Robin Blake

A family is slaughtered seemingly by their father/husband and Coroner Cragg is called out to Warrington to investigate. His friend Dr Fidelis is staying with wealthy friends nearby when a body is discovered preserved in peat below the hothouse. In 1740s Lancashire everyone is afraid of the French and several local religious sects are thriving. Will Cragg and Fidelis manage to find the links between the two cases?
I have not read Blake's work before and this meant that I was playing catch-up in terms of understanding characters and relationships as there is little back-story given. However I loved the setting, mid-18th Century Lancashire in a time just as the Industrial Revolution is starting. There is a great section about a canal and the novelty of a journey upon it. As far as the plot goes, it is a fairly standard historical mystery with the added interest around rival religious sects.… (mere)

Murder most foul!

A family murdered on their farm, a young witness without speech, a strange religious group that approaches the tenets of scripture from a very different perspective—all this is the background for a gruesome crime in Warrington, Cheshire, 1747.
As the County Coroner, Titus Cragg is called by the local magistrate, John Blackburne, to investigate the deaths
As fate would have it Dr. Luke Fidelis is staying as a guest at Blackburne’s manor with two French gentleman, one of whom Fidelis had studied with.
Serendipitously, or by chance, a reasonably preserved body is discovered, buried beneath a drainage area in the hothouse of the Hall.
Now two seperate incidents of murder will exercise Titius’ investigative powers.
His wife Elizabeth joins him for a few days, and as always proves to be helpful in bringing Titus’ thoughts to fruition.
I had a glimpse, a fleeting idea of who the culprit might be early on, but nothing concrete. Really it was troubling.
Another fascinating late medieval mystery that delves into these times and showcases some of the cultural and social aspects, the happenings, of that era. The religious offshoots of the murdered family are fascinating.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley… (mere)

1745. The Young Pretender's army is on its way southwards, towards Preston when two decapitated bodies are found. Coroner Titus Cragg and Dr Luke Fidelis investigate, is there a connection between the bodies and the approaching army.
The story really didn't catch my interest, this might be because I have not read the previous five books which may be why I didn't find the characters were interesting enough. It was presumed that we would know their individual histories. For me there was not enough of a mystery in the story.
A NetGalley Book… (mere)

1746 Coroner Titus Craft is once again sent to Chimneystacks Farm to investigate a death, this time taking with him his friend Dr. Luke Fidelis. The investigation exposes a Tontine Fund of which the victim was a member. So who will be next. Is this the motive, and who is the guilty party.
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery, with some likeable characters. The book can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.… (mere)