- Hardcover: 228 pages
- Publisher: Allison & Busby; 1st edition (1 July 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0749006412
- ISBN-13: 978-0749006419
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 15.7 x 2.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,457,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Review
'The Queen of the Georgian historical mystery' The Times
Product Description
Preparing to become a father for the very first time, Apothecary John Rawlings leaves the heavily pregnant Emilia occupied with maternal matters and turns his attention to his business, rather neglected of late. Working in the shop one early afternoon, John is taken aback when a middle-aged stranger rushes in through the door looking panic-stricken. The man is not seeking a cure for a terrible ailment, however, but a place to hide. John agrees and a moment or two later a formidable woman comes to the counter enquiring if the Apothecary has seen anyone answering the description of the stranger he has in his back room. Honouring his promise to the man, John sends her on her way and, intrigued, goes to question the fellow. It transpires that the man's name is Aidan Fenchurch and his pursuer Mrs. Ariadne Bussell, a former lover who is reluctant to give up the chase. So reluctant, in fact, that she has been shadowing him for years. Feeling sympathy for Aidan, John agrees to do him a good turn but is shocked when a few days later the man is dead, ostensibly the result of a street robbery. Suspicious, Sir John Fielding sends the Flying Runners to arrest Mrs Bussell. However, the lady is taken ill in the coach and before she can be thoroughly questioned she dies. The Apothecary recognises the signs of fatal poisoning. Soon there are more victims, some poisoned and some killed by less subtle methods. John Rawlings embarks on a journey that leads him to the Surrey countryside in search of answers to be greeted by some familiar faces...
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
an excellent read,
By tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Death in the Valley of Shadows (John Rawlings Mystery) (Paperback)
Apothecary John Rawlings should be more engrossed in the upcoming birth of his first child, instead of which he finds himself once again involved in Bow Street business when he finds himself firmly entangled with the brutal murder of vintner, Aidan Fenchurch. It all beings when Fenchurch rushes into John's shop looking for a place to hide. Fenchurch's high colour and his panicked state easily persuades John to agree to help. Not even a few seconds later, an imposing and rude woman comes in demanding to know if anyone matching Fenchurch's description has entered the store. Instantly taking a dislike to the woman, John brusquely sends her on her way. Now completely intrigued as to why the woman is hunting Fenchurch, John goes to see the man to tell him that the coast is clear and learns a most curious story. It appears that the woman is Adriadne Bussell, the wife of a colleague's of Fenchurch as well as Fenchurch's former lover. Fenchurch had ended their relationship, but Mrs. Bussell seems unable to let go and has been stalking him ever since. Things have gotten so bad that Fenchurch now fears for his life, and begs John to deliver some papers to Sir John Fielding of Bow Street that reveal all and that name Mrs. Bussell as his murderer if he should meet with a sticky end. John readily agrees, but is shocked, nevertheless, to learn the next day that Fenchurch was brutally murdered at the front doorstep of his own home. Did Mrs. Bussell have anything to do with Fenchurch's murder? John believes that she had, and telling all to Sir John Fielding, is relieved that the blind magistrate is of the same mind as he. But things take an even stranger turn when Mrs. Bussell dies is custody from acute poisoning. But who would have wanted Mrs. Bussell dead? As other suspects begin to die, one by one, John beings to wonder about the identity and sanity of this determined poisoner... If you enjoy well written British historical mystery novels, you'll want to check out "Death in the Valley of Shadows." Steeped in period history and atmosphere, this perplexing and intriguing book was a treat to read from beginning to end. Colourful, vivid and suspenseful, I was completely engrossed from the very beginning. Set during the Georgian period (the mid 1700s more exactly), this wonderful series is fast paced, well written and perfectly executed, this is a read not to be missed!
5.0 out of 5 stars
The body count rises,
By
This review is from: Death in the Valley of Shadows: A John Rawlings Mystery (Hardcover)
First Sentence: What a morning it had been.
Apothecary John Rawlings is surprised when a man, Aidan Fenchurch, runs into his shop asking to be hidden from his former mistress. Once the very unpleasant woman is gone, Fenchurch is pleased to hear John also assists Sir John Fielding, magistrate of Bow Street and asks that John keep a document accusing the woman should he suddenly die. Fenchurch is murdered on his doorstep that night but his is only the first of many deaths with each new suspect dying before the killer can be identified by John and Bow Street. Ms Lake has a clear and wonderful voice and writes with delightful humour. Her descriptions are so visual, you want to pack and go, yet so filled with background information, such as the scene with the salesman for sheaths and cundums, as to make you an informed traveler. The details of social behavior and custom, as well as the syntax and cadence of dialogue define the story's place and time. It is those extra details which enrich the story and add to the experience of reading it. John is a character who has grown with the series. No longer a somewhat callow, but talented young man, he is now a mature and very responsible man who has a remarkably understanding wife. I particularly like his honesty to his wife and to himself, as to why he works with Bow Street. Joe Jaco, first officer to Sir John Fielding (the Blind Beak), of Bow Street is an intriguing character, and one about whom we learn a bit more with each book. Although the author provides sufficient back story on the principal characters for readers new to the series, I recommend reading the series in order. There is an excellent balance to the story between John's life with his family and friends, internal musings, medical knowledge and information, and the drama and suspense of the investigation. The pacing and flow are very well done, fluctuating between highs and lows. The level of suspense increases to a very dramatic ending. Even the characters comment on the case having a Shakespearean feel in the number of bodies that accumulates. Only toward the end did I begin to suspect the killer. I am an admitted fan of this series and this is another very good contribution to it. As I'm reading the series in order, it's nice to know I've many more books ahead. DEATH IN THE VALLEY OF SHADOWS (Hist Mys-John Rawlings-England-Georgian) - VG+ Lake, Deryn - 9th in series Allison & Busby, ©2003, UK Hardcover - ISBN: 0749006412
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Ninth Book in the John Rawlings Series,
By
This review is from: Death in the Valley of Shadows: A John Rawlings Mystery (Hardcover)
Deryn Lake is a pseudonym of a well know historical novelist. Among the books she has written are the popular John Rawlings Mysteries, Death on the Romney Marsh, Death in the Peerless Pool, Death at the Apothecaries' hall, Death at the Devil's Tavern and others. As all her titles are preceded by the word death, this is a pretty good indication regarding the contents of the books and very good historical murder mysteries they are. `Deryn Lake' live near Hastings, in East Sussex For those who read Deryn Lake's excellent Georgian mysteries the character of John Rawlings is now an old and trusted friend and the author's clean writing style makes the pages fly by. The books are good, well researched historical murder mysteries, they are what they are and do not pretend to be anything else. Good escapism for the reader, away from the bumps and grinds of everyday life. Apothecary John Rawlings is taking the business of impending fatherhood for the first time very seriously and is determined to concentrate more on his business, as he realises that of late he has been preoccupied with the work he has been doing for Sir John Fielding, better known as the blind beak. However, although he has the best of intentions he is soon diverted when a man enters his shop, not with the intention of buying ointments or potions but looking for somewhere to hide. It is not long before the man is followed into the shop enquiring if the Apothecary has seen anyone answering the description of the stranger. Feeling he cannot divulge the man's whereabouts John politely sends her on her way. When, a couple of days later the stranger who had hidden in the shop is found dead, the supposed victim of a street robbery, John is intrigued and decides that he must find out what happened to the poor man and why?
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
|
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
