The Butcher's Block by Lucienne Boyce

Shortlisted for Book of the Month

Amazon UK £3.99

Amazon US $5.17

Amazon CA n/a

Crime 

1790s

England

Dan Foster Mystery Series #2

Murder most foul, treason and spies are the main ingredients of this, the third in Lucienne Boyce's series featuring Bow Street Runner, Dan Foster.

The grisly murder of a colleague leads Foster into the murky world of The Resurrection Men – grave robbers – secret societies, respectable businessmen not being quite so respectable, street urchins and much, much more.

I liked Dan Foster. He is a dedicated and dogged Runner, but he is flawed; his marriage is not a happy one. He knows some 'dodgy' characters and, because of his own past, is what we would call today 'streetwise.' He also is willing to exercise the spirit of the law rather than the letter.

Ms Boyce makes her characters three dimensional, even those who will have appeared in previous volumes, the plot is tight and there are no loose ends left at the end. Although part of a series, the novel can easily be read as a stand-alone. It will appeal to those who love this period when 'policing' was done mostly on observation and contacts. It is also a mild social comment about 'fat magistrates' and young children who face the rope for stealing in order to stay alive.

I cannot recommend this highly enough, a superb read.

© Richard Tearle

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