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Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor
Jan. 17th, 2016 10:13 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
London, September 1666.
The Great Fire rages through the city, consuming everything in its path. Among the crowds watching its destruction is James Marwood, son of a traitor, and reluctant government informer.
In the aftermath, the body of a man is discovered in the ashes of St. Pauls. But he had not died in the blaze – there is a stab wound to his neck and his thumbs have been tied behind his back. Acting on orders, Marwood hunts the killer through London’s devastated streets … where before too long a second murder is uncovered.
At a time of dangerous internal dissent, Marwood’s investigation will lead him into treacherous waters – and across the path of a determined and vengeful young woman.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Andrew Taylor’s historical crime novel (the first of a new series) is rich in period detail and skilfully portrays the political and religious conflicts of the Restoration. However, I found the split narration between Marwood and Cat (the niece of an important alderman who’s trying to escape an arranged marriage) to be distracting and the split first and third person narration left me confused as to whose story this was meant to be. I was also disappointed that Cat’s plotline is driven predominantly by her reactions to sexual assault and while I don’t doubt that 17th century England was full of sexist attitudes and casual groping, it made for a one-note storyline that Cat’s intelligence and aspirations to be an architect did little to lift. I was more interested in the ramifications of Marwood’s background – particularly his relationship with the Fifth Monarchists and their ties to the Regicides – and wished that there had been more of this because it’s a part of English history that doesn’t get a lot of attention. I also wanted more interaction between Marwood, Williamson and Chiffinch (the king’s spymaster) because of the power structures in play and the way it revolves around Marwood’s background. Taylor is good at description – particularly of the fire and its effects – and also good at conveying the political unrest and paranoia, but the mystery element was predictable and Marwood’s attraction to a suspect’s wife didn’t convince me. That said, the period detail was enough here for me to want to check out the next in the series and I’ll definitely check out Taylor’s other work.
ASHES OF LONDON will be released in the United Kingdom on 7th April 2016. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC copy of this book.
The Great Fire rages through the city, consuming everything in its path. Among the crowds watching its destruction is James Marwood, son of a traitor, and reluctant government informer.
In the aftermath, the body of a man is discovered in the ashes of St. Pauls. But he had not died in the blaze – there is a stab wound to his neck and his thumbs have been tied behind his back. Acting on orders, Marwood hunts the killer through London’s devastated streets … where before too long a second murder is uncovered.
At a time of dangerous internal dissent, Marwood’s investigation will lead him into treacherous waters – and across the path of a determined and vengeful young woman.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Andrew Taylor’s historical crime novel (the first of a new series) is rich in period detail and skilfully portrays the political and religious conflicts of the Restoration. However, I found the split narration between Marwood and Cat (the niece of an important alderman who’s trying to escape an arranged marriage) to be distracting and the split first and third person narration left me confused as to whose story this was meant to be. I was also disappointed that Cat’s plotline is driven predominantly by her reactions to sexual assault and while I don’t doubt that 17th century England was full of sexist attitudes and casual groping, it made for a one-note storyline that Cat’s intelligence and aspirations to be an architect did little to lift. I was more interested in the ramifications of Marwood’s background – particularly his relationship with the Fifth Monarchists and their ties to the Regicides – and wished that there had been more of this because it’s a part of English history that doesn’t get a lot of attention. I also wanted more interaction between Marwood, Williamson and Chiffinch (the king’s spymaster) because of the power structures in play and the way it revolves around Marwood’s background. Taylor is good at description – particularly of the fire and its effects – and also good at conveying the political unrest and paranoia, but the mystery element was predictable and Marwood’s attraction to a suspect’s wife didn’t convince me. That said, the period detail was enough here for me to want to check out the next in the series and I’ll definitely check out Taylor’s other work.
ASHES OF LONDON will be released in the United Kingdom on 7th April 2016. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC copy of this book.
