Published by Constable,
16 November 2023.
ISBN: 978-1-47213508-7 (HB)
It was with great delight that I received a copy of Len Tyler’s latest book in the historical series featuring John Grey, lawyer, and former spy for Lord Arlington. Now Sir John Grey, is a magistrate. His journey has been challenging, but he is however now settled and married to Aminta, a childhood friend, who is a renowned playwright.
Set in 1671, we meet the Umfravilles living in Barbados. Hubert Umfraville despite paying his slaves nothing has managed by his own incompetence to incur huge debts. And so, Hubert had decided to return to England. Let me rephrase that: they are doing a midnight flit leaving behind several unhappy, disgruntled, and lighter in the wallet locals.
Arriving in Essex, Drusilla, the adopted daughter of Hubert finds life in England less than clement. She misses the rich green of Barbados, although her sister Mary seems pleased with the current situation. Their father has promised that soon the time will come when he has recovered Brandon Hall. The house he was cheated out of. Or was he?
Meanwhile, they will reside at New House owned by Sir Felix Clifford, who lives at the Manor House with his daughter and son-in-law Sir John and Lady Grey.
When Hubert Umfraville’s body is found in the orchard of the house he has just rented, there is no shortage of suspects. He had accused Mr Jenks, the carter who had transported their goods, of theft, and the result has been physical on both sides. Also under suspicion are the Grice brothers Natham and Jacob. And so, the list grows. Disturbingly, a member of his own family puts John Grey under extreme stress to seek out the killer.
Within a mere eleven years Charles 1 was executed, a republic was formed by Oliver Crowell, and then King Charles 11 is on the throne, which illustrates the mid 1660’s as a difficult time for all. John Grey remains a
republican to his core, but occasionally he has risked his life for Charles 11. As a result, he has a family and a pleasant house. There are others who have been more rigid in their allegiance, and their heads are now exhibited on spikes on London Bridge.
Then a second body is discovered. Oh! did I not mention that the body of Hubert Umfraville has now disappeared? Also, a family member who has been missing for 20 years reappears, but all is not total rejoicing. In fact, matters get even more difficult. And John finds himself under huge pressure.
I love this series. The characters leap off the page at you, and the dialogue is witty and marvellous. There were so may passages I wanted to include in my review for their sheer brilliance, but I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, read it for yourself. Not to be missed. Most highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett
L. C. Tyler was born in Southend, Essex, and educated at Southend High School for Boys, Jesus College Oxford and City University London. After university he joined the Civil Service and worked at the Department of the Environment in London and Hong Kong. He then moved to the British Council, where his postings included Malaysia, Thailand, Sudan and Denmark. Since returning to the UK he has lived in Sussex and London and was Chief Executive of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for eleven years. He is now a full-time writer. His first novel, The Herring Seller's Apprentice, was published by Macmillan in 2007, followed by 8 further books in the series featuring Ethelred Tressider and his agent Elsie Thirkettle. The first book in a new historical series, A Cruel Necessity, was published by Constable and Robinson in November 2014. Since then, he has published eight further books in this series..
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