Watery Grave

Second in Alexander's Sir John Fielding series. In this book, young Jeremy Proctor helps Sir John investigate an accusation of shipboard murder, hindered by the Royal Navy. Justice is both done and not done in this excellent story. 18th century London is well portrayed. ( )

Captivating, exciting, heartbreaking. I highly recommend this installment in what is becoming one of my favorite series. ( )

Third in the series, first that I read. I was more than suitably impressed. The main character, Jeremy, is believable as is his mentor, a blind magistrate in 1769 London. What made it a good bedside read was the plot (plausible), the pace (didn't plod, but took enough time to immerse you in the setting), the characters (well done and pretty fully realized), and the setting (I adore novels set in historical London). ( )

Third in the Sir John Fielding, Bow Street Magistrate, series, set in 1769 London. Lady Fielding’s son returns from a 3-year sea voyage on the HMS Adventure. At the same time, Sir John is asked by an admiral and old friend to assist him in the court-martial trial of an officer on the Adventure who is accused of pushing the Captain overboard during a bad storm. Story told from the perspective of Jeremy, a 14-year-old who has been ‘adopted’ by Sir John and works as his assistant and messenger. I’m enjoying this series and this book was an excellent entry in it. ( )

When an an admiral is assigned to convene the court martial of a young lieutenant on the recently returned frigate, the Adventure, he calls on his old friend, Sir John Fielding, the blind magistrate of London's Bow Street court, for assistance. The admiral believes the lieutenant to be innocent of the murder for which he is charged. Sir John has no standing in a naval court, but his friend believes he can benefit from Sir John's investigative experience and gain some helpful advice for conducting his own inquiry into the crime allegedly committed on the Adventure. Sir John's questioning soon elicits evidence that should help the lieutenant's defense. Instead of being pleased, however, the admiral seems to do everything in his power to prevent the revelation of further evidence that could prove the lieutenant's innocence. What secrets does the Adventure hold that the admiral is trying to protect?

This book takes place several months after the end of the previous book in the series. Sir John's assistant, young Jeremy Proctor, is another year older and is growing in confidence in his role as sir John's assistant. Since he narrates the events from thirty years later, we know that he will eventually enter the legal profession. At fourteen he already shows promise for this career in his conversations with his elders. It is amusing to see him get the best of some of the naval officers by either answering questions with as few words as possible to avoid revealing information he thinks Sir John wouldn't want revealed, or by providing just enough of the truth to ensure that the hearer reaches the wrong conclusion.

This book is an illustration of moral dilemmas created by competing loyalties – friendship, duty, family, truth, and justice. There is no doubt that Sir John is on the side of justice, but where do his friend's loyalties lie? You'll have to read the book to find out! ( )