The Amorous Nightingale (Christopher Redmayne Mystery 2) [Paperback]

Edward Marston (Author)

Book Description

Series: Christopher Redmayne | Publication Date: September 17, 2010

Noted beauty and singer Harriet Gow has earned a position envied by every available women of the Restoration period: she is the King's favorite mistress. After seeing her perform, Christopher Redmayne is also captivated and the impression Harriet made is still lingering in his mind when he is summoned urgently by Charles II. Harriet has been kidnapped, and Redmayne, with the help of his friend Jonathan Bale - a Puritan constable - is engaged to resolve this delicate affair. The facade of elegance and gentility soon begins to crumble in the face of their investigations. Harriet is, indeed, an amorous nightingale; the fabric of her life entangled in jealousy, avarice and lust. Just as Redmayne and Bale start to question whether she is really the victim or the guilty party a brutal murder provides the answer...

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Probably the best of our British writers of historical crime stories' --Birmingham Post

About the Author

EDWARD MARSTON was born and brought up in South Wales. A full-time writer for over thirty years, he has worked in radio, film, television and the theatre. Prolific and highly successful, he is equally at home writing children's books or literary criticism, plays or biographies and the settings for his crime novels range from the world of professional golf to the compilation of the Domesday Survey. He is also a former Chairman of the Crime Writers Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Allison & Busby (September 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749008032
• ISBN-13: 978-0749008031
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,230,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Book in the Series, December 6, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Amorous Nightingale (Restoration Mysteries #2) (Paperback)

Edward Marston is the pseudonym of Keith Miles, a fairly prolific and extremely good writer of mainly Elizabethan and medieval mysteries. He has also written mysteries under his own name with both sporting and golf backgrounds. However it is primarily the books that take place earlier in history that I am interested in. He read modern history at Oxford and has had many jobs, including university lecturer, but fortunately for all his readers, he turned to the writing profession.

After reading one of the author's books, I avidly sought out all the other books by Edward Marston and not a single one has ever disappointed me. They are about a period of history that I love. His Elizabethan theatre series of books were wonderful and he has continued them through from 1988 to 2006. The Domesday series is also a great series and this series of books featuring Christopher Redmayne is equally as good.

Harriet Gow is an accomplished and well loved singer and a beauty of some renown. But more than that she has the eye of King Charles II and is his favourite mistress. After seeing her perform, the architect, Christopher Redmayne is also captivated, along with most of the men of Restoration London. Imagine Redmayne's surprise when he summoned to the palace by the king. Harriet has been kidnapped and Christopher with the help of his friend, Jonathan Bale, a Puritan constable is asked to do his best to solve this delicate mystery. Christopher soon finds that Harriet's life is entwined in avarice and jealousy. The two men begin to question whether Harriet Gow is the victim, or maybe the guilty party and then a brutal murder provides the answer . . .

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Slower Than the First In the Series...3 1/2 Stars..., May 20, 2011

By 

Mercedes L. Johnmeyer "The Most Happy" (Summerville, SC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Amorous Nightingale (Christopher Redmayne Mystery 2) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed the first book in the Restoration Series, The King's Evil. Unfortunately, this book moved a little slower than it's predecessor. It's not often that I read mystery novels, and the only reason I started reading this series is because it takes place in restoration London, a time period that I really like.

The lead characters, architect Christopher Redmayne and constable Jonathan Bale, are a very unlikely duo, yet very likable men. Harriett Gow, the King's 'Nightingale' mistress has been kidnapped, and he has requested Christopher and Jonathan to help locate her. He knows they will be discrete, thorough, and successful. Pleased with how the men handled their last case, he's decoded to use them for particularly delicate issues. Cases he doesn't want known to everyone in court.

While the story was a good one, and the mystery solid, I felt that some parts of the story were very slow going. I also like to try and guess who the perpetrator is while reading, but it's impossible to do that when his name isn't mentioned till your over halfway through with the book. I don't know, something about that just doesn't seem fair to me. I like to be shocked/surprised when I find out who the villain is. Not find out that it's someone I'm barely familiar with.

Overall it wasn't a terrible book, but between the two, I definitely liked the first one better. I'm not ready to throw in the towel on this series just yet though. I'm gonna give myself a little break to read some other books, then come back to this series in a month or two. Hopefully book number three doesn't disappoint.

4.0 out of 5 stars 2nd Restoration Mystery by Marston, July 20, 2006

By 

Bookivore "The Bookivore" (Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Amorous Nightingale (Restoration Mysteries #2) (Paperback)

From the back cover:

Acclaimed beauty and singer Harriet Gow has earned a position envied by every woman of the Restoration period: she is the King's favorite mistress. After seeing her perform, Christopher Redmayne is also capitvated and, with the impression Harriet made still lingering in his mind, he is summoned urgently by Charles II. Harriet has been kidnapped, and Redmayne, with the help of his friend Jonathan Bale -- a Puritan constable -- is engaged to resolve this delicate affair.

The facade of elegance and gentility soon begins to crumble in the face of their investigations. Harriet is, indeed, an amorous nightingale; the fabric of her life entangled in jealousy, avarice and lust. Just as Redmayne and Bale start to question whether she is really the victim or the guilty party a brutal murder provides the answer...