Customer Reviews

The Spider's Touch: Featuring Blue Satan and Mrs. Kean (Blue Satan Mystery series)

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In 1715, Lord Gideon St. Mars remains exiled in France, as he is considered an outlaw in England. Though he enjoys his freedom he needs to prove he was not a Jacobite murderer (see THE BIRTH OF BLUE SATAN). His friend, Hester Kean still resides at Gideon's beloved Hawkhurst since her companion her cousin Isabella married the replacement aristocrat.

Pretender King James offers Gideon the return of his estate if he joins his cause. Gideon sees this as a chance to right the unfair injustice he suffered so he agrees. James sends him to England to meet with the head of his army to learn when the rebellion will begin. However, when Gideon sees Hester enter the home of a Jacobite, he warns her to beware of whom she befriends. Not long afterward a murder at a Theater private box points towards Isabella's brother as the culprit. Hester asks Gideon to clear the Hawkhurst name as only he as the Blue Satan can do.

THE SPIDER'S TOUCH is a delightful sequel that fans of historical novels will relish perhaps even more than mystery afficiandos. Much of the book sets the era and location with fascinating tidbits that enable the audience to feel Gideon's frustrations accented by no rights except in exile or rebellion and how James the Pretender impatiently waits for his men to move. The murder mystery and the appearance of the Blue Satan come late in the tale, but the who-done-it is clever and Gideon is a delight whether he darns his alter ego or not. Patricia Wynn provides a winning story that early eighteenth century readers will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

NOTE: Gabaldon and historical mystery fans take note; this is a wonderful series and a good one to hold you over between "Outlander" books. I read all three books, one right after the last, in three days.

THE SPIDER'S TOUCH (Hist. Mys-Gideon Fitzsimmons/Hester Kean-England-1715) - VG
Wynn, Patricia - 2nd in series
Pemberley, 2002, US Hardcover - ISBN: 097027274X

First Sentence: A pair of tiny overlapping circles embossed the baby's forehead, carving an edge like an embryo moon.

Gideon Fitzsimmons, unable to prove his innocence for the murder of his father, has escaped to his property in France. In exchange for his support of James II, also exiled in France, he is offered the enticement of having his having his name and estate restored once James is back on the throne in England.

As a first step, Gideon is asked to go back to England and learn when the rising will occur. In England, it is a dangerous time to be a Tory supporting James. When Gideon, in disguise, sees his friend Hester Kean accompanying her cousin Isabella, married to the man who usurped Gideon's position as Earl of Hawkhurst, enter the house of an avid Jacobite, he worries for her safety, arranges a rendezvous and warns her, promising to be there for her if she needs him.

Days later, Hester and her family attend the opera at the invitation of Sir Humphrey Cove. At the end of Intermission, Humphrey returns to the box, falling dead with a knife from Hawkhurst House in his back. Hester's cousin Dudley, who had previously attacked Humphrey when drunk, is accused and Hester turns to Gideon for help."

The first book of this series was so good, I immediately started the second; something I've not done since "Outlander." I love the characters: Hester, who is smart, strong, and loyal; Gideon who wants to clear his name but not at the cost of Civil War, Mrs. Mayhew, ever conniving; Tom, Gideon's servant who is attracted to buy trying to stay away from Gideon's other servant Katy. All the characters are brought clearly to live under Ms. Wynn's deft hand.

The murder doesn't happen until almost half-way into the story and I did keep waiting for the mystery element of the book to make itself known. However, I do understand that without all that goes before it, the murder wouldn't make sense. This was a time, particularly for the titled and those with wealth, politics were critical.

Without ever slowing the pace of the story, Ms. Wynn's deftly incorporates the historical and political information into the plot. There is such a strong sense of time and place that acquaints us with the social structure and manners of the time. The humor, suspense and romance, which I enjoyed in the first book are still very much a part of this story.

It is rare I will read books of a series back-to-back, but I am so enjoying everything about these books, I'm on to Book Three.

Set in Europe of the early 1700's, The Spider's Touch is the latest volume of the "Blue Satan" series of intriguing historical novels by Patricia Wynn. Gideon Viscount St. Mars, a.k.a. "Blue Satan," has been branded an outlaw in his beloved home nation of England; now residing in France, Gideon receives a call for help from the Jacobites. Entangled in a mesh of rebellion, an intricate web of cross-motives, dangerous political machinations, and more, the Blue Satan is caught between his namesake and the deep blue sea. The Spider's Touch is a sweeping, exciting, engaging historical saga. Also very highly recommended is the debut volume of this outstanding series: The Birth Of Blue Satan ...

If you're anything like me and you've read 'The Birth of Blue Satan' you were probably very strongly compelled to read the continuation of Mrs. Kean and Gideon St. Mar's story in this second novel in the series by Patricia Wynn.

I have to say that I'm glad I found out what happened after Patricia Wynn left her readers hanging at the end of Blue Satan. But sadly I don't think that I will be following these heroes into the third story, 'The Motive from the Deed'.

The first book was well paced, unfortunately this book felt a bit stalled, the mystery portion of the story didn't start until nearly half way through the book.

There was a lot of focus on the political unrest during this period which I did find interesting but at the same time these dramatic political upheavals were described without much drama or emotion. The setting is England, 1715 during the Jacobite uprising.

The author left me hanging at the end of the first book so I was reading this with the urge to know what happened with our charming protagonists. And their paths didn't cross until one hundred pages into the story.

This copy had quite a few typos which I found a bit distracting. But again the characters are likeable, the writing is good and the story is interesting.

There were a few flaws in the story line that allowed the author to draw out the tension and prolong the story, which I didn't care for. I think that certain things that occurred weren't in keeping with the character's behavior. As I said Wynn created two very charming protagonists in Gideon and Hester but we don't see enough of them for my tastes.