Another excellent book in the Ashes of London series with Cat and Marwood continuing to solve crimes in 17th century England, being attracted to danger - and each other. Great sense of time which is sadly far too similar to now as far as women are concerned, great story and characters. Looking forward to the next one already.

I have read and enjoyed all the previous books in this series. Andrew Taylor evokes the period so well and the characters of Cat Hakesby and James Marwood seem very real now too. You know that a lot of research has gone into his books and it shows.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the advance copy of this book.

The is the latest in the Ashes of London series, and if you have not encountered it before, you are in for a treat.
I came upon this author and the Marwood-Lovett novels by a chance reading of a review in the Guardian - and what a terrific find they are. Taylor's ideas for the mysteries are excellent, always including fascinating historical insights, and all executed with the aplomb of a brilliant historian and writer. They are set in the era of Charles II after the Restoration, which provides an interesting political landscape. I know a little of this period, having studied it at school, and it is tempting to imagine that life in the 17th century is in some way modern though only a mere century or so after the Tudors - an age of enlightenment, scientific discovery, and elegance in both dress and manners. However Taylor really highlights many other less appealing aspects life with a need for constant wariness against casual assault and robbery, or offending the wrong person in a time of heavy dependence on patronage; add to that: primitive medical treatments, and a general level of poor hygiene, which, despite the huge rebuilding programme in London after the Great Fire, was not really addressed until two centuries later with the creation of the London sewer network.
This story involves a "simple" murder of "no-one in particular", but it affects Cat's business enterprises so negatively, and she is forced unwillingly to involve James to represent her interests in an attempt to resolve the matter. The many threads that his enquiry throws up lead to a political conspiracy involving the King himself - and needless to say, with Taylor, it has some basis in historical fact.
In addition to the story-lines, I am strong drawn to the depiction of protagonists with their, in one way loose, bonds of friendship and yet deep underlying connection and mutual dependence. So far, Taylor has managed to walk a difficult tightrope of maintaining that unspoken relationship without turning them into Tommy and Tuppence - but their relationship is shifting and developing with every book, so who knows what the next book will bring. (I, for one, can't wait!).
If you enjoy skillfully written historical mysteries you will love this series.

I am late to this series not realising there are several more Cat and Marwood adventures before we get to Shadows of London. However it does not spoil the enjoyment of this read as you get an idea of their relationship and the world they live in through this one without it feeling like the author is dragging up all the previous book plots into this one.

Set in the time of King Charles II just after the Great Fire of London Cat Hakesby finds a disfigured body on the site of a building plot and James Marwood starts his investigation into who the body is and who murdered the mysterious man. It could be one of two people and the intrigue takes them both to the court of Charles II, Lord Arlington and The infamous Duke of Buckingham.

Cat and Marwood find themselves in the centre of a murky world and I must say Marwood must have a very tough head after the amount of times he is set upon in this novel.

I really felt immersed in the period of the time and the historical facts and characters, many of whom were real to that time and other fictional characters that were really believable. It went along at a good pace ensuring I wanted to read on to the end to find out who did what and why.

I am greatly looking forward to starting from the beginning of the series now to get right up to date with Cat and Marwood. This one certainly wetted my appetite for more.

A really good read roll on more.

This is the third investigation by Marwood and Cat Set in London 1671. A man’s body is found in some ruins of an almshouse where Cat is working as an architect.As it becomes clear that the death is a murder,Marwood,who is a secretary to Lord Arlington,is asked to investigate.With a secondary plot which concerns the king and a young French woman and the thread that continues to be woven through about the burgeoning relationship between Cat and Marwood this is an excellent piece of historical escapism.I loved it.!

With thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins for this arc.

There are few book that can bring the reader such satisfaction and absorption from the first page to the last as the Fires of London trilogy. This book is the sixth in the series and this reviewer was bereft when it ended. James Marwood and Cat Hakesby continue to try to keep their positions (and their heads!) in Restoration London, with Charles II on the throne. They find themselves as always pawns in the middle of the hatred and battle for the King’s favour between Lords Arlington and Buckingham - a dangerous place to be as both men will stop at nothing to ensure their place at court and the riches such a place brings. The descriptions of Restoration London are vividly painted and each of the characters is real to the point of being visible. The story is riveting and the relationship between Marwood and Cat explored with sensitivity. In short, whether you are a lover of historical fiction or not, this is a wonderful book, and should be one for the prize lists this year.

For the first quarter of the Shadows of London I was adrift, not really enjoying all the people and gruesome events. It all seemed to chop and change. The thread, if it was there, was tangled but not in an enticing way like most thrillers. Then it improved, the stakes became clearer, the confusion dwindled, and a really exciting historical tale unfolded.

But there is one thing I finally worked out about this series: why I feel uncomfortable with the two main characters. It’s not to do with their peronalities or characters, or their motivation, which is usually excellent. It’s the writing of them. And in the kindle versions I’m reading, there is little to distinguish one paragraph from another. You can go from a paragraph involving ‘her’ meaning Cat Hakesby, straight into a paragraph involving ‘her’ meaning Louise de Keroualle, the young Frenchwoman not even awarded a name in the blurb. I lost count of the number of times I had to go back and reread a paragraph or three once I realised we had changed characters.

And then.. the same thing would happen when switching from events involving Cat to events involving Marwood, although after a couple of paragraphs, I realised that we were now in first person, whereas Cat is in third. In fact, I is always Marwood.

And that jarred me – is this the root of my whole problem with this series? I do not associate I with Marwood. In the book, I think of I as Cat. I am a woman. So the question comes, is Andrew Taylor actually writing for male readers?

So good story, eventually, but I have issues with the writing.

I'm grateful to the publisher who was kind enough to send me an early copy. I'm pleased to report that this new book in the series is as strong as ever, with a nimble and agile plot that weaves through the alleyways of London of yesterday.
Yet again I found myself being drawn into these familiar times and characters and frankly it was great to read about them once again. The characters remain interesting and well realised and everything about the time and setting feel as realistic as ever. The story is strong and intricate and whilst I won't give anything away, there contains some very interesting events that will enthrall readers of this series. Monumental changes in fact.
Yet another installment not to be missed from a very accomplished and entertaining author.

Immerse yourself in the murky world of Restoration London, where intrigue rules supreme, men such as Lord Arlington and the Duke of Buckingham use whatever resource they can acquire to keep themselves close to the King and the power he wields. The Shadows of London is the sixth in the Marwood and Lovett series and Andrew Taylor has managed to create a world which is totally believable using historical facts and characters who existed at the time. It is a fascinating period which can be overlooked in British history and fiction so it makes this series rather special for anyone who loves great historical crime fiction.

In this sixth outing Taylor places Marwood and Cat in the heart of Charles II's court, the King desires a young impoverished French woman and so those in power realise that by using this woman they may be able to achieve their desires, patriarchy at work.

This is a brilliant, absorbing series which entertains and informs and is highly successful with a growing readership.
Many thanks to HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this proof.

The Shadows of London is book 6 in the Marwood and Lovett series.

Architect, Cat Hakesby, and her partner have been redeveloping an ancient almshouse when a disfigured body is found on site. The body has clearly been murdered so all work comes to a halt.
The victim could be either of two missing persons, so Marwood, Lord Arlington's private secretary, is tasked with investigating.

This is an atmospheric murder mystery set in Restoration London. It's full of political intrigue with a great mix of fact and fiction.
I love these and hope there will be more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC

*A big thank-you to Andrew Taylor, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Another instalment with the Hakesley-Marwood duo, whom fate forces to co-operate in investigation concerning the death of an unrecognizable man found on the premises of Cat's current project. There's more to the story as Charles II has his eye on a young French lady who seems to be mysteriously connected with the Duke of Buckingham.
Mr Taylor drew on real historic figures, again, and managed to create historical fiction that will be appreciated by its fans. Personally, I never get tired of reading about the 17th century England, especially London and I am grateful for all the details which make the background of the series.

The continuing adventures of James Marwood and Cat Hakesby in this super tale of murder and intrigue around the court of King Charles II The discovery of a faceless corpse on a building site overseen by Cat begins the story and Marwood’s appointment to investigate is the heart of the tale. Featuring lots of real historical figures cleverly wound into the story this is a fascinating story with lots of atmospheric locations all adding to the plot. It even has a happy ending which begs the question will there be more?

I can’t believe this is number six in this excellent series set just after the great fire of London. It is so well written, going along at a pace with intrigue around the court of Charles 11. I could almost smell the grime pervading the city . It portrays the lives of ordinary people just one step away from destitution very well and how they were dependent on the good graces of the aristocracy.

This is the continuing story of James Marwood and Cat Hakesby whose lives are entwined by past events. It is now five years since they first met. Marwood had proposed marriage and been turned down and now is drawn to another woman but Cat finds herself surprisingly jealous of her. The theme of will Marwood and Cat ever get together continues as it has done throughout the previous books in the series. It plays out amid the events which unfold after the body of a faceless man is found hidden in rubble on the building site where Cat, an architect, is working.
Marwood is charged by his employer, Lord. Arlington, to find the murderer and this leads him into danger in the corrupt world of high society in the court of Charles II.
This is an excellent novel which moves at pace with changing locations, interesting characters and an intriguing plot.
Thank you to the publishers for the ARC.

This is such a good series and I enjoyed this story, the sixth, as much as the previous books. The one thing I didn't like was the way that the POV changed without warning from paragraph to paragraph. It didn't happen in the previous books and I would have preferred it not to have been the case in this one. Hence 4 stars and not 5. With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the DRC to read and review.

I just love these books about James Marwood and Cat Hakesby (nee Lovell), set in London just post Great Fire. Although there are bits featuring the upper classes and even royalty, there is also plenty about the lower orders and the seedier side of the capital. "The Shadows of London" is a murder mystery which starts when a body is discovered on a site where Cat is working as an architect. Of course she ends up having to ask Marwood for help and the mystery deepens before it is solved.

The writing and characters are great and there is so much detail that you can almost smell 17th century London. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Most enjoyable. I was absorbed in the tale from start to finish and really appreciated the author’s historical note at the end. Highly recommended.

The long awaited continuation of the Cat and Marwood saga. When a faceless body of s murdered man is found on the site of Cats most important project thr local Justice of the peace shuts the site down, if not quickly resolved the danger of bankruptcy looms due the costs already incurred. She having rejected his offer of marriage, reluctantly calls on Marwood for help. It soon comes clear that there is enmity between Cats rich client and the JP who wishes him ill so won’t budge. Appealing to higher authorities leads to a can of worms involving state secrets, French plots and the King, a dangerous situation that Marwood and Cat blunders into. How matters are resolved with Marwood barely escaping with his life, his life in ruins but winning Cat makes a happy ending.

This took me ages to get into, I’m not sure why, whether it’s just me or the book! Once I was about 40% in I developed more of an interest. I don’t think it’s the best in the series, although it has left me keen to find out what happens to our man & Cat in the next book as it’s clearly got a follow on in mind.

It’s interesting that the idea of the book came from modern day “me too”. Food for thought!!

Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I have read every book in this exciting series and The Shadows of London does not disappoint. The sights, smells, politics and intrigue of Restoration England are brought to vivid life. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.