Blood On The Strand
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Review
Fans will be pleased to hear that Susanna Gregory has yet again hit on a winning formula of taking a likeable main character, involving him in a gripping plot and setting them within a commendably realistic setting. It is another bravura performance. (HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW )
Gregory tells an extremely complicated tale with great clarity and riveting excitement. (REVIEWINGTHEEVIDENCE.COM )
Gregory tells an extremely complicated tale with great clarity and riveting excitement. (REVIEWINGTHEEVIDENCE.COM )
Reviewingtheevidence.com
`Gregory tells an extremely complicated tale with great clarity and riveting excitement.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Blood on the Strand' is the second novel by Susanna Gregory featuring the 'intelligence agent' Thomas Chaloner set in Restoration London. The year is 1663, Charles II is back on the throne since (only) 3 years and London is still a hotbed of dissenters and ex-Cromwellians. Thomas has been unable to secure a job with the government's spymaster Joseph Williamson and now works for the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor. When a government agent readily shoots a 'beggar' and the latter turns out to be nothing less than a master-surgeon, Chaloner is asked to investigate and soon finds himself in the midst of a hornet's nest of warring factions at court, all of which are ready to kill to further their aims...
Although I personally like the Matthew Bartholomew-series by Susanna Gregory slightly better, there's no denying that this is a very good historical detective novel, set in a different era than most (I sometimes have the impression 90% of historical novels are set in either the middle ages or Elizabethan times). The descriptions of Restoration London and its sounds and smells are very well done, there's a whole host of colourful and well-developed characters (many of them historical, such as the Duke of Buckingham and Lady Castlemaine), and the story moves along at a brisk pace, with lots of twists and turns.
A joy to read, and I for one am looking forward to the further adventures of Thomas Chaloner!
Although I personally like the Matthew Bartholomew-series by Susanna Gregory slightly better, there's no denying that this is a very good historical detective novel, set in a different era than most (I sometimes have the impression 90% of historical novels are set in either the middle ages or Elizabethan times). The descriptions of Restoration London and its sounds and smells are very well done, there's a whole host of colourful and well-developed characters (many of them historical, such as the Duke of Buckingham and Lady Castlemaine), and the story moves along at a brisk pace, with lots of twists and turns.
A joy to read, and I for one am looking forward to the further adventures of Thomas Chaloner!
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Susanna Gregory is the pseudonym of a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. The author now has a number of excellent books to her name, primarily medieval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew. This book is the second in a series featuring Restoration London and having the lead character Thomas Chaloner, a somewhat reluctant spy for the feared Secretary of State, John Thurloe, London is a bustling thriving City and there is much work for a man such as Chaloner.
The year is 1663 and Thomas Chaloner a member of the King's intelligence service returns to London from Ireland, after assisting in thwarting a planned revolt in Dublin. Chaloner realises that feeling in the capital have changed since he left, there is a taste of rebellion in the London air. While investigating the shooting of a supposed beggar during a royal event, Chaloner discovers that far from being a beggar the man has links to the Company of Barber-Surgeons.
Meanwhile is master, the Earl of Clarendon is involved in a feud with the Earl of Bristol and to cap it all an innocent man is about to take the long drop in Newgate prison. Chaloner has his work cut out trying to protect Clarendon, discover who murdered the supposed vagrant and try to save an innocent man from the executioner.
The author's books are always so well researched and her characters endearing to the reader. This all helps to make her books both interesting, appealing and a joy to anyone interested in good historical fiction writing.
The year is 1663 and Thomas Chaloner a member of the King's intelligence service returns to London from Ireland, after assisting in thwarting a planned revolt in Dublin. Chaloner realises that feeling in the capital have changed since he left, there is a taste of rebellion in the London air. While investigating the shooting of a supposed beggar during a royal event, Chaloner discovers that far from being a beggar the man has links to the Company of Barber-Surgeons.
Meanwhile is master, the Earl of Clarendon is involved in a feud with the Earl of Bristol and to cap it all an innocent man is about to take the long drop in Newgate prison. Chaloner has his work cut out trying to protect Clarendon, discover who murdered the supposed vagrant and try to save an innocent man from the executioner.
The author's books are always so well researched and her characters endearing to the reader. This all helps to make her books both interesting, appealing and a joy to anyone interested in good historical fiction writing.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having just read this book, I thought I would add some comments. I enjoyed the previous series by Susanna Gregory, and the first book in this series. Unfortunately this one was not up to the same standard. It was repetitive, there were too many characters and the story felt more like 'fulfilling contractual requirements' to be enjoyable. There was a good story and strong characters hidden somewhere in the book but the whole enterprise could have been cut by 100 pages without any loss of development. The writer would have been better (or maybe the editor) to focus on smaller number of characters and less running around, pretending to move the plot forward, and properly develop the plot and characters.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Blood on the Strand
This was as always an excellent and exciting book,I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down til I had finished it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Helen
Giving up on this dull series now
This is the second in a series of murder/spy mysteries set in 17th century restoration London: though unlike many series it matters very little that you read this second instalment... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Bookwoman
Never again
I found this tale completely unconvincing. It is a string of two dimensional greater and lesser villains constantly bumping into each other under the gaze of several spies whose... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Richard H. Harris
Can't wait for number 4 to arrive!
I got these out of sync, doesn't matter, fortunately. I love the medieval series and now love this too. Read more
Published 22 months ago by C. Aitken
Wanted to like it
I bought this book as I love historical books especially mysteries (not so keen on the romances) but had not read many that are set at the time of the Restoration. Read more
Published on 17 April 2010 by Lori
Good plot, mixed characterisation and distinctively questionable sense...
I've never read any Susanna Gregory before and found this a mixed book. The plot is convoluted and nicely non-linear, but I found a lot of the historical background to be very... Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Roman Clodia
I love this book!
I am a big fan of the series, and this book is just as brilliant as the previous ones! Susuanna Gregory is a very good writer, and the stories are always so good. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2009 by TKP
Cracking story
Susanna Gregory has pretty much mined the Bartholoomy stories to death but has hit a tremendous now seam with the stories about Thomas Challoner. Read more
Published on 29 April 2007 by dyfthegog
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