Now you see her…Still haunted by memories of his last case, in which an innocent woman was accidentally killed, Bow Street Runner John Pickett welcomes the challenge of a new assignment in the West Country. Unfortunately, this time he’ll have to leave his beloved wife, Julia, behind, as he’ll be traveling in company with Harry Carson, a member of the Foot Patrol whose swaggering self-confidence … self-confidence is an uneasy fit with Pickett’s reserve. After three days of trying without success to make contact with the man who sent for him, Pickett receives word from Bow Street that Julia has been abducted. Suddenly his current case takes on much more ominous implications. And if the man behind it all is the one Pickett fears it is, then Julia is in mortal danger . . .
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I think this is the best one yet – but – I think I say that with each new release. As always, it is impeccably researched and written, with compelling characters, and a change of scenery from the usual locations. I have a list of “mostly right” authors whose books I always reach for first – not just because their writing is good, but because they get the period details correct as well – and this author’s name is at the top of that list.
This book is quite an eventful and stressful one for John and Julia Pickett! John can’t take Julia with him on his new investigation, Julia is kidnapped, and John is offered an opportunity that would be hard to resist – a villain has escaped and is out for revenge. Oh! My! Goodness!
As John Pickett enters Bow Street early one July morning, he’s told that Magistrate Colquhoun needs to see him right away. Bow Street has received a request for two Runners – John (specifically) and another – to investigate a matter of ‘some delicacy’ in Dunbury. They are to travel to Dunbury and contact a man named Edward Gaines Brockton at the Cock and Boar. Colquhoun selects Harry Carson to accompany John. Harry is the bane of John’s existence and John is dismayed but understands the reasoning behind the selection. (I wonder if we’ll be seeing more of Mr. Carson in future books.) Of larger import to John is that he cannot take Julia with him since he’ll be traveling with another Runner.
When John receives word that Julia has been kidnapped, he rapidly collects his nearby brother-in-law and they all set off on a chase across England and Ireland. You’ll find evil, demented villains and brave heroes and heroines – not to mention a totally unexpected last three paragraphs!
Another great book in this series – highly recommend!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Not a mystery but a rescue. John and Julia bookend the story and their interaction is wonderful.
mystery, rescue, law-enforcement, suspense, England, Ireland, historical-fiction, historical-research
Instead of an assignment that might bring him some praise, John has been lured away from London so that a villain due to be hanged has escaped and kidnapped John’s beloved wife. John is distraught but assembles the help he needs to locate her even as she does everything she can to leave clues for him. Lots of suspense, angst, reminders of the different reactions law enforcement officers have when dealing with deeds against their own family rather than the general public. Another winner!
Joel Froomkin is the narrator par excellence who makes everything he narrates even better.
Book 9 in the John Pickett Mystery series and they just keep making we want to read more. I love the characters in this series. Sheri Cobb South does a wonderful job of developing the characters and their lives. Narrator Joel L. Froomkin is also amazing with his wonderful narration of this series. I find this series so comforting to listen to. After a difficult holiday season this was a wonderful gift to just relax with a great read.
I was gifted this audiobook with the with the understanding that I would leave an honest review.