'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!
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