En el Londres del siglo XVIII, el legendario juez ciego John Fielding y su joven ayudante Jeremy Proctor se enfrentan a su caso más escalofriante: una serie de crímenes pavorosos cuyas víctimas son todas prostitutas desata el pánico en Covent Garden. Ciertas sospechas inquietantes sobre el asesino obligan a sir John a urdir un temerario plan de consecuencias imprevisibles… Con la maestría de que ha dado muestra en los anteriores títulos de la serie, todos publicados por Plaza y Janés.

A well-written mystery set in 1770 featuring Sir John Fielding a real-life magistrate who founded the Bow Street Runners, an early police force. Known as "the blind beak" he used his hearing to identify individuals, even in crowds. In this tale, he places his hand on the shoulder of his young assistant, Jeremy Proctor, to be guided through the streets. Both the story and writing style portrays the atmosphere of the time. Oliver Goldsmith plays a cameo role. Very enjoyable. ( )

I've been reading very slowly and sporadically of late because of a non-book project I've been spending time at, so it took me a while to get through this book. It's the fourth in Alexander's series about Sir John Fielding, who began the Bow Street Runners, the forerunners of the British bobby. The tales are told by Jeremy Proctor, a young orphan who's taken under Sir John's wing. In this book they deal with a series of murders of prostitutes a la Jack the Ripper, but of course with even fewer resources for investigation than in Victorian times. Occasional appearances by well-known literary figures are a feature of the series, and in this one it's Oliver Goldsmith. A fine example of the series; I'm not sure whether it was really a little slow-moving or whether it was just me! ( )

En el Londres del siglo XVIII, el legendario juez ciego John Fielding y su joven ayudante Jeremy Proctor se enfrentan a su caso más escalofriante: una serie de crímenes pavorosos cuyas víctimas son todas prostitutas desata el pánico en Covent Garden. Ciertas sospechas inquietantes sobre el asesino obligan a sir John a urdir un temerario plan de consecuencias imprevisibles...Con la maestría de que ha dado muestra en los anteriores títulos de la serie, todos publicados por Plaza ( )

One of the better historical detective character series. Alexander not only has done extensive research he has mastered a kind of prose style that only enhances the period flavor. There is none of the intrusive wise acre dialogue that I feel so often mars this subgenre. Although there is the use of a copycat killer motif in the book (something extremely contemporary in crime) there is no anachronistic modern pop psychology to explain the behavior of killers – ideologies that would never dawn upon people living in the 18th century. I have to admit that this has an amazingly similar idea to a movie called Murder by Decree about the Ripper slayings in Victorian era London and therefore I was not at all surprised by the "twist" at the end when one of the bloodthirsty murderers is captured. Alexander's characters make the book well worth reading for fans of historical mysteries who enjoy true period flavor extending to the writing itself. I intend to seek out the other titles in this brief series. Sadly, Alexander died in 2003 and his final book was completed by another writer and posthumously published in 2005. ( )