6th May 1812 and Detective Stephen Lavender becomes intrigued when a severed foot is found, but the Runners are undermanned, and Lavender and Constable Woods must concentrate on a new criminal gang in the area, robberys, and surveillance.
A good mystery with likeable characters makes this a enjoyable and interesting read.
A NetGalley Book ( )

Karen Charlton takes a few skeins of history and turns it into an interesting Detective Lavender story. Shadowing an outrageous malcontent to prevent him from threatening a member of the aristocracy seems not a useful activity for Bow Street's best detective. Fortunately, a master criminal is on the loose; engaged in murder, illegal slave trafficking, highway robbery, and other sundry crimes. Which activities result in the Constable being shot and the Detective nearly being drowned in the Thames before they track him down. This series maintains your interest at a very high level supported by a lively cast and a fast-moving plot. ( )

This is the fourth in this wonderful series of murder mystery novels set in early 19th century England. Bow Street Runners Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods are a very likeable and believable pair, and their family members are striking and interesting characters in their own rights also. The plot of this one took perhaps longer to coalesce its various strands than the other novels, but it turned out to combine a number of elements relevant to the England of 1812: slave owners trying to evade the outlawing of the slave trade in the British Empire, which took place just five years beforehand; and the assassination of Spencer Perceval, the only Prime Minister in British history to have suffered that fate; plus also a more "ordinary" murder, a good measure of gang robbery, and civil unrest. It's a heady mix, but well handled and this is another great read. ( )

The fourth in the Detective Stephen Lavender mystery series. Murder, highway robbery, political intrigue and the slave trade combine to make a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable tale. A wonderful blend of historical fact and fiction, this story is well researched well and written. It kept me on my toes with plenty of twists and turns and hurtled along to an almost cliffhanger ending!

I’ve already read book one, The Heiress of Linn Hagh. I will be returning to read books two and three and I guess I will have to read book five to find out what happens next. I think this will prove to be an excellent series.

Reviewed for TBC on Facebook. ( )