Dark Waters (Cragg & Fidelis Mysteries) - Hardcover

Blake, Robin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250006732 ISBN 13: 9781250006738

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2013

Synopsis

Blake's A Dark Anatomy has been called "impressive" (Publishers Weekly) and "a solid winner" (Booklist) and Dark Waters, the second book in the Cragg & Fidelis series, will leave readers hungry for more

Preston, 1741. The drowning of drunken publican Antony Egan is no surprise-even if it comes as an unpleasant shock to coroner Titus Cragg, whose wife was the old man's niece. But he does his duty to the letter, and the inquest's verdict is accidental death. Meanwhile the town is agog with rumour and faction, as the General Election is only a week away and the two local seats are to be contested by four rival candidates. But Cragg's close friend, Dr. Luke Fidelis, finds evidence to cast doubt on the events leading to Egan's demise.

Soon suspicions are further roused when a well-to-do farmer collapses and it appears he was in town on political business. Is there a conspiracy afoot? The Mayor and Council have their own way of imposing order, but Cragg is determined not to be swayed by their pressure. With the help of Fidelis's scientific ingenuity the true criminals are brought to light.

About this title

About the Author

ROBIN BLAKE is the author of acclaimed works on the artists Van Dyck and Stubbs. He has written, produced and presented extensively for radio, is widely published as a critic, and is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Brunel University. He lives in London.

Reviews

It’s 1741, and George II is on the throne, Walpole has a shaky hold on being prime minister, and the tiny town of Preston, England, is in the midst of an exciting election for Parliament. There are public speeches, pub brawls, and mob action. In the midst of it all, the owner of a popular pub (because it’s located next to a ferry crossing) is found drowned in the river. Shortly thereafter, a wealthy farmer visiting town collapses and dies. Both cases are tended to by the town coroner, Titus Cragg, whose wife was the niece of the drowned publican. Cragg is technically confined to his official role, but, prodded by his great friend, the young, brilliant, pre–Sherlock Holmesian Dr. Luke Fidelis, Cragg tries his hand at sleuthing. While this is a riveting mystery, and Cragg and Fidelis are fun to follow, the great strength of the series (beginning with A Dark Anatomy, 2012) is Blake’s adept hand at animating history. And his use of one of Aesop’s fables as a motif is wonderfully apt. --Connie Fletcher

Edition details

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1250006732
• ISBN 13: 9781250006738
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 384