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The Devil's Assembly
Edinburgh, August 1746
In the chaotic aftermath of the Battle of Culloden British forces spread across the Scottish Highlands to hunt down and destroy all those who had played a role in the final Jacobite Rebellion.
One of the most ruthless and determined of these agents of death is Captain Alisdair Mackenzie, a man obsessed with snuffing out the flame of insurrection whatever the cost to human life, whether his victims are guilty or not. Now his focus is centred on a beautiful young woman, Lady Margaret Murray. She has managed to escape his clutches for the moment but is hunted relentlessly through the hills and glens.
Driven onwards by an obsessive hatred Mackenzie is prepared to lose as many men as it takes to see her hang from the gallows pole. It is this obsession which sees him pursue her from the wild landscape of the Highlands to the wild streets of Edinburgh in his thirst for blood.
In Scotland’s ancient capital Robert Young, solver of problems for the wealthy, finds himself and his friend Captain Charles Travers of the Town Guard being dragged into the hunt as the suffering of the north is brought to the cobbled wynds and closes of the city. Robert soon finds himself embroiled in a twisted affair of lies, vengeance and blood which places him at risk from both those who wish to see Lady Margaret dead, and those who are prepared to do anything to protect her.
From the elegant drawing rooms of high society to the crumbling alehouses of the Cowgate, it is a hunt which must end in the death of either Lady Margaret or Captain Mackenzie when the time comes for the Devil’s Assembly.
In the chaotic aftermath of the Battle of Culloden British forces spread across the Scottish Highlands to hunt down and destroy all those who had played a role in the final Jacobite Rebellion.
One of the most ruthless and determined of these agents of death is Captain Alisdair Mackenzie, a man obsessed with snuffing out the flame of insurrection whatever the cost to human life, whether his victims are guilty or not. Now his focus is centred on a beautiful young woman, Lady Margaret Murray. She has managed to escape his clutches for the moment but is hunted relentlessly through the hills and glens.
Driven onwards by an obsessive hatred Mackenzie is prepared to lose as many men as it takes to see her hang from the gallows pole. It is this obsession which sees him pursue her from the wild landscape of the Highlands to the wild streets of Edinburgh in his thirst for blood.
In Scotland’s ancient capital Robert Young, solver of problems for the wealthy, finds himself and his friend Captain Charles Travers of the Town Guard being dragged into the hunt as the suffering of the north is brought to the cobbled wynds and closes of the city. Robert soon finds himself embroiled in a twisted affair of lies, vengeance and blood which places him at risk from both those who wish to see Lady Margaret dead, and those who are prepared to do anything to protect her.
From the elegant drawing rooms of high society to the crumbling alehouses of the Cowgate, it is a hunt which must end in the death of either Lady Margaret or Captain Mackenzie when the time comes for the Devil’s Assembly.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2017
About the author
Stuart S. Laing
18 books12 followersBorn in 1966 and raised on the east coast of Scotland in the ancient Pictish Kingdom of Fife.
Married to a wonderful woman for 19 years and we have been blessed with a beautiful daughter.
I really have to say thank-you to my wife for allowing me to spend so much time in the 18th Century when there are jobs in the 21st Century probably requiring my attention!
I have always been fascinated by the history of Edinburgh and have spend most of my adult life studying Scottish history in all its aspects but always find myself being drawn back to the cobbled streets of the Old Town.
I would urge all visitors to Scotland's ancient capital to (briefly) venture into one of the narrow closes/alleys running off from the Royal Mile to get a flavour of how alive with mischief, mayhem, love and laughter these streets once were.
Married to a wonderful woman for 19 years and we have been blessed with a beautiful daughter.
I really have to say thank-you to my wife for allowing me to spend so much time in the 18th Century when there are jobs in the 21st Century probably requiring my attention!
I have always been fascinated by the history of Edinburgh and have spend most of my adult life studying Scottish history in all its aspects but always find myself being drawn back to the cobbled streets of the Old Town.
I would urge all visitors to Scotland's ancient capital to (briefly) venture into one of the narrow closes/alleys running off from the Royal Mile to get a flavour of how alive with mischief, mayhem, love and laughter these streets once were.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 1, 2018
Devilishly good...
The Jacobite rebellion may have been at an end but blood spilled, sometimes without honour, leaves its mark on the survivors. Edinburgh plays host to whispers of outrage. An act of violence was sure to happen but with a victim so loathed, Robert Young must find a killer in a city of suspects.
I have read a number of the Robert Young novels and truth have enjoyed all of them but for me this is the most delicious of reads. The characters are expertly created, they have depth. The females characters are not simply window dressing and in many ways are the driving force within the novel. The plot itself is clever, a murder doesn't simply happen, the story gathers pace bringing the reader delightfully to the dreaded deed. My favourite being the ball, a truly brilliantly crafted scene. The novel doesn't disappoint through-out, with a satisfying and intelligent ending.
No hesitation in recommending this wonderful read.
The Jacobite rebellion may have been at an end but blood spilled, sometimes without honour, leaves its mark on the survivors. Edinburgh plays host to whispers of outrage. An act of violence was sure to happen but with a victim so loathed, Robert Young must find a killer in a city of suspects.
I have read a number of the Robert Young novels and truth have enjoyed all of them but for me this is the most delicious of reads. The characters are expertly created, they have depth. The females characters are not simply window dressing and in many ways are the driving force within the novel. The plot itself is clever, a murder doesn't simply happen, the story gathers pace bringing the reader delightfully to the dreaded deed. My favourite being the ball, a truly brilliantly crafted scene. The novel doesn't disappoint through-out, with a satisfying and intelligent ending.
No hesitation in recommending this wonderful read.
November 6, 2017
The Devil's Assembly with Robert of Newbiggin (The Robert of Newbiggin Series) is a hit!!
Robert Young, Captain Charles Travers and all the other characters are back for another mystery. I like how some of the characters have appeared in other books of the series, but each book is unique and can stand on its own.
The Devil's Assembly brings us Captain Alisdair Mackenzie, an evil man who comes to Edinburgh after the Battle of Culloden trying to find Lady Margaret Murray. A vicious man, he will stop at nothing to find her and send her to the gallows.
Robert and Charles try to stay ahead of Captain Mackenzie and save Lady Margaret. With many twists and turns, enough to at least keep me off the track of what will happen in the book, we watch to see if they are successful.
This is the 10th book in the series and definitely a page turner.......I want to solve this mystery before they do. I only hope this is not the last of Robert Young and company as I can't wait for the next one!
This book is definitely a 10* in my opinion.
Robert Young, Captain Charles Travers and all the other characters are back for another mystery. I like how some of the characters have appeared in other books of the series, but each book is unique and can stand on its own.
The Devil's Assembly brings us Captain Alisdair Mackenzie, an evil man who comes to Edinburgh after the Battle of Culloden trying to find Lady Margaret Murray. A vicious man, he will stop at nothing to find her and send her to the gallows.
Robert and Charles try to stay ahead of Captain Mackenzie and save Lady Margaret. With many twists and turns, enough to at least keep me off the track of what will happen in the book, we watch to see if they are successful.
This is the 10th book in the series and definitely a page turner.......I want to solve this mystery before they do. I only hope this is not the last of Robert Young and company as I can't wait for the next one!
This book is definitely a 10* in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews