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A Conspiracy of Violence: Chaloner's First Exploit in Restoration London (Thomas Chaloner Series)
 
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A Conspiracy of Violence: Chaloner's First Exploit in Restoration London (Thomas Chaloner Series) (Paperback)

by Susanna Gregory (Author)
3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Frequently Bought Together

A Conspiracy of Violence: Chaloner's First Exploit in Restoration London (Thomas Chaloner Series) + Blood on The Strand: Chaloner's Second Exploit in Restoration London (Thomas Chaloner Series) + The Butcher of Smithfield: Chaloner's Third Exploit in Restoration London (Thomas Chaloner Mysteries)
Price For All Three: £18.31

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Product details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Sphere; New Ed edition (4 Jan 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0751537586
  • ISBN-13: 978-0751537581
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 3.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 26,001 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #9 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > G > Gregory, Susanna

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Product Description

Product Description

The dour days of Cromwell are over. Charles II is well established at White Hall Palace, his mistress at hand in rooms over the Holbein bridge, the heads of some of the regicides on public display. London seethes with new energy, freed from the strictures of the Protectorate, but many of its inhabitants have lost their livelihoods. One is Thomas Chaloner, a reluctant spy for the feared Secretary of State, John Thurloe, and now returned from Holland in desperate need of employment. His erstwhile boss, knowing he has many enemies at court, recommends Thomas to Lord Clarendon, but in return demands that Thomas keep him informed of any plot against him. But what Thomas discovers is that Thurloe had sent another ex-employee to White Hall and he is dead, supposedly murdered by footpads near the Thames. Chaloner volunteers to investigate his killing: instead he is despatched to the Tower to unearth the gold buried by the last Governor. He discovers not treasure, but evidence that greed and self-interest are uppermost in men's minds whoever is in power, and that his life has no value to either side.


About the Author

Susanna Gregory is a Cambridge academic. She is the creator of the popular Matthew Bartholmew series

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9 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.1 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Change of Scenery, 18 Jan 2007
By J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
A change of lead character, a change of century and a change from Cambridge to London. Will it work, is it too much too soon. The reader need have not fears Miss Gregory carries it all off with consummate ease. The book is still beautifully written, the character are strong and soon become like old friends and the author proves that she is as knowledgeable about restoration London as she is about 14th century Cambridge.

England at last has a monarch back on throne, Charles II is ensconced in his Whitehall Palace and the dreary, drab days of Oliver Cromwell are fast fading to a distant memory. The capital is starting to breathe again after the stifling days of the Protectorate. But those difficult days have left their mark on the Londoner's, many have lost their means of employment. One such man Thomas Chaloner has become a spy for John Thurloe, the feared Secretary of State.

Thomas has recently returned from the Low Countries and is in desperate need of employment Thurloe has many enemies at court and recommends Thomas for a post with Lord Clarendon. In return he expects to be kept informed of any plots against himself.

While there Thomas finds out that Thurloe has already sent one of his ex-employees to the court and the man is dead, supposedly by footpads.

Thomas begins to uncover the greed and corruption that is rife among the men of power and soon finds that his own life has little value in the court of Charles.
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13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Spills, thrills, deceit, and death..., 1 Jun 2007
By D. A. Allan "del2608" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book was my first experience of Ms Gregory's work and I have to say I was impressed. She obviously enjoys her subject and era and this is apparent in the storytelling. The characterisation is excellent (with the possible exception of Keylng and his animal obsession) and the setting of Restoration London is richly drawn.

Setting and characters aside, the story moves along at a brisk pace with plenty of red herrings and spills and thrills. There are plenty of nice little asides and sub-plots, each of which adds to the atmosphere and tension and ultimately leads to a thrilling and satisfactory conclusion.

If you are looking for a good old fashioned ripping yarn that stimulates (and educates) then this is a book that encourages you to engage with its subject(s). Oh, and for the reviewer who thought it had "too many words" I suggest you look in the childrens section where you can find plenty of books you can colour in.

Hugely enjoyable and intelligently written, I look forward to more in the series.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Takes getting used to, 22 April 2007
By Didier (Ghent, Belgium) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
I immensely enjoyed the entire Matthew Bartholomew-series and was therefore looking forward to this first book about Thomas Chaloner. However, I was slightly disappointed.

I didn't immediately take to Chaloner as I did to Bartholomew (maybe that's just me? Or maybe it's quite logical that you like a character better when you've read more than 10 books featuring that same character?). Apart from that, however, I felt that Gregory's 16th century London feels a lot less real than the 14th century Cambridge of her Bartholomew-novels. Also, the plot sometimes feels overly intricate whereas in any Bartholomew-novel you distinctly get the sense that there's a very tight and extremely well thought-through plot behind it all.

Be that as it may, 'A conspiracy of violence' is still a lot better than dozens of other historical novels, and I very much hope that after a couple more Chaloner-novels I'll get to like him as much is I do Matthew Bartholomew.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Bartholomew v Chaloner
A good yarn. Many characters to get your head around. Chaloner will develop but will have to live up to the marvelous Mathew Bartholomew. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Wilkinson

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I was expecting !
I am a great fan of historic mysteries and the Bartholomew series is one of my favourites. I was hoping that this would be another series to enjoy with the same enthusiasm.... Read more
Published 7 months ago by P. Smith

1.0 out of 5 stars Restoration Turkey
I bought this book en route to Bodrum. Some 50 pages in a turkey appears to provide some necessary comic relief. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Classicist

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable but lightweight
The opening of this novel rather suggests something it is not. England has changed with the Restoration and those who were once in favour under Cromwell now have to conceal their... Read more
Published 17 months ago by wolf

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, and nicely written, but too many words
Set in a Restoration London, bursting with vibrancy and licentiousness after a decade of puritanical abstinence during the Commonwealth, Susanna Gregory's A Conspiracy of... Read more
Published on 30 April 2007 by Rivercassini

2.0 out of 5 stars Hmmmmm.......
The Matthew Bartholomew books are great, one of the best historical crime series going, so I was thrilled by the prospect of a new series set in Restoration London and couldn't... Read more
Published on 10 April 2007 by C. Knowles

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