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Harry Lytle Chronicles #2
A Plague of Sinners
"When Hedges fell face first into his dinner after giving birth to an almighty sneeze, the rest of us just sat and stared at the gravy dripping down the backs of his ears. We watched in silence, gaping at the back of his large unmoving head and the pieces of lamb and fish stuck in his hair. His mouth gaped open and a thin stream of sauce dribbled from the side of his mouth."
Harry reckoned he was safest from the plague sat tight behind the city walls. Until Nathaniel Hedges dropped dead on the other side of the dinner table. As the pestilence exerts an ever stronger grip on the city population, so Harry is compelled to venture forth into some of the most diseased parishes of London in search of a serial killer. When the companions of the first victim decide that Harry is the prime suspect, then death seems inevitable.
Harry reckoned he was safest from the plague sat tight behind the city walls. Until Nathaniel Hedges dropped dead on the other side of the dinner table. As the pestilence exerts an ever stronger grip on the city population, so Harry is compelled to venture forth into some of the most diseased parishes of London in search of a serial killer. When the companions of the first victim decide that Harry is the prime suspect, then death seems inevitable.
438 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2010
5 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Paul Lawrence
10 books71 followersI'm 50 years old - ish, born in the UK. After doing a psychology degree at Durham, and a PhD at London in 1989, I joined BP. My main motivation was travel, and so with BP I worked and lived in Australia, Spain, Portugal and Japan. By 2002 we had 4 children, and decided to settle - emigrating to Australia in 2004. I started writing 'The Sweet Smell of Decay' in 1994 - during our first visit to Australia - and finished it in 2008. Between 1994 and 2008 I learned to write, and completely immersed myself in the history of the period. The sequel to 'Sweet Smell', 'A Plague of Sinners' was published in May 2010, and the third in the series 'Hearts of Darkness' is now out in paperback. Currently working on a new project ...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 11, 2023
Truly outstanding historical fiction, tons better than his first, without all of the typos, missing words, uneven writing and other minor problems in The Sweet Smell of Decay. This one is better written, better paced, better produced and better plotted--as loose as the plot is. It's more witty and more interesting. The detail is impeccable.
It's London and environs in 1665, and the Plague has recently hit. Some communities more than others, but people are going north to outrun it. Harry Lytle and Davy Dowling are told by Lord Arlington to find the murderer of an Earl. But all is not what it seems, and there's lots of intrigue afoot (which is at times a chore to stay on top of).
The writing is very good. How's this for a kick-ass opening sentence:
"When Hedges fell face first into his dinner after giving birth to an almighty sneeze, the rest of us just sat and stared at the gravy dripping down the backs of his ears."
Ha! One of my favorites, ever. And they have to transport the body, fast, before the plague searchers come, discover Hedges had the Pestilence, and quarantine everyone there for at least 40 days. Descriptions of the plague abound, and the manners, laws, behaviors and attitudes of 1665 Londoners amidst the plague is part of what this book's about. And then there are the murders, gruesome in plot and description. The ending is a surprise upon a surprise, and very satisfying.
The book was so good it convinced me to buy the series. I'll read the third, Hearts of Darkness, when the package arrives. Overall this series, and this book in particular, is well worth your time.
It's London and environs in 1665, and the Plague has recently hit. Some communities more than others, but people are going north to outrun it. Harry Lytle and Davy Dowling are told by Lord Arlington to find the murderer of an Earl. But all is not what it seems, and there's lots of intrigue afoot (which is at times a chore to stay on top of).
The writing is very good. How's this for a kick-ass opening sentence:
"When Hedges fell face first into his dinner after giving birth to an almighty sneeze, the rest of us just sat and stared at the gravy dripping down the backs of his ears."
Ha! One of my favorites, ever. And they have to transport the body, fast, before the plague searchers come, discover Hedges had the Pestilence, and quarantine everyone there for at least 40 days. Descriptions of the plague abound, and the manners, laws, behaviors and attitudes of 1665 Londoners amidst the plague is part of what this book's about. And then there are the murders, gruesome in plot and description. The ending is a surprise upon a surprise, and very satisfying.
The book was so good it convinced me to buy the series. I'll read the third, Hearts of Darkness, when the package arrives. Overall this series, and this book in particular, is well worth your time.
August 22, 2015
The Earl of St Albans is found hanging with a bottle of wine forced down his throat and so starts Lytle and Dowling's quest to find a murderer in plague ridden London. I haven't read the first book in the series but this hasn't affected my enjoyment of it as the relationships developed during the first are explained enough to get to grips with without taking over the story itself. There are layers upon layers of conspiracy and treachery throughout this, all against the backdrop of paranoia and fear that dominated London as the plague takes hold across the city and the surrounding countryside. There was nothing particularly standout-ish for me in this but it was still a very enjoyable story with likable and amusing characters and of course plenty of ne'er-do-wells to keep our investigators on their toes.
August 13, 2012
Good old morbid fascination wins again with this stomach turning but compelling tramp through the 17th century. Mr Lawrence again summons the darkness of the restoration period by focusing on the filth strewn streets and mean deeds of the inhabitants of a plague ridden London.
The villains are as always surprisingly ghoulish which gives Harry Lyle plenty of room for his unique brand of charnel house humour!
The villains are as always surprisingly ghoulish which gives Harry Lyle plenty of room for his unique brand of charnel house humour!
December 3, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, found it easy and quick to read. The characters are engaging (although I did keep losing track of who was who), and the plot, set against the burgeoning ravages of the plague of 1665, was exciting. The thing that would have made this book better would have been a map of London. I found it difficult to know how far Lytle and Downing were going as they moved from place to place. Otherwise, it was a fun and interesting read.
November 18, 2019
Good book
I enjoyed this second installment of the series as much as the first one. I intend to read the next one as well and see if I still like it.
I enjoyed this second installment of the series as much as the first one. I intend to read the next one as well and see if I still like it.
January 24, 2023
Brilliant.
January 10, 2010
It’s 1665, and a venomous plague ravages the townships outside the walls of London. As if avoiding deadly pestilence isn’t enough adversity, the Earl of St. Albans has been murdered. Clerk Harry Lytle, some eighteen months into his acceptance by the intelligence service, is charged with solving the crime - much to the dismay of his housekeeper, Jane, a fiery redhead not known for holding her tongue. Jane would much prefer fleeing in advance of the plague as so many others have done. But Harry’s misplaced loyalties and ambition force her to endure the risk of falling ill and having the tell-tale cross painted in red on their door.
But, what motive exists for the Earl’s dastardly murder? Aligned - though not by choice - with the pious butcher, Davy Dowling, Harry sets out to the discover the why and who of the murder, and it doesn’t take long for the pursuing duo to become the pursued.
Bodies and baddies abound in this action-packed tromp through historical England as Mr. Lawrence takes the reader on a journey of deception, surprising courage and a faith Harry Lytle would readily deny. Historical fiction is not my read of choice, but I found Lawrence’s characters likeable, frightening, repulsive, and fascinating. The author’s attention to period dress and vernacular add charming authenticity to his novel. His meticulous visuals run the gamut of the once majestic Vintner’s Hall, rising from the landscape like a Greek temple, to the ill-maintained Bedlam lunatic asylum, creaking death carts, wretched plague pits, and the seedier waterfront taverns.
With elaborate twists and turns, and accumulative murders most foul, Paul Lawrence weaves a tale that keeps the reader intrigued and guessing to the novel’s end. My only fault was that the romantic in me longed for an amorous, lust-driven tryst or two.
Having read this second installment in the Harry Lytle Chronicles first and being drawn to Harry, Jane, the butcher Dowling and assorted lords, ladies and sinister villains, I find myself wanting to know more about them. I must now go back and read the first novel in this entertaining series, The Sweet Smell of Decay, and would encourage others to do the same. It is my humble opinion that you won’t be disappointed.
October 17, 2011
It’s 1665, and a venomous plague ravages the townships outside the walls of London. As if avoiding deadly pestilence isn’t enough adversity, the Earl of St. Albans has been murdered. Clerk Harry Lytle, some eighteen months into his acceptance by the intelligence service, is charged with solving the crime - much to the dismay of his housekeeper, Jane, a fiery redhead not known for holding her tongue. Jane would much prefer fleeing in advance of the plague as so many others have done. But Harry’s misplaced loyalties and ambition force her to endure the risk of falling ill and having the tell-tale cross painted in red on their door.
But, what motive exists for the Earl’s dastardly murder? Aligned - though not by choice - with the pious butcher, Davy Dowling, Harry sets out to the discover the why and who of the murder, and it doesn’t take long for the pursuing duo to become the pursued.
Bodies and baddies abound in this action-packed tromp through historical England as Mr. Lawrence takes the reader on a journey of deception, surprising courage and a faith Harry Lytle would readily deny. Historical fiction is not my read of choice, but I found Lawrence’s characters likeable, frightening, repulsive, and fascinating. The author’s attention to period dress and vernacular add charming authenticity to his novel. His meticulous visuals run the gamut of the once majestic Vintner’s Hall, rising from the landscape like a Greek temple, to the ill-maintained Bedlam lunatic asylum, creaking death carts, wretched plague pits, and the seedier waterfront taverns.
With elaborate twists and turns, and accumulative murders most foul, Paul Lawrence weaves a tale that keeps the reader intrigued and guessing to the novel’s end. My only fault was that the romantic in me longed for an amorous, lust-driven tryst or two.
Having read this second installment in the Harry Lytle Chronicles first and being drawn to Harry, Jane, the butcher Dowling and assorted lords, ladies and sinister villains, I find myself wanting to know more about them. I must now go back and read the first novel in this entertaining series, The Sweet Smell of Decay, and would encourage others to do the same. It is my humble opinion that you won’t be disappointed.
But, what motive exists for the Earl’s dastardly murder? Aligned - though not by choice - with the pious butcher, Davy Dowling, Harry sets out to the discover the why and who of the murder, and it doesn’t take long for the pursuing duo to become the pursued.
Bodies and baddies abound in this action-packed tromp through historical England as Mr. Lawrence takes the reader on a journey of deception, surprising courage and a faith Harry Lytle would readily deny. Historical fiction is not my read of choice, but I found Lawrence’s characters likeable, frightening, repulsive, and fascinating. The author’s attention to period dress and vernacular add charming authenticity to his novel. His meticulous visuals run the gamut of the once majestic Vintner’s Hall, rising from the landscape like a Greek temple, to the ill-maintained Bedlam lunatic asylum, creaking death carts, wretched plague pits, and the seedier waterfront taverns.
With elaborate twists and turns, and accumulative murders most foul, Paul Lawrence weaves a tale that keeps the reader intrigued and guessing to the novel’s end. My only fault was that the romantic in me longed for an amorous, lust-driven tryst or two.
Having read this second installment in the Harry Lytle Chronicles first and being drawn to Harry, Jane, the butcher Dowling and assorted lords, ladies and sinister villains, I find myself wanting to know more about them. I must now go back and read the first novel in this entertaining series, The Sweet Smell of Decay, and would encourage others to do the same. It is my humble opinion that you won’t be disappointed.
June 1, 2010
I think as a murder mystery, it was missing a sense of urgency and it lacked momentum. Harry Lytle just didn't care. If anything, he was waiting for more to die so there could be fewer "bad guys" pursuing him. As a result, I didn't care much either.
I found it convenient (for the author) and awkward (for the story) for Harry Lytle to court a woman who appeared to return his interest, rescue the woman, and then get suddenly rejected because he was short and stout. Harry finally found his motivation to solve the mystery (and save his love interest) and when he finally solved it, the woman shut him down. Harry didn't really start moving faster until the last 100 pages or so.
I did appreciate the author's sense of humor for the first half of the book. For example, while in pursuit of a suspect, the author takes the time to describe every detail of the suspect's clothing and demeanor. The next paragraph casually mentioned that they "followed his bouncing buttocks." Another section of the book describes an incredibly enthusiastic handshake. "He stuck out his hand in greeting, whereupon Boddington seized it and pumped it up and down as if he expected water to gush forth from the butcher's mouth." The author even poked fun at the first few dead bodies.
Overall, I did enjoy the historical detail in this book. My biggest problem with the book was the mystery part.
I found it convenient (for the author) and awkward (for the story) for Harry Lytle to court a woman who appeared to return his interest, rescue the woman, and then get suddenly rejected because he was short and stout. Harry finally found his motivation to solve the mystery (and save his love interest) and when he finally solved it, the woman shut him down. Harry didn't really start moving faster until the last 100 pages or so.
I did appreciate the author's sense of humor for the first half of the book. For example, while in pursuit of a suspect, the author takes the time to describe every detail of the suspect's clothing and demeanor. The next paragraph casually mentioned that they "followed his bouncing buttocks." Another section of the book describes an incredibly enthusiastic handshake. "He stuck out his hand in greeting, whereupon Boddington seized it and pumped it up and down as if he expected water to gush forth from the butcher's mouth." The author even poked fun at the first few dead bodies.
Overall, I did enjoy the historical detail in this book. My biggest problem with the book was the mystery part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2011
c2010. As stated on the cover - this is the second novel in the Harry Lytle series. He is such an unlikely protagonist and the subtle humour running through out the novel is great - just as good as the first one. Quite gory in some places but never in a way that would change this from Crime to Horror. I loved it - Harry together with Dowling the Butcher - covort around London uncovering various corpses and plots whilst Harry is dealing with a couple of love interests. London is the 3rd main character in this book. Recommended. "'You are a good man, Harry.'Dowling came up close and put an arm about my shoulder. 'You hide it well.' A strange comment....."And I think God sees you doing much good in his service and would keep you alive'/Which thought was no comfort at all."
May 1, 2010
I learned that I love historical fiction done exceptionally well. I did not until this book. Harry Lytle works for Lord Arlington's secret service, bored to tears until assigned an investigation on the murder of the Earl of St Albans, found hanging from his neck with a bottle thrust down his throat. You'll find bodies galore in this twisty, deceptively clever plot that takes Lytle through plague-ridden old England. The authentic dialogue and setting add to the depth of this story instead of distract as many authors are prone to do. I label this book a little more than mystery. It's has a very thriller feel to it, and I loved the ride. Highly recommended.
April 30, 2013
Oh wow! This is such an addictive book it makes you feel in the picture and it thrills you with it's what's-going- to - happen-next sort of style .i have read the first one and that was amazing too. Everyone has to read this.paul Lawrence is a fabulous author I just can't get enough of these two books and I heard another one is coming out soon!!!!! Another 100/100 definitely! Thank you Paul for providing such an interesting and cliffhanging book it has made me want to read more and more and more!
February 14, 2011
A body is found hanging with it's head burnt to a crisp and a wine bottle shoved down the throat. Harry and Dowling are called in to investigate and soon the bodies are mounting up. Plus there's the plague to contend with as this is set in 1665 London. It's lighthearted in parts and amusing in a mostly bawdy fashion with plenty of gore and mystery. Enjoyable enough to make me want to continue the series when they're released.
January 5, 2017
A decent read, especially for those that enjoy historical thrillers. The main draw would be the rich descriptions of a grisly London, deeply affected by the plague. I haven't read the other books, and found that the characters lacked depth, perhaps this wouldn't be the case if I had read the others. The storyline also seemed to drop in and out and definitely didn't keep me on the edge of the seat. Ultimately, it was OK..
June 27, 2010
The second Harry Lytle novel. Awesome as the first one.
Or to keep it short:
A Plague of Sinners = satisfying extraordinary good historical thriller
Read my full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse.
Or to keep it short:
A Plague of Sinners = satisfying extraordinary good historical thriller
Read my full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse.
May 9, 2013
Excellent second book in this new series of historical crime novels. You can taste the smell, stench, overcrowding and corruption of London. The book is set during the plague of 1665 and contains enough twists, turns and violence to keep the plot ticking over nicely. The book is well written and plotted. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical crime fiction.
September 26, 2012
Very informative details about the plague in London, together with a double crossing plot. Quite gory as the murder numbers increased alongside the deaths caused by the plague. Historical murder mystery.
January 17, 2016
Not for me, I'm afraid.
I couldn't form any attachment to the protagonists, and I frankly found the plot dull. I am sure other people would enjoy it, but it did nothing for me. Probably because I found myself comparing it with the brilliant Restoration crime novels written by Edward Marston.
I couldn't form any attachment to the protagonists, and I frankly found the plot dull. I am sure other people would enjoy it, but it did nothing for me. Probably because I found myself comparing it with the brilliant Restoration crime novels written by Edward Marston.
Want to read
May 18, 2010Won this in a Goodreads giveaway, my thanks to them and Paul Lawrence for having these giveaways, I look forward to reading the book.
July 21, 2011
There were times I found the plot a little hard to follow, but the author's wit was so entertaining and such fun that I'm eagerly waiting for his next book.
August 15, 2011
I've read both books in this series and have enjoyed them both. Great mysteries/thrillers. Not for the faint of heart. Looking forward to more. Harry Lytle is my kind of wise ass.
February 23, 2015
Loved it. It's interesting to have a murder mystery taking place within plague London, although the twist on top of twist was a little predictable ironically.
January 12, 2016
Plenty of deaths and other action, but perhaps a bit too gruesome overall for my taste!
Read
October 28, 2016I never fully engaged with the story but I did enjoy the read
November 30, 2016
It's a bit dour but okay.
March 11, 2011
Currently loving it.
April 9, 2014
again a good read.
Read
February 27, 2016did not enjoy at all sadly
July 16, 2016
pretty dull and boring. I may try to read the third book just because.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews