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Laurence Jago #1
Black Drop
This is the confession of Laurence Jago. Clerk. Gentleman. Reluctant spy.
July 1794, and the streets of London are filled with rumours of revolution. Political radical Thomas Hardy is to go on trial for treason, the war against the French is not going in Britain's favour, and negotiations with the independent American colonies are on a knife edge.
Laurence Jago - clerk to the Foreign Office - is ever more reliant on the Black Drop to ease his nightmares. A highly sensitive letter has been leaked to the press, which may lead to the destruction of the British Army, and Laurence is a suspect. Then he discovers the body of a fellow clerk, supposedly a suicide.
Blame for the leak is shifted to the dead man, but even as the body is taken to the anatomists, Laurence is certain both of his friend's innocence, and that he was murdered. But after years of hiding his own secrets from his powerful employers, and at a time when even the slightest hint of treason can lead to the gallows, how can Laurence find the true culprit without incriminating himself?
A thrilling historical mystery, perfect for readers of C.J. Sansom, Andrew Taylor, Antonia Hodgson and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.
________________________________________
'A sparkling evocation of a distant time which is remarkably similar to the current one. I loved it' - TREVOR WOOD
'Well written and well constructed, Jago is a character that readers will want to follow' - ALIX NATHAN
'This opium-fuelled gem is a murderous romp through the tangled roots of British democracy' - JANICE HALLETT
'Superb. Vivid and fast-paced, it's an impressive achievement and hugely enjoyable' - GUY MORPUSS
'An astounding debut novel, written with style and confidence' - A.J. WEST
'Black Drop is a joy from start to finish... Jago is a very sympathetic hero, with all his flaws, virtues and secrets' - ANDREW TAYLOR
'A thrilling slice of pitch-dark historical fiction, led by a hugely engaging narrator' - EMMA STONEX
'A gripping, intricate story of Georgian high politics and low life' - W.C. RYAN
July 1794, and the streets of London are filled with rumours of revolution. Political radical Thomas Hardy is to go on trial for treason, the war against the French is not going in Britain's favour, and negotiations with the independent American colonies are on a knife edge.
Laurence Jago - clerk to the Foreign Office - is ever more reliant on the Black Drop to ease his nightmares. A highly sensitive letter has been leaked to the press, which may lead to the destruction of the British Army, and Laurence is a suspect. Then he discovers the body of a fellow clerk, supposedly a suicide.
Blame for the leak is shifted to the dead man, but even as the body is taken to the anatomists, Laurence is certain both of his friend's innocence, and that he was murdered. But after years of hiding his own secrets from his powerful employers, and at a time when even the slightest hint of treason can lead to the gallows, how can Laurence find the true culprit without incriminating himself?
A thrilling historical mystery, perfect for readers of C.J. Sansom, Andrew Taylor, Antonia Hodgson and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.
________________________________________
'A sparkling evocation of a distant time which is remarkably similar to the current one. I loved it' - TREVOR WOOD
'Well written and well constructed, Jago is a character that readers will want to follow' - ALIX NATHAN
'This opium-fuelled gem is a murderous romp through the tangled roots of British democracy' - JANICE HALLETT
'Superb. Vivid and fast-paced, it's an impressive achievement and hugely enjoyable' - GUY MORPUSS
'An astounding debut novel, written with style and confidence' - A.J. WEST
'Black Drop is a joy from start to finish... Jago is a very sympathetic hero, with all his flaws, virtues and secrets' - ANDREW TAYLOR
'A thrilling slice of pitch-dark historical fiction, led by a hugely engaging narrator' - EMMA STONEX
'A gripping, intricate story of Georgian high politics and low life' - W.C. RYAN
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
99 people are currently reading
1405 people want to read
About the author
Leonora Nattrass
17 books46 followersLeonora Nattrass studied eighteenth-century literature and politics, and spent ten years lecturing in English and publishing works on William Cobbett. She then moved to Cornwall, where she lives in a seventeenth-century house with seventeenth-century draughts, and spins the fleeces of her traditional Ryeland sheep into yarn. Black Drop is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
July 29, 2021
It’s the year 1794, and right from the start we know that Laurence Jago (clerk to the Foreign Office) has secrets - the kind of secrets that, (should he be found out), would result in his head being placed on a spike at Temple Bar, for all to see, that being the punishment for treason!
In 1794 the war against Revolutionary France was a year old, and there were always suspicions that spies were afoot in the Foreign Office with the potential to leak important information about the tactics to be used by the Allies - France by this time was seeing a massive rise in troop numbers - the English couldn’t afford to give secrets away.
Amidst the machinations of Georgian politics, a highly sensitive letter has been leaked to the press, that happens to coincide with the suicide of a colleague of Laurence Jago’s, and though suspicion falls on Jago and another man, it’s easier and less messy to place the blame on the one who can no longer speak for himself. Jago believes his colleague was murdered, and he’s determined to discover who the murderer is - but he needs to keep his own secrets from the powers that be!
Jago isn’t perfect but I liked him, and the storyline was interesting, with the Georgian Era brought wonderfully to life - The rich, only a tiny minority of the population, lived luxuriously in lavish, elegant mansions and country houses, which they furnished with comfortable, upholstered furniture, whilst for the poor, it was a noisy, dirty and overcrowded city. A very enjoyable read.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Serpent’s Tail/ Viper/Profile Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
In 1794 the war against Revolutionary France was a year old, and there were always suspicions that spies were afoot in the Foreign Office with the potential to leak important information about the tactics to be used by the Allies - France by this time was seeing a massive rise in troop numbers - the English couldn’t afford to give secrets away.
Amidst the machinations of Georgian politics, a highly sensitive letter has been leaked to the press, that happens to coincide with the suicide of a colleague of Laurence Jago’s, and though suspicion falls on Jago and another man, it’s easier and less messy to place the blame on the one who can no longer speak for himself. Jago believes his colleague was murdered, and he’s determined to discover who the murderer is - but he needs to keep his own secrets from the powers that be!
Jago isn’t perfect but I liked him, and the storyline was interesting, with the Georgian Era brought wonderfully to life - The rich, only a tiny minority of the population, lived luxuriously in lavish, elegant mansions and country houses, which they furnished with comfortable, upholstered furniture, whilst for the poor, it was a noisy, dirty and overcrowded city. A very enjoyable read.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Serpent’s Tail/ Viper/Profile Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
July 30, 2023
3.25 stars
“This is the confession of Laurence Jago. Clerk. Gentleman. Reluctant spy.”
Another historical novel. Set in London in 1794. The Black Drop of the title is Laudanum. It is the height of the terror in France and England and France are at war. The main protagonist is Laurence Jago a clerk at the Foreign Office. There is plenty of intrigue and deception and I believe this is the first of a series. Jago is a flawed hero as he is somewhat reliant on of the opiate of the title.
There is a mix of fictional and historical characters. Lord Grenville is the foreign secretary. Others include George Canning, Thomas Hardy (not the novelist, but the radical shoemaker tried for treason), John Jay (an American envoy) and, of course, Pitt the Younger.
One of Jago’s fellow clerks has been murdered and Jago takes it on himself to investigate. This takes him around the back streets of London with a mix of spies for France and the government and the home grown radicals caught up with the Corresponding Societies. There are a few journalists around as well.
Nattrass creates atmosphere well and the tale holds the attention. It was quite fun to reacquaint myself with radical London of the 1790s: it felt like home when I was at university!
“This is the confession of Laurence Jago. Clerk. Gentleman. Reluctant spy.”
Another historical novel. Set in London in 1794. The Black Drop of the title is Laudanum. It is the height of the terror in France and England and France are at war. The main protagonist is Laurence Jago a clerk at the Foreign Office. There is plenty of intrigue and deception and I believe this is the first of a series. Jago is a flawed hero as he is somewhat reliant on of the opiate of the title.
There is a mix of fictional and historical characters. Lord Grenville is the foreign secretary. Others include George Canning, Thomas Hardy (not the novelist, but the radical shoemaker tried for treason), John Jay (an American envoy) and, of course, Pitt the Younger.
One of Jago’s fellow clerks has been murdered and Jago takes it on himself to investigate. This takes him around the back streets of London with a mix of spies for France and the government and the home grown radicals caught up with the Corresponding Societies. There are a few journalists around as well.
Nattrass creates atmosphere well and the tale holds the attention. It was quite fun to reacquaint myself with radical London of the 1790s: it felt like home when I was at university!
October 16, 2021
#BlackDrop - “London, 1794 - In a time of revolution, only a traitor can catch a murderer. My name is Laurence Jago. Clerk. Gentleman. Reluctant spy. I am not a traitor. I am not a murderer. But that doesn’t mean I won’t hang….this is my confession…..”
“Black Drop” is a richly detailed, historical political thriller set in London 1794 and is narrated by Laurence Jago, clerk to the foreign office. After a highly sensitive letter is leaked to the press - which could lead to the destruction of the British Army, Laurence is the main suspect. When he discovers his friend and fellow clerk has committed suicide he believes that it was actually murder. Can Laurence prove who was to blame for the leaked document and his friend’s death without incriminating himself, knowing that he has kept years of his own secrets from his powerful government employers?
I loved Jago’s narration. His confession was engaging and fulfilling and I endeared to him more and more as the story progressed. His whole tale was extremely well recounted, concluding with why he was currently writing his revelations, whilst in the belief that he is being pursued by his accusers. I also liked the character Philpot, he made a good friend to Laurence and the denouement between the two men was lovely to read. Mr Gibbs, Laurence’s dog was a bright addition to this deep thriller and it seemed to have an entertaining sixth sense as to the occurring events.
The author has conveyed the style of speech of the late 18th century perfectly. The ambience of London, the sights, the smells, even the sounds of the Thomas Harris’ clock in Fleet Street as the bells were struck by the figures of the famous two giants, were all prevalent in my mind’s view of the scene settings.
The author Leonora Nattrass has obviously researched the era and the political history of the dawn of modern British democracy tirelessly, mixing real life characters and events with her own imagination where necessary. The aptly named title of the book, “Black Drop” was an actual proprietary remedy, mostly comprising of opium and was introduced around 1700. After the traditional Laudanum no longer proves effective for Laurence, he is tempted by this stronger mixture which produces an instant drunk like stupor - something Laurence becomes quite reliant on.
The comparisons between the politics and the duplicities of Whitehall employees of the present, and of over two hundred years ago are frightening alike and just goes to prove we haven’t learned from any mistakes of the past.
If you enjoy intelligent historical thrillers I would highly recommend “Black Drop” If you’ve a basic knowledge of the politics during and after the French Revolution, it would be advantageous but if like me you’re rather naive, there’s a very helpful cast of characters at the start which kept me well informed.
#BlackDrop - 4 stars
“Black Drop” is a richly detailed, historical political thriller set in London 1794 and is narrated by Laurence Jago, clerk to the foreign office. After a highly sensitive letter is leaked to the press - which could lead to the destruction of the British Army, Laurence is the main suspect. When he discovers his friend and fellow clerk has committed suicide he believes that it was actually murder. Can Laurence prove who was to blame for the leaked document and his friend’s death without incriminating himself, knowing that he has kept years of his own secrets from his powerful government employers?
I loved Jago’s narration. His confession was engaging and fulfilling and I endeared to him more and more as the story progressed. His whole tale was extremely well recounted, concluding with why he was currently writing his revelations, whilst in the belief that he is being pursued by his accusers. I also liked the character Philpot, he made a good friend to Laurence and the denouement between the two men was lovely to read. Mr Gibbs, Laurence’s dog was a bright addition to this deep thriller and it seemed to have an entertaining sixth sense as to the occurring events.
The author has conveyed the style of speech of the late 18th century perfectly. The ambience of London, the sights, the smells, even the sounds of the Thomas Harris’ clock in Fleet Street as the bells were struck by the figures of the famous two giants, were all prevalent in my mind’s view of the scene settings.
The author Leonora Nattrass has obviously researched the era and the political history of the dawn of modern British democracy tirelessly, mixing real life characters and events with her own imagination where necessary. The aptly named title of the book, “Black Drop” was an actual proprietary remedy, mostly comprising of opium and was introduced around 1700. After the traditional Laudanum no longer proves effective for Laurence, he is tempted by this stronger mixture which produces an instant drunk like stupor - something Laurence becomes quite reliant on.
The comparisons between the politics and the duplicities of Whitehall employees of the present, and of over two hundred years ago are frightening alike and just goes to prove we haven’t learned from any mistakes of the past.
If you enjoy intelligent historical thrillers I would highly recommend “Black Drop” If you’ve a basic knowledge of the politics during and after the French Revolution, it would be advantageous but if like me you’re rather naive, there’s a very helpful cast of characters at the start which kept me well informed.
#BlackDrop - 4 stars
September 17, 2021
It is 1794 and Laurence Jago, although a fairly lowly clerk, works in Downing Street in the heart of government. The war with Revolutionary France is only a year old and Jago has unknown French connections which, were they known, would result in his being tried for treason. When talks with America begin, papers are leaked which could only have emanated from Downing Street and Jago discovers a fellow clerk, Will Bates, hanging in this room. The leak is blamed on Bates, but Jago and journalist William Philpott, doubt that Bates committed suicide and Jago finds himself on a dangerous mission to discover the truth.
This historical novel has an interesting setting and the author does a great job of recreating the sights of smells of London at that time. There are menageries, duels at Moorfields (I find it hard to imagine that cows once roamed yards from my office, in one of the most built up parts of London), dubious meetings in bars, dissent and fear of revolution in the government.
From the ending of this novel, I imagine that there will be a sequel, at the very least, and possibly a proposed series. Overall, I found this enjoyable and Jago an interesting, if – at times – rather lovelorn, character. Should the books continue, I am sure that I would continue reading and look forward to seeing where Jago’s adventures take him next. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
This historical novel has an interesting setting and the author does a great job of recreating the sights of smells of London at that time. There are menageries, duels at Moorfields (I find it hard to imagine that cows once roamed yards from my office, in one of the most built up parts of London), dubious meetings in bars, dissent and fear of revolution in the government.
From the ending of this novel, I imagine that there will be a sequel, at the very least, and possibly a proposed series. Overall, I found this enjoyable and Jago an interesting, if – at times – rather lovelorn, character. Should the books continue, I am sure that I would continue reading and look forward to seeing where Jago’s adventures take him next. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
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December 18, 2021*Book nabbed from NG**
This is an accomplished book, and a rather bleak read, that I found I admired more than I actively enjoyed.
Given its themes—government in all grubbiness, power and privilege, treason and spycraft—it feels fitting that it’s not the most emotionally accessible story. Its narrator is very flawed: sympathetic in the main, but socially vulnerable, and not always the most insightful. So vast and abstract are the forces against which he very nearly pits himself, that his attempts to seize agency are futile and somewhat frustrating. However realistic, his narrative passivity is a bitter pill for the reader to swallow. As are the ways that this story of corruption, misinformation and exploitation set at the end of the 18th century still feel relevant.
I think I would have appreciated the book more had I more specific knowledge of the period. As it was the political complexities left me, occasionally, a little out of my depth. Regardless, recommended for anyone with a bit more historical nounce than me looking for a grimdark Georgian political thriller.
This is an accomplished book, and a rather bleak read, that I found I admired more than I actively enjoyed.
Given its themes—government in all grubbiness, power and privilege, treason and spycraft—it feels fitting that it’s not the most emotionally accessible story. Its narrator is very flawed: sympathetic in the main, but socially vulnerable, and not always the most insightful. So vast and abstract are the forces against which he very nearly pits himself, that his attempts to seize agency are futile and somewhat frustrating. However realistic, his narrative passivity is a bitter pill for the reader to swallow. As are the ways that this story of corruption, misinformation and exploitation set at the end of the 18th century still feel relevant.
I think I would have appreciated the book more had I more specific knowledge of the period. As it was the political complexities left me, occasionally, a little out of my depth. Regardless, recommended for anyone with a bit more historical nounce than me looking for a grimdark Georgian political thriller.
January 18, 2022
Discover the locations of Black Drop here
What an historical delight this was! An immersive experience as if you are there in London in 1794. It's all set in the corridors of political power and the Foreign Office. It's a very unstable time and to be honest, if this had been set in 2020,2021 you would have believed the shenanigans that take place. Turns out history really does repeat itself and power, control and money as well as influence never lose their gravitas over time.
There's a leaked letter, sensitive information, leaked information........drama.......a suicide or was it murder and a spiraling series of events which could lead to the destruction of the British Army. Now that is a packed and meaty historical feast!
Jago is the main character who narrates the series of events. He's writing a diary and he narrates this as he writes. You can't help feeling that you are at the heart of the situation, the whispers and suspicions as well as the political shadows. There's a whole cast of interesting characters but I have to say that my favourite was the dog, Mr Gibbs. What a name! Now that dog knew stuff...
This is such a good deep and complex, twisty and compelling thriller. The author really has soaked every page in the waters of the time to get the language, ambience and general atmosphere so realistic you can literally see the action unfold. Very vividly written and this was a real treat for my already vivid imagination!
This is more than a good historical thriller however. I feel that Leonora has taken this to the next level, blending politics, British history and democracy and real life people from the pages of history. She mixes in great writing, impressive attention to detail and a passion for what she is writing that shines through on every page. I'd love to see this win awards!
I was curious to find out why the book was called Black Drop as from the moment I saw it, I was reminded of those cough sweets Jameson's which are small and black, bullet like and pungent (but they don't half cure a cold or a sore throat). Turns out Black Drop was a kind of medicine back in the day but was of opium origin. Next time I have a Jameson's I am going to remember this....
Recommended!!
October 6, 2021
This book is very very detailed, in history and character study and politics. The research this author must have undertaken to produce such an in depth look at the period will have been immense and I applaud her for that.
Underneath all the political upheaval and threats of war, this is a murder mystery at it's heart. Jago just wants to know who killed his friend and make others believe that it wasn't a suicide.
I must admit that I was confused for about 80% of this one, I think mainly it was the way it is written. I've recently got into historical fiction - over the last year or so - but this one was set slightly further back than I have read before, I think I noticed it a lot in this one. By the end I think I'd grasped the lingo and the plot :)
Once I had got the hang of the words and knew my way around the vast array of characters, I enjoyed the story so much more. The descriptions of how the poor live very dirty, unfair lives, compared to the rich minority living in their mansions and country estates, was so interesting.
I would recommend this one to fans of historical fiction, history in general, it's not so much thriller and as political intrigue disguising a murder.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
Underneath all the political upheaval and threats of war, this is a murder mystery at it's heart. Jago just wants to know who killed his friend and make others believe that it wasn't a suicide.
I must admit that I was confused for about 80% of this one, I think mainly it was the way it is written. I've recently got into historical fiction - over the last year or so - but this one was set slightly further back than I have read before, I think I noticed it a lot in this one. By the end I think I'd grasped the lingo and the plot :)
Once I had got the hang of the words and knew my way around the vast array of characters, I enjoyed the story so much more. The descriptions of how the poor live very dirty, unfair lives, compared to the rich minority living in their mansions and country estates, was so interesting.
I would recommend this one to fans of historical fiction, history in general, it's not so much thriller and as political intrigue disguising a murder.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
September 11, 2021
This is a delicious book, full of political intrigue, spies, dubious characters and numerous twists and turns. I was utterly transported back to 1790’s London, the language, descriptions, characters all felt spot on for the time period, whilst also being accessible to the modern reader. This in itself is a triumph. The author has clearly researched the period in great detail and I love books where I learn something - this book being as educative as it is entertaining and page turning. It is not a period I have read much about since doing A’level history, and I enjoyed it immensely. Very much looking forward to the author’s next book! A wonderful debut indeed.
April 3, 2021
A most excellent historical spy drama. Really immersive setting great writing
Full review will appear for publication.
Full review will appear for publication.
June 27, 2022
A historical thriller full of suspense and intrigue. Set in Georgian London with a few twists and turns, the story doesn't lead where you expect it to.
I really enjoyed this, with a cast of real life characters and great descriptive writing, you'll believe you're back in 1794.
I really enjoyed this, with a cast of real life characters and great descriptive writing, you'll believe you're back in 1794.
December 20, 2025
3,5/5⭐️
September 27, 2021
July 1794.
London’s streets are filled with rumours of revolutions, sabotage and those willing to sell themselves out at the cheap price of a handful of coins and every day the situation gets darker, along with the streets getting more dangerous to even walk down…
Political radical Thomas Hardy is set to go on trial for the most heinous crime of treason, the war against the ever-pushing french is seeing the scales tipped further towards their favour, and negotiations with independent American colonies are hanging by a thread, resulting in rising tensions and fractured groups upon our very lands.
Laurence Jago, a lowly clerk to the Foreign Office starts to become ever more dependent on the elixir known as Black Drop to ease both his day routines and his slumber, or lack thereof. A letter of high importance is leaked to the press which could see the downfall of what Britain is fighting for and all fingers point to Laurence and shortly after which his colleague is discovered dead by apparent suicide only leading to more questions than answers.
Laurence must work against those who wish to see him hanged, and the clock to clear his own name before the grim hand of death comes for him but will he be able to track down the perpetrators of this framing or will time run out on our most unlikely hero?
And just how much longer can he rely on Black Drop to help him keep his senses sharp when his reliance becomes heavier with each passing day?
Vibrant, thrilling and addictive, this is the perfect read to transport you to a time of uncertainty and where it isn’t what you know, but who you know.
London’s streets are filled with rumours of revolutions, sabotage and those willing to sell themselves out at the cheap price of a handful of coins and every day the situation gets darker, along with the streets getting more dangerous to even walk down…
Political radical Thomas Hardy is set to go on trial for the most heinous crime of treason, the war against the ever-pushing french is seeing the scales tipped further towards their favour, and negotiations with independent American colonies are hanging by a thread, resulting in rising tensions and fractured groups upon our very lands.
Laurence Jago, a lowly clerk to the Foreign Office starts to become ever more dependent on the elixir known as Black Drop to ease both his day routines and his slumber, or lack thereof. A letter of high importance is leaked to the press which could see the downfall of what Britain is fighting for and all fingers point to Laurence and shortly after which his colleague is discovered dead by apparent suicide only leading to more questions than answers.
Laurence must work against those who wish to see him hanged, and the clock to clear his own name before the grim hand of death comes for him but will he be able to track down the perpetrators of this framing or will time run out on our most unlikely hero?
And just how much longer can he rely on Black Drop to help him keep his senses sharp when his reliance becomes heavier with each passing day?
Vibrant, thrilling and addictive, this is the perfect read to transport you to a time of uncertainty and where it isn’t what you know, but who you know.
January 7, 2022
3.5⭐️ an enjoyable and well-researched historical crime thriller, Laurence Jago is a really endearing protagonist.
September 1, 2023
A Georgian spy thriller about a clerk with green glasses, a rescue dog, and an opium addiction.
This book is well-written, evokes the grimness of Georgian London, and has a mild sense of peril...but it wasn't for me I'm afraid and was really glad to finish it.
The author has obviously done her research and confidently weaves the major political figures of the time into her character list. There is a suspicious suicide and a grisly death, and a hero that cares enough to sacrifice himself... and yet I wasn't engaged by the plot or characters. I kept waiting to see how the Black Drop of the title (a reference to opium) would cause a plot twist...but ended up disappointed.
In short, a worthy book but not an enjoyable read and will spare myself from reading the others in the series. This is a personal opinion and I'm sure others will disagree.
This book is well-written, evokes the grimness of Georgian London, and has a mild sense of peril...but it wasn't for me I'm afraid and was really glad to finish it.
The author has obviously done her research and confidently weaves the major political figures of the time into her character list. There is a suspicious suicide and a grisly death, and a hero that cares enough to sacrifice himself... and yet I wasn't engaged by the plot or characters. I kept waiting to see how the Black Drop of the title (a reference to opium) would cause a plot twist...but ended up disappointed.
In short, a worthy book but not an enjoyable read and will spare myself from reading the others in the series. This is a personal opinion and I'm sure others will disagree.
October 7, 2021
Black Drop is clearly very well researched. Set in London in 1794, it tells the story of political clerk, Laurence Jago. Right from the start, I was suspicious of whether he held secrets but Leonora’s writing is so clever, that I just couldn’t be sure!
Clearly, politics in 1794 was no different to what it is now - full of lies, secrets, cover ups & greed. If you love historical fiction, or you love political thrillers, Black Drop won’t disappoint!
Clearly, politics in 1794 was no different to what it is now - full of lies, secrets, cover ups & greed. If you love historical fiction, or you love political thrillers, Black Drop won’t disappoint!
July 28, 2022
The current GoodReads rating of 3.78 is exactly my score for this very different and entertaining novel, which I was pleased to see, but also surprised to see is to be followed by a sequel. It is very well constructed, mixing fact into fiction very cleverly and paints a detailed picture of central London in the late eighteenth century. The characters are excellent, especially the protagonist, who gains the readers sympathy early on and retains it through the difficulties he faces. I enjoyed this a lot and recommend it.
July 17, 2022
Laurence Jago is a clerk in the government during the period when England is at war with France. When one of his fellow clerks dies, allegedly a suicide, Jago is drawn into a web of politics and intrigue that could lead to his execution for treason. Terrific debut, wonderfully written in an engaging style and a few twists to keep the reader on their toes.
May 12, 2023
Rep: mc with substance abuse disorder, Black side character
CWs: slavery, period typical racism, gore, drug use
CWs: slavery, period typical racism, gore, drug use
November 25, 2022
Good historical crime read, above average in terms of period detail and the story contains a lot of research which doesn't detract from the plot. It is set in the 1790s, a turbulent decade, against the background of the French revolution, and growing dissent in Britain. Its immediate focus are the events surrounding the real life trial of a shoemaker, Thomas Hardy, for treason. The narrator is a clerk in government offices, an early civil servant, who gets caught up in these events and is in danger of being arrested for treason himself. I would certainly read a sequel if one is forthcoming.
October 22, 2021
Black Drop makes use of that favourite device of authors – a diary or letters in which a character gives a first-hand account of events they have witnessed. In this case, it’s the written confession of Laurence Jago, a clerk at the Foreign Office (who obviously has a remarkable ability to recall conversations verbatim).
The suicide of his friend, which Laurence quickly becomes convinced is actually murder, is just the first in a series of grisly deaths. However, perhaps these are in keeping with a period in which many of the populace’s idea of entertainment is pelting muck at the unfortunate occupants of the pillory, watching the hanging of some poor individual, visiting a museum displaying specimens of human anatomy or viewing an exhibition of grisly waxworks. From this will you gather that Black Drop simply oozes – sometimes quite literally – atmosphere. As Laurence notes ‘The city is excessively rough, and there are pimps and whores and thieves everywhere, with an unwholesome interest in your pockets.’ Not to mention dark alleys and unspeakable substances thrown from windows into the streets below.
Laurence’s increasingly confused view of events is not helped by his growing reliance on the ‘black drop’ of the title, a concoction liberally laced with laudanum, which at times makes it difficult for him to discern what is real and what is imagined. In fact, he starts off on something with the innocent sounding name of Godfrey’s Cordial until he is persuaded by an apothecary that he should try the stronger Kendal’s Black Drop. ‘Tis a hearty medicine’ says the apothecary proudly.
Laurence becomes convinced he knows the identity of the person responsible for his friend’s murder and those that follow. But is that person too obvious a candidate or is the author building up to an audacious double bluff? You’ll have to read the book to find out. If I’m honest, one of the characters who plays a significant role in the plot felt a little under-developed; I really couldn’t picture them in my mind’s eye from the description provided. However, I accept this may have been deliberate on the author’s part to maintain an element of mystery about them. My favourite character – apart from Laurence’s dog, Mr Gibbs – was the irrepressible William Philpott, journalist and newspaper editor. He proves a good friend to Laurence and, although I may be mistaken, I wonder if there could be more of their partnership to come?
I’ll confess I knew little detail about the political situation in England at the time of the French Revolution or the attitude of the Government towards it so the author’s Historical Note at the end of the book was extremely useful for putting this into context, and for distinguishing between the real and fictional characters who appear in the book.
Black Drop is an engaging historical mystery with a plot that has plenty of twists and turns, all set against the backdrop of a time of political unrest and growing calls for societal change.
The suicide of his friend, which Laurence quickly becomes convinced is actually murder, is just the first in a series of grisly deaths. However, perhaps these are in keeping with a period in which many of the populace’s idea of entertainment is pelting muck at the unfortunate occupants of the pillory, watching the hanging of some poor individual, visiting a museum displaying specimens of human anatomy or viewing an exhibition of grisly waxworks. From this will you gather that Black Drop simply oozes – sometimes quite literally – atmosphere. As Laurence notes ‘The city is excessively rough, and there are pimps and whores and thieves everywhere, with an unwholesome interest in your pockets.’ Not to mention dark alleys and unspeakable substances thrown from windows into the streets below.
Laurence’s increasingly confused view of events is not helped by his growing reliance on the ‘black drop’ of the title, a concoction liberally laced with laudanum, which at times makes it difficult for him to discern what is real and what is imagined. In fact, he starts off on something with the innocent sounding name of Godfrey’s Cordial until he is persuaded by an apothecary that he should try the stronger Kendal’s Black Drop. ‘Tis a hearty medicine’ says the apothecary proudly.
Laurence becomes convinced he knows the identity of the person responsible for his friend’s murder and those that follow. But is that person too obvious a candidate or is the author building up to an audacious double bluff? You’ll have to read the book to find out. If I’m honest, one of the characters who plays a significant role in the plot felt a little under-developed; I really couldn’t picture them in my mind’s eye from the description provided. However, I accept this may have been deliberate on the author’s part to maintain an element of mystery about them. My favourite character – apart from Laurence’s dog, Mr Gibbs – was the irrepressible William Philpott, journalist and newspaper editor. He proves a good friend to Laurence and, although I may be mistaken, I wonder if there could be more of their partnership to come?
I’ll confess I knew little detail about the political situation in England at the time of the French Revolution or the attitude of the Government towards it so the author’s Historical Note at the end of the book was extremely useful for putting this into context, and for distinguishing between the real and fictional characters who appear in the book.
Black Drop is an engaging historical mystery with a plot that has plenty of twists and turns, all set against the backdrop of a time of political unrest and growing calls for societal change.
February 26, 2022
Before publishing her debut novel Black Drop, Leonora Nattrass wrote an academic work about William Cobbett – English farmer, journalist and MP who lived at the cusp between the 18th and 19th Centuries – and also edited several volumes of Cobbett’s writings. Her studies of that era of history, one marked by social upheaval and stirrings of revolt, provide her with plenty of material for her debut. But if you’re concerned that Black Drop reads like a dry academic text fear not – it’s definitely not.
Nattrass’ debut is, in fact, a rollicking tale of crime, spying and political intrigue, set at a time when the English political establishment was mightily afraid of the revolutionary wind blowing from France and wary of the diplomatic overtures of the newly independent Americans. The plot unfolds over the year 1794 and its protagonist is one Laurence Jago, a young clerk to the English Foreign Office. Jago cuts an eccentric figure, with his green-tinted glasses, penchant for getting into scrapes, and an increasing dependency on the eponymous opium-based tincture Black Drop. For some strange reason, I found myself imagining him played by Johnny Depp in a movie version of the book…
Jago, whose mother is French, is also a (sometimes) reluctant informer to the enemy, although he is becoming increasingly conflicted about this. When an explosive letter is leaked to and published by the press, Laurence comes under suspicion. His position becomes increasingly delicate following the mysterious death of a fellow clerk and other individuals involved in political and conspiratory circles.
Black Drop is an engaging, fast-paced thriller, enlivened with vivid descriptions evoking the sights, sounds and smells of a past era. For added authenticity Nattrass has her anti-hero interact with a colourful cast of both real and imagined characters, including Prime Minister William Pitt, Foreign Secretary Lord Grenville and under-Secretary George Aust, with whose daughter Jago is unrequitedly in love. Then there’s William Philpott who, though fictional, appears to be inspired by none other than William Cobbett. A larger-than-life Dickensian character, Philpott is a voice for justice, humanity, reason and good sense in a world marked by fear, violence, intolerance and political compromise.
Quite surprisingly, despite the dark subjects which make of Black Drop a sort of historical noir, there is also a humorous vein which runs through the novel: be it Jago’s witty and self-deprecatory comments, or the comedic set-pieces which have Theodore, the American envoy’s son, visiting prostitutes of either sex to convince them to abandon their debauched lifestyles.
An intelligent and entertaining read, Black Drop is a debut which leaves one wishing for a sequel.
An illustrated version of this review, with some accompanying music can be found at:
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
4.5* rounded up to 5*
Nattrass’ debut is, in fact, a rollicking tale of crime, spying and political intrigue, set at a time when the English political establishment was mightily afraid of the revolutionary wind blowing from France and wary of the diplomatic overtures of the newly independent Americans. The plot unfolds over the year 1794 and its protagonist is one Laurence Jago, a young clerk to the English Foreign Office. Jago cuts an eccentric figure, with his green-tinted glasses, penchant for getting into scrapes, and an increasing dependency on the eponymous opium-based tincture Black Drop. For some strange reason, I found myself imagining him played by Johnny Depp in a movie version of the book…
Jago, whose mother is French, is also a (sometimes) reluctant informer to the enemy, although he is becoming increasingly conflicted about this. When an explosive letter is leaked to and published by the press, Laurence comes under suspicion. His position becomes increasingly delicate following the mysterious death of a fellow clerk and other individuals involved in political and conspiratory circles.
Black Drop is an engaging, fast-paced thriller, enlivened with vivid descriptions evoking the sights, sounds and smells of a past era. For added authenticity Nattrass has her anti-hero interact with a colourful cast of both real and imagined characters, including Prime Minister William Pitt, Foreign Secretary Lord Grenville and under-Secretary George Aust, with whose daughter Jago is unrequitedly in love. Then there’s William Philpott who, though fictional, appears to be inspired by none other than William Cobbett. A larger-than-life Dickensian character, Philpott is a voice for justice, humanity, reason and good sense in a world marked by fear, violence, intolerance and political compromise.
Quite surprisingly, despite the dark subjects which make of Black Drop a sort of historical noir, there is also a humorous vein which runs through the novel: be it Jago’s witty and self-deprecatory comments, or the comedic set-pieces which have Theodore, the American envoy’s son, visiting prostitutes of either sex to convince them to abandon their debauched lifestyles.
An intelligent and entertaining read, Black Drop is a debut which leaves one wishing for a sequel.
An illustrated version of this review, with some accompanying music can be found at:
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
4.5* rounded up to 5*
January 9, 2022
Jago works in a minor role for the British government, but he finds himself getting attention from many parties.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Laurence Jago, a minor clerk whose life is about to change when he is promoted to work with an American representative. He is pressured into providing information by a rather formidable woman; and one of his colleagues has just committed suicide.
Unfortunately, I could not get on with this book.
The writing is stodgy and boring.
Jago is a dull character, with no agency of his own, and just drifts along with what everyone else says or does. I can kinda understand that being a bland and overlooked character makes him a perfect mole, but it made for such hard reading.
The rest of the cast are dull and completely forgettable. They all started to blur together and failed to make a lasting impression.
Plotwise, I didn't get far enough to make an honest assessment. I found the reading such a hard slog, and I kept coming back to it over several weeks, trying to give it another chance, but no.
The death of Jago's friend/colleague caught my interest, as it seemed that the book was finally picking up. But alas, despite Jago's suspicions that it wasn't as it appeared, it was straight back to dull political dinners and discussions that just droned on.
On a positive note, I thought it was historically accurate.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Laurence Jago, a minor clerk whose life is about to change when he is promoted to work with an American representative. He is pressured into providing information by a rather formidable woman; and one of his colleagues has just committed suicide.
Unfortunately, I could not get on with this book.
The writing is stodgy and boring.
Jago is a dull character, with no agency of his own, and just drifts along with what everyone else says or does. I can kinda understand that being a bland and overlooked character makes him a perfect mole, but it made for such hard reading.
The rest of the cast are dull and completely forgettable. They all started to blur together and failed to make a lasting impression.
Plotwise, I didn't get far enough to make an honest assessment. I found the reading such a hard slog, and I kept coming back to it over several weeks, trying to give it another chance, but no.
The death of Jago's friend/colleague caught my interest, as it seemed that the book was finally picking up. But alas, despite Jago's suspicions that it wasn't as it appeared, it was straight back to dull political dinners and discussions that just droned on.
On a positive note, I thought it was historically accurate.
October 16, 2021
3.5
In Black Drop Leonora Nattrass has created a vivid picture of 18th century London filled with engaging characters who drive the action, Mr Philpott being one of my absolute favourites. This is an interesting story that is a slow burn rather than an action packed spy adventure. There has obviously been a great deal of time & research put into writing of this novel & I loved spotting the well known names within the story.
The ending is satisfying & could be a set up for the further adventures of Laurence Jago.
In Black Drop Leonora Nattrass has created a vivid picture of 18th century London filled with engaging characters who drive the action, Mr Philpott being one of my absolute favourites. This is an interesting story that is a slow burn rather than an action packed spy adventure. There has obviously been a great deal of time & research put into writing of this novel & I loved spotting the well known names within the story.
The ending is satisfying & could be a set up for the further adventures of Laurence Jago.
April 6, 2023
This is a very well researched book, with a strong sense of time and place and a likeable lead character. However, for a mystery novel, I felt it was rather short on plot. The pacing was also problematic. You had to read an awful lot of pages before anything vaguely interesting happened, and there was a fair bit of repetition as well. However, despite its flaws, I still found it enjoyable in its way and I am interested in reading the next book in the series.
June 26, 2022
I found this a bit of a chore to get through really. Didn’t quite engage me as much as an Andrew Taylor might have.
December 17, 2021
(I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you #NetGalley and thank you Serpent's Tail/Viper Books! I'm sorry this is so late!)
Black Drop is a political thriller set in 1794 presented as the confession of Laurence Jago, a government clerk and one-time spy for the French, whose self-appointed mission to investigate the 'suicide' of a fellow clerk lands him in various messes and threatens to reveal his many secrets. A leaked government document, murders, a controversial political trial and a visiting diplomat's wayward son all add to Laurence's woes, situations not at all helped by his increasing reliance on Black Drop, an opium-based drug...
Despite taking ages to read it (uni commitments!), I really enjoyed Black Drop. Every time I picked it up, it sucked me in. Nattrass is a very talented writer; I enjoyed her prose and the story's many threads wove together smoothly as the story clipped along apace. It's hard to believe it's her debut novel! She clearly knows her stuff (I think she's a historian?), both in terms of the historical events and people that inspired the novel and all its little period details. (I especially enjoyed Laurence's visits to a Zoo and 18th century London cruising district, for example.) I'm a big fan of Regency Romances, so I loved getting a different, historical thriller take on the period (technically immediately before the regency). It's certainly a lot grittier and grubbier than anything Georgette Heyer ever dreamed up! I don't know that much about the politics of the era, but Nattrass got me invested in the corruption, political machinations and struggle for political reform (I did not expect that last one, going in!). On top of that, it was atmospheric and so richly detailed, you could practically smell the corpses. (There were many references to corpses, including one standout scene involving flies that could have come straight out of the Body Horror Handbook. It was so brilliantly executed, I genuinely wondered if Black Drop was about to turn into a horror novel.)
Nattrass does a great job of bringing the period to life, including real people like William Pitt and Lord Grenville. I also loved Laurence's neighbour and ally, Mr. Philpott, an investigative journalist who helps pull the various plot threads together (and suffered a mishap at the aforementioned Zoo that apparently was based on true events?!). He was based on William Cobbett, a real MP and journalist, whom Nattrass has studied and written about, showing that she can absolutely make the leap from academic writing to fiction. Students of the period would probably get a lot out of it.
That said, I got a bit annoyed with Laurence by the end. On the whole, I liked him as a protagonist, so his obliviousness and poor decision-making were frustrating. Granted, some of that was down to the Black Drop but, to be honest, I didn't always see the point of that element of the plot. It seemed to be more of a plot device to justify Laurence doing stupid things than anything else. Personally, I'd have preferred to focus on the politics, but perhaps it would make more sense after a reread?
A few side characters also felt a little underdeveloped. I liked Anne, Laurence's love interest, though, again, the romantic subplot felt unnecessary. Still, she was an original character and one of the only women in the book and allowed Nattrass to make a few points about the constraints on women (especially ambitious women) in the 18th century. On the other hand, I honestly felt more chemistry between Laurence and the novel's other most underused character, Peter William (or was it James?), the African American slave and personal assistant of the American envoys brokering a treaty. (My review copy has expired, so apologies if I got his name wrong!) He flits around and show up for a few memorable scenes and I would have loved to have seen more of him.
Still, Black Drop seems to be setting itself up for a sequel, so perhaps we will see more of him, and perhaps Laurence will kick his habit and be a bit more sensible next time. I would definitely read it, or anything else from this author!
Black Drop is a political thriller set in 1794 presented as the confession of Laurence Jago, a government clerk and one-time spy for the French, whose self-appointed mission to investigate the 'suicide' of a fellow clerk lands him in various messes and threatens to reveal his many secrets. A leaked government document, murders, a controversial political trial and a visiting diplomat's wayward son all add to Laurence's woes, situations not at all helped by his increasing reliance on Black Drop, an opium-based drug...
Despite taking ages to read it (uni commitments!), I really enjoyed Black Drop. Every time I picked it up, it sucked me in. Nattrass is a very talented writer; I enjoyed her prose and the story's many threads wove together smoothly as the story clipped along apace. It's hard to believe it's her debut novel! She clearly knows her stuff (I think she's a historian?), both in terms of the historical events and people that inspired the novel and all its little period details. (I especially enjoyed Laurence's visits to a Zoo and 18th century London cruising district, for example.) I'm a big fan of Regency Romances, so I loved getting a different, historical thriller take on the period (technically immediately before the regency). It's certainly a lot grittier and grubbier than anything Georgette Heyer ever dreamed up! I don't know that much about the politics of the era, but Nattrass got me invested in the corruption, political machinations and struggle for political reform (I did not expect that last one, going in!). On top of that, it was atmospheric and so richly detailed, you could practically smell the corpses. (There were many references to corpses, including one standout scene involving flies that could have come straight out of the Body Horror Handbook. It was so brilliantly executed, I genuinely wondered if Black Drop was about to turn into a horror novel.)
Nattrass does a great job of bringing the period to life, including real people like William Pitt and Lord Grenville. I also loved Laurence's neighbour and ally, Mr. Philpott, an investigative journalist who helps pull the various plot threads together (and suffered a mishap at the aforementioned Zoo that apparently was based on true events?!). He was based on William Cobbett, a real MP and journalist, whom Nattrass has studied and written about, showing that she can absolutely make the leap from academic writing to fiction. Students of the period would probably get a lot out of it.
That said, I got a bit annoyed with Laurence by the end. On the whole, I liked him as a protagonist, so his obliviousness and poor decision-making were frustrating. Granted, some of that was down to the Black Drop but, to be honest, I didn't always see the point of that element of the plot. It seemed to be more of a plot device to justify Laurence doing stupid things than anything else. Personally, I'd have preferred to focus on the politics, but perhaps it would make more sense after a reread?
A few side characters also felt a little underdeveloped. I liked Anne, Laurence's love interest, though, again, the romantic subplot felt unnecessary. Still, she was an original character and one of the only women in the book and allowed Nattrass to make a few points about the constraints on women (especially ambitious women) in the 18th century. On the other hand, I honestly felt more chemistry between Laurence and the novel's other most underused character, Peter William (or was it James?), the African American slave and personal assistant of the American envoys brokering a treaty. (My review copy has expired, so apologies if I got his name wrong!) He flits around and show up for a few memorable scenes and I would have loved to have seen more of him.
Still, Black Drop seems to be setting itself up for a sequel, so perhaps we will see more of him, and perhaps Laurence will kick his habit and be a bit more sensible next time. I would definitely read it, or anything else from this author!
October 12, 2022
The story:
The year is 1794 and there is turmoil in London, with war against the French, uneasy treaty negotiations with the young nation of America, and discontent among the working people at home.
For Laurence Jago, a lowly clerk in the British Foreign Office, life has become very complicated. He believes the recent suicide of fellow clerk and friend Will Benson is more than meets the eye. But with secrets of his own to conceal, and an increasing dependence on the Black Drop dulling his senses, will he be able to unravel the tangled network of intrigue that seems to go to the very top of the Ministry?
My thoughts:
I have had “Black Drop” on my TBR list for a while, and now there is an autumnal chill in the air it seemed the perfect time to read this historical tale of political intrigue and murder.
There is a wide cast of characters (helpfully listed at the beginning of the book), many of whom are based on real-life individuals. Along with the main character, Foreign Office clerk Laurence Jago, some particular favourites of mine were indefatigable journalist William Philpott, honourable barrister Thomas Erskine and the smug, possibly villainous MP George Canning (and Mr Gibbs the dog!).
It is a time of upheaval and uncertainty, with Robespierre’s ‘Reign of Terror’ across the Channel, and the threat of America supporting the French forces in their war against England. Amongst this, poor Laurence, a pretty small cog in the wheel of the Foreign Office, is attempting to find out the truth about a colleague’s apparent suicide, while at the same time protecting his own secrets as an unlikely and unwilling spy. Laurence is a likeable character who I was rooting for throughout, despite his tendency to meddle where he shouldn’t!
The author’s writing is Dickensian in its depiction of the darker side of London, from the lowly Ministry clerks’ squalid living conditions to the exotic animal menagerie on the Strand and the gruesome exhibits at the anatomist’s museum.
This is a wonderfully written, exciting historical mystery that I would highly recommend.
The year is 1794 and there is turmoil in London, with war against the French, uneasy treaty negotiations with the young nation of America, and discontent among the working people at home.
For Laurence Jago, a lowly clerk in the British Foreign Office, life has become very complicated. He believes the recent suicide of fellow clerk and friend Will Benson is more than meets the eye. But with secrets of his own to conceal, and an increasing dependence on the Black Drop dulling his senses, will he be able to unravel the tangled network of intrigue that seems to go to the very top of the Ministry?
My thoughts:
I have had “Black Drop” on my TBR list for a while, and now there is an autumnal chill in the air it seemed the perfect time to read this historical tale of political intrigue and murder.
There is a wide cast of characters (helpfully listed at the beginning of the book), many of whom are based on real-life individuals. Along with the main character, Foreign Office clerk Laurence Jago, some particular favourites of mine were indefatigable journalist William Philpott, honourable barrister Thomas Erskine and the smug, possibly villainous MP George Canning (and Mr Gibbs the dog!).
It is a time of upheaval and uncertainty, with Robespierre’s ‘Reign of Terror’ across the Channel, and the threat of America supporting the French forces in their war against England. Amongst this, poor Laurence, a pretty small cog in the wheel of the Foreign Office, is attempting to find out the truth about a colleague’s apparent suicide, while at the same time protecting his own secrets as an unlikely and unwilling spy. Laurence is a likeable character who I was rooting for throughout, despite his tendency to meddle where he shouldn’t!
The author’s writing is Dickensian in its depiction of the darker side of London, from the lowly Ministry clerks’ squalid living conditions to the exotic animal menagerie on the Strand and the gruesome exhibits at the anatomist’s museum.
This is a wonderfully written, exciting historical mystery that I would highly recommend.
October 9, 2021
The final decade of the 18th century is a time of revolution and political upheaval; in 1794, the year in which Black Drop is set, Britain is both at war with France – a country still in the grip of the Reign of Terror – and trying to negotiate a treaty with the recently independent America. Our narrator, Laurence Jago, is a London clerk working in the Foreign Office and facing the difficult task of trying to advance in his career while also hiding a secret that, if discovered, would lead to accusations of treason.
When details of Britain’s military plans are leaked to the press, suspicion falls at first on Jago – but then the blame shifts to another clerk, Will Bates, who is found to have hanged himself in his room. Was Will really the traitor or is he being used as a convenient scapegoat? Jago is sure he was innocent and that his death was actually murder rather than suicide so, with the help of his friend, the journalist William Philpott, he sets out to discover the truth.
I enjoyed this book, although it was more political thriller than murder mystery and I occasionally felt that the plot was becoming more complicated than it really needed to be; I struggled to keep track of all the characters, their roles within the government and which of them may or may not be a spy. Overall, though, it was a fascinating period to read about, with so much going on in the world at that time – not only the French Revolutionary Wars and American treaty mentioned above, but also the fight for political reform led by the British shoemaker Thomas Hardy (not to be confused with the author of the same name!) and the growing debate over slavery and abolition.
Laurence Jago is a great character and the sort of flawed hero I love. The ‘Black Drop’ of the title refers to the laudanum Jago depends upon to get through the day and to ease the fear of his secrets being discovered. As his addiction worsens, it begins to affect the way he judges people and situations and leads the reader to question whether or not everything he is telling us is completely reliable. Despite this, I liked him very much and connected with his narrative style immediately. Jago is one of several fictional characters in the novel whom we see interacting with real historical figures such as Thomas Hardy, Lord Grenville, the Foreign Secretary, and John Jay, the American envoy. I knew nothing about any of these people before reading this book; it’s always good to learn something new!
Black Drop is Leonora Nattrass’ first novel. The way this one ended made me think there could be a sequel, but if not I will be happy to read whatever she writes next.
When details of Britain’s military plans are leaked to the press, suspicion falls at first on Jago – but then the blame shifts to another clerk, Will Bates, who is found to have hanged himself in his room. Was Will really the traitor or is he being used as a convenient scapegoat? Jago is sure he was innocent and that his death was actually murder rather than suicide so, with the help of his friend, the journalist William Philpott, he sets out to discover the truth.
I enjoyed this book, although it was more political thriller than murder mystery and I occasionally felt that the plot was becoming more complicated than it really needed to be; I struggled to keep track of all the characters, their roles within the government and which of them may or may not be a spy. Overall, though, it was a fascinating period to read about, with so much going on in the world at that time – not only the French Revolutionary Wars and American treaty mentioned above, but also the fight for political reform led by the British shoemaker Thomas Hardy (not to be confused with the author of the same name!) and the growing debate over slavery and abolition.
Laurence Jago is a great character and the sort of flawed hero I love. The ‘Black Drop’ of the title refers to the laudanum Jago depends upon to get through the day and to ease the fear of his secrets being discovered. As his addiction worsens, it begins to affect the way he judges people and situations and leads the reader to question whether or not everything he is telling us is completely reliable. Despite this, I liked him very much and connected with his narrative style immediately. Jago is one of several fictional characters in the novel whom we see interacting with real historical figures such as Thomas Hardy, Lord Grenville, the Foreign Secretary, and John Jay, the American envoy. I knew nothing about any of these people before reading this book; it’s always good to learn something new!
Black Drop is Leonora Nattrass’ first novel. The way this one ended made me think there could be a sequel, but if not I will be happy to read whatever she writes next.
September 30, 2022
I read this one not long after reading The Spirit Engineer and, while set in different time periods, there are definite similarities between the two stories in both style and content.
The main character here, Laurence Jago, is a well-meaning clerk who is gradually drawn out of his depth – in the world of espionage, rather than paranormal investigations – and inexorably spirals downwards into addiction and paranoia.
I found the reading induced acid-anxiety, as poor Jago does his best to do the right thing at every turn, but inevitably gets it wrong and sabotages himself. I felt so much pity for his inept flailing towards justice and happiness!
The story is based on true events around the French Revolution and the trial of Thomas Hardy for treason, with some of the characters here fictional and others real historical figures. And I couldn’t tell the difference, to be honest, unless I specifically recognised the name (Pitt, for example). Yet again, a narrative that seamlessly blends history with story to great effect.
Overall, an interesting and entertaining historical mystery fiction, if painful to read for anyone with an ounce of empathy!
The main character here, Laurence Jago, is a well-meaning clerk who is gradually drawn out of his depth – in the world of espionage, rather than paranormal investigations – and inexorably spirals downwards into addiction and paranoia.
I found the reading induced acid-anxiety, as poor Jago does his best to do the right thing at every turn, but inevitably gets it wrong and sabotages himself. I felt so much pity for his inept flailing towards justice and happiness!
The story is based on true events around the French Revolution and the trial of Thomas Hardy for treason, with some of the characters here fictional and others real historical figures. And I couldn’t tell the difference, to be honest, unless I specifically recognised the name (Pitt, for example). Yet again, a narrative that seamlessly blends history with story to great effect.
Overall, an interesting and entertaining historical mystery fiction, if painful to read for anyone with an ounce of empathy!
October 29, 2022
Atmospheric, richly-detailed, and well-told historical whodunnit, with plenty of political shenanigans - some involving George Canning, who I must confess I only learned about when Liz Truss recently took his place in the pantheon of history as the shortest-serving Prime Minister of the UK. This is set in 1794 and follows the trials and many tribulations of Laurence Jago, a clerk to the Foreign Office, horrified when he uncovers what he believes to be a very shady murder plot. This envelops the reader in the sights, sounds and smells of the era, with a cast including parliamentary reformists, French spies, ambitious politicians, and even some hungry lions.
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