The Angel in the Glass

Gabriel Taverner Mystery #2

by Alys Clare

Physician-sleuth Dr Gabriel Taverner uncovers dark secrets in his small Devon village in the second of this intriguing historical mystery series.


June, 1604. When the emaciated body of a vagrant is found on the edge of the moor, it’s the verdict of physician Gabriel Taverner that the man died of natural causes – but is all as it seems? Who was the dead man, and why had he come to the small West Country village of Tavy St Luke’s to die cold, sick and alone? With no one claiming to have known him, his identity remains a mystery.


Then a discovery found buried in a nearby field throws a strange new light on the case … and in attempting to find the answers, Gabriel Taverner and Coroner Theophilus Davey unearth a series of shocking secrets stretching back more than fourteen years.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, 17th Century, Crime

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

Alys Clare is the pen name used by Elizabeth Harris for the Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries.

Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.

Reviews

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betrayals and tragedies!

A vagrant's body is found in an isolated hut near the small village of Tavy St Luke. Physician Gabriel Taverner and coroner Theophilus Davey rule death from natural causes. Gabriel is puzzled by various lumps on the vagrant's body but it seems leprosy is not the cause. Still, Gabriel is troubled. The more he investigates, the more troubled he becomes.
The story weaves together a group of dispirit occasions and people to make a whole. The local doctor, Gabriel and his sister, the midwife, the minister, the Coroner, a dead man with part of an astounding drawing of what seems to be an angel, a household where all is not as it seems, and what was reported as a wolf being seen in the region.
Meanwhile local boys think they have found a cache of jewels.
It's 1604 early in the reign of King James 1 of England. Attitudes to religious illuminations have lessened but the attitudes of the reformational are still feared.
This story wraps around several themes including the religious feelings of the times, women's health, betrayals, secrets--dreadful secrets of a prominent family that will come to light.
This is an independent novel but there are secrets lurking in Gabriel's sister's past that I feel newcomers would want to find out about.
An intriguing read with a fascinating collection of main characters.

A NetGalley ARC

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoy this series so far and like that it comes at history from a different point of view. So in this story we see the effect on priests and villagers of having stained glass windows removed from churches; we see the rise of unpleasant disease and the long term repercussions of it; how women are personally affected by being treated as brood mares or how women were totally dependent on their looks in order to make a marriage. I like that Judyth is not completely impressed by Gabe!

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this historical mystery set in Devon in the summer of 1604.
(Upped the rating to 4 stars after re-reading in mid-July, 2021)

Alys Clare's new series is shaping up nicely with this second entry.
I really like the continuing characters--country doctor Gabe Taverner, his clever (widowed) younger sister Celia, the local coroner Theophilus Davey and vicar Jonathan Carew.
The author deftly weaves a number of plot threads into a satisfying whole. One thread involves a vagrant, found dead in an out of the way ruined cottage. A second thread ties the vagrant to a local manor house and its very disquieting occupants. A third thread involves a belligerent local farmer who is rumored to have buried treasure on his land. A fourth thread involves the vicar, who is obviously suffering from some severe psychological stress. A final thread takes us back a generation to the religious turmoil generated by Henry VIII's break with the Roman Church.
By the time all is resolved the body count is distressingly high, with the reader feeling like they've been put through the wringer, along with Gabe, Theo and Jonathan.
I had a good time with this one and I'm looking forward to the next one.

ETA: 7/26/2021
A few things that I had forgotten brought a smile to my face during this re-read. I quite enjoyed watching Gabe being lectured by Judyth (the local mid-wife)on 'female' medical problems. Gabe's sister Celia is also a delight. She's twice as smart as Gabe and is constantly encouraging him to 'Think!'

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book found me exactly at the "right" time. That's not always the case with fiction books in mystery or historical era drama. I did not want another dark and gloomy despair pit. Which this was not.

The beginning introductions' sections didn't ignite any great interest. It seemed such a simple level telling and rather too idealized. Which is how, for me, a general who-dun-it "cozy" often reads.

But no- that beginning deceived me. Because these 6 or 7 village characters with their professions inter-meshing? They became flawed human, actual- and also in some cases quirkier too than the usual "stamped out" fiction villager of the King James period England. Or most any English villager who-dun-it of any era, even the recent modern.

Maybe it was the description of the angel in the sixth glass pane? Regardless- this one embedded me after Gabriel made his first trip to see Lady Clemence and her daughters. Several times in this novel there was a kind of backwards "diagnosis" for conditions and illnesses with different modern or bacterial names- but the reasoning to causes here were interesting in themselves.

It was not especially minutia researched, I did not think. Nor did it lack a couple of quite revisionist sensibilities either. But still, even within the idealizations (as with Judeyth) -it still held full blown descriptions and put you THERE. No easy task for such a rural place and within such after "interesting" times memories of the survivors.

So I will definitely return to Gabriel and his sister, Jonathan and the others in this town. Not perfect people, but people with a spirit and a onus for logical and intelligent inquiry and optimistic emotional context.

The plotting was a 4 star and the various reveals and connections of the last half better than the first 3rd. I did not guess the correct perp on several of the deadliest deeds. And the ones I did guess correctly were fulled out to a better depth than I had perceived would occur.

This author is a bit too "cozy" in stereotype for me, but she has clear and often beautiful thought patterns in emotive construction. As when they were looking at the Angel glass pane- both times. That was 5 star. It's hard to convey how "mood" changes under glare of an invasive "art".

I will definitely return to Alys Clare for further Gabriel Taverner escapades. In fact, I will probably backtrack to Gabriel Taverner #1.

[Judy Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for a digital galley of this novel.

Author Alys Clare is one of my favorite historical mystery writers so I was pleased to read the first book in this series, Rustle of Silk, in 2017. Now Dr. Gabriel Taverner is back helping Theophilus Davey, coroner for this area of Devon, when a body is found in a deserted hovel. In trying to identify the body and discover the cause of death Gabriel spends time researching the conditions he found on the body and by seeking out those in the neighborhood with specialized knowledge to help him come to some decision.

I admit to being a fan of this author's writing. Clare has the talent to make the narration of her novels flow so seamlessly that it is often difficult to tell her research material from her imagination. I very much appreciate that she allows her characters to make mistakes. This story is set in 1604 and the forensic side of criminal investigation is still in its infancy. Even the excellent schooling Gabriel Taverner got did not prepare him for every eventuality he would find in practicing medicine and uncovering clues from murder victims. Gabe's sister Celia is again very much a part of the story as is Judyth Penwarden, a midwife and healer; both women are presented as intelligent people who are able to help Gabriel when his focus is too narrow for the situation. There are many situations from the pasts of people living in this rural area of Devon which all lead up to the dramatic events of the story.

This book is more sedate in its movement than thriller or suspense novels of modern times. Allow yourself to devote time to getting to know the characters and imagine how the time period and the rural setting impact the story. If you do those things, I hope you will enjoy this series as much as I do.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of The Angel in the Glass, the second historical murder mystery to feature Devon based Dr Gabriel Tavener and Coroner Theophilus Davey.

In the summer of 1604 Theo calls Gabe out to an unexplained death. A vagrant has apparently died of malnutrition and some strange deformity causing disease so Gabe has no doubt in calling it natural causes, but Theo isn't so sure and soon circumstances, including the strange behaviour of local priest, Jonathan Carew, confirm his view.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Angel in the Glass which is an intelligent, well crafted novel, full of historical detail and surprisingly adult themes. It is a slow burner which takes its time building inexorably to a conclusion. The slow pace is a pleasure with so many small details providing the reader with much food for thought and sustaining interest in where it's going. I found it both absorbing and compelling.

The novel is full of historical fact, especially about the religious persecution, tumult and uncertainty of the preceding century. None of it is new to me, having had it imprinted in my mind ad nauseum in my schooldays, but I think it will be very interesting to most readers as it describes a situation which has no relevance in modern times and yet the religious fervour and atrocities committed in its name reverberate in a different context. I found the 17th century medical detail more interesting as it is new to me. The detail is not overwhelming enough to become boring but the thinking of the time is fascinating.

The novel is narrated in the first person by Gabe Tavener so it has an immediacy and intimacy that a straightforward third person narrative can't convey. It is interesting to see how events impact him and what he thinks about them, but it's not always easy to discern as he can be quite diffident emotionally.

The Angel in the Glass is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second book in what I hope will be a long series. I’ve read several wonderful books set during the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII, and a few during Elizabeth’s reign, but this is a new place and period for me - Devon 1604, the beginning of the reign of King James.

The action takes place far from the hotbed of the royal court in London, but the repercussions of the religious upheaval of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation continue to be felt in the background of this mystery, and with so much of Alys Clare’s writing that I’ve enjoyed, its well-researched and fascinating.

A sickly, emaciated vagrant is found dead in a decrepit shack on the moors; rumors fly that he had been seen lurking about the formerly stately home (now apparently falling into disrepair) of the locally important Fairbright family. Sir Thomas died a suspicious death years ago after a profligate life; his widow is still attempting to carry on in the manner expected, despite a mentally defective daughter who may or may not have had something to do with the vagrant’s death. Meanwhile, Jonathan Carew, the vicar, is clearly troubled...As usual, Clare weaves several fascinating smaller and larger plots and characters and tragedies together to bring readers a fascinating mystery tied up in the sins of the past.

I look forward to the next book.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery set in the early 1600s in the West Country highlights the changes coming about in England. The glass referred to, is stained glass windows, which were ordered to be removed and destroyed by the monarch previously. Queen Elizabeth lightened up on persecution, and her successor James 1 has eased matters further. Maybe stained glass can be replaced in the village church.
Before coming to that debate, the protagonist, a ship's surgeon who retired injured, is the village doctor who is called upon by the coroner to help establish a cause of death. A vagrant died locally, probably from malnourishment. But he had some disease, and given plague was still rife in London, I am amazed people were not more concerned. The body is left unburied in a crypt for a week, which seems repulsive, but it was colder in the 1600s.
The doctor gives first person POV so it is jarring when we also get third person from other characters. I enjoyed meeting his widowed sister, who leads a fairly independent life, and I hope more use will be made of her in later books. A local herb-woman is also present and I am surprised she was not an apothecary, which would be a lot more respectable. The book also touches on the way that homosexuality was outlawed at that time. I'll look forward to more outings from the good Doctor.

I downloaded an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction and Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Iona Sharma]

This has the same very likeable main characters as the previous book, and maintains one feature I haven't seen much of before: Gabriel Taverner, the narrator, is not a detective, amateur or otherwise. He's a doctor who assists a coroner, and does what doctors who assist coroners do (even in this century). He runs around and asks intelligent questions, and half the time he and Theo (the coroner) don't have to do anything because their murderers just appear and confess. It's naturalistic and I like it. The relationship between the two of them is the best thing about the book, although the plot is interesting and if possible, even more gothically overblown than in the previous one. (note: there is a *lot* of violence in this, severe mental illness (as seen through the lens of the 17th century) and rape, and child sexual abuse - caveat lector.)

[Clued-in With A Book (Elvina Ulrich) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1604 at a small West Country village of Tavy St. Luke, Dr. Gabriel Taverner and Coroner Theophilus Davey are called to examine the body of an unidentified vagrant found up on the edge of the moor. Although they initially concluded that he died of natural causes, but further investigations suggested otherwise when local gossips lead them to the home of Sir Thomas Fairlight, a prominent family in the village. Soon after, Gabe and Theo unearthed a series of shocking secrets that not only involved the family but the village as well.

This historical forensic mystery is the second book in the Gabriel Taverner Mystery series. Truth be told, the only reason I read this book is because of the forensic element which is unfortunately, only briefly mentioned in the story. The characters are flat, plain and lack of depth. I felt that I'd need to read the first book as not much background stories about the characters are given in this book.

That being said, this book is still a pretty good read. It is a very plot driven story with many subplots which may seem overwhelming in the beginning. But the suspenseful writing will keep readers engaged until the last page. I would still recommend this book to any historical murder mystery readers.


***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Severn House Publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having not read the first in this series, I was worried I would miss a chunk of information. To be honest, I did feel I lacked a little bit of background information, but this was perfectly enjoyable as a standalone.

Set in a small Devon village, I liked the characters and the setting in that particular time period. I do love a good historical mystery and this was true to that genre, with physicians, lords, servants, priests and the like.

Like in a previous book I read by this author the POV switches from first person when it is told from Gabriel’s perspective, to third person when we are reading from other peoples’ perspectives. This jarred a little bit in the beginning, but I did get used to it.

Although I did like the writing and the main characters, I was not the biggest fan of this particular mystery and its resolution. It felt a little bit cliche and predictable. It was a bit on the homophobic side as well, though this probably was intentional and true to the time period it was set in.

I did enjoy this well enough and I would happily read more from this author. I might look up the first in this series.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mysterious man is found dead. No one seems to know him, although a few had seen him in recent days. Dr. Taverner determines that he has dies from natural causes. When hired hands from a nearby home report seeing the mystery man, Dr. Taverner and his friend, Coroner Theophilus Davey go to investigate, but the family denies ever seeing the dead man.

When some children find some "jewels" in a field, another mystery seems to appear. The local vicar asks Dr. Taverner for his assistance in the matter. The doctor agrees and, together, they uncover some beautiful artifacts. But the doctor still has the mystery of the unknown dead man. Can he determine who this man was?

This is a new series by an excellent author. I've read many books by Alys Clare and have enjoyed every one. This series is just out of my normal reading range, but knowing how much I've enjoyed books by the author previously, I decided to give it a shot. I was not disappointed. This waan ts a very good book and I plan to read more of the books in this series.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked so much about this book, but I went back and forth on whether to give this 3 stars or 4. I enjoy the characters, and I like the plot, but in three sections we're basically given pages and pages of info dump. It's important information, but surely it could have been cut down and shared in other ways?
It definitely impacted my enjoyment of this book.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the Gabriel Taverner Mystery series. This concerns the mysterious death of a vagrant at first ascribed to natural causes. The body is discoverd at Wrenbeare, residence of Lady Clemence and her daughters. Concurrently, Gabriel is concerned about his friend Reverend Jonathon Carew who seemed shaken during his church service. There is much waiting for Gabriel, his sister and Coroner Davey to uncover. This is no ordinary vagrant here and the story of the Angel in the Glass is a top notch mystery.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book i read in this series and I will surely read the others as this one was very good.
It was fascinating and I couldn't put it down as the plot was great as well as the characters and the well researched historical background.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical mystery set in 1604 Devon. I'd never thought about physicians and coroners working together to solve murder mysteries during this time period but Clare has introduced me to Gabriel and Theophilus. This was a difficult time in the UK, filled with religious discrimination and strife and this is neatly wrapped into the story. The characters in this- including Gabe's sister Celia- are what make this a very good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer of 1604 and the body of a vagrant is discovered which physician Gabriel Taverner deems to be from natural causes. But who is he and why is he in the Devon village. But why do the residents of the Fairlights insist they have not seen him when their servants say otherwise.
A slow paced mystery as it introduces the characters. An enjoyable well-written story with a fine selection of varying characters. Although the second in the series it can easily be read as a standalone.
A NetGalley Book

[Niles Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful complex mystery set in the 1500's. Delightful.

[Beth Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was approved to read Alys Clare‘s new book in the Gabriel Taverner mystery series, The Angel in the Glass, I wasn’t sure what to expect given that I haven’t read the first book.

About The Angel in the Glass
June 1604
Dr Gabriel Taverner is called upon by coroner and friend, Theophilus Davey, when a body is found in an uninhabited house on the moor. The body appears to be that of a vagrant.

As Gabriel helps investigate the death, he becomes involved with helping the parish priest baitee his
personal demons.

Gabe learns that the demons are linked with the dead body and there is a terrible trail of secrets to be uncovered.

Who was the vagrant and why did he die?

What is haunting the painsh priest?

My Review
I loved this historical crime fiction. I didn’t read it too quickly but actually enjoyed taking it all in.

Dr Gabriel Taverner is a good character, and I didn’t need to read the first book to feel like I know him. The book works very well as a standalone.

Alys managed to build the suspense expertly throughout the book. It wasn’t a fast-paced read like most of the other books I have read recently but I did really enjoy ambling my way through the mystery. and suspense that was building.

All in all The Angel in the Glass was a fantastic read although not necessarily for the faint hearted.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been a 3 star rating except I just couldn't get past several glaring flaws. First and foremost, this is supposed to be set in 1604, but the language, demeanor and behavior of the characters is far more like 1904 or even 2004! Just one example, the coroner's "assistants" (would they not have been referred to as "apprentices?"or even just his "men?") call their master: "Chief!" I felt like they had wandered into the homicide room at NYPD! And then there were all the anachronisms, again, to choose just one: rum. Rum was not even invented until the 1650's and not available in England until about a decade later! Also, the overuse (and possible misuse) of the word: "Iconoclast." It is as if the author fell in love with this impressive, 4-syllable word and thought its frequent insertion would compensate for an otherwise very pedestrian vocabulary. And finally, I couldn't say I liked a book that relied on so much ugliness as a plot-driver.
Having said all that, I did find the mystery of a hidden treasure, a highly disturbing dysfunctional household, the death of a poor vagrant and a vicar's secrets to be compelling. I think with such intriguing elements, this tale had the potential to be far more engaging than it was.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC from a favorite author of mine. I have read all of Alys Clare's Hawkenlye and Aelf Fen series with pleasure. This series is a bit different for me, and I seem slow to warm to the period, although the characters have improved since Book #1.

Former ship's physician Gabriel Tavernoer, and Celia his sister as well as their compatriots in rural Devon, live in a time still reeling from Reformation atrocities. This story exemplifies some of the horrors of that period, although it must be said that the characters themselves are educated and mature.

Vestiges of religious intolerance as well as damaged lives are what this story is about.Gabe and his friend Coroner Theo Davy, attempt to solve a death which becomes one, and then a series of murders. The area "gentry" definitely are not who they seem to be as our characters find out.

There is a hopeful-of-better-times ending which I appreciated. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded to 4 as it was darker than I care for.

[Charlotte Pawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery is set in Devon in the start of the 1600’s. It was a time of religious change and persecution for the church whose beautiful stained glass windows have to be hidden.
A body is found on the moor with no obvious cause of death.
This starts an investigation by local doctor Gabriel Taverner and coroner Theo Davey. There investigation will take them to the grand house of Sir Thomas Fairlight. A man of substance and power who died over 10 years ago. The house Wrenbeare is run by his widow Lady Clemence and two surviving daughters. The elder Agnes is married and resides with her husband at Wrenbeare. The younger daughter Denyse is regarded as not right in the head by locals.
Why do they need to lie about a break in to the house?
This is a nicely paced book with plenty of detail to get you immersed in these dark and dangerous times.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. There are echoes of the authors earlier series 'Hawkenlye Mysteries'. Like Josse d'Acquinn Dr Tavener is an outsider with experiences and knowledge that sets him apart from the other characters. This is the second in the series. This is the first one I have read so it is possible to read this as a stand alone but I felt that there were gaps and some background on the trauma suffered by Celia might have been helpful. The story unfolds slowly and slowly pulls you in. Alys Clare has created a landscape for Dr Gaberiel Tavener and his sister Celia that is inhabited by colourful characters who add to the depth of the story and move the plot along. It' a rich tale with many unexplored avenues.

[Rosann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pleasure returning to the world of Gabriel Taverner. The character of a medieval doctor and former mariner is one that gives the reader a different POV in this well travelled genre— the Middle Ages murder mystery. The author surrounds and fleshes out her story with authentic details and interesting characters without overwhelming with the overt evidence of research. A very enjoyable read, looking forward to Gabe’s next tale.

[Melanie J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2*
I deeply disliked the writing style used in The Angel in the Glass.

This historical mystery is set in 1604, England. However, the many words used repeatedly by Alys Clare didn't fit the time period. This threw me out of the story and didn't give me confidence in her historical research. Words like 'medieval' 'hefty' and 'tubby' date to the 1800s or later, but were used repeatedly. Phrases and idioms were also not period-authentic. The use of 'spot of bother' and 'failed or failure to thrive' etc. utterly destroyed any period atmosphere the writer had hoped to create.

Clare employed lots of telling but very little showing: "I wasn't there to see her rise early to pick her roses and I didn't even know if she did, for something happened just before dawn that took me away from the house." Uggh! Just show us what happened! Telling readers what they could easily deduce acts as a reader repellant for me, making the tale boring and tedious. This type of stilted and needless internal dialog for the MC was woven throughout the book: "I got out of bed and went across to look down."

Clare also overused adjectives. Where one may have been unnecessary Clare often used multiple descriptors. This was a gem: "... after a moment, the slim, unobtrusively clad, nondescript and totally unmemorable figure of Theo's most efficient officer ...".

The author's treatment seemed to elevate physical appearance above personality and actions, rendering most characters as flat, unloved props. She repeated disparaging descriptions of figures, particularly Martin Oude and Lady Clemence but omitted other characteristics that could have given them personality and dimension. Worse, her evident disgust with tubby, horsy, unattractive, nondescript folks left me feeling I needed to cleanse my palate after reading this.

Explicit gore, along with human trafficking, slavery, rape and torture were used as plot devices. Not unheard of in crime fiction, but it made for a disgusting story.

As other reviewers have noted, most of characters used very similar vocabulary. It was as if they were all endowed with the same education, background and experiences - no matter their obvious distinctions.

The plot was slow to develop and characters missed evident clues that seemed not in keeping with their ostensible intelligence and skill set. It was consummated in a massive information dump. Clare did resolve details nicely in the final chapters.

This read gave me a deeper appreciation for several historical-mysteries that I didn't exactly love because they were period-authentic and lacked the judgy undertone laced throughout The Angel in the Glass. No, I won't be reading on in this series.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stained glass. Shameful secrets. Rumours of wolves and shadows. Dissolution. ‘The Angel in the Glass’ is second in the Gabriel Tavernier historical mystery series by Alys Clare. I really enjoyed the first, ‘A Rustle of Silk,’ and was looking forward to reading more about Gabe, rural doctor and amateur investigator. I wasn’t disappointed.
Three disconnected events occur early in the story. Two young brothers go exploring and find jewels hidden in a tangled copse on a farmer’s land; the resulting fight between the farmer and the boy’s father causes uproar. The body of a vagrant is found on the edge of the moors. And Jonathan Carew, vicar of St Luke’s church, has a strange episode in the middle of his Sunday sermon; he goes pale and stares at something that isn’t there.
Coroner Theophilius Davey calls on local doctor Gabriel Taverner to examine the corpse. Slender, fair-haired, skeletal, diseased, Gabe says the man likely died of natural causes. The body is locked in the cellar of an empty house near Theo’s house while he and his assistant Jarman Hodge investigate his identity. They make little progress apart from accumulating a collection of strange stories; a black shadow seen here, a wolf there, and servants gossip about a loiterer seen at Wrenbeare, once a fine large house but now dirty and unkempt. When Theo and Gabe ride out to Wrenbeare to interview the widow, Lady Clemence Fairlight denies there was an intruder. But her youngest daughter Denyse screams and says she saw a dead body. And she continues screaming. Who is telling the truth? What secrets lurk at Wrenbeare?
The story starts in 1604. After decades of religious change, persecution and crisis, England has settled into a fragile calm under King James I. In ‘The Angel in the Glass,’ Clare explores the continuing impact of Henry VII’s Act of Legacy, foundation of the Church of England and the dissolution of the monasteries, via a return to Protestantism under Edward VI and Catholicism with Queen Mary Tudor, returning to Protestantism again with Queen Elizabeth I. The turmoil of the preceding years lies shallow beneath the soil of the village Tavy St Luke’s and at Rosewyke, the warm country house which is home to Gabe and his widowed sister Celia.
I enjoy historical mysteries but some are long and wide-ranging. In future when I need a shorter read, I will turn to Alys Clare whose books are concise but still detailed and intriguing. At 240 pages, ‘The Angel in the Glass’ is a puzzling, quick read. The plot moves forward on every page, there are no wasted words, with rounded characters, twisty plot and a returning cast of villagers.
Quickly becoming a favourite series of mine. The next Gabriel Taverner book is ‘The Indigo Ghosts.’
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...

[Moriah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I enjoyed the first title in this series immensely, and was not disappointed with this one. This book can be read as a standalone, but why deny yourself the enjoyment of the first book?

Angel in the Glass picks up not too long after events of the first title. Gabriel Taverner is a former navy surgeon who was forced to retire after a head injury caused him to develop severe sea sickness. He's finally getting settled into life on land and lives with his recently widowed sister. One June evening, Gabriel finds himself awakened by pebbles thrown at his window by Theophilus Davey, the local coroner who needs Gabriel to consult on the death of a vagrant at the edge of the meadow. In an abandoned, hut, he examines a body in a severe state of decomposition to determine if the death was natural or foul play. After an examination, he determines that the body belongs to a severely malnourished man who was quite beautiful at one time. Although the death isn't suspicious, there is a mystery around the vagrant is.

Local gossip claims that a stranger was seen several times at the home (Wrenbeare) of a prominent family who is the subject of local gossip. The former head of the family died a decade or so previously, and his widow, two daughters and a son-in-law currently inhabit the house. The youngest daughter is believed to be mad and suffers from fits. The family insists that gossip is mistaken and no strangers were in the vicinity. Clearly something about the family isn't right, but what are they hiding, and is it connected to the vagrant?

In addition to the mystery of the vagrant's identity, Gabriel and his sister are concerned about the local vicar, Jonathan, after noticing that something is haunting him. Gabriel has to tread carefully so he doesn't offend the very private vicar. Is it connected somehow to the rumored jewels that two local boys claim they discovered while trespassing on a local farmer's land?

The mysteries are well done and enough clues are provided to allow the reader to develop their own theory of what happened; I really appreciate that the ultimate answer doesn't come out of left field with no way to have figured it out. One of the best parts about this series is that the author does a wonderful job of providing readers a feel for what life was like in the early 1600s. She doesn't shy away from the darker parts of history and societal beliefs/mores. I am a huge fan of this series and hope that additional titles keep coming.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Amazon blurb: Physician-sleuth Dr Gabriel Taverner uncovers dark secrets in his small Devon village in the second of this intriguing historical mystery series.

June, 1604. When the emaciated body of a vagrant is found on the edge of the moor, it’s the verdict of physician Gabriel Taverner that the man died of natural causes – but is all as it seems? Who was the dead man, and why had he come to the small West Country village of Tavy St Luke’s to die cold, sick and alone? With no one claiming to have known him, his identity remains a mystery.

This is another really excellent mystery. At first, Gabriel fears the man died of leprosy due to the sores and swellings on the body and is relieved when his research indicates otherwise. He's so relieved, in fact, that he fails to search more thoroughly and declares the man died of natural causes - starvation, cold, etc.

Meanwhile, the vicar of the parish is having troubles of his own and we find out a bit of Jonathan's own past and the reason he's on Tavy St. Luke. Somehow, this all winds up being related to the mystery of the vagrant, some stained glass panels buried in Foxy Dell and secrets of a man dead 14 years.

I don't know how many wrong guesses I made before everything was solved but more people died before the end and who the killer(s) were wasn't a total surprise once I got everybody's story.

A really excellent book and one I'll read again once I've gotten Book 1 and read it.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foxy Dell was situated in Farmer Haydon's land. Despite him being a mean uncharitable old goat, the locals seem to unconsciously trespass into his forbidden land. And so it came to pass that one day, two boys ventured into his land and came running back home shouting they found some jewels. Hard on their heels was an irate Farmer Haydon and forcibly took the item that the boys unearthed, but not after having engaged into bloody fistcuffs with the boys' father. After said incident, Farmer Haydon acquired 2 mastiffs to patrol his lands, starving them to keep them alert to food of any kind, be they two~legged or four. Now, 2 intelligent men ~ a Vicar and a Doctor boldly schemed going into forbidden territory to retrieve some glass panels buried there, the reason why was only known to the Vicar, yet Gabe was committed to helping his friend. But first, Doctor Taverner must obtain a soporific to put the dogs to sleep that would involve a reluctant midwife as provider of the drug. A well~written gut~wrenching heart~breaking tale that despite the sub~plots, this author remarkably managed to tie them all together into a deep insightful work.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4 stars. #2 Gabriel Taverner historical mystery set in 1604 England. In my opinion this is an accurate historical depiction of life in a small village at this time. I enjoyed this gritty mystery as much as #1 A Rustle of Silk. Gabriel is a charming and sympathetic doctor who has settled in his family's home after some years at sea as a ship's doctor. The author is very skilled at slowly developing the events around the death of an unknown vagrant. No spoilers but there were many twists and turns to the plot. And the depiction of society's prejudices was realistic. This was a very difficult time for anyone who didn't "fit it". There is also a back story about how during the different reigns of the "old King" (Henry VII), Bloody Mary & Elizabeth I; spymasters were used to torture and prosecute both Catholics and Protestants. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!