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Sweet Smell of Decay, The: Being the First Chronicle of Harry Lytle (Harry Lytle Chronicles)
 
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Sweet Smell of Decay, The: Being the First Chronicle of Harry Lytle (Harry Lytle Chronicles) (Paperback)

by Paul Lawrence (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Sweet Smell of Decay, The: Being the First Chronicle of Harry Lytle (Harry Lytle Chronicles) + Company of Liars + The Owl Killers
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  • This item: Sweet Smell of Decay, The: Being the First Chronicle of Harry Lytle (Harry Lytle Chronicles) by Paul Lawrence

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Product details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: BEAUTIFUL BOOKS (2 Mar 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1905636423
  • ISBN-13: 978-1905636426
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 159,974 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description

The first in a magnificent new series if historical novels set in 17th century Restoration London. Featuring the loveable rogue Harry Lytle, this first instalment sees him discover a mutilated body in a church - and is then told the corpse was a relative of his. His escapades and scrapes on his journey to the truth to this mystery make for a rollicking and glorious read.

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Sweet Smell of Decay, The: Being the First Chronicle of Harry Lytle (Harry Lytle Chronicles)
69% buy the item featured on this page:
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Debut, 20 April 2009
The title of this book says it all really 'The Sweet Smell of Decay,' is a very atmospheric book and it's certainly not for the faint hearted. It's full of the grimness, the putrid smells and sights that you associate with certain medieval novels by Paul Doherty.

This story is set in 1664 just after the restoration of the monarchy and a young womans body turns up mutilated and bound up to the pulpit of St Brides church. Harry Lytle is asked by a trusted advisor to the King to identify the killer, with the assistance of a rather sinister named character called the 'Butcher.'

Harry now enters a rather murky world where nothing is as it seems and where he can trust no one.
From corruption, to the slums of London and it's dungeons, to the aristocracy and the final solution, this book held my attention until the very end.

I really can't get across how atmospheric this book is and I really did enjoy it and I certainly didn't think it was a watered down version of Sansom's 'Shardlake,' in fact I couldn't find anything to compare the two authors style or characters.

There also a few good laughs albeit (gallows humour) still this is a very good first novel.

If your the type of person who doesn't mind taking a chance on an impulse buy, try this it's well worth the read.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, 14 May 2009
By L. Pollard - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I enjoyed this book from start to finish, plenty of action, gore, mystery, cracking characters and a great twist. There seems to be an extensive amount of historical fiction on sale at the moment, and believe me I read and buy a significant amount. This book stands out as a great example within this genre. More soon please!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best new historical mystery writer for ages, 26 April 2009
By A. T. Twose - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book is one of the very few that i just had to read to the end in one hit,even though it was 4am before i did.It had everthing i'd hoped for, a great feeling for the period,even if it was sometimes too explicit,a facinating historical background covering the period, just after the re-instatement of charles the second;a complex and cleverly crafted plot and characters that caught the imagination, that will obviously develope in future books.All together a great read well done mr lawrence.I can't wait until your next book is released.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad
The book is a fairly standard murder mystery, made so much better by the descriptions of London at the time. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Wilson

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Debut
Having enjoyed this period of history for many years, this book did not disappoint.

The author Mr Lawrence descibed the period of time very accurately. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs M Denham

2.0 out of 5 stars Historical Friction
Very disappointing. It was nearly 1 Star but I decided to travel in hope and expectation - and I didn't want to be too mean! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Krakowba

2.0 out of 5 stars Almost gave up reading this
I really like historical fiction and thought that I'd enjoy this book, but I didn't. The central characters are weak and half way through reading it I almost gave up, but carried... Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. J. Williams

2.0 out of 5 stars A poor man's C.J.Sanson
I am a big fan or historian fiction, especially historical murder mysteries and while this book promised much, i felt rather short changed and a little bit put out for the much... Read more
Published 7 months ago by M. J. Lardner

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