Robert Lee Hall

In the first of a series, celebrity sleuth Benjamin Franklin finds himself investigating the death of a friend who, years before, apprenticed alongside Ben in a London print shop. It's a very entertaining story, great characters, nice historical setting, and for crying out loud, Ben Franklin, 18th century private eye?

Benjamin Franklin becomes involved in murder in the art world. In the third of the Franklin mysteries set in mid-18th century London, the Philadelphia luminary is approached by a distraught lady. A diamond provided for a portrait disappears. She seeks help in recovering the diamond even as the artist puts her off. Murder, of course, follows. Another entertaining story in this series, enlisting Franklin as an amateur sleuth in London, when cops were simply local watchmen unequipped and often show more unwilling to investigate complicated crime and when Franklin was being stalled by the heirs of William Penn who were refusing to allow themselves, as proprietors of the colony Franklin represented, to be taxed. Lots of fun to be had as Franklin pursues his crime-fighting pastime. show less

In this second Benjamin Franklin murder mystery, the host of a holiday party attended by Franklin dies tragically. Franklin remains largely idled by his efforts to seek concessions from the Penns who own the colony. Since the Penns pretty much ignored everything Franklin did, this gives the author a great opportunity to have Ben solve mysteries. This one is steeped in excellent detail about life in mid-18th Century London with a wonderful choice for a celebrity sleuth. Good mystery on top of it.

An entertaining historical mystery involving upper class recreational thugs...called bloods...and amateur murder investigator Benjamin Franklin. An excellent plot, good use of history, lots of fun. The author has a great handle on his material. I was not disappointed.