The Pudding Lane Plot

Thomas Chaloner #15

by Susanna Gregory

The people and businesses of London are quickly recovering from the ravages of the plague, none faster than the Court of Charles II where excess, corruption and debauchery has rebounded at a frenetic pace. In Westminster, in the haphazard corridors of White Hall Palace, plans are afoot for a grandiose ball in honour of a long-dead but English-born Pope. Meanwhile, the markets and coffee houses in the city are awash with rumours of war and portents of a coming disaster, inflamed by uncensored newssheets and the wagging tongues of dissatisfied citizens.

Mysterious killings at both ends of the capital have been caused by the use of an unusually long, slender blade, and Thomas Chaloner is ordered to investigate. The only common thread is the victims' connection to the Worshipful Company of Poulters, whose members are struggling to keep ahead of London's enormous demand for eggs. But this leads him into a tapestry of conspiracy, outlandish claims of the Second Coming, the reappearance of a number of regicides and ever more brazen killings.

As the date of the great ball looms closer, Chaloner fears that there is a dangerously credible conspiracy against the throne, and he has very little time to prevent history from repeating itself . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical

407 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2022

About the author

Susanna Gregory is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cruwys, a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. She is married to author Beau Riffenburgh who is her co-author on the Simon Beaufort books.

AKA Simon Beaufort

She writes detective fiction, and is noted for her series of mediaeval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew, a teacher of medicine and investigator of murders in 14th-century Cambridge.
These books may have some aspects in common with the Ellis Peters Cadfael series, the mediaeval adventures of a highly intelligent Benedictine monk and herbalist who came to the Benedictine order late in an eventful life, bringing with him considerable secular experience and wisdom combined with a deal of native wit. This sets him apart from his comparatively innocent and naíve monastic brethren. His activities, both as a monk and a healer, embroil him in a series of mysterious crimes, both secular and monastic, and he enthusiastically assumes the rôle of an amateur sleuth. Sceptical of superstition, he is somewhat ahead of his time, and much accurate historical detail is woven into the adventures. But there any resemblance to the comparatively warm-hearted Cadfael series ends: the tone and subject matter of the Gregory novels is far darker and does not shrink from portraying the harsh realities of life in the Middle Ages. The first in the series, A Plague on Both Your Houses is set against the ravages of the Black Death and subsequent novels take much of their subject matter from the attempts of society to recover from this disaster.
These novels bear the marks of much detailed research into mediaeval conditions - many of the supporting characters have names taken from the documentation of the time, referenced at the end of each book - and bring vividly to life the all-pervading squalor of living conditions in England during the Middle Ages. The deep-rooted and pervasive practice of traditional leechcraft as it contrasts with the dawning science of evidence-based medicine is a common bone of contention between Matthew and the students he teaches at Michaelhouse College (now part of Trinity College, Cambridge), whilst the conflict between the students of Cambridge and the townsfolk continually threatens to escalate into violence.
Another series of books, set just after the Restoration of Charles II and featuring Thomas Chaloner, detective and former spy, began with A Conspiracy of Violence published in January 2006, and continues with The Body in the Thames, published in hardback edition January 2011.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I no longer enjoy these books, but I still read them when there is nothing else in the offing, and I am looking for something light to read. The writing is appalling and so historically in accurate that I am surprised that not more is said about this. The main character is a joke (although some might think this deliberate as the books are clearly tongue-in-cheek). We are constantly told (Susanna Gregory seems never to have heard of 'show, don't tell') that Thomas Challoner is an ace spy and a master intelligencer, but a more inept example of both would be far to seek, and the ridiculousness of the actions and speech of some of the characters beggars belief. All of which makes these books a bit difficult to take at all seriously, and I do wonder how the publisher continues to churn them out, as rubbish as they are. If they stopped tomorrow not a tear would I shed, unlike the cessation of some series', which I really do miss.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an Amazing Story

so well written! so deftly and subtly handles the incorporation of past books, characters and events it Keeps one right in the room, remembering past events and current ones right at the forefront as if "You are there"! I love the way MS Gregory does that!
I have read this series faithfully and all 25 of the Mature Bartholomew series and much prefer the writing in this one. Chaloner is an extraordinary character, though quite mysterious...one never knows what he looks like, who he Is in many respects...we do know he loves his Viols, his friends, his independence...the qualities of an adaptable, multi faceted spy. I love the other main characters and their descriptions as much as I now care for Chaloner!
I would recommend these to history buffs....the stories are based on real events, ...and good writing buffs and adventure buffs and any other folks who love a good, challenging, move ahead , complex series that keeps long guessing. I really enjoyed reading this book and truly cannot wait for the next book!
Chaloner is a compelling lead character who has a lot of adventuring still to go!

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Should Read as 4.5 STARS!*

This eventful and exciting historical tale is the 15th volume of the wonderful "Thomas Chaloner" series.

Historical details concerning this mystery adventure can be found at the end of the book within the Historical Note, while at the front you'll find a well-drawn map of Chaloner's London.

Storytelling is of excellent quality, all characters, whether real historical or fine fictional, are very believable and human in their dealings with life in general, and the atmosphere in London and debauchery at the court of King Charles II come superbly off the pages.

The book starts off with a short prologue with two murders, one committed In July on someone in captivity in Jersey, while the other was committed at the begin of August on the streets of London in the year AD1666.

The main story will take place during the rest of the month of August, AD1666, in London, and the main ingredients will be eggs and the Poulter Company in association with religion and power.

Soon enough more murders are committed, concerning eggs, religion and regicides, and Thomas Chaloner, Lord Clarendon's investigator, will start his investigations, accompanied by Captain Lester, the assassin Swaddell, Spymaster Williamson's man, while the ex-Spymaster of the Commonwealth and ex-Secretary of State John Thurloe will also make an appearance, and together they will try hard to get to the bottom of the committed murders in combination with the withholding of eggs from the public.

What is to follow is an exciting and intriguing mystery adventure, in which Chaloner and his friends and Spymaster Williamson have to do their utmost when confronting regicide traitors and religious fanatics, and after some twists and turns followed by an attempt to overthrow the Monarchy with a surprising and deadly plot, all will be revealed in a most satisfying fashion.

Very much recommended, for this is a very worthy addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "Another Very Enjoyable Chaloner Mystery Adventure"!

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - by the fifteenth (or fifthteenth if you go by the typo on the cover of the version I read!) book in a series, we should not be subjected to so much filler that has been rehashed in every single book. We GET it by now that Chaloner doesn't take sugar because he opposes the slave trade, we know that Wiseman wears red to cover the bloodstains, that "What news?" is a customary greeting in the coffee shop, etc. etc. I know there's room for a bit of establishing information but if you took out all of the information that we've been told before and know by rote, how big would the book actually be? It gets very tedious. And the plot this time seemed to be more of "he needed to do this, and then he would do that, and then after that he would do this" than usual, over and over again every day and then he would then either do the thing, or some obstacle would mean it was postponed till the next day but we'd still get the list in the morning of "he would do this, then that, then that" with the same information. All the books are very much like this and it does help sometimes to keep all the information straight but it just felt far too repetitive this time.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

#15 in the adventures of Thomas Chaloner mystery series. London is experiencing a prolonged hot nd dry summer in 1666 and life in the city is quickly recovering from the ravages of the plague, none faster than the Court of Charles II where excess, corruption and debauchery has rebounded at a frenetic pace and where plans are being made for a grandiose ball in honor of a long-dead but English-born Pope. As the ball looms closer, Chaloner fears that there is a dangerously credible conspiracy against the throne At the same time, there are mysterious killings in the city which Chaloner is ordered to investigate. That leads him into a tapestry of conspiracy, outlandish claims of the Second Coming, the reappearance of a number of regicides and ever more brazen killings. A

[CCCubbon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the book rather tedious for about threequarters of it, livening up towards the end but by then it was so confused I didn’t caremuch.
There were a few historical details of interest but I thought from the cover that the Fire would be the central theme and felt rather cheated

[Su Littleford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Fire and treason

I loved all of Thomas Chaloner's books. The characters are so well drawn you feel you would know them on the street. Books like these help us to know the history so much better.

[Natasha Maddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read / listened to all of these books. I really enjoy the characters, although it was a bit of a convoluted plot.

[Afton · Rating 3 out of 5]

These have gotten very formulaic, sadly. I picked out the antagonist very early on.

Still, a fun little read.

[Robin Holleyhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

excitingly high standard. the bad people get their just deserts.

Well written. Very good place and plot. Twists and turns and an exciting coda. Well worth the read. Robin H

[Brenda Funk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't finish this one. Got about half way through, and simply found it too tedious. Life is too short to read novels I get no joy out of.

[Keren Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, interesting read as always from Susanna Gregory

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! One of my favorites in the series. Lots of of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well plotted novel in this tried and tested series.

[Hannah S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I was just in the mood for it, but I really enjoyed this book and think it's one of the stronger ones of late. An interesting plot, a couple of twists and old characters with new roles and perspectives.

Don't be fooled by the title or cover though, this one is *not* set during the Great Fire of London. Next one, hopefully? 🤞

[Emma Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly lengthy historical fiction of Restoration London in the months leading up to the Great Fire of London in 1666. Great for readers of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, who would like a larger book to occupy their time.