This latest book in the Marwood and Lovell (Hakesby) series kicks off with Cat running the architect’s business she took over from her late husband, and a project being halted because of the discovery of a dead body on site. The body is fresh, and the face has been mutilated. Murder.

What follows is a tale of Cat trying to get the project back up and running and save her business, which involves finding out who the man is and why his body is on her building site. Marwood is on hand to help, and their investigation takes them to lodging houses and government buildings in London, then latterly to Euston and Newmarket in Suffolk where King Charles II and Marwood’s boss Lord Arlington for entertaining.

As ever, some of the characters are based on real people (besides the obvious ones such as the King). Taylor gives an update at the back of the book into the woman who becomes a key part of the plot, Louise de Keroualle, and his research into her life. I particularly enjoy historical fiction when fictional characters are enmeshed within real events and with real people. Of course these are just imaginings but they flesh out people who lived hundreds of years ago.

Taylor whisks us through the lives of characters we’ve grown to know so well, and the sexual tension between Cat and Marwood continues, albeit with Marwood’s rather timid pursuit of a young and pretty suitor thrown into the mix.

I greatly enjoy Andrew Taylor’s writing and he has produced another splendid work of historical crime fiction.

This is an excellent series that never disappoints: a well researched and vivid historical background, well developed characters, a solid mystery full of twists.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I have loved all the previous books so obviously I started with a bias and wasn't disappointed. Cat and Marwood kept me engaged through the story with their antics and the ending finally left me in a good mood!

Another excellent installment in the Marwood and Kat saga. I wonder sometimes about how he keeps surviving these violent encounters, but Mrs Hakesby just gets better and the historical detail is brilliant.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Shadows of London’ by Andrew Taylor. I combined reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Leighton Pugh.

This is the sixth in Taylor’s highly successful series of political thrillers set in Restoration Britain. It’s been a couple of years since Book 5, ‘The Royal Secret’, and I welcomed the return of government clerk, James Marwood, and architect, Cat Hakesby (nee Lovett).

Taylor opens with a list of main characters, including their professions. I always appreciate when authors include this kind of information as it serves as a handy reminder for returning readers. While background is provided for new readers, it is such an excellent series that I am always keen to recommend it.

London 1671. Cat Hakesby is currently undertaking restoration work on an ancient almshouse damaged during the Great Fire. However, when a man’s brutally disfigured body is found in its ruins, work on the project is stopped. Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate the murder.

Unfortunately due to the condition of the body the victim cannot be identified. There are two possibilities in local men who have recently vanished: a French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner and an employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations, who may have been involved in shady activities.

Pressure mounts on Marwood as two of Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in his activities. Marwood begins to suspect that the murder investigation may lead right to the heart of government. Therefore, he has to walk a metaphorical tightrope.

Central to the plot is an impoverished young French noblewoman, who has caught the eye of the ageing king. Could she be linked to the murdered man?

As always after the main text, Andrew Taylor provides details about the historical figures and events that informed the novel. I was somewhat familiar with Louise de Keroualle from Anthony Capella’s ‘The Empress of Ice Cream’ and it was interesting to see her story told from a different perspective.

Overall, I found this an excellent work of historical fiction. I feel that aside from a riveting political thriller, Andrew Taylor effortlessly captures a sense of life in 17th Century London portraying characters from a variety of social classes. I look forward to whatever comes next for James and Cat.

Highly recommended.

As with all Andrew Taylor’s books I loved this one. James Marwood and Cat Hakesby are again caught up in a murder mystery in restoration England. Their relationship still keeps one hanging on - love, hate, love - that is part of their investigations. I’m hoping for more of either story. I recommend most highly.

When a disfigured corpse is found on a building site Cat Hakesby has to halt her work and calls in her friend Marwood to see if he can get works resumed. Marwood is drawn into the hunt for the killer as there are links to his nemesis the Duke of Buckingham and his henchman. Meanwhile the King is plotting the seduction of Louise, an impoverished French noblewoman, who is being groomed as a spy for France. Can the two be linked?
As ever, Taylor has produced a wonderful plot from scant historical records. His characters go from strength to strength, Cat trying to be independent in a time when this was no always possible, Marwood morally trying to steer a course in a corrupt Court. Here the tale is based on the story of Louise de Keroualle, mistress of the ageing Charles II, however it is far more sympathetic to her than most histories. As ever, genuine historical figures make cameo appearances, here it is John Evelyn, but it seems so plausible because of the quality of the writing. A triumph of historical fiction.

It's 1671, the Great Fire of London was only five years ago and much of London is still rubble. Mistress Cat Hakesby and her business partner Brennan have a lucrative commission to build a row of almshouses for a local businessman, Robert Hadgraft. But work is halted when a disfigured naked corpse is found amongst the rubble, and the local magistrate Mr Willoughby Rush insists the area must remain untouched until the Bishop whose aegis the land falls under has sent his own man to investigate the murder. Haemorrhaging money paying labourers and suppliers without getting any money back from their client, Cat turns reluctantly to James Marwood, clerk to Lord Arlington the current Secretary of State, to help in resolving the red tape and save her from being bankrupted.

As always, what seems to be a single incident spirals and Cat and Marwood are drawn into royal politics, treading a fine line between angering either Lord Arlington or his sworn enemy the Duke of Buckingham.

Yet another triumphant novel, exposing the corruption and power politics in the court of Charles II where lives are ruined at the whim of the aristocrats as they jostle to gain favour. Both Cat and Marwood are subject to the caprices of wealthy men pushing and pulling them in different directions. What I like about Andrew Taylor's novels is although the investigation process may be convoluted I often suspected the person from the start so the unveiling of the murderer's identity has a sense of rightness to it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Superb. Highly recommended. Yet another top historical novel in the Marwood/Hakesby series by Andrew Taylor. Attention to detail and known circumstances help to make this so good.
My thanks to NetGalley and in particular the publishers HarperCollins for this copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Rating 2.5 stars

When a man’s brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins of an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious that he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate.

The victim could be one of two local men who have vanished – the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouse’s owner; the second, an employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations who upon inquiries has been selling secrets.

The pressure on Marwood mounts as Charles II’s most influential courtiers, Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham, show an interest in the investigation and Marwood soon begins to suspect the murder trail may lead right to the heart of government.

Whilst this is set during Charles II's reign, the atmosphere of the book generally doesn't feel like that - it almost feels like London anytime up to the Victorian era, there is nothing to really make it stand apart. There's the odd thing thrown in such as the Great Fire of London or mentioning Christopher Wren, but I'd like more atmosphere. Maybe even mentioning Charles II instead of 'the king' would help with setting the time.

Some of the novel is told from Cat's point of view and then it switches to Marwood. However, there isn't much of a gap, so at times I got confused as to who was narrating. Not all of it is set in London, with the story moving up to Euston (not the London one based on the distance) and the Newmarket area.

The parts with a new mistress for Charles II didn't really add much to the plot even though it's linked to the missing men.

The story doesn't half-waffle on at times and made it much longer than it needed to be. Overall, I was disappointed with the novel. Even though it's part of a series, this can be read as a stand-alone novel.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

It starts with the discovery of a badly disfigured body found in a restoration building plot and ends with Aristocratic connivance all the way up to the Royal Court and a French Mademoiselle fancied by the King. It’s some journey as the “influencers” of the day battle each other for the upper hand and as ever Marwood is caught in the middle as he tries to unpick the facts and motive. Both body and ego are bruised in his quest for the truth and the labyrinth he has to negotiate to get there. A wide variety of characters, richly described of the period, all have a tale to tell but not all will live to tell it. Perhaps the greatest prize of all for Marwood still remains within his reach? A good continuation of a very readable series.

I have read the previous books in this series and enjoyed them all. This was no exception, I find it interesting to read the author’s take on the social interactions of the period and I always feel sorry for the main character who is often seriously injured!
This is a similar story referencing the previous stories and the history of the period.
I was pleased to see that there is a conclusion to an ongoing theme. (without spoiling the story)
I found it engaging and interesting. I was keen to pick it up each time and felt satisfied with the ending.
Recommended

Another great instalment in the Marwood and Lovett series. The Great Fire of London has cast a long shadow. In the act of rebuilding, a body is discovered in the ruins of an almshouse, leading Marwood and Cat to investigate. This is the perfect blend of historical fact and fiction with an engaging plot and great character development. Best of all, while reading in order is probably preferable, each episode is a self-contained story which can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Another wonderful outing for Kat and Marlow. These books go from strength to strength and I love how each character evolves through each book. The fact that real historical characters are so well intermingled with fictional characters is a major strength of the author as the books are written so well that you could not distinguish between fact and fiction.
I am so looking forward to the next in the series,

I didn't realise when I started this that I had read the first two books but not later one's so I felt a little confused/ a bit of deja vue as I hadn't realised Cat Lovett had married However it didn't take me long to become immersed in the interweaving between fact and fiction which brings to live the life and times of the era. The characters are well developed and I really liked and enjoyed them now I need to fill in the bits I've missed in the middle. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The sixth book in the Ashes of London series, and the story continues to delight and engross this reader. Within a few paragraphs, we become reacquainted with Cat Hakesby, a female architect, James Marwood, a confidential clerk at Whitehall, who works for Lord Arlington, Lord Buckingham and his murderous gang of thugs, who are once again causing problems for Marwood, and many others.
Cat and her business partner, Brennan, are restoring some almshouses, for a Robert Hadgraft, when the badly disfigured body of a man is found on the building site. All work ceases, due to the fact the land is owned by the church and an inquest can only be held once the body has been identified.
There are two missing men who fit the description, Iredale, who works for the Council for Foreign Plantations, and has access to confidential documents, and the other is a missing French tutor, Pharamond, who has an eye for the females. Marwood is tasked with finding out the identity of the deceased, why he was murdered, and are there any connections to A State Secret, which involves a young French woman, Louise de Keroualle, who is being steered towards the Merry Monarch’s bed.
A marvellous romp through Restoration England, full of recognisable characters and historical events. There are secret panels and purses full of Gold, French plots and a frightened young woman, the Golden Triangle of Slavery and other enterprises, all set in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London. There is also the promise of a further happy event for the next book, and I am so excited!! This story continues to amuse, educate and please in equal measures.

This was a very engaging read. I liked the characters of Mistress Cat Hakesby and James Marwood, very much. Cat had the unusual job of an architect and was quite forceful and determined. Marwood worked for a Lord Arlington in Whitehall. This was a complex murder case to solve but it also had added elements of courtly intrigue with the king and his mistress. It told how women were used as pawns by people wanting powerful connections and how women in business were not always taken seriously. There was also a ‘will they, won’t they’ romance between Cat and James, that the reader wasn’t sure how it would pan out. I hadn’t read any of the previous books in this series but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Historical escapism at its best. Set in 17th century London, this is the sixth in the series featuring James Marwood and Cat Hakesby (nee Lovett). Charles II is on the throne and rival lords Buckingham and Arlington vie for the King's attention. A young French girl, Louise de Keroualle, is brought to London to be the King's mistress and the French King's spy. Cat and Marwood become involved in the rivalry between the two great lords. I always enjoy books inhabited by real people, not only major players but others such as Louise herself and John Evelyn, the famous gardener, writer and diarist. I did find it confusing at first because the chapters are mostly narrated alternately by Cat and Marwood. Rather gory at times but a satisfying read.

A faceless man is discovered dead - murdered - on property where Cat has designed and is building almshouses and family dwellings. This halts work which could spell financial disaster for her and her business partner. Marwood gets involved in attempting to help by solving the murder for her and the whole affair becomes entangled with affairs of state, the arrival of a potential new French mistress for King Charles II and encounters with an old enemy.

It is a gripping read and great fun - it could work as a standalone but is especially good for long time fans of Cat and Marwood.

Marwood and Lovett #6

London 1671. The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the capital. When a man's brutally disfigured body is discovered in the ruins of an ancient almshouse, architect Cat Hakesby is ordered to stop restoration work. It is obvious he's been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate. It's possible the victim could be one of two local men who have vanished - the first, a feckless French tutor connected to the almshouses owner, the second, a possibly treacherous employee of the Council of Foreign Plantations.

Set five years after the Great Fire in London, this is a good murder mystery. This is the first book that I've read by the author and the sixth book in the series. The story is descriptively written. The characters are well rounded, and I felt as if I really knew them. The pace is fast. The story mixes fact with fiction perfectly. This book reads well as a standalone.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #AndrewTaylor for my ARC of #TheShadowsOfLondon in exchange for an honest review.