Rules of Engagement [Hardcover]

Bruce Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2005

A final gift from Bruce Alexander: a new book in his acclaimed mystery series about eighteenth-century blind London judge Sir John Fielding.

Beloved by legions of fans and a staple of best-of-year book lists, the Fielding mysteries thrill readers with a pitch-perfect fusion of vivid characterizations, evocative atmosphere, and riveting plotlines. And now, for all those fans, here is one more.

In Rules of Engagement, Sir John and Jeremy are confronted with a series of bizarre deaths on the streets of Georgian London in a mystery that tests even Sir John's legendary skills of deduction. When Lord Lammermoor, a close personal friend of the Lord Chief Justice's, plunges to his death from the heights of Westminster Bridge in front of a dozen witnesses, suicide is ruled as the most likely cause of death. But Lammermoor's fatal leap coincides with the arrival of Dr. Goldsworthy, a student of the famous Dr. Anton Mesmer and his studies in animal magnetism. Sir John's suspicions are piqued when it is discovered that Goldsworthy's patron in London is none other than the beautiful and austere Lady Lammermoor. Meanwhile, Jeremy's sleuthing uncovers a web of intrigue within the ranks of the Lammermoor family, and the deeper he investigates, the more suspects he uncovers who stand to gain from Lammermoor's death.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Alexander's many fans will find the final, posthumous Sir John Fielding mystery (after 2003's The Price of Murder) a bittersweet experience. It marks a triumphant return to the series' strengths, with the blind magistrate Fielding, the real-life founder of London's fledgling police force, the Bow Street Runners, once again playing a prominent role in unraveling a baffling crime. When Lord Lammermoor, who's involved in drafting emergency legislation to combat the American rebels on the eve of the Revolutionary War, falls to his death from Westminster Bridge, the insightful sleuth and his loyal legman, Jeremy Proctor, uncover clues suggesting that the lord was murdered, possibly through a form of hypnotism. While the guilty party's identity is obvious fairly early on, the author's gifts for vivid characterizations, colorful period details and fast pacing are very much in evidence. His two collaborators deserve acclaim for making it impossible to tell where Alexander's words end and theirs begin, and for enabling one of the worthier recent historical series to go out on a well-deserved high note.
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Review

"Alexander's many fans will find the final, posthumous Sir John Fielding mystery a bittersweet experience. It marks a triumphant return to the series' strengths . . ."
-- Publishers Weekly (Publisher's Weekly ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1st US edition (March 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399152423
• ISBN-13: 978-0399152429
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,368,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful homage to a notable writer, March 9, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rules of Engagement (Hardcover)

In 1775 a saddened Lord Chief Justice William Murray asks a favor of Sir John Fielding, the magistrate of the Bow St. Court. William explains to John and his clerk Jeremy Proctor how Lord Francis Talley died. The aristocrat was completing work on a bill to blockade the four biggest American ports so the economic consequences will put an end to the Adams' nonsense when he left his office to take a walk. Halfway across the Westminster Bridge he suddenly leaped into the Thames; several witnesses willingly testified to that account of the suicide. William wonders why. John agrees to make discrete inquiries to learn what motivated Francis to kill himself.

John and Jeremy soon learn that Dr. Goldsworthy, is a newcomer in town whose patron is the widow of William's clerk. This leads the sleuths to wonder who would gain most by Lord Francis dying and soon realize that no member of the dysfunctional Lammermoor family grieves and some act euphoric celebrating the death of its patriarch Lord Francis.

Though the great mystery author Bruce Alexander passed away, his fans (including this reviewer) still have a treat as his wife and John Shannon completed his last Sir John novel and no one will know who wrote which part. The story line is fabulous as Jeremy is a sort of Watson looking back from near the end of the century writing about his salad days as a clerk sleuthing for his employer and mentor. Sir John and Jeremy remain true to their personalities from previous tales and the mystery of Lord Francis' death is cleverly designed. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT is a wonderful homage to a notable writer.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Hurrah, October 7, 2005

By 

Cocktail Mom (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rules of Engagement (Hardcover)

Reading this book felt a little like watching the last episode of Cheers. I tried to savor every last word, knowing that there would be no more. I'm sorry we'll never learn what happens to Sir John and his court, or find out how Jeremy Proctor's life will turn out, or how Annie's acting career plays, or what happens to the Donnellys when they return to Ireland. It's hard to believe their lives won't go on somewhere. This series was such a delight.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thank you, Mr. Alexander., May 2, 2005

By 

L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rules of Engagement (Hardcover)

Sadly, Bruce Alexander passed on before the final edit of this book, but his wife aided in its completion. Alexander's writing had an intellect and elegance I have so enjoyed. This is not fast paced suspense and I knew who was behind the death, but that did not diminish my enjoyment. It is a clever puzzle I enjoyed watching unfold, the sense of time and place is exceptional, and I appreciated that there was a resolution of the main characters. I very much enjoyed this book and series, and shall miss Mr. Alexander's lovely writing.