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The Shadows of London
James Marwood & Cat Lovett (Book 6)
- Author
- Andrew Taylor
- Narrator
- Leighton Pugh
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 2 March 2023
- Run Time
- 12 hours 45 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Rating
- 5.0 (2 reviews)
What to expect
‘An absolute delight in a series that goes from strength to strength’ S. G. McLean, prize-winning author of the Seeker series
‘This is Taylor at his unassailable best’ Financial Times
London 1671
The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the capital.
The disfigured body of a man is unearthed in the ruins of the old almshouse, forcing architect Cat Hakesby to stop restoration work. It is clear he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate.
When the man’s identity is revealed, it’s clear that there are larger forces at play, and Marwood comes under serious pressure to solve the case. But an old adversary is attempting to stop him.
As Cat and Marwood follow the threads of corruption into the heart of government, the king himself is being distracted from affairs of state. A young, impoverished Frenchwoman has caught his eye – a quiet affair that will have monumental consequences.
Critics Review
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'Another brilliantly realised historical mystery' A Waterstones Best Books of 2023: Crime and Thriller
‘Andrew Taylor has brought the sights, smells and sounds of the Great Fire and its aftermath brilliantly to life’ Daily Express
‘With a mixture of real and fictional characters, this tale of intrigue and power imbalance is well up to standard in a series that has set a benchmark for historical mystery fiction.’ Guardian
‘With their complex characters, clever plots, political intrigue and vivid depictions of London just after the Great Fire of 1666, Andrew Taylor’s books about troubled civil servant James Marwood and prickly architect Cat Lovett are historical crime fiction at its finest.’ Irish Times’ 25 Great Holiday Books
‘Some of the most enjoyable historical thrillers of recent years have been Andrew Taylor’s novels set in Restoration England … Taylor weaves together all the varying threads of his plot with his customary skill, but fans of the series will be sorry to learn that this is the last hurrah for Cat and Marwood’ Sunday Times
‘Another sophisticated 17th-century mystery abounding in page-turning twists and period detail’ Waterstones
‘Taylor’s storytelling brio is on full display.’ The Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month
‘Sheer brilliance … Truly, this is breathtaking. The combination of emotional literacy, with beautiful language and an utterly immersive sense of time and place is perfect.’ Manda Scott
‘Andrew Taylor offers us a completely convincing portrait of life in the city and at court in Restoration London … An absolute delight in a series that goes from strength to strength’ S. G. McLean, prize-winning author of the Seeker series
‘This is Taylor at his unassailable best.’ Financial Times
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
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5.0 5.0
Fabulous
historical 2025-07-16 -
5.0 5.0
A super read and narrated so professionally it takes you right to each scene. Every character is totally believable. The several story lines hop in and out, yet keep the reader interested. It is ingenious how the author contrived to bring the various events to a satisfactory conclusion. A masterpiece in historical fiction not to be missed
Geoff Miles 2023-06-27
Details
- Author
- Andrew Taylor
- Narrator
- Leighton Pugh
- Duration
- 12 hours 45 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 March 2023
- ISBN
- 9780008494155
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Crime and / or mystery fiction, Historical fiction, Historical crime and mysteries
- Rating
- 5.0(2 reviews)
- Narration
- 5.0(2 reviews)
Synopsis
Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold! A Times Historical Crime Novel of the year ‘An absolute delight in a series that goes from strength to strength’ S. G. McLean, prize-winning author of the Seeker series ‘This is Taylor at his unassailable best’ Financial Times London 1671 The damage caused by the Great Fire still overshadows the capital. The disfigured body of a man is unearthed in the ruins of the old almshouse, forcing architect Cat Hakesby to stop restoration work. It is clear he has been murdered, and Whitehall secretary James Marwood is ordered to investigate. When the man’s identity is revealed, it’s clear that there are larger forces at play, and Marwood comes under serious pressure to solve the case. But an old adversary is attempting to stop him. As Cat and Marwood follow the threads of corruption into the heart of government, the king himself is being distracted from affairs of state. A young, impoverished Frenchwoman has caught his eye – a quiet affair that will have monumental consequences.
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