in a technique that I found perfectly mirrored the status of men and women in the society of the time. I thought the way Cat’s actions make the reader contemplate morality was so thought-provoking, because she often does the wrong thing but for absolutely the right reason. I loved, too, the middle ground, the ordinariness of James Marwood, that illustrates how a twist of fate can completely alter a person’s life. He was completely convincing and believable.

I found The Ashes of London exceptionally well plotted, atmospherically written and hugely entertaining. I absolutely loved it and totally resented it when life interrupted my reading of the book. And what a pleasure to know The Ashes of London is the start of a series I haven’t previously discovered and I’ve so much to look forward to.

[English · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting historical mystery/thriller set during the Restoration Era or more specifically in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London. The setting was really good, and so was the description of the region and area.

There were a couple of things that bothered me. The protaganists had a rather too modern outlook and view of the world, especially in their attitude to religion. Religious people were depicted as either mad or bad, with very little in between and I think this is a very over-simplistic and silly depiction, especiallly in the context of the time.

Also, one of the characters gets away with murder far too easily. This is a major issue since they are meant to be a major character, going forward and yet - we're supposed to accept a person who killed two people as the sleuth or co-sleuth in future? I don't even buy the justification for their actions, at least not in the 2nd and 3rd instance. What is to stop them just casually stabbing someone every time they get angry?

Sorry, but I tend to think sleuths have to have a better moral compass than the people they are hunting, and be held to much highter standard.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty fussy about historical fiction: I've read too many rubbish stories where the author has become obsessed with telling me the history and forgetting to tell me a story. But this was a bit different.

Set in the immediate aftermath of the Great Fire of London in 1666, the central characters are James Marwood and Cat Lovett. The monarchy has just been restored after Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth and Charles II is looking for revenge over the 'Regicides', the people who had executed his father Charles I in 1649. Lovett's father is Regicide, while Marwood's is an old Cromwell supporter but who has dementia.

Marwood finds himself obliged by the authorities to investigate a couple of murders, and at the same time gets drawn into the political intrigue of the times. Unusually, the plot is controlled and easy to follow, and the ending is satisfying. I'll definitely look out for the sequels.

[Martin Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book that keeps your interest and is a page-turner, I just wanted to know what happened next. It is set just as the fire of London is starting to be brought under control. Even 6 years into the restoration the tensions and conflicts generated by the death of Charles I and the years of the commonwealth are still around.

As with most historical novels like this one there are real people, like William Chiffinch, scattered amongst the invented people. When the book is as well written as this one it’s difficult to remember who is real and who isn’t.

It feels like the first novel in a series, I shall check whether that’s true later. There are a lot of historical novels set around this period but this is well written and worth a read.

[Melissa Neel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I felt immersed into the setting, and bonded with characters.
I enjoyed the way that the plot evolved. I feel like many books start by telling you the plot before diving into it. In this story, you are witness to the fire, and the plot shows itself in a very natural and smooth flow. The plot was interesting, and I enjoyed that I wasn't sure at times what the plot was. Its not to say there was an absence of plot, rather, it was shrouded at times. It was satisfying to read, but I cannot say that I want to pick up the sequels right now.

[Phoebe Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book overall. I would have been more content just following 1 character although understand why it was written the way it was as it was interwoven stories. I felt the end was anti-climatic but that may just be my personal preference and always wanting a little more. Would still recommend this to be read though!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a time you would think of a setting a book in but it works. As always those most affected by the fire are those at the bottom of the socio-economic scale. Houses gone, jobs lost, lives destroyed. Ah but a mysterious death. A body found in the remains of St Paul's but clearly murdered. The first in a series set in this time. Looking forward to the next one.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in London in 1666. The great fire of London has just happened. The book is about three mysterious deaths. An interesting female character.

[Adele Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly readable mix of historical fiction and crime mystery. Found the style somewhat clunky at first but the characters really grew on me.

[Marijean Miyar · Rating 4 out of 5]

More mystery than history, but enough of the latter to set the place realistically. Thoroughly enjoyable!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining read.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing an exhibition on the Fire of London I bought this novel and really enjoyed it. It really allowed me to imagine London in that time. Not as good as the Shardlake series but pretty close

[Janet Stewardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story and the style. Switched between first and third person and I thought that was a really neat way to tell the story.

[Dan Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that quickly becomes enthralling and follows a good pace and maintains suspense. Doesn't break any new ground but a story worth reading

[Lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the worst book I've ever read

[Olivia Walker]

DNF at Chapter 26–
Just wasn’t feeling this one. The story dragged on and, for a mystery novel, it really didn’t build up suspense. However, I did like the writing style and historical accuracy.

[Catherine James · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was worth a read, but not as good as the Matthew Shardlake books.

[Scott Wilkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The level of historical detail described in the narrative tended to bog the story down somewhat.

[Nicky Featherstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superb descriptions of London at the time and characters that were interesting and well drawn. The plot moved steadily but the ending, for me, was weak and not entirely satisfactory.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well crafted story of restoration characters with the great fire of London as a backdrop. What's not to like. Loved it.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you've read Pepys on the Great Fire you don't get as vivid a portrait as Taylor gives in this novel. The heat, the winds, the burning embers, the almost spontaneous flaming and the fact that it went on for months after the main fire was subdued are all vividly portrayed in this novel, which is apparently the first in a series.
Most of the characters try to think ahead and calculate how a recent bit of information could affect their situation, but of course they miscalculate and you want to yell at them, especially Catherine whose first reaction to anything bad is to run as far and fast as she can.
People in the 1600s did think differently to the way we generally do and Taylor puts in the different factors: fear of negative opinions of the aristocracy, distrust of those whom you don't know, a total inability to defend oneself against an employer, caution where different political or religious opinions might obtain and fear of long term dangers. You can feel the need to fear most people, most events, and anything out of the regular. Add something like this incredible fire and the destruction it caused and it would not be surprising if there were a number of strokes and other collapses during those last months of 1666.
I'll bet that in the next book we'll get the sale of London's ashes to Russia so that building projects can move ahead.
There were a number of times that I wanted to query a character or the author but each time it was immediately followed by Taylor's explanation or justification.
I am looking forward to the next volume and in the meantime will look for other titles by this excellent author.

[Wes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well told; evokes a sense of what life in that time and place may have been like. I was captivated for most of the book. But ultimately very unsatisfying as a story. I put it down feeling cheated by the author. The structure of the book is of the two protagonists with their different perspectives moving very slowly toward an eventual meeting that should be climactic, as each suspects the other of crime and malice. But they meet only briefly, their suspicions seem to vanish without explanations to each other, and then they continue their independent lives. More importantly, the motive for the original murders remains unclear. There is also a minor plot discrepancy: the narrator mentions at one point that Cat was responsible for blinding Edward when there is no way he should have known that.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Taylor, author of “The Ashes of London” , has written a story about the great London fire of 1666 and it’s aftermath where members of the royal court and their adversaries are murdered at a time of revenge and retribution. Taylor paints a stark picture of London’s devastation and the early struggle to rebuild the city and it’s great landmarks. This is a story of revenge and the terrible toll it takes as a young woman seeks to realize her dream to become an accepted member of London’s noted architects.

[Star Merrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting, but I'm not sure how accurately historical it was. A lot of it was redundant, and there were loose ends that were not tied up at the end.

[Gordon Bohrson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction centred around the aftermath of the Great Fire of London in the 1600s. Entertaining characters and portrait of living conditions at that time.