Private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, along with his partner Thomas Llewelyn, has a long, accomplished history—he's worked with all aspects of society, from the highest (including the Crown and the government) to the lowest (various forces in London's underworld). He's been the target of murder attempts, character assassination, bombings and attacks upon his closest associates but never has he and his agency partner Thomas Llewelyn faced such destruction and potential disaster.
The sudden collapse of a railway tunnel in the East End of London kills dozens and shuts down services all over the city. Meanwhile, a mysterious beggar calling herself “Dutch” guides Barker and Llewelyn to an attempt by a powerful aristocrat to take over London's criminal underworld. With a missing heiress and a riot at a women’s shelter acting as distractions designed to stop the duo from getting to the truth, Barker must relentlessly fight to reach the trust while Llewelyn wonders how a simple beggar woman can be the catalyst for such destruction.
I am currently reading this series out of order. Which is partly driving me crazy and partly showing how far the author has come. I distinctly remember earlier books having written that made me feel like it was disjointed. This novel was flowed smoothly like a slow easy river. I would really like to see Llewelyn given more respect as the novels improve. It's quite clear that this character has come a long way and yet there is still an obvious disrespect to his character that his partner, Barker, does not receive.
The reason I love historical novels is the “grain of truth” to them. For example, the way wives were treated by their husbands as property and had none of their own. How husbands could send the women to asylums and were allowed, BY THE LAW, to beat them and then drag them home when they fled for safety. These are things that must be addressed. The past should not be forgotten. When forgotten, they tend to be repeated DESPITE everyone saying that it could not.
Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
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