What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Lavender Mysteries #4
Plague Pits & River Bones
London 1812: Treacherous gangs roam the capital, and not even the Palace of Westminster is safe. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist.
And when Lavender’s trusted deputy, Constable Ned Woods, finds a mysterious severed foot washed up on Greenwich Beach, they soon realise that these ancient bones are more sinister than they first appeared.
With Bow Street Police Office undermanned and in disarray, it will take all of Lavender and Woods’s wit and skill—and some help from Lavender’s spirited wife, Magdalena—to unmask the fiend behind the mayhem, restore peace and justice to the beleaguered city and solve the tragic mystery of the severed foot.
But will they do so in time to foil a plot that threatens to plunge the country into chaos?
And when Lavender’s trusted deputy, Constable Ned Woods, finds a mysterious severed foot washed up on Greenwich Beach, they soon realise that these ancient bones are more sinister than they first appeared.
With Bow Street Police Office undermanned and in disarray, it will take all of Lavender and Woods’s wit and skill—and some help from Lavender’s spirited wife, Magdalena—to unmask the fiend behind the mayhem, restore peace and justice to the beleaguered city and solve the tragic mystery of the severed foot.
But will they do so in time to foil a plot that threatens to plunge the country into chaos?
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2018
1312 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Karen Charlton
27 books470 followersKaren Charlton is an international best-selling author of historical crime fiction.
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
June 25, 2020
This fascinating mystery is the 4th volume of the fantastic "Detective Lavender" series from the English author, Karen Charlton.
At the end of the book you'll find the historical details concerning this tale, and these are superbly implemented once again within this great mystery.
Story-telling from this author is once more of a superb quality, all characters, whether real historical or great fictional, come vividly to life within this thrilling mystery, and the atmosphere of Regency London comes wonderfully off the pages.
And not to forget as a whole this mystery is very well structured and executed by the author.
The mystery is set in May, AD 1812, in Regency London, and for our protagonists, Detective Stephen Lavender, and his friend, Constable Ned Woods, there will be three separate cases waiting for them, and all connected with a special link.
These three cases are, on the one hand the murdered body of Baron Lionel Danvers, which is found in the Plague Pit within the back yard of the Bow Street Police office, secondly robberies from rich people in and around London, and thirdly the appearance of a skeleton of a black African man found along the fringes of the river Thames, and central in their investigations will be a trickster called, Nidar or Captain Leon, along with several other aliases, who's causing mayhem in his attempts to hurt his enemies.
What will follow is an intriguing and suspenseful mystery, where Detective, Stephen Lavender and Constable, Ned Woods will have to do their utmost to outwit their foe in an ultimate attempt to catch the master culprit of the murder and robberies, and whether they will succeed or not, that's for all of you to find out by reading this book.
Highly recommended, for this is an absolute fabulous series which everyone should be reading, and what this episode is concerned I want to call it: "A Marvellous Thrilling Mystery"!
At the end of the book you'll find the historical details concerning this tale, and these are superbly implemented once again within this great mystery.
Story-telling from this author is once more of a superb quality, all characters, whether real historical or great fictional, come vividly to life within this thrilling mystery, and the atmosphere of Regency London comes wonderfully off the pages.
And not to forget as a whole this mystery is very well structured and executed by the author.
The mystery is set in May, AD 1812, in Regency London, and for our protagonists, Detective Stephen Lavender, and his friend, Constable Ned Woods, there will be three separate cases waiting for them, and all connected with a special link.
These three cases are, on the one hand the murdered body of Baron Lionel Danvers, which is found in the Plague Pit within the back yard of the Bow Street Police office, secondly robberies from rich people in and around London, and thirdly the appearance of a skeleton of a black African man found along the fringes of the river Thames, and central in their investigations will be a trickster called, Nidar or Captain Leon, along with several other aliases, who's causing mayhem in his attempts to hurt his enemies.
What will follow is an intriguing and suspenseful mystery, where Detective, Stephen Lavender and Constable, Ned Woods will have to do their utmost to outwit their foe in an ultimate attempt to catch the master culprit of the murder and robberies, and whether they will succeed or not, that's for all of you to find out by reading this book.
Highly recommended, for this is an absolute fabulous series which everyone should be reading, and what this episode is concerned I want to call it: "A Marvellous Thrilling Mystery"!
January 10, 2018
Despite not having read any of the earlier books in this series and this being a change from my usual twisted thrillers or contemporary reads, I absolutely loved reading my first Detective Lavender book !
Well written, well researched, informative and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved how the story was based around real events and I totally relaxed and was soon transported into the seemingly effortless telling of the story. That the author manages to bring together many plot-lines, vivid settings, the social/political history and wonderful characters into a seamless and fascinating read indicates the talent she has.
This is a wonderful mix of Historical Fiction and Mystery and I will be reading more in anticipation of the next face off of Lavender, Woods and their new nemesis!
4.5 - 5 stars, highly recommended
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read the ARC of this fabulous book .
Well written, well researched, informative and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved how the story was based around real events and I totally relaxed and was soon transported into the seemingly effortless telling of the story. That the author manages to bring together many plot-lines, vivid settings, the social/political history and wonderful characters into a seamless and fascinating read indicates the talent she has.
This is a wonderful mix of Historical Fiction and Mystery and I will be reading more in anticipation of the next face off of Lavender, Woods and their new nemesis!
4.5 - 5 stars, highly recommended
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read the ARC of this fabulous book .
December 16, 2017
5 stars
Constable Ned Woods and Constable Barnaby respond to a disturbance where a naked and deranged man is spouting biblical phrases. On their way to take him back to Bedlam Asylum, Woods notices a detached foot rotting in an old boot.
This is only the first in a series of crimes both petty and major to occur in London in 1812. There are too few police officers for the population and they are being “lent out” to other districts all the time. This is how the Bow Street contingent supplements their meagre stipend from the crown. Detective Lavender’s boss wants to send him to Ireland for an investigation. (Can you imagine? From London to Ireland traveling overland in 1812? Wow!)
I was very interested to learn that some of the events in this story really did happen. I did not realize that Ms. Charlton did such in depth historical research to write her books. I thought they were wholly a product of her imagination. And what an imagination! What a great writer!
This book is very well written and plotted. It flowed easily and made sense. The suspense started out immediately – albeit somewhat humorlessly with the chasing of the demented asylum refugee and the discovery of the foot in the boot. There was so much going on in this book, it was a delight to read as were the previous books in this series. I appreciate the way Lavender’s team get along and their relationships with their families. I will continue to read Ms. Charlton’s novels, and I simply cannot wait for the next one to come out.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book to read and enjoy.
Constable Ned Woods and Constable Barnaby respond to a disturbance where a naked and deranged man is spouting biblical phrases. On their way to take him back to Bedlam Asylum, Woods notices a detached foot rotting in an old boot.
This is only the first in a series of crimes both petty and major to occur in London in 1812. There are too few police officers for the population and they are being “lent out” to other districts all the time. This is how the Bow Street contingent supplements their meagre stipend from the crown. Detective Lavender’s boss wants to send him to Ireland for an investigation. (Can you imagine? From London to Ireland traveling overland in 1812? Wow!)
I was very interested to learn that some of the events in this story really did happen. I did not realize that Ms. Charlton did such in depth historical research to write her books. I thought they were wholly a product of her imagination. And what an imagination! What a great writer!
This book is very well written and plotted. It flowed easily and made sense. The suspense started out immediately – albeit somewhat humorlessly with the chasing of the demented asylum refugee and the discovery of the foot in the boot. There was so much going on in this book, it was a delight to read as were the previous books in this series. I appreciate the way Lavender’s team get along and their relationships with their families. I will continue to read Ms. Charlton’s novels, and I simply cannot wait for the next one to come out.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book to read and enjoy.
February 23, 2019
Another winner for Lavender and Woods. I admit, it initially started off a little slow but that was to lay the ground work for what was to come. Another great mystery and my love for Woods continues to grow. I highly recommend this series. Bravo!
A+ narration too.
A+ narration too.
December 23, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Plague Pits and River Bones, the fourth novel to feature Detective Stephen Lavender of the Bow Street Runners.
It's 1812 and times are tough. Magistrate Reid doesn't have enough money to keep the office running and build the much needed extension so he uses his detectives as PIs and hires them and their skills out to anyone in the country prepared to pay the fees. Lavender has returned to London from one of these cases to find himself the only detective available and a multitude of crimes to cover, the highway robbery of Lord and Lady Yarborough, the investigation of threats against an ex ambassador and the curious sawn off foot found on the Greenwich shore. Overworked and exhausted Lavender stumbles his way through all these cases, ably assisted by Constable Ned Wood.
I thoroughly enjoyed Plague Pits and River Bones which has so much going on it never flags and held my attention from start to finish. Despite the multitude of plot lines it is an easy novel to follow and Ms Charlton weaves them all together seamlessly. There is never a dull moment and it is fascinating to watch it all come together as Lavender and Wood fight a worthy opponent. It's a ripping yarn.
I feel that this is a slightly darker novel than its predecessors and doesn't have the same lightheartedness. The antics of the builders at Bow Street offer a little light if somewhat macabre relief but the overall tone is darker. Much of that comes from the pressure on Lavender. He has too many crimes to solve and no manpower so he is constantly exhausted which, in turn, causes problems in his marriage with Magdalena, his wife, feeling neglected. Magistrate Reid, his boss, is also feeling the pressure which makes him short tempered and autocratic when deciding Lavender's priorities. The novel also touches on some serious issues which are heartbreaking to read.
Throughout it all Lavender keeps plugging away at his cases. He is a dogged, tenacious detective with an intuitive ability to read crime scenes. It often brings him into conflict with Reid who prefers fact based cases but he carries on regardless as he is mostly proved right. I like him as a character as he seems very human, able to regret his mistakes and enjoy any faint praise Reid bestows on him.
Plague Pits and River Bones is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
It's 1812 and times are tough. Magistrate Reid doesn't have enough money to keep the office running and build the much needed extension so he uses his detectives as PIs and hires them and their skills out to anyone in the country prepared to pay the fees. Lavender has returned to London from one of these cases to find himself the only detective available and a multitude of crimes to cover, the highway robbery of Lord and Lady Yarborough, the investigation of threats against an ex ambassador and the curious sawn off foot found on the Greenwich shore. Overworked and exhausted Lavender stumbles his way through all these cases, ably assisted by Constable Ned Wood.
I thoroughly enjoyed Plague Pits and River Bones which has so much going on it never flags and held my attention from start to finish. Despite the multitude of plot lines it is an easy novel to follow and Ms Charlton weaves them all together seamlessly. There is never a dull moment and it is fascinating to watch it all come together as Lavender and Wood fight a worthy opponent. It's a ripping yarn.
I feel that this is a slightly darker novel than its predecessors and doesn't have the same lightheartedness. The antics of the builders at Bow Street offer a little light if somewhat macabre relief but the overall tone is darker. Much of that comes from the pressure on Lavender. He has too many crimes to solve and no manpower so he is constantly exhausted which, in turn, causes problems in his marriage with Magdalena, his wife, feeling neglected. Magistrate Reid, his boss, is also feeling the pressure which makes him short tempered and autocratic when deciding Lavender's priorities. The novel also touches on some serious issues which are heartbreaking to read.
Throughout it all Lavender keeps plugging away at his cases. He is a dogged, tenacious detective with an intuitive ability to read crime scenes. It often brings him into conflict with Reid who prefers fact based cases but he carries on regardless as he is mostly proved right. I like him as a character as he seems very human, able to regret his mistakes and enjoy any faint praise Reid bestows on him.
Plague Pits and River Bones is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 12, 2019
I stepped into this series at book four and via audiobook, so fair warning. However, I found it to be compelling, atmospheric and eminently enjoyable. Also, I was pleasantly surprised when listening to the author’s notes at the end to find out that the mysteries of the story were inspired by real events and people, even our Detective Lavender is based on a detective of the time. I shall certainly be looking out for more of these audiobooks in the future.
Recommended.
Recommended.
January 12, 2018
Thomas and MercerDescription: London, 1812: Treacherous gangs roam the capital, and not even the Palace of Westminster is safe. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist. And when Lavender’s trusted deputy, Constable Ned Woods, finds a mysterious severed foot washed up on Greenwich Beach, they soon realise that these ancient bones are more sinister than they first appeared.
With Bow Street Police Office undermanned and in disarray, it will take all of Lavender and Woods’s wit and skill—and some help from Lavender’s spirited wife, Magdalena—to unmask the fiend behind the mayhem, restore peace and justice to the beleaguered city and solve the tragic mystery of the severed foot. But will they do so in time to foil a plot that threatens to plunge the country into chaos?
Prison ships, known as The HulksOpening: "Gawd's teeth!"
Reads as a standalone and there was just the odd mention of previous adventures but nowt to get in the way of this story. Hattips to the economic distress of Liverpool since the end of the slave trade, the Luddites, Roman Catholics' emancipation, building work, and a severed foot in a boot on the shore of Father Thames.I will look out the rest of this series
3.5*
October 27, 2018
I’ve read the first four books of this series, and I enjoyed them a lot. I bought them all with the matching audiobook. I read Plague Pits and River Bones first, (It’s book four in the Detective Stephen Lavender Series - I’ve forgotten why I didn’t start at the beginning - possibly I bought the book in a sale) and because I enjoyed the pace and the storyline so much, I went back and read the first three. They give new meaning to a cozy British mystery. I liked the lead characters, their geography, Britain, and the time within which they were set, I.e. early 1800s. It’s a series that I will return to whenever I want a good comfortable reliable story. Along with a good plot, there are descriptions of the landscape that I really enjoyed.
May 20, 2020
3.5 stars
I recently cancelled my Audible membership to spur me into listening to some of the (over 100 - ahem) audiobooks I have accumulated over the last 4 years. This one was a totally random impulse-purchased Daily Deal from back in 2018 and I clearly didn't notice that it was book 4 :-). Having said that, I soon enough got to know and like Detecter Lavender and his most excellent wife, Magdalena.
Plague Pits & River Bones is an entertaining historical mystery with an assortment of colourful villains and improbable coincidences. The narration by Michael Page was a little on the hammy side but actually, that was perfect for this particular book and I enjoyed listening to this slice of escapism.
I recently cancelled my Audible membership to spur me into listening to some of the (over 100 - ahem) audiobooks I have accumulated over the last 4 years. This one was a totally random impulse-purchased Daily Deal from back in 2018 and I clearly didn't notice that it was book 4 :-). Having said that, I soon enough got to know and like Detecter Lavender and his most excellent wife, Magdalena.
Plague Pits & River Bones is an entertaining historical mystery with an assortment of colourful villains and improbable coincidences. The narration by Michael Page was a little on the hammy side but actually, that was perfect for this particular book and I enjoyed listening to this slice of escapism.
June 10, 2018
Wow! What a week Detective Lavender is having in Karen Charlton’s Plague Pits & River Bones! This book is truly quite fascinating! I loved it when the author ‘spotlights’ a woman character who takes part in the 1812 mystery set in London. (More about that later.) Detective Lavender, an officer of Magistrate Read’s Bow Street, is stretched fairly thin as he is the only principal officer available as the others are ‘out of town.’ He has 5 possible crimes to investigate at the same time, and he has not spent much time with his beautiful Spanish aristocratic wife of 2 years. Needless to say, his determination to uphold the law as gangs, highwaymen, and, even, murder are occurring simultaneously, is being compromised until his wife, a dynamite character who carries a loaded pistol in her boot, lends a helping hand as well as the return of his other fellow officers who then assist this well-respected detective. Detecive Lavender feels there is ‘someone’, an arch villain, who may be orchestrating much of what is taking place, and he, his trusted friend, Constable Ned Woods, and with a little help from Lavender’s wife, attempt to take ‘this villain’ down. Entertaining, fabulously descriptive of 1812 London, and shocking! Great read! Well done Ms. Charlton! Thanx, Barb!
January 7, 2018
Series: Detective Lavender #4
Publication Date: 1/11/18
Holy shades of Sherlock! I believe Lavender has met his Moriarty. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don’t know, but can’t wait to find out as the series continues. I certainly don’t want him to become a focus in the series, but popping up every now and again to create havoc could be a very interesting thing indeed!
One of my favorite things about this series is the interweaving of actual people, facts and events with the fiction. Detective Stephen Lavender was an actual Principal Officer of the Bow Street Runners and the author weaves his actual cases and events into the stories. In this one, she uses the actual assassination of England’s Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, in 1812. This author does in-depth research before writing her books and then seamlessly blends fact and fiction. The stories are fast-paced, well-plotted, intriguing and filled with wonderfully interesting and relatable characters.
Bow Street received a pittance from Parliament each year. There was no way they could police the area they were required to police and still manage to operate within that budget. The clever Magistrate Read, Lavender’s boss, had found a way to supplement their income. Based on that income, he had begun a much needed building addition with additional holding cells, courtrooms, etc. Those additions to the Bow Street coffers came from assigning his much-sought-after Principal Detectives to cases in other areas of England – where they were paid handsomely for their services.
“Gawd’s teeth!” is how our story begins in May of 1812. Constables Ned Woods and Barnaby encounter a completely naked man cavorting on the beach in Greenwich. Ned recognizes the man as an escaped bedlamite and after a bit of a scuffle, they capture the man and get him back to Bow Street. It seems things just head downhill from there – for Bow Street.
Detective Lavender returns to London after the successful completion of an out of town case that kept him away for two weeks, only to discover that he is the ONLY Principal Officer in town and everything falls on his shoulders. Not only is he to get all of the cases, but the Magistrate wants him to leave for another out of town case – this time in Ireland. Stephen is not a happy camper!
Crime seems to be running rampant in London. There are rumors, unsubstantiated but believable, of a new gang with a wily leader that is now operating within London. Lavender has to deal with a plethora of cases – large and small – and slowly begins to wonder if they could all somehow be related. There are blatant highway robberies where the thieves seemed to know the victims along with when they were traveling and what they were transporting. Then you have the murder of a Baron that draws in sweet Duddles (you’ll know him from previous books) – not to mention that he is having to keep tabs on a man (formerly a rich merchant) who is bitter at the government. Adding to that list is the discovery that Ned Woods made when corralling the escaped bedlamite – he found a severed foot. Magistrate Read doesn’t want Lavender working on that find, but it intrigues Lavender, so he adds that to his list of cases he’s juggling.
This story is so fast paced and crimes are popping up all over and you begin to wonder how you’ll ever keep them straight and how Lavender will ever solve all of them. Then, you begin to notice a pattern and you begin to wonder . . . . hmmmmm. You think you know who one of the villains is early on, but you learn more and more as you go on and – WOW! You won’t want to take a break from reading – because – something exciting might happen while you are away and you would miss it!
This story is a bit darker than the others in the series, but not too dark. There is a bit of humor too with Magdalena’s maid being taught English words by her want-to-be beau. For instance – Magdalena asks the maid if Lavender’s bath water is hot enough. The answer was that it was very peppery.
I love all of the supporting characters in the book, but particularly the relationship between Lavender and Woods. They are great friends and would do anything for each other. Their conversations are just great – Ned is older and offers Lavender great advice – such as – Ned has given Lavender the advice to give his wife back rubs. He’s suggested it several times, so Lavender asks “Ned, what’s this obsession you have with back rubs?” To which Ned replies “Well, that’s good. One thing leads to another . . .” Other memorable characters are Duddles, the young lover of Magdalena’s friend and young Eddie Woods, the thirteen year old son of Ned Woods.
Another thing to like is the believability of the story and the consequences. For instance – when Lavender is trapped in an old building and is submerged in brackish, contaminated river water, he didn’t just walk out unscathed. He was sickened as would have happened in real life.
You could read this as a stand-alone book, but I cannot, for the life of me, think why you would want to. The character development and growth throughout the series is well worth the time to read – not to mention all of the stories are GREAT! So, Happy reading – I just know you’ll love it.
Please see my reviews of the other books in the series here! https://flippinpages.blog/2017/09/27/...
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 1/11/18
Holy shades of Sherlock! I believe Lavender has met his Moriarty. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don’t know, but can’t wait to find out as the series continues. I certainly don’t want him to become a focus in the series, but popping up every now and again to create havoc could be a very interesting thing indeed!
One of my favorite things about this series is the interweaving of actual people, facts and events with the fiction. Detective Stephen Lavender was an actual Principal Officer of the Bow Street Runners and the author weaves his actual cases and events into the stories. In this one, she uses the actual assassination of England’s Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, in 1812. This author does in-depth research before writing her books and then seamlessly blends fact and fiction. The stories are fast-paced, well-plotted, intriguing and filled with wonderfully interesting and relatable characters.
Bow Street received a pittance from Parliament each year. There was no way they could police the area they were required to police and still manage to operate within that budget. The clever Magistrate Read, Lavender’s boss, had found a way to supplement their income. Based on that income, he had begun a much needed building addition with additional holding cells, courtrooms, etc. Those additions to the Bow Street coffers came from assigning his much-sought-after Principal Detectives to cases in other areas of England – where they were paid handsomely for their services.
“Gawd’s teeth!” is how our story begins in May of 1812. Constables Ned Woods and Barnaby encounter a completely naked man cavorting on the beach in Greenwich. Ned recognizes the man as an escaped bedlamite and after a bit of a scuffle, they capture the man and get him back to Bow Street. It seems things just head downhill from there – for Bow Street.
Detective Lavender returns to London after the successful completion of an out of town case that kept him away for two weeks, only to discover that he is the ONLY Principal Officer in town and everything falls on his shoulders. Not only is he to get all of the cases, but the Magistrate wants him to leave for another out of town case – this time in Ireland. Stephen is not a happy camper!
Crime seems to be running rampant in London. There are rumors, unsubstantiated but believable, of a new gang with a wily leader that is now operating within London. Lavender has to deal with a plethora of cases – large and small – and slowly begins to wonder if they could all somehow be related. There are blatant highway robberies where the thieves seemed to know the victims along with when they were traveling and what they were transporting. Then you have the murder of a Baron that draws in sweet Duddles (you’ll know him from previous books) – not to mention that he is having to keep tabs on a man (formerly a rich merchant) who is bitter at the government. Adding to that list is the discovery that Ned Woods made when corralling the escaped bedlamite – he found a severed foot. Magistrate Read doesn’t want Lavender working on that find, but it intrigues Lavender, so he adds that to his list of cases he’s juggling.
This story is so fast paced and crimes are popping up all over and you begin to wonder how you’ll ever keep them straight and how Lavender will ever solve all of them. Then, you begin to notice a pattern and you begin to wonder . . . . hmmmmm. You think you know who one of the villains is early on, but you learn more and more as you go on and – WOW! You won’t want to take a break from reading – because – something exciting might happen while you are away and you would miss it!
This story is a bit darker than the others in the series, but not too dark. There is a bit of humor too with Magdalena’s maid being taught English words by her want-to-be beau. For instance – Magdalena asks the maid if Lavender’s bath water is hot enough. The answer was that it was very peppery.
I love all of the supporting characters in the book, but particularly the relationship between Lavender and Woods. They are great friends and would do anything for each other. Their conversations are just great – Ned is older and offers Lavender great advice – such as – Ned has given Lavender the advice to give his wife back rubs. He’s suggested it several times, so Lavender asks “Ned, what’s this obsession you have with back rubs?” To which Ned replies “Well, that’s good. One thing leads to another . . .” Other memorable characters are Duddles, the young lover of Magdalena’s friend and young Eddie Woods, the thirteen year old son of Ned Woods.
Another thing to like is the believability of the story and the consequences. For instance – when Lavender is trapped in an old building and is submerged in brackish, contaminated river water, he didn’t just walk out unscathed. He was sickened as would have happened in real life.
You could read this as a stand-alone book, but I cannot, for the life of me, think why you would want to. The character development and growth throughout the series is well worth the time to read – not to mention all of the stories are GREAT! So, Happy reading – I just know you’ll love it.
Please see my reviews of the other books in the series here! https://flippinpages.blog/2017/09/27/...
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
November 16, 2017
Plague pits and river bones by karen Charlton.
London 1812: Treacherous gangs roam the capital, and not even the Palace of Westminster is safe. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist.
A very enjoyable read. I liked the characters and the plot.
Lavender and woods were my favorite characters. Loved how they helped each other out. Even woods son. I do hope there is .more to come. 5*. Tbc on fb.
London 1812: Treacherous gangs roam the capital, and not even the Palace of Westminster is safe. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist.
A very enjoyable read. I liked the characters and the plot.
Lavender and woods were my favorite characters. Loved how they helped each other out. Even woods son. I do hope there is .more to come. 5*. Tbc on fb.
December 24, 2017
This book had a great mixture of fact and fiction. The book was cleverly written to include true crimes in 1812.
Once again Stephen Lancaster showed good policing skills, in the early days of law and order.
The story has a good pace and the various stories interlink really well.
Highway robbers, illegal slaves ships and mysterious skeletons are all part of Bow Street's crime fighting team.
Once again Stephen Lancaster showed good policing skills, in the early days of law and order.
The story has a good pace and the various stories interlink really well.
Highway robbers, illegal slaves ships and mysterious skeletons are all part of Bow Street's crime fighting team.
August 15, 2018
This isn't a favorite for me in the series, but it is entertaining. What I particularly appreciate about Charlton's Dectective Lavender Mysteries is the fact that Lavender was an actual policeman of 1800s England and that Charlton does lots of research for her stories and interweaves actual historical events into them. Here we have, for example, those plague pit bones of the title and the actual assassination of the Prime Minister interwoven, while at the same time Charlton enlarges upon these historical details and adds fictional embellishments to entertain the reader.
And, in addition, we continue to learn more about the personal lives of Detective Lavender and his sidekick Constable Woods. Woods and his family, in particular, I have always found to be rather charming. Lavender and his Spanish-born wife not so much, but they are growing on me.
There's lots going on in this for Lavender and Woods to worry about: footpads and highwaymen, an unidentified corpse floating in the river, a possible anarchist to watch out for, a rather nasty gang of criminals, and more that should not be mentioned here as possible spoilers. Amazingly enough, almost all the disparate happenings end up being connected. Solve one, solve them all, basically, and, in addition, the criminal mastermind gets away in the end, probably to show up again in future books as Lavender's very own "Moriarty".
There are some clever and interesting moments here. However, I am still reluctant to give this more than 3 stars. Lavender made some very non-clever moves in this one, two or three in particular where I wanted to yell at him for being stupid. And to get him out of the biggest, most dangerous mess he caused himself, his wife enlists a wounded Woods and his 13-year-old son for help, rather than asking for strong and healthy reinforcements from the police force. That made no sense. So no, I'll save my 4 or more stars for the next book, hoping Lavender has smartened up by then.
And, in addition, we continue to learn more about the personal lives of Detective Lavender and his sidekick Constable Woods. Woods and his family, in particular, I have always found to be rather charming. Lavender and his Spanish-born wife not so much, but they are growing on me.
There's lots going on in this for Lavender and Woods to worry about: footpads and highwaymen, an unidentified corpse floating in the river, a possible anarchist to watch out for, a rather nasty gang of criminals, and more that should not be mentioned here as possible spoilers. Amazingly enough, almost all the disparate happenings end up being connected. Solve one, solve them all, basically, and, in addition, the criminal mastermind gets away in the end, probably to show up again in future books as Lavender's very own "Moriarty".
There are some clever and interesting moments here. However, I am still reluctant to give this more than 3 stars. Lavender made some very non-clever moves in this one, two or three in particular where I wanted to yell at him for being stupid. And to get him out of the biggest, most dangerous mess he caused himself, his wife enlists a wounded Woods and his 13-year-old son for help, rather than asking for strong and healthy reinforcements from the police force. That made no sense. So no, I'll save my 4 or more stars for the next book, hoping Lavender has smartened up by then.
January 11, 2018
The fourth in the Detective Stephen Lavender mystery series set in the early 19thC. Murder, highway robbery, political intrigue and the slave trade combine to make a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable tale. A wonderful blend of historical fact and fiction, this story is well researched and well written. It kept me on my toes with plenty of twists and turns and hurtled along to an almost cliffhanger ending!
I’ve already read book one, The Heiress of Linn Hagh. I will be returning to read books two and three and I guess I will have to read book five to find out what happens next. I think this will prove to be an excellent series.
Reviewed for TBC on Facebook.
I’ve already read book one, The Heiress of Linn Hagh. I will be returning to read books two and three and I guess I will have to read book five to find out what happens next. I think this will prove to be an excellent series.
Reviewed for TBC on Facebook.
January 10, 2018
It took me a while to get into the story but I'm glad I persevered because it turned out to be a brilliant read. I didn't realise it was part of a series but it can definitely be read as a stand alone. Great insight into the events that took place in the murky depths of 19th century London. I will certainly read the next in the series to see if Lavender is made Chief Constable.
April 3, 2019
African American slave trade. Offensive African American name calling. Religious and race discrimination. Low rating because of this. Turmoil, bullies, death, betrayal, it's all there.
December 21, 2017
"Plague Pits & River Bones" is a mystery novel set in May 1812 in London, England. It's the fourth book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this story did not spoil any previous whodunits.
The vivid historical and setting details made the story feel unique to that time and place yet didn't slow the pacing down. I appreciated that a character got ill after being submerged in filthy river water (which is realistic) rather than emerging from the experience unscathed. I cared what happened to the characters, and they had realistic reactions to events.
This was a clue-based mystery with several matters needing Lavender's attention at the same time. While I wasn't surprised when he uncovered what was going on and who was behind it, I did fully enjoy how the different mysteries unexpectedly touched on each other. I was surprised that Lavender wasn't cautious at the end when someone he didn't trust offered to help him (though his being so likely wouldn't have changed much).
There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The vivid historical and setting details made the story feel unique to that time and place yet didn't slow the pacing down. I appreciated that a character got ill after being submerged in filthy river water (which is realistic) rather than emerging from the experience unscathed. I cared what happened to the characters, and they had realistic reactions to events.
This was a clue-based mystery with several matters needing Lavender's attention at the same time. While I wasn't surprised when he uncovered what was going on and who was behind it, I did fully enjoy how the different mysteries unexpectedly touched on each other. I was surprised that Lavender wasn't cautious at the end when someone he didn't trust offered to help him (though his being so likely wouldn't have changed much).
There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 19, 2018
This is the first of the Detective Lavender books I have read, but what an introduction to the series!
This book is so well written; atmospheric and extremely descriptive, conjuring up life in early 19th Century London. The characterisation is brilliant. I love Lavender, Constable Wood, and their respective families. My only regret during my reading of this book is that I didn't know their back stories. I need to read books 1-3 to learn more about them! All the players are so well drawn, and the imagery which the author creates put me right there. I was on the rowing boat, travelling through the fog, smelling the smells, hearing the sounds.
There are multiple crimes to be solved, but the plot lines weave seamlessly and I didn't get confused following them all. A great book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Now to download the others!
This book is so well written; atmospheric and extremely descriptive, conjuring up life in early 19th Century London. The characterisation is brilliant. I love Lavender, Constable Wood, and their respective families. My only regret during my reading of this book is that I didn't know their back stories. I need to read books 1-3 to learn more about them! All the players are so well drawn, and the imagery which the author creates put me right there. I was on the rowing boat, travelling through the fog, smelling the smells, hearing the sounds.
There are multiple crimes to be solved, but the plot lines weave seamlessly and I didn't get confused following them all. A great book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Now to download the others!
November 20, 2017
This is the 4th instalment of Lavender and Woods and it was an enjoyable read. I got drawn out from it at first then once I’d picked up a certain point I was back in the story.
I’m guessing the culprit before our detective does and wait for it to come through but I love how crime was back then and how they worked it out. I also enjoy learning about the era and how certain people were treated which wasn’t great.
I’ll continue reading as I enjoy learning of this time and knowing that the crimes are also true stories.
I’m guessing the culprit before our detective does and wait for it to come through but I love how crime was back then and how they worked it out. I also enjoy learning about the era and how certain people were treated which wasn’t great.
I’ll continue reading as I enjoy learning of this time and knowing that the crimes are also true stories.
November 16, 2017
Plague pits and river bones by karen Charlton.
London 1812: Treacherous gangs roam the capital, and not even the Palace of Westminster is safe. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist.
A very enjoyable read. I liked the characters and the plot.
Lavender and woods were my favorite characters. Loved how they helped each other out. Even woods son. I do hope there is .more to come. 5*. Tbc on fb.
London 1812: Treacherous gangs roam the capital, and not even the Palace of Westminster is safe. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist.
A very enjoyable read. I liked the characters and the plot.
Lavender and woods were my favorite characters. Loved how they helped each other out. Even woods son. I do hope there is .more to come. 5*. Tbc on fb.
October 1, 2024
It takes about half way through the book to really get going, but then of course everything ties in together.
January 10, 2018
It's 1812 and Principal Officer of the Bow Street Station, Stephen Lavender, and his fiery Spanish wife, Magdalena, are two years married and happily living in London. They would be happier, however, if Stephen were not called away on cases so often. Government funding is always scarce for Bow Street, so they supplement their income by sending Runners out on private investigations. As a Principal Officer, Lavender is much in demand.
Upon returning to London, Lavender is back to work immediately. Highwaymen are roaming the nearby countryside, vicious gangs are on the prowl in the city, and there are not enough Runners to cope. Added to the general disarray is the construction of a new cell block at Bow Street, built over medieval plague pits. The construction is further delayed by the discovery of many bones of the plague victims, and the addition of the freshly dead body of a peer in the pit.What really interests Stephen is a boot found in the Thames with a severed human foot. Forbidden by Magistrate Reed to further investigate the boot, he and his favorite Horse Patrol officer look into the matter anyway. Assigned to the surveillance of a discontented man who has been pestering Members of Parliament, Lavender wonders what can happen next when rumors reach his ear of a new criminal "mastermind" in the city. Can all these events be connected somehow?
The Detective Lavender Mysteries are favorites, and I always look forward to them. Loosely based on a real historical figure, Stephen Lavender was somewhat of a celebrity in his day. Stephen is not at all what one expects from a Bow Street Runner. Meticulous, educated, bookish and a bit introverted, he is an officer in a new mold. The supporting characters are extraordinarily well-drawn, especially Horse Patrol Officer, Ned Woods, his wife, Betsy, and their large family; and Magdalena's maid, Teresa. Plague Pits and River Bones is somewhat darker than preceding stories, with a "Moriarty" like character who is obsessed with Lavender and his wife. The slave trade (outlawed at the time) and assassination at the highest levels of government play a part in this story. Of course, there is Magdalena, a woman in a million! The environs of 1812 London are vividly described from the stench of St.Giles and the Thames, to the peaceful calm of Greenwich and the drawing rooms of the highest society.
I highly recommend Plague Pits and River Bones for those who enjoy historical mysteries. It is not necessary to read the series in order, but I do recommend starting with the first, The Heiress of Linn Hagh.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advance copy. The opinions are my own.
RATING- 4.5 Stars
Upon returning to London, Lavender is back to work immediately. Highwaymen are roaming the nearby countryside, vicious gangs are on the prowl in the city, and there are not enough Runners to cope. Added to the general disarray is the construction of a new cell block at Bow Street, built over medieval plague pits. The construction is further delayed by the discovery of many bones of the plague victims, and the addition of the freshly dead body of a peer in the pit.What really interests Stephen is a boot found in the Thames with a severed human foot. Forbidden by Magistrate Reed to further investigate the boot, he and his favorite Horse Patrol officer look into the matter anyway. Assigned to the surveillance of a discontented man who has been pestering Members of Parliament, Lavender wonders what can happen next when rumors reach his ear of a new criminal "mastermind" in the city. Can all these events be connected somehow?
The Detective Lavender Mysteries are favorites, and I always look forward to them. Loosely based on a real historical figure, Stephen Lavender was somewhat of a celebrity in his day. Stephen is not at all what one expects from a Bow Street Runner. Meticulous, educated, bookish and a bit introverted, he is an officer in a new mold. The supporting characters are extraordinarily well-drawn, especially Horse Patrol Officer, Ned Woods, his wife, Betsy, and their large family; and Magdalena's maid, Teresa. Plague Pits and River Bones is somewhat darker than preceding stories, with a "Moriarty" like character who is obsessed with Lavender and his wife. The slave trade (outlawed at the time) and assassination at the highest levels of government play a part in this story. Of course, there is Magdalena, a woman in a million! The environs of 1812 London are vividly described from the stench of St.Giles and the Thames, to the peaceful calm of Greenwich and the drawing rooms of the highest society.
I highly recommend Plague Pits and River Bones for those who enjoy historical mysteries. It is not necessary to read the series in order, but I do recommend starting with the first, The Heiress of Linn Hagh.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advance copy. The opinions are my own.
RATING- 4.5 Stars
May 9, 2022
In this book, detective Lavender gets his own nemesis - because the author thought he needed his own Moriarty.
This, however, for me is a huge, fat dud. I found the character of "Nidar" to be almost unbearable. Awkward and cringe-y as Hell.
He's more of an Arkham Asylum escapee than a criminal mastermind, but the author wants me to believe he's the cleverest criminal ever, while portraying a stereotypical villian, ready for the loonybin.
I tried to just stomach his over-the-top and insane presence and get to the ending, the closer to the finale I got.
Aside from him, I think the book worked well though.
I have a hard time warming up to Magdalena, which I find is sort of a shame. In this book she mopes about Lavender being tired all the time - because his boss is working him to the bone and almost the grave. But boo-hoo, poor Magda doesn't get to have the amount of sex she wants.
That part rubbed me the wrong way, to say the least. I just found it so cliché and whiny.
But of course it all works out in the end.
I liked the additions of Woods' son, Eddie. Over all, the entire Woods family is very nice to spend time with. Even if almost every character lives and breaths like a stereotype, cut from a gallery of historical caricatures.
As an avid Sherlock Holmes reader, this works for me, but only to a point. The recognition of certain stylised personas is fun, but the real mental challenge isn't to be found in these books. They are light weight and only work if you think of them as light entertainment with two buddy cops riding around Regency London, fighting crime.
My absolute favourite part of this book was actually the plague pit - which, honestly, sounds like an awful thing to admit. The joke about Napoleon Bone-A-Part was the first real laugh out loud moment I've had with this series - and I find Sir Richard Allison (the mad bone doctor) to be immensely amusing. He's kind of my favourite - like all the pathologists in every crime show ever. 😂
This, however, for me is a huge, fat dud. I found the character of "Nidar" to be almost unbearable. Awkward and cringe-y as Hell.
He's more of an Arkham Asylum escapee than a criminal mastermind, but the author wants me to believe he's the cleverest criminal ever, while portraying a stereotypical villian, ready for the loonybin.
I tried to just stomach his over-the-top and insane presence and get to the ending, the closer to the finale I got.
Aside from him, I think the book worked well though.
I have a hard time warming up to Magdalena, which I find is sort of a shame. In this book she mopes about Lavender being tired all the time - because his boss is working him to the bone and almost the grave. But boo-hoo, poor Magda doesn't get to have the amount of sex she wants.
That part rubbed me the wrong way, to say the least. I just found it so cliché and whiny.
But of course it all works out in the end.
I liked the additions of Woods' son, Eddie. Over all, the entire Woods family is very nice to spend time with. Even if almost every character lives and breaths like a stereotype, cut from a gallery of historical caricatures.
As an avid Sherlock Holmes reader, this works for me, but only to a point. The recognition of certain stylised personas is fun, but the real mental challenge isn't to be found in these books. They are light weight and only work if you think of them as light entertainment with two buddy cops riding around Regency London, fighting crime.
My absolute favourite part of this book was actually the plague pit - which, honestly, sounds like an awful thing to admit. The joke about Napoleon Bone-A-Part was the first real laugh out loud moment I've had with this series - and I find Sir Richard Allison (the mad bone doctor) to be immensely amusing. He's kind of my favourite - like all the pathologists in every crime show ever. 😂
January 11, 2018
This is the fourth book in a series.
I had read the first one and so knew that I was in for a treat but chose to cut my losses and read this edition without two and three.
The first thing that was great was that it didn't matter that I had missed out some of the books or indeed not read the first, the story flowed and we were filled in with 'back story' in a deft way without repeating previous stories.
Stephen Lavender is based on a real Bow Street Runner and this story concerns the discovery of a foot, a criminal mastermind and political intrigue.
The characters were well drawn, not complicated but sympathetic and straight forward.
The mystery was not difficult but the story weaved and spun into a fine yarn.
Four and a half stars.
I had read the first one and so knew that I was in for a treat but chose to cut my losses and read this edition without two and three.
The first thing that was great was that it didn't matter that I had missed out some of the books or indeed not read the first, the story flowed and we were filled in with 'back story' in a deft way without repeating previous stories.
Stephen Lavender is based on a real Bow Street Runner and this story concerns the discovery of a foot, a criminal mastermind and political intrigue.
The characters were well drawn, not complicated but sympathetic and straight forward.
The mystery was not difficult but the story weaved and spun into a fine yarn.
Four and a half stars.
July 24, 2018
I've read several of the Detective Lavender mysteries.
I enjoyed them tremendously. The author's use of actual historic persons and detailed period development make them exceptional in my opinion ion.
I enjoyed them tremendously. The author's use of actual historic persons and detailed period development make them exceptional in my opinion ion.
did-not-finish
March 2, 2018The writing is not engaging me. Did not finish pretty early on, so no rating.
January 11, 2018
The fourth in the series but a book that can be read as a stand alone ... you may, like me, decide to go back and catch up or wait to read them in order.
This is set around the Bow Street runners and there are factual references mixed into the fiction which adds an extra dimension. The characters are credible and those who have read the earlier books will have seen them gradually develop but we hear enough about their back stories to feel we are getting to know the lead characters.
There is mystery, politics, intrigue and enough going on to give crime fans a fun read, although not too taxing, but the historical context adds for an enjoyable element that I found engaging and I will certainly be looking for more Detective Lavender stories.
This is set around the Bow Street runners and there are factual references mixed into the fiction which adds an extra dimension. The characters are credible and those who have read the earlier books will have seen them gradually develop but we hear enough about their back stories to feel we are getting to know the lead characters.
There is mystery, politics, intrigue and enough going on to give crime fans a fun read, although not too taxing, but the historical context adds for an enjoyable element that I found engaging and I will certainly be looking for more Detective Lavender stories.
May 25, 2020
Detective Lavender gets his own Moriarty!
January 6, 2018
I absolutely loved this well written and informative book, a true story entwined with fiction not knowing which was which until I read the glossary at the end.. I will certainly be looking at other books written by this author. 5*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews