Watery Grave (Sir John Fielding) [Hardcover]

Bruce Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sir John Fielding | Publication Date: September 24, 1996

The legendary, blind eighteenth-century judge returns in his third mystery, in which he investigates the murder of a sea captain, possibly at the hands of his own stepson. By the author of Blind Justice. BOMC Alt.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two days out of Cape Town in 1767, the captain of a British frigate falls overboard and drowns during a violent storm. Surprisingly, seven months later, charges of murder are brought against highly regarded Lieutenant William Landon, alleging that he pushed the captain overboard. When blind magistrate Sir John Fielding, well known for his shrewd, relentless interrogations (and last seen in Murder in Grub Street) is called in for further investigation, this engrossing story expands to encompass the byzantine workings of maritime and urban justice against a rich backdrop of the teeming, scoundrel-infested streets of 18th-century London. Fielding is ably guided by his bright, streetwise assistant, 14-year-old narrator Jeremy Proctor, who grimly discovers, while scouring the seamier side of the city for eyewitnesses, that the reluctant seamen from the frigate are being killed off one by one. Questions abound: Why is Lieutenant Landon so apathetic in his own defense? Why are the ship's garrulous doctor and its unctuous chaplain so wary? Although many characters are stereotypical (a whore with a heart of gold, for example), Jeremy and Sir John make a formidable team and eventually serve both the letter and the spirit of the law in this busy, unpredictable and intriguing story. BOMC alternate.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Sir John Fielding, a blind magistrate in 18th-century England, is called upon to help in a naval inquiry involving a possible murder on the high seas. One fact is indisputable. During a storm Capt. Josiah Markham was thrown overboard. A witness to this event, the first officer, claims the captain was pushed over the side by Lt. William Landon. Others, including the accused, say Landon was trying to save Markham but fierce seas yanked the captain from his grasp. This intriguing tale is told from the perspective of 14-year-old Jeremy Proctor, who works as an apprentice to the magistrate. The life as lived in this often harsh period is vigorously portrayed in Alexander's third Sir John Fielding novel (e.g., Murder in Grub Street, LJ 4/1/96). Recommended for most suspense collections.?Patricia Altner, Information Seekers, Bowie, Md.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; First Edition edition (September 24, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399141553
• ISBN-13: 978-0399141553
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good yarn, but lacks Alexander's usual historical accuracy, October 28, 1997

By 

Anthony Morris QC <[e-mail]... (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watery Grave (Sir John Fielding) (Hardcover)

Perhaps the most attractive feature of Alexander's previous works - Blind Justice and Murder in Grubb Street - is their uncompromising historical accuracy. As a lawyer (Queen's Counsel), I can attest to the validity of Alexander's depiction of the administration of justice in 18th Century England. One can quibble with some of his characterizations: for example, his portrayal of Lord Chief Justice Mansfield hardly fits with the image of the jurist who declared that a slave becomes a free man as soon as he sets foot on English soil. And his use of modern Americanisms - such as "hung" rather than "hanged" as the past participle of the verb "to hang" when referring to execution by hanging - tends to grate when applied to the supposed dialogue of 18th Century Londoners. But, by and large, Alexander manages well, both to capture the atmosphere of the era, and also to satisfy even the most pedantic critic of his historicism. Shadowy Grave is therefore slightly disappointing. Speaking also as a former naval officer, I found that Alexander's mastery of the atmosphere in London's streets of the 18th Century does not, unfortunately, extend to a mastery of the atmosphere aboard ships of the Royal Navy of that time. And, by transferring the court-room dramatics from a civil court to a naval court martial, Alexander has exposed some weaknesses in his knowledge of authentic naval procedures and traditions. Still, fans of Alexander's previous works will enjoy Watery Grave. If the plot is, at times, a little far-fetched, it is still plausible and makes for an exciting narrative. It is to be hoped that Alexander will continue this exceptionally good series, although preferably keeping his feet on dry land and sticking to the historical subjects which he knows best and evokes so effectively.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Watery Grave, December 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Watery Grave (Sir John Fielding) (Paperback)

Watery Grave is the continued story (the third installment) of the story of Jeremy Proctor and his mentor Sir John Fielding. One does not have to read the second book (I hadn't) to understand the events.

Alexander's writing and plotting have improved and become more ambitious in the interim. Watery Grave involves a murder (perhaps) committed on board a ship during a storm; the subsequent investigation turns up a rat's nest of corruption and pits land- and sea-based legal jurisdictions against one another. We also learn how Fielding lost his sight. I wanted to see more of what happened on the ship, and I felt that the end of the novel was quite disappointing. What should be devastating courtroom scenes are skipped over, given little impact, and largely told rather than shown. Careful readers will also find at least one minor continuity error. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining book featuring some interesting characters, particularly the perceptive Fielding.

After having written this review I noted that another reviewer thought there were historical errors. I don't know enough about the period to judge whether that's correct or not, but if so it should be counted as a serious flaw in the book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Series Starts Here, March 7, 2007

By 

Michele T. Woodward (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watery Grave ` a (A Sir John Fielding Mystery) (Paperback)

I love a good mystery. A mystery set in England is even better. A mystery set in England in the 1700s is a ten-strike! Have you read any of Bruce Alexander's books in the Sir John Fielding series? Starting with "Watery Grave", the reader follows the career of Sir John Fielding, a blind judge. Based on a historical character, Sir John actually lived in the 1700s and was the first judge to develop a regular constabulary -- the legendary Bow Street Runners. His brother, Henry Fielding, wrote the classic "Tom Jones". The narrator is a young boy, Jeremy Proctor, who becomes Sir John's ward and protege. We see London through the eyes of this child -- as he grows into manhood.

Bruce Alexander's language is rich and evocative of the times. The mysteries are anything but derivative and often solved in completely surprising ways. Courts handled crimes so differently in the 18th century -- and most people lived in squalid conditions which Alexander captures honestly. These books are not "chick lit" -- in fact, men may enjoy them even more than women! I'd suggest you start with the first book in the series and work your way along so you can get the most of the character development and big picture. Enjoy!