Death and the Chevalier

Cragg & Fidelis Mystery #6

by Robin Blake

As the Young Pretender and his Jacobite army approach, Coroner Titus Cragg must solve a brutal murder -and prevent himself being executed for the crime.

November, 1745. Preston, Lancashire. Rumours abound that Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender, has landed in Scotland, intent on marching south to claim the English throne. Meanwhile, a headless body is discovered in an icy pond. Coroner Titus Cragg thinks he has a lead when a head is eventually found - only to discover that it belongs to a different body. Could there be a connection to the approaching rebel army? Or is someone using the Highlanders' invasion as a cover-up for murder?

As simmering tensions, conflicting loyalties and open hostilities split the town, Cragg finds himself arrested for murder. In order to clear his name and escape execution by firing squad, Titus must team up with his old friend, Dr Luke Fidelis, to expose the real killer.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2020

About the author

Robin Blake is the author of acclaimed works on the artists Van Dyke and Stubbs. He has written, produced and presented extensively for radio, is widely published as a critic, and is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Brunel University. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the major part of this book, but I really did not care for the last 10% helter skelter made for cinema over the top action. Oh well. The historical aspect of the Young Pretender (Charles Edward Stuart) and his army making their move southward from Scotland toward London had much to interest me. There were rumors of what was to come and worries for those who had lived through this before. Knowing what was at stake, measures were taken to hide good horses and store away as much as possible that troops would want to take for themselves as they went through Preston. Cragg must hold inquest into the two headless bodies found pointing to early Scottish scouts. Cragg's life is saved more than once by Fidelis as action intensifies. This really is a very busy book with a lot of personal crises for Cragg and family. [1475, Preston]

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1745. The Young Pretender's army is on its way southwards, towards Preston when two decapitated bodies are found. Coroner Titus Cragg and Dr Luke Fidelis investigate, is there a connection between the bodies and the approaching army.
The story really didn't catch my interest, this might be because I have not read the previous five books which may be why I didn't find the characters were interesting enough. It was presumed that we would know their individual histories. For me there was not enough of a mystery in the story.
A NetGalley Book

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cragg the Coroner seems full of himself and contrives to upset the system as he seeks the truth. Lots would have been better off if he had left well alone. Not much of a story then though. All the goings on of death, mostly murder under the gaze of Bonnie Prince Charlie flooding through Preston as he and his army advanced on London and then in retreat as he fled back to Scotland.

A good enough story but there were no twists enough to throw the reader from the inevitable finally. Two good stars and probably the end of this series for me.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at classicmystery.blog.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: It is 1745 and Bonnie Prince Charlie is leading his army southward picking up support as he goes. The residents of Preston, like much of the country, are torn between those who think his father is the rightful king and other who support the Georges. Ahead of the army two men travel to Preston but meet a grisly end. This is where Titus, as coroner, must take over to determine the cause of death and who was responsible. Despite his tough questioning, the jury is unable or unwilling to place blame on anyone.
Things spiral downwards for Titus from that point forward. The Jacobites descend on the town and Titus and his family must play host to three of their number, one of whom is a most unpleasant guest. He has also incurred the amity of the person Titus suspects was behind the murders and beheadings of the two Jacobite travellers. He has managed to incite enough ill will that before the army leaves Preston, they are convinced he is the murderer. Things are looking bleak but he still has friends including one in a surprisingly high place.
When he returns to Preston he must defend himself on a libel charge. His future is looking dark indeed but enter a highwayman and loyal servant and written proof of his allegations and things begin to turn his way. But this is not before there are some very tense and scary moments for his family.
This turned out to be a fast paced historical fiction that kept me turning page after page to see what would happen next. It is full of fascinating historical characters as well as fictional ones. Five purrs and two paws up.

[K.S. Dearsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy historical murder mysteries and Death and the Chevalier was no exception, although the period of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745 is new to me. Despite my ignorance, I found the setting easy to follow: it's neither loaded with too much historical detail nor so vague that it could have been any other period. People are pretty much the same throughout history, and the characters who inhabit this book are easy to recognise.

What holds me back from giving the novel another star is, perhaps, that the characters and the plot feel a little too familiar. That said, it was an easy read that I enjoyed.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the second book I read in this series and I liked it.
It's an engrossing historical thriller, full of twists, with an interesting and well developed cast of characters.
The historical background is vivid and well researched, the mystery solid and it kept me guessing.
I look forward to the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better. And the historical research behind the plot means that we get fiction backed by fact.

The coroner is tasked to find the murderer of not one but two naked bodies found minus their heads. This would be a mystery in itself, if it didn't seem to involve the coming of the army of Charles Edward Stuart, the Stuart claimant to the throne as Charles III to those who supported him, the "Young Pretender" to those who didn't.

Coroner Cragg and Doctor Fidelis remain a great team in this one, and great friends; luckily for Titus Cragg, for his life is threatened in Death and the Chevalier. The action moves slowly and then speedily as the army of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" (the Chevalier of the title) threatens, in more ways than one.

Titus Cragg also has personal reasons to be unhappy about the coming of Charles Edward Stuart's army, as readers will see. The personal lives of the two adult Craggs are front and center in the book, and the author handles the circumstances with a deft hand.

Matters are well concluded by the end of the book (we even meet a famous highwayman), and justice meted out by all those concerned. Definitely looking forward to see what else Cragg and Fidelis will be getting up to.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have evidently missed out on a great deal by coming into this series so late in the game, but this is something I aim to rectify as this was a thoroughly enjoyable romp, filled with wit and fun alongside the historical . Many characters became precious to me and I would definitely suggest others readers who enjoy historical mysteries seek out the Titus Cragg series for themselves!!

[Paganus Kiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read in he Cragg and Fidelis universe.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent historical thriller, full of unforseen twists and turns all based around the 1745 occupation of Preston. The story arcs and plotting are first class and characters and historical events decently fleshed out. Well worth the time spent.