Puritan

Mercia Blakewood #2

by David Hingley

Following adventures she would sooner forget in the newly renamed New York, Mercia Blakewood is hopeful that she has gained the leverage with the king she needs to reclaim her family’s home back in England. The breathtaking new world piques her curiosity and a burgeoning friendship with Clemency Carter, a local medicine woman, prompts Mercia to delay her return. Navigating an unknown landscape, the aftershocks still felt of revolution and restoration, and the uneasy relationship between the Puritan settlers and native Indians, proves complex. But when the virgin forests of New England are tainted by murder, Mercia will not rest until the killer is brought to justice.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

413 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19, 2017

About the author

David Hingley was born in the English Midlands. After a Spanish and Russian degree at the University of Manchester, he headed south to London to work for a decade in government. In 2013 he moved to New York, where he wrote his debut novel Birthright. He has also lived in Paris, on the literary Left Bank. In addition to his love of history, he has a passion for travel, including a number of road-trips through over forty American states. In 2016 he moved back to England and finished writing the second book in the Mercia Blakewood series, Puritan. His third novel, Traitor, was published in January 2018.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The setting in 1664 New England was the saving grace of this mystery of several killings in the new town of Meltwater in Connecticut doggedly investigated by young widowed Mercia Blackwood, a little too independent for the times. The black mark was the ludicrous denouement at a waterfall where two separately hidden characters emerge to influence events. Much of interest on hidden Royalists, interesting subsidiary characters and politics, love stories, relationships with Native Americans and scenery realistic but that ending!

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual David Hingley has produced an incredibly immersive mystery. The author has obviously committed to deep research into the customs and people of the 1660s and uses real world historical figures to boost the reality of his world.
If you like Ellis Peters' Cadfael series then the Mercia Blakewood books should be an enjoyable read.

[Rachael Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the Mercia Blakewood series. This was a brilliant example of historical crime fiction with great characters and a twisty plot. Thankfully I have Traitor ready to read as I ship Mercia and Nathan so need to know what happens with them.

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure how accurately this captured Puritan New England. Good attempt though.

[ValeReads Kyriosity]

When I realized I'd read the third book out of order, I didn't have the heart to finish this one. Barely started it, in fact.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I should have read this back to back with book one. I did enjoy it though.