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Roger Brook #2
The Shadow of Tyburn Tree
Nov 1787 - Apr 1789
The Shadow of Tyburn Tree tells the story of Roger Brook–Prime Minister Pitt's most resourceful secret agent–who, in 1788, is sent on a secret mission to the Russia of that beautiful and licentious woman Catherine the Great. Chosen by her to become her lover, Roger is compelled to move with the utmost care, for if it was known that not only was he spying for two countries but also having an affair with the sadistic and vicious Natalia, he would meet certain death.
The story moves to Denmark and the tragedy of Queen Matilda, to Sweden and the amazing ride of King Gustavus to save Gothenborg, and finally back to England where Roger returns to the arms of his one great love, Georgina..
The Shadow of Tyburn Tree tells the story of Roger Brook–Prime Minister Pitt's most resourceful secret agent–who, in 1788, is sent on a secret mission to the Russia of that beautiful and licentious woman Catherine the Great. Chosen by her to become her lover, Roger is compelled to move with the utmost care, for if it was known that not only was he spying for two countries but also having an affair with the sadistic and vicious Natalia, he would meet certain death.
The story moves to Denmark and the tragedy of Queen Matilda, to Sweden and the amazing ride of King Gustavus to save Gothenborg, and finally back to England where Roger returns to the arms of his one great love, Georgina..
380 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1948
13 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
380 books246 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 5, 2025
This is the second of the series of novels of Roger Brook, the fictional spy of Pitt the Younger. If you intend reading the first, "The Launching of Roger Brook", you should naturally read that first, but you don't need to have read it in order to enjoy "The Shadow of Tyburn Tree".
Although there is much of a thriller in this novel, the first 100 pages or so is a historical romance, almost reminiscent of Jane Austen, although of a less strict moralist nature. As an example of this, consider the following lines from right at the end of this section:
" ... for the heart is fickle; but no woman can usurp the throne thou wilt ever occupy in my mind." "And thou in mine, dear Roger. ... We may take our pleasure where we list, but neither time nor distance nor other loves, can tarnish the sweet mental bond that unites us two."
The reality of those Georgian times was a complex mix of politeness and outward shows of strict morality, but with a complete acceptance of adultery and licentiousness as long as that outward show was maintained. This comes across very strongly in the Roger Brook novels, including this one. The attitudes of the time are perhaps nicely summed up by this fictional quote from Gustavus, the (actual, not fictional) King of Sweden:
"I am still of the opinion that one can derive more contentment from a pipe than from a woman; particularly when one is married to her"
As is usually the case, Dennis Wheatley has done a lot of research and this comes across in the explanations of the politics and recent history of the time (in this novel, the late 18th century). Rather than Wheatley narrating this it is done by the various characters explaining issues to Roger Brook, which makes it less intrusive. Some readers may feel this is slightly over done, but I do not, and I find this in depth historical background, which teaches me some history of which I would otherwise be ignorant, adds to my enjoyment of what is, after all, a historical novel.
Roger Brook almost comes across as the 18th century equivalent of James Bond, including love affairs with important Russian ladies. But he has much more independence than 007, and also shows more human characteristics. Including a degree of innocence (not sexual innocence though!) and the propensity to educate himself away from that innocence through sometimes unwelcome experiences. In "The Shadow of Tyburn Tree" he is more worldly wise than in the first novel in the series, "The Launching of Roger Brook", but he still shows snippets of naivety.
The title gives a good clue to a theme recurring throughout the novel, albeit by no means its only focus - the shadow of the gallows, whether from Tyburn Hill or elsewhere, elicited by impetuous actions by our hero!
"The Shadow of Tyburn Tree" is a great novel which thrills as well educates and is recommended whether you are looking to read the entire Roger Brook series or just want to read this one.
Although there is much of a thriller in this novel, the first 100 pages or so is a historical romance, almost reminiscent of Jane Austen, although of a less strict moralist nature. As an example of this, consider the following lines from right at the end of this section:
" ... for the heart is fickle; but no woman can usurp the throne thou wilt ever occupy in my mind." "And thou in mine, dear Roger. ... We may take our pleasure where we list, but neither time nor distance nor other loves, can tarnish the sweet mental bond that unites us two."
The reality of those Georgian times was a complex mix of politeness and outward shows of strict morality, but with a complete acceptance of adultery and licentiousness as long as that outward show was maintained. This comes across very strongly in the Roger Brook novels, including this one. The attitudes of the time are perhaps nicely summed up by this fictional quote from Gustavus, the (actual, not fictional) King of Sweden:
"I am still of the opinion that one can derive more contentment from a pipe than from a woman; particularly when one is married to her"
As is usually the case, Dennis Wheatley has done a lot of research and this comes across in the explanations of the politics and recent history of the time (in this novel, the late 18th century). Rather than Wheatley narrating this it is done by the various characters explaining issues to Roger Brook, which makes it less intrusive. Some readers may feel this is slightly over done, but I do not, and I find this in depth historical background, which teaches me some history of which I would otherwise be ignorant, adds to my enjoyment of what is, after all, a historical novel.
Roger Brook almost comes across as the 18th century equivalent of James Bond, including love affairs with important Russian ladies. But he has much more independence than 007, and also shows more human characteristics. Including a degree of innocence (not sexual innocence though!) and the propensity to educate himself away from that innocence through sometimes unwelcome experiences. In "The Shadow of Tyburn Tree" he is more worldly wise than in the first novel in the series, "The Launching of Roger Brook", but he still shows snippets of naivety.
The title gives a good clue to a theme recurring throughout the novel, albeit by no means its only focus - the shadow of the gallows, whether from Tyburn Hill or elsewhere, elicited by impetuous actions by our hero!
"The Shadow of Tyburn Tree" is a great novel which thrills as well educates and is recommended whether you are looking to read the entire Roger Brook series or just want to read this one.
July 21, 2022
Auburn Tree
Another excellent tale from the master.Roger Brooks adventures this time tale is from London through Denmark and Sweden to Russia where we meet many characters from history who mingle seamlessly with the masters invented characters. Highly recommended.
Another excellent tale from the master.Roger Brooks adventures this time tale is from London through Denmark and Sweden to Russia where we meet many characters from history who mingle seamlessly with the masters invented characters. Highly recommended.
June 30, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and, although this was still enjoyable ,I felt my attention drifting at the huge array of characters in the first half. There's quite a lot of historical interest here though, so still recommended.
January 21, 2022
A page turn that flows brilliantly with historical fiction and fact. A globe trotting adventure amazingly written. Roger Brook is back
Read
February 2, 2024The second of the Roger Brook series.
May 16, 2024
From France to Russia, I enjoyed the trip.
October 30, 2025
I cannot say that I would recommend this unto itself but I got it in a vintage edition at a discount and it wasn't unenjoyable.
Read
January 9, 2015One of many books from this book club and this author. Not sure when I finished this, but guessing 1973
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews