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Bow Street Rivals #5
Rage of the Assassin
London, 1817. An impatient crowd is gathered outside the stage door of the Covent Garden Theatre, desperate for a glimpse of actress Hannah Granville after her latest performance as Lady Macbeth, amongst them the Prince Regent himself. But before she can appear a gunshot sounds, and a man lies dead on the ground amidst the ensuing chaos. Sir Roger Mellanby MP had been a spearhead for social reform, although his political leanings had made him many enemies within the Westminster elite and even in his own family. But was he really the intended target of the shooting? After a curt dismissal from the Bow Street Runners, Mellanby's friend Seth Hooper engages the services of twin detectives Paul and Peter Skillen to investigate the killing. Elsewhere, the assassin's own problems are just beginning...
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2020
19 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Edward Marston
239 books466 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 29, 2020
An enjoyable whodunit set in 1817 London.
A prominent MP is shot to death outside the Covent Garden Theatre.
Twin brothers and amateur sleuths Peter and Paul Skillen have more than enough suspects to keep them busy when an associate of the MP requests their help in finding the killer.
The brothers have proved adept at ferreting out culprits while the Bow Street Runners seem to bungle the job every time.
The Runners will try everything to prevent Peter and Paul from making them look foolish yet again especially as there is now a large reward on offer.
Peter and Paul are engaging characters as are the two women in their lives.
A jaunty read to the end.
This is part of a series but it read just fine as a stand alone.
A prominent MP is shot to death outside the Covent Garden Theatre.
Twin brothers and amateur sleuths Peter and Paul Skillen have more than enough suspects to keep them busy when an associate of the MP requests their help in finding the killer.
The brothers have proved adept at ferreting out culprits while the Bow Street Runners seem to bungle the job every time.
The Runners will try everything to prevent Peter and Paul from making them look foolish yet again especially as there is now a large reward on offer.
Peter and Paul are engaging characters as are the two women in their lives.
A jaunty read to the end.
This is part of a series but it read just fine as a stand alone.
June 24, 2022
enjoyed this latest in the series was easy going read and didn't disappoint
November 5, 2020
I’m a fan of Edward Marston’s Railway Detective but I never read any other book in his other series.
I must say it is a highly entertaining and gripping story that thoroughly enjoyed.
The plot is tightly knitted and the storytelling is excellent. You are involved in plot and it kept me hooked till the end turning pages as fast as I could.
I liked the well-researched and vivid historical background even if the characters seem to be a bit too modern. The mix of fictional and historical characters works well and creates a fascinating mix
The character development is as good as usual, I liked Paul and Peter and I think they are interesting and fleshed.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing. The solution came as a surprise and it was satisfying.
Even if it’s the 5th in a series it can be read as a stand-alone and I had no issue with the plot or the characters even if I didn’t read the previous books.
I’m happy I was able to read this ARC because I discovered a new historical mystery series that I’m surely going to love.
It’s recommended.
Many thanks to Allison & Busby for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I must say it is a highly entertaining and gripping story that thoroughly enjoyed.
The plot is tightly knitted and the storytelling is excellent. You are involved in plot and it kept me hooked till the end turning pages as fast as I could.
I liked the well-researched and vivid historical background even if the characters seem to be a bit too modern. The mix of fictional and historical characters works well and creates a fascinating mix
The character development is as good as usual, I liked Paul and Peter and I think they are interesting and fleshed.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing. The solution came as a surprise and it was satisfying.
Even if it’s the 5th in a series it can be read as a stand-alone and I had no issue with the plot or the characters even if I didn’t read the previous books.
I’m happy I was able to read this ARC because I discovered a new historical mystery series that I’m surely going to love.
It’s recommended.
Many thanks to Allison & Busby for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 14, 2021
This was the best Bow Street Runners stories.
Peter and Paul Skillen are investigating the murder of a prominent Member of Parliament, Sir Roger Mellanby. The MP had been shot at the stage door when waiting to see Hannah Granville. His is the first of four murders to be investigated by the twins and Bow Street Runners. The twins were engaged by an associate of Sir Roger, but they were warned off by the dead man's elder son. The Bow Street Runners also want the twins well away from the investigation, as they're always successful and the Runners are shown for the bumbling idiots they are.
An habitual thief, Harry Scattergood, becomes involved with the murder case when he disguises himself , uses an alias and uses an associate to try and con the Runners into giving him the reward.
Peter and Paul Skillen are like a dog with a bone. They don't stop investigating, even when three more men are killed. The unknown assassin is at large and has to be brought to justice. But who is the person who ordered the killing of Sir Roger? The twins, aided by information discovered by Chevy Ruddock, find this person and an arrest is soon made.
Peter and Paul Skillen are investigating the murder of a prominent Member of Parliament, Sir Roger Mellanby. The MP had been shot at the stage door when waiting to see Hannah Granville. His is the first of four murders to be investigated by the twins and Bow Street Runners. The twins were engaged by an associate of Sir Roger, but they were warned off by the dead man's elder son. The Bow Street Runners also want the twins well away from the investigation, as they're always successful and the Runners are shown for the bumbling idiots they are.
An habitual thief, Harry Scattergood, becomes involved with the murder case when he disguises himself , uses an alias and uses an associate to try and con the Runners into giving him the reward.
Peter and Paul Skillen are like a dog with a bone. They don't stop investigating, even when three more men are killed. The unknown assassin is at large and has to be brought to justice. But who is the person who ordered the killing of Sir Roger? The twins, aided by information discovered by Chevy Ruddock, find this person and an arrest is soon made.
September 4, 2021
I always enjoy returning to Peter and Paul Skillen and their rivalry with the Bow Street Runners Micah Yeoman and Alfred Hale. I love how Edward Marston brings the Georgian streets to life through different classes of people.
An MP is shot outside the theatre where Paul's lover, Hannah Granville, is performing as Lady Macbeth, and as the Prince Regent approaches. It is an intriguing mystery, trying to figure out whodunnit and what their motive was. There is also an interlocking linked mystery which you're not always sure how it would resolve, but it is clever in the end.
I keep hoping that we'll see more involvement of Charlotte Skillen in the mystery, and I hope we'll see more of her in the future. The Bow Street Runners, Micah Yeoman and Alfred Hale, form a foil to the Skillen brothers, and I keep hoping to see more of Chevy Ruddock. I'm kind of routing for him to quit the Runners and join the Skillen brothers, but I can't actually see this happening. I just love Ruddock, especially in this story.
I am already waiting for the next book in this series!
An MP is shot outside the theatre where Paul's lover, Hannah Granville, is performing as Lady Macbeth, and as the Prince Regent approaches. It is an intriguing mystery, trying to figure out whodunnit and what their motive was. There is also an interlocking linked mystery which you're not always sure how it would resolve, but it is clever in the end.
I keep hoping that we'll see more involvement of Charlotte Skillen in the mystery, and I hope we'll see more of her in the future. The Bow Street Runners, Micah Yeoman and Alfred Hale, form a foil to the Skillen brothers, and I keep hoping to see more of Chevy Ruddock. I'm kind of routing for him to quit the Runners and join the Skillen brothers, but I can't actually see this happening. I just love Ruddock, especially in this story.
I am already waiting for the next book in this series!
July 10, 2021
Published in 2020, 'Rage of the Assassin' is the fifth novel in the 'Bow Street Rivals' series of murder mystery novels set in London soon after the end of the Napoleonic Wars and features twin brother detectives operating in competition with the Bow Street Runners in an effort to gain the offered rewards. The plot this time involves an assassination at a theatre. As usual, the plot is studded with unlikely coincidences, and the cast is dominated by two dimensional eccentrics. The Gillen twins add some novelty value, but the sheer denseness of Bow Street Runners Micah Yeomans and Alfred Hale becomes more and more difficult to swallow with each novel in the series. A pleasant read, but nothing special.
September 17, 2020
The local library had this on their recommended shelf. It’s all right. Our branch carries books 2 & 3 in the series, but not book 1. I wasn’t impressed enough to purchase the first book.
Twin brothers in 1817 London become involved with an assassination. One brother is escorting his love, who is an actress performing Lady Macbeth. The Prince Regent is there, so the police are busy protecting him. The brothers run a self defense studio that offers lessons in dueling with swords and pistols as well as using a rifle. They have a sideline of solving murders—-and the local constabulary resent them.
I found the characters a bit too cutesy for my taste.
Twin brothers in 1817 London become involved with an assassination. One brother is escorting his love, who is an actress performing Lady Macbeth. The Prince Regent is there, so the police are busy protecting him. The brothers run a self defense studio that offers lessons in dueling with swords and pistols as well as using a rifle. They have a sideline of solving murders—-and the local constabulary resent them.
I found the characters a bit too cutesy for my taste.
January 9, 2025
While I was hooked right from the start of each of the proceeding books in this series I found this book rather slow. The colleagues at the fencing and shooting school had a lot less involvement in this story. Centering more around the two brothers and one of their partners the plot was quite interesting but it just lacked excitement and meandered along to the reasonably good finale. It was still a worthwhile read.
July 4, 2022
who hired the assassin?
The rage is caused when the assassin is denied full payment for completing his assignment. He then tries to find the person who actually hired him through a front man. Highly recommend.
The rage is caused when the assassin is denied full payment for completing his assignment. He then tries to find the person who actually hired him through a front man. Highly recommend.
July 20, 2020
Excellent book, I did in no way guess who was behind the conspiracy. Couldn't put it down at the end!
August 10, 2020
Bow st runners versus the skillen bros these books just get better and better well worth reading
November 15, 2020
Edward Marston is always worth a read. Not the most literary of books, but good, escapist fun.
January 8, 2022
this book was better than i expected to be, i loved the mix of slight romance and crime at the same time. overall was a good book love it oml
April 1, 2022
An excellent read.
Great plot full of local information about the time it was set in. I have read the previous books and this one has kept to the same great read.
Great plot full of local information about the time it was set in. I have read the previous books and this one has kept to the same great read.
July 10, 2022
Who dunnit, easy to read. Slightly rushed at the finish but thoroughly enjoyable.
May 21, 2024
I am a late comer to EM but am very glad 'I found ' him as his atmospheric books are an ideal read when supervising students working independently giving time for the teacher to read !
May 31, 2024
Like an Edward Marston murder mystery and this one was definite an enjoyable and easy read.
Although got me again with who dun it…..so had me hooked right until last 2 pages.
Although got me again with who dun it…..so had me hooked right until last 2 pages.
August 24, 2024
I don’t know if this is the last book in the series or not. I believe it is the last one released right now, but I would definitely read more.
January 5, 2025
Great book just one question when is the next one coming
November 7, 2025
A quick read this. It came in useful for distracting me as I was laid up with the dreaded lurgy for a couple of days. liked the strong female characters in the novel
October 23, 2021
Thank goodness I read this after The Foxes of Warwick otherwise i don’t think i would have continued to read any further Edward Marston books.
This book is back to what I really enjoyed about Edward Marston precvious books. Likeable characters, intrigue and murder.
This book is back to what I really enjoyed about Edward Marston precvious books. Likeable characters, intrigue and murder.
February 26, 2023
An enjoyable, easy read.
June 30, 2020
Another brilliant story from Edward's pen
This is another example of the brilliant writing that is achieved by Edward Marston. The plot and characters are portrayed wonderfully, there are plenty of twists and turns. This is a book that will suit anybody who loves historical suspense story's.
This is another example of the brilliant writing that is achieved by Edward Marston. The plot and characters are portrayed wonderfully, there are plenty of twists and turns. This is a book that will suit anybody who loves historical suspense story's.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews