- Hardcover
- Publisher: Putnam Pub Group (T) (Aug 1996)
- ISBN-10: 0614130239
- ISBN-13: 978-0614130232
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,593,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
NEW YORK TIMES
'Mr Alexander works in a vigorous style that captures with gusto the lusty spirit of the era'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
'The spirit of Conan Doyle'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the third in an increasingly impressive series of novels
set in the London of the 1760s and 1770s. Whilst these stories are bannered as "Sir John Fielding Mysteries" they are written as
later life recollections from his youthful companion Jeremy Proctor. Jeremy gives his perspective on some of the cases investigated personally by Sir John but also reflects on the beak's family life and the glorious,filthy,wonderful and seedy spectacle that was Georgian London. In this episode a naval lieutenant is charged with the murder of his captain and Sir John Fielding is invited to intervene by his old friend Admiral Robert Redmond. Of course, the matter isn't anywhere near as cut and dried as the navy would have everyone believe and Sir John eventually uncovers sinister hapening on board His Majesty's Ship
Adventure. Bruce Alexander's knowledge pf the period seems faultless and the writing style flows agreeably along leading up to a genuinely gripping and moving finale. It takes a little while to get going ( 100 pages before the mystery really develops ) but it's well woth the effort and the fourteen year old narrator is an excellent companion along the way...Books like this can only help the revival of the historical crime novel.
set in the London of the 1760s and 1770s. Whilst these stories are bannered as "Sir John Fielding Mysteries" they are written as
later life recollections from his youthful companion Jeremy Proctor. Jeremy gives his perspective on some of the cases investigated personally by Sir John but also reflects on the beak's family life and the glorious,filthy,wonderful and seedy spectacle that was Georgian London. In this episode a naval lieutenant is charged with the murder of his captain and Sir John Fielding is invited to intervene by his old friend Admiral Robert Redmond. Of course, the matter isn't anywhere near as cut and dried as the navy would have everyone believe and Sir John eventually uncovers sinister hapening on board His Majesty's Ship
Adventure. Bruce Alexander's knowledge pf the period seems faultless and the writing style flows agreeably along leading up to a genuinely gripping and moving finale. It takes a little while to get going ( 100 pages before the mystery really develops ) but it's well woth the effort and the fourteen year old narrator is an excellent companion along the way...Books like this can only help the revival of the historical crime novel.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
17 reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
A good yarn, but lacks Alexander's usual historical accuracy
29 Oct 1997
Format:Hardcover
Perhaps the most attractive feature of Alexander's previous works - Blind Justice and Murder in Grubb Street - is their uncompromising historical accuracy. As a lawyer (Queen's Counsel), I can attest to the validity of Alexander's depiction of the administration of justice in 18th Century England. One can quibble with some of his characterizations: for example, his portrayal of Lord Chief Justice Mansfield hardly fits with the image of the jurist who declared that a slave becomes a free man as soon as he sets foot on English soil. And his use of modern Americanisms - such as "hung" rather than "hanged" as the past participle of the verb "to hang" when referring to execution by hanging - tends to grate when applied to the supposed dialogue of 18th Century Londoners. But, by and large, Alexander manages well, both to capture the atmosphere of the era, and also to satisfy even the most pedantic critic of his historicism. Shadowy Grave is therefore slightly disappointing. Speaking also as a former naval officer, I found that Alexander's mastery of the atmosphere in London's streets of the 18th Century does not, unfortunately, extend to a mastery of the atmosphere aboard ships of the Royal Navy of that time. And, by transferring the court-room dramatics from a civil court to a naval court martial, Alexander has exposed some weaknesses in his knowledge of authentic naval procedures and traditions. Still, fans of Alexander's previous works will enjoy Watery Grave. If the plot is, at times, a little far-fetched, it is still plausible and makes for an exciting narrative. It is to be hoped that Alexander will continue this exceptionally good series, although preferably keeping his feet on dry land and sticking to the historical subjects which he knows best and evokes so effectively.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A Wonderful Series Starts Here
7 Mar 2007
Format:Paperback
I love a good mystery. A mystery set in England is even better. A mystery set in England in the 1700s is a ten-strike! Have you read any of Bruce Alexander's books in the Sir John Fielding series? Starting with "Watery Grave", the reader follows the career of Sir John Fielding, a blind judge. Based on a historical character, Sir John actually lived in the 1700s and was the first judge to develop a regular constabulary -- the legendary Bow Street Runners. His brother, Henry Fielding, wrote the classic "Tom Jones". The narrator is a young boy, Jeremy Proctor, who becomes Sir John's ward and protege. We see London through the eyes of this child -- as he grows into manhood.
Bruce Alexander's language is rich and evocative of the times. The mysteries are anything but derivative and often solved in completely surprising ways. Courts handled crimes so differently in the 18th century -- and most people lived in squalid conditions which Alexander captures honestly. These books are not "chick lit" -- in fact, men may enjoy them even more than women! I'd suggest you start with the first book in the series and work your way along so you can get the most of the character development and big picture. Enjoy!
Bruce Alexander's language is rich and evocative of the times. The mysteries are anything but derivative and often solved in completely surprising ways. Courts handled crimes so differently in the 18th century -- and most people lived in squalid conditions which Alexander captures honestly. These books are not "chick lit" -- in fact, men may enjoy them even more than women! I'd suggest you start with the first book in the series and work your way along so you can get the most of the character development and big picture. Enjoy!
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Watery Grave
31 Dec 2001
Format:Paperback
Watery Grave is the continued story (the third installment) of the story of Jeremy Proctor and his mentor Sir John Fielding. One does not have to read the second book (I hadn't) to understand the events.
Alexander's writing and plotting have improved and become more ambitious in the interim. Watery Grave involves a murder (perhaps) committed on board a ship during a storm; the subsequent investigation turns up a rat's nest of corruption and pits land- and sea-based legal jurisdictions against one another. We also learn how Fielding lost his sight. I wanted to see more of what happened on the ship, and I felt that the end of the novel was quite disappointing. What should be devastating courtroom scenes are skipped over, given little impact, and largely told rather than shown. Careful readers will also find at least one minor continuity error. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining book featuring some interesting characters, particularly the perceptive Fielding.
After having written this review I noted that another reviewer thought there were historical errors. I don't know enough about the period to judge whether that's correct or not, but if so it should be counted as a serious flaw in the book.
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