Death and the Jubilee: A Novel (Lord Francis Powerscourt Murder Mysteries) [Hardcover]

David Dickinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2002 | Series: Lord Francis Powerscourt Murder Mysteries

The second Lord Francis Powerscourt murder mystery opens in the England of 1897. The immensely important Diamond Jubilee, the celebration to mark Victoria’s sixtieth year as Queen and Empress, has attracted 50,000 of her troops from across her dominions and a million Britons to watch her ride in state from Buckingham Palace to St Paul’s Cathedral. Then a body arrives floating in the Thames by London Bridge. Having assisted the crown before in Goodnight Sweet Prince, Lord Francis Powerscourt, a private investigator trusted by the court, is called in. His researches lead him to a mysterious mansion in Oxfordshire, where a second corpse is found, burnt to death. As his investigation into these deaths by water and fire takes him from the trading houses of the City of London to the gloomy Wicklow Mountains of his native Ireland, Powerscourt realizes that more is at stake than solving two murders—upon his success or failure lies the success of the Imperial Jubilee.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Less a whodunit like its predecessor, Goodnight Sweet Prince (2002), than a tale of intrigue and action, Dickinson's second Lord Francis Powerscourt mystery centers on efforts to disrupt Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897 through terrorism and economic warfare. The book's success owes much to Powerscourt, a quick-witted and empathetic detective, whose professional talents are balanced by his deep love for and delight in his wife and children. Since few suspects and motives emerge in the course of several murders, most of the later suspense stems from the frantic attempts of our hero and his cohorts to thwart the various plots to undermine the British Empire. Fans of Anne Perry and Robin Paige are sure to enjoy this installment in a promising series.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"'A cracking yarn, beguilingly real from start to finish... you have to pinch yourself to remind you that it is fiction - or is it?' Peter Snow * 'This is detective fiction in the grand style; the characters and the plot soar upwards and carry us in their wake. Powerscourt's debut in this intoxicating book is the start of a gilded life in the archives of crime.' - James Naughtie * 'In this excellent novel, Dickinson weaves a tale of blackmail and murder among the royals late in Victoria's reign... One hopes to see more of Lord Powerscourt and his friends in the near future.'- Publishers Weekly" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf; First Edition edition (December 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786711108
• ISBN-13: 978-0786711109
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical mystery/suspense, July 21, 2003

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Death and the Jubilee: A Novel (Lord Francis Powerscourt Murder Mysteries) (Hardcover)

When an aging German banker is found, his body decapitated, hands severed, Lord Francis Powerscourt is called into action. Powerhouse has developed a reputation as an investigator but this case is bigger than anything he has tackled. A vast conspiracy to destroy the British Empire threatens England's place in the world. Germans and Irish republicans combine to threaten Queen Victoria--and the institutions that British power rests upon. Before his investigation is complete, Powerscourt will be shot at several times, develop interest in early arson research, and put his own wife at risk.

Author David Dickinson draws a convincing picture of Britain at the end of the 19th century. Victoria nears the end of her long reign and the entire Empire prepares to celebrate her jubilee. Yet already, Germany (still allied with Britain at this time) sees its place as the dominant nation of the world and views Britain as its primary threat.

Powerscourt makes a sympathetic protagonist. He is clever enough to make a difference, willing to throw himself into the investigation, and very much in love with his wife and family. Scenes where Powerscourt plays cricket or visits his tutor add depth to this interesting character. His curiosity about arson plays into the story and also shows the type of talent that makes Powerscourt an effective investigator.

Dickinson introduces enough subplots to keep up reader interest. Even minor characters such as Dominick Knox of the Irish Office tantilize the reader interest. Unlike GOOD NIGHT SWEET PRINCE, the earlier novel in this series, DEATH AND THE JUBILEE is conservative rather than questioning of authority. Both novels are definitely worth the read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful historical mystery, February 4, 2009

By 

L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Death & the Jubilee (Hardcover)

First Sentence: One nondescript room at the top of the War Office in London had become the nerve center of the British Empire.

London is excited about the upcoming Diamond celebrating the 60th year of Queen Victoria's reign, but there are also great concerns about security.

A corpse, without head or hands, is found floating in the Thames. Because the body appears to be a wealthy, older gentleman, Lord Francis Powerscourt is brought in to work with the security forces to identify the corpse and determine whether there is a greater threat.

The investigation leads Powerscourt back to his native Ireland, into the world of international banking and facing a personal threat.

I was afraid, at first, that this book might be a bit dry for my taste. It definitely was not.

There are great characters. Powerscourt is an ex-soldier, who is wealthy, urbane, literate, polite, and confident of his position in life. He loves his wife, Lady Lucy, and family, is capable of expressing emotion. Lady Lucy is no vapid Victoria female, but intelligent and holds her own. There is delightful interaction between Powerscourt, Lady Lucy and their children which adds humor and a softer note to the story. While they take the lead, the supporting characters, some of whom are recurring in the series, are well developed and integral to the story.

Dickinson's sense of place is strong enough that his description of a cricket match made me actually want to understand the game. The verbally paints with contract: "All around were the signs of England in the Spring...Then Powerscourt saw the sad remains of Blackwater House."

The story is very well plotted with escalating suspense. It begins with a seemingly straightforward murder but quickly become much more and goes places I didn't expect. There is no question that I shall read more books in this series.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great history novel, November 28, 2011

By 

Srdjan Pesic (Minneapolis, Mn United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Death and the Jubilee: A Novel (Lord Francis Powerscourt Murder Mysteries) (Hardcover)

David Dickinson is one of the best writers in the historical mystery genre. He belongs to the same ranks with C.J.Sansom and Edward Marston. Historical accuracy combined with great plotting and vivid characters makes him a standout among his peers." Death and a Jubilee" is more of a thriller than traditional mystery. Terrorist attacks planned during the celebrations of 60 years of the reign of Queen Victoria,are the real subject. Few murders are just a sideline. Beautifuly written witha quick pace. Another winner.