The Devil's Agent

London town in 1742 is a lawless place…

It would have to wait almost another century before a professional police force would make its streets safe.

So, there is plenty of work for ‘thief-taker’ Balthazar Bloodwine, a man out on private hire to help rid the capital of the criminals that are as rife as the pox.

But the boot is suddenly on the other foot for Bloodwine when is himself ‘apprehended’ one night by thugs in the service of one William Murray, the MP for Boroughbridge and Solicitor General.

Murray is convinced that James Inglethorpe, the MP for Barnstaple, is cheating the exchequer after being awarded a lucrative contract by government ministers to transport convicts to America.

Bloodwine is nothing if not determinedly ingenious and devises a clever plan to ingratiate himself with his victim in order to bring him to justice – only to suddenly find himself with two masters, bizarrely beholden to both.

That’s when it all starts to go horribly wrong …

How exactly is the devious Inglethorpe turning his position his own advantage?

To what sinister purpose is Lundy Island just offshore from Inglethorpe’s Devon constituency now being put?

And how can Bloodwine combat the power wielded there by the gorgon-like Rosa Crabtree with her ’heart sentimental as granite’?

The Devil’s Agent recreates a wonderful world of 18th century licentiousness, with larger-than-life characters.

Praise for Roger Hurn

'A gripping crime thriller set in the heart of modern London.' - Tom Kasey, author of Trade Off.

'An accomplished and entertaining slice of London noir.' - Robert Foster, author of The Lunar Code.

‘Captures the dark streets of the capital perfectly’ – Richard Foreman

Roger Hurn has been a primary school teacher, a deputy head teacher, a head teacher, a university lecturer and a teacher trainer. He is now a full-time writer and his first historical novel, A Dark Light, bridges both the Roman and Saxon worlds, blending action and adventure with historical accuracy. His work also includes the Ryan Kyd mystery series.