Customer Reviews

Death at St James's Palace

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Deryn Lake is a pseudonym of a well know historical novelist. Among the books she has written are the popular John Rawlings Mysteries, Death on the Romney Marsh, Death in the Peerless Pool, Death at the Apothecaries' hall, Death at the Devil's Tavern and others. As all her titles are preceded by the word death, this is a pretty good indication regarding the contents of the books and very good historical murder mysteries they are. `Deryn Lake' live near Hastings, in East Sussex

For those who read Deryn Lake's excellent Georgian mysteries the character of John Rawlings is now an old and trusted friend and the author's clean writing style makes the pages fly by. The books are good, well researched historical murder mysteries, they are what they are and do not pretend to be anything else. Good escapism for the reader, away from the bumps and grinds of everyday life.

The newly married and soon to be a father, John Rawlings, Apothecary and sometime sleuth is delighted when his friend, John Fielding the famous magistrate, known to one and all as the Blind Beak invites him to be his companion to the investiture at St. James's Palace where Fielding is to be knighted. John knows it will give him a chance to show off his tailor`s latest efforts. One of John's few weaknesses is his love of good clothes. A trait no doubt picked up from his father.

Unfortunately the investiture is marred by the accidental, or so it seems, death of a nobleman, George Goward, who falls down the great staircase. Although the room was crowded, no one actually saw him start to fall as all eyes were awaiting the entrance of the queen. However John Fielding, although blind, his other senses are razor sharp and he believes that the fall was more than just an accident and as he has on occasions before, John Rawlings with the blessing of the Blind Beak sets out to try to solve the mystery of Goward's death.

I may be at a disadvantage in reviewing this since I haven't read any other books in this series, so bear this in mind!

Apothecary John Rawlings, based on a historical figure, after settling down with his new wife and having no murders to investigate for two years, is feeling his age. Happily, his friend John Fielding is about to be rewarded for his years of service by a Knighthood and Rawlings is pleased to be able to accompany him to St. James's Palace for the ceremony. When the newly knighted George Goward takes a fatal tumble down the palace stairway, Fielding suspects it was no accident and Rawlings is glad to investigate.

Luminaries from the period make brief appearances along with many fascinating characters--particularly Jack Morocco, the dashing black former-page who is treated like a son by a Duchess. Descriptions of the various entertainments and sites of London added to the interest. The mystery was complex with a number of likely suspects. While this was not one of the most engrossing, suspenseful or moving mysteries I've read, I thought it a worthwhile read.

Apothecary John Rawlings attends the St. James Palace knighting of his friend and collegue Sir John Fielding thinking that all will be pomp and circumstance. Instead, one of the new knights falls to his death from the stairs. A terrible accident? Rawlings suspects that someone might have given the knight a push. Together with Fielding, Rawlings sets off through the upper crust of Georgian England society to find the truth. There is no lack of suspects. George Goward might have been knighted for his charity, but he left enemies everywhere. No one who knew him much regrets his death. Yet, Rawlings knows his job and the veniality of the victim doesn't impact that.

Author Deryn Lake has obviously researched the Georgian period and blends plenty of fun historical tidbits into her story. The gardens, champagne breakfasts, and love affairs of the period all ring true. Lake uses a wealth of historical characters to add authenticity and that spark of recognition to her story, starting with Fielding himself, the founder of the Bow Street Runners (beloved in regency romance) and of modern policing.

An interesting historical period and a clever crime are important ingredients in a mystery. Rawlings, himself, however, is less than sympathetic as a character. He is barely tolerant of his newly pregnant wife, condescending to her wish to mingle with society, ignoring her for days at a time while he runs about his detecting, and openly lusting over other women. Lake also brings in a bit too much coincidence--distracting the reader from the story.

It's been two years since apothecary John Rawlings was last involved in murder or criminal investigation ("Death in the West Wind"), and while he has settled down happily into married life and making his business prosper, he cannot deny that he really misses the thrill he had when he was helping John Fielding (the blind magistrate of Bow Street) and his runners investigate a crime. So that when an opportunity to become involved in another perplexing case offers itself, John enthusiastically throws himself whole-heartedly into the happy work of tracking down witnesses and checking alibis on John Fielding's behalf.

In "Death at St. James's Place," John Fielding is about to be knighted for all his hard work. For the investiture at the palace, Fielding is allowed to bring along three guests. And because his wife is indisposed, Fielding asks John Rawlings, as a close friend who has helped him solve a great many crimes, to take her place at his side. John is moved and excited -- to be invited to step inside St. James's, to see the young king and to stand by his good friend's side as he receives this honour... But the day becomes memorable in an unexpected way when after the investiture, another recipient, George Goward, falls down the palace's great staircase to his death. Everyone thinks that Goward lost his balance and fell, but the newly knighted Sir John Fielding believes otherwise. And he asks Rawlings to help him investigate Goward's death. Rawlings' investigations will lead him to discover certain unpleasant truths about the dead man and his widow, and surprisingly to Brompton Park School which seems to breed bullies and hooligans, and finally to the unappealing and shocking habit that British aristocrats have for farming out unwanted babies and children...

Deryn Lake's John Rawlings mystery series is one of my favourites, and is always an auto-buy for me. And perhaps it is because it is a favourite, that I'm able to overlook those things that irritated the previous reviewer so much. One thing to keep in mind when reading the later John Rawlings installments is that Rawlings greatest love was the flamboyant and beautiful actress Coralie Clive, who chose her profession over a life of domesticity with Rawlings. And while Rawlings truly does love his young wife, Emilia, pretty and intelligent Emilia is quite the antithesis of the vibrant, full bodied and flamboyant women Rawlings is naturally attracted to. Another thing to remember is that Emilia fully understands and accepts her husband's fascination with solving murders, and supports him completely in endeavour to assist Sir John Fielding.

However, even though one can always be assured of a good and entertaining read with any one of the books in this excellent series, I have to own that John Rawlings was not in top form in this particular installment. Perhaps it was because it had been a while since he was involved in any investigation, or perhaps it was because he was experiencing a fear that he was becoming sober and staid with his new middle-class life and approaching fatherhood, but whatever the reason, certain obvious facts about the case completely escape Rawlings' notice, and he jumps to certain conclusions that beggar belief. On the other hand, this was a truly excellent story. The plotting was flawless and the suspense, wonderfully sustained. As usual, the period details was sumptuous and brilliantly detailed. So that all in all, in spite of the few reservations I had about Rawlings' obtuseness, "Death at St. James's Place" was still an engrossing and riveting read.