Seething Lane

Synopsis

January 1670. London is enduring its worst winter in decades. But for Samuel Pepys, the darkest days are yet to come. Reimagining one of Britain's greatest historical figures through a 21st century lens, Seething Lane sees the return of infamous diarist Samuel Pepys, complete with his trademark audacious wit, keen eye for observation and gripping historical adventure. When a strange young man turns up at his office on Seething Lane asking for help, Samuel Pepys is too distracted to take him seriously. Nell Gwyn is about to make her scandalous return to the stage and he wouldn't miss it for all the world. But in the cold of a winter's dawn, tragedy strikes. Called upon to investigate the brutal murder of a libertine aristocrat, Pepys discovers that the dead man is connected to his mysterious visitor in the most shocking way possible. A trail of secrets leads Pepys from the backstreets of London to the glamorous world of the theatre, where nothing is quite as it seems. But whatever the dangers, he may find that the deadliest threat lies closer to home… Praise for Jack Jewers "Book of the month... A zestful imagining of the lost late memoirs of one of Britain's great historical chronicles." – THE INDEPENDENT "One of the best historical fiction novels of the year." – THE SUNDAY TIMES "Impressive." – THE TIMES "Jewers excels in both his assiduous research and the characterisation of his hero... this is a splendid adventure with the promise of more to come." – THE FINANCIAL TIMES "Hard to imagine Samuel Pepys being any more interesting than he already was, but Jack Jewers has done it for him, imaginatively, brilliantly, convincingly, in the now plural (praise be!) Samuel Pepys Mysteries." – REV. RICHARD COLES "Jewers' reimagining of Pepys as sleuth in the heady days of the Restoration is a blinder - what's not to like? Palace intrigue, the roar of the greasepaint and our Samuel's eye for detail. A wonderful combo artfully reimagined." – JASPER FFORDE "A page-turning crime thriller. Jewers, like the best historical novelists, has done his research. He recreates the world of 1669 in a vivid, realistic and natural way… his characters are as relevant today as they were 350 years ago." – THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT "There is a palpable sense of dynamism to the rapidly changing city of 1670, yet the danger and deceit remains lurking menacingly in the shadows. It is a joy - compelling, exciting, moving and like all the best murder-mysteries, with enough twists and turns to keep the reading guessing to the very end." – JAMES HOLLAND "Outstanding. Wonderfully researched and rich in period detail, Seething Lane is absorbing and moving, as both a crime novel and as a portrait of the times." – PHILIP GWYNNE JONES "A thrilling and atmospheric historical adventure which brilliantly reimagines infamous diarist Samuel Pepys and conjures up the world of London theatre in 1670. Reminded me in the best way of Antonia Hodgson's Devil in the Marshalsea. Hugely entertaining." – ANNA MAZZOLA "Jack Jewers has no scruples. He revels in such phrases as 'bull's pizzle' and delves into as many décolletés as are to hand... His rip-roaring yarn is also a bodice-ripper. There is something for everyone." – THE IRISH EXAMINER "Swashbuckling action-packed drama." – WOMAN AND HOME "The genius of Samuel Pepys brilliantly channelled by the genius of Jack Jewers in an exciting, heartfelt 17th century adventure." – GREG MOSSE