Ok first a quote from Wiki about exposition.
"When the presentation of information in fiction becomes wordy, it is sometimes referred to as an "information dump," "exposition dump," or "plot dump." Information dumps expressed by characters in dialogue or monologue are sometimes referred to as "idiot lectures."
The dialogue in this book is just one "idiot lecture" after another. In this example the main character Chaloner is talking to a minor character Greeting, about his friend Maylord.
"Maylord," he prompted. "Does he still live on Thames Street ?"
Greeting frowned. "I had forgotten you and he were acquainted. He taught your father the viol, I understand and was kind to you when you first arrived in London. He was a good man, and we all miss him. He died on Friday."
This is just one example of the frequent "exposition dumps" that make the dialogue completely unbelievable, and similar even more laborious exchanges occur on nearly every page ! If you're looking for historical detective novels set in a similar era, try the C.J. Sansom "Shardlake" series, a much better writer in my opinion.
