Death on the River Thames

John Rawlings #17

by Deryn Lake

John Rawlings has returned to his beloved London after spending time in America where revolutionary trouble is dangerously brewing.

Having made a substantial sum selling carbonated water, Rawlings buys a country house situated on the banks of the Thames in Strand-on-the-Green in Chiswick.

But one morning a small child falls into the river, and John, witnessing her rescue, hears her say she did not fall but was pushed.

Not long after he is at the theatre with his daughter Rose when a woman is lowered by her ankles from the Slips… As he goes to her aid John Rawlings gets the feeling that some deadly mystery is about to unfold.

Could the two incidents possibly be connected?

Join John Rawlings and his friends as they make their way through the streets of Georgian London, chasing the bad lads, solving mysteries, sipping claret, and dancing at the fabulous balls with the Bon Ton.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2022

About the author

Deryn Lake is a well-known historical novelist who joined the popular ranks of historical detective writers with her gripping John Rawlings Mysteries, Death in the Dark Walk, Death at the Devil's Tavern, Death on the Romney Marsh, Death in the Peerless Pool and Death at Apothecaries' Hall.

Deryn also writes popular historical romances including the acclaimed The King's Women, Sutton Place and Pour the Dark Wine.

Deryn Lake lives near Hastings, East Sussex

Reviews

[S V B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last one!

This is a good one, although right at the end two of the names get mixed up, which seems like something that should have been caught by an editor?

Otherwise, lovely stuff. I've really enjoyed this series 🥹

[Petra Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

O.k. I have to admit I have a problem with books which feature too many people and too many names. Especially if the same person is sometimes referred to by their first name, family name, and title. Phew. But I coped somehow and ploughed on. The book is entertaining and I appreciate the historical references, but there were WAY too many loose ends for my taste. I understand the revenge concept and the final showdown, but I really do not understand how and why so many peripheral people had to be involved and punished. For instance, Miss Feathering had only a very marginal connection, which we only learn about at the end, and it appeared to be over and done with anyway. So why punish her? And we never learn how on earth her disgrace was actually engineered, in a crowded theatre of all places. And why on earth target the poor child Lucinda who didn't even know who her real father was? Apart from this, Lucinda's age seemed wrong. If her stepfather married her mother when pregnant, then continued to have several other children by her, it seems unlikely that Lucinda was only four? And who was responsible for the beating of the fake French count and what did his crimes have to do with anything?? All in all, an entertaining book but with a whole lot of unanswered questions and loose ends.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

#17 in the 49 year old London Apothecary John Rawlings who is a widower raising his 22 year old daughter Rose and twin sons. who will son be 16 as a single parent mystery series.

Rawlings has returned to London after spending time in Boston with America on the verge of rebellion. Having made a substantial sum selling carbonated water, Rawlings buys a country house situated on the banks of the Thames. Then a series of events happen to him: a small child falls into the river, and John, witnessing her rescue, hears her say she did not fall but was pushed; then he is at the theatre with Rose when a woman is lowered by her ankles from the balcony, and then while in the country a man is serious injured when his horse is deliberately spooked. Could these three incidents possibly be connected?

There is a bit of a time disconnect here from the previous Boston mystery. When they return from Boston, Rose is around 15/16. In this story, it appears they have been back in London 2 maybe 3 years. However, Rose is now 22 which means 6/7 years have passed.

[Voirrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time has moved on. John's daughter is a young lady, his sons about to go to Oxford, and he is definitely a man of substance.

Aged 49, he finds himself drawn into a series of mysteries that he feels must be connected, and he welcomes this opportunity to once again work with the Blind Beak and Joe Jago, assisted, whether he would choose it or not, by Sam.

This book does have the feel of a swansong - which is sad if true - I would love to know who Rose finally accepts!

[Gary]

Although this is much later in the series than the others I have read, I had no difficulty at all settling into it very quickly. Ms. Lake's skill at evoking an atmosphere, describing a setting, providing excelent detail, and engaging characters holds true in this title as well as it did in the earlier ones. I hardly wanted to put it down, and kept finding myself postponing other things so I could read "just one more chapter".

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Rawlings is back in England (thank goodness) and is caught in a series of slightly mysterious seemingly unconnected circumstances. But are they really unconnected. John calls on his friend Sir John Fielding for advice and he and Joe Jago become involved. This is the final book (so far) in what is a really excellent series. I, for one, am hoping for more in this series.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a long time since the previous one was published! Apothecary John Rawlings was the same but older. For me the book focused a bit too much on the younger generations. It also felt like a gathering of previous characters. I fully expected the hero to die in the end .......

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery with a touch of magic

Every now and then a book surprises you with its originality, exceptional writing and clever characters. This was the first book I found in the series and I am so happy to see there are more to read. I am now a fan of John Rawlings, Apothecary!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad she brought this series back!

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good book in the John Rawlings series.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1780. Six years have passed since the family left Boston. Do several incidents that Rawlings has witnessed have any connection to each other.
An entertaining historical mystery