Set in the final years of King Henry VIII’s reign, an alchemist’s daughter uses her skills to aid the living and helps seek justice for the dead…
While her husband fights the Scots on behalf of King Henry VIII, Bianca Goddard earns her coin by concocting medicines that offer relief to London’s sick. Some unfortunates, however, are beyond any remedies she can provide–like the young boy … boy discovered hanging from a church dripstone. Examining the body, Bianca finds a rosary twined around the child’s neck. A week later, another boy is found dead at a different church. When Bianca’s impish acquaintance, Fisk, goes missing, she fears he may become the third victim…
There are many villains who would prey on wayward, penniless boys. But Bianca suspects the killings are not brutal acts of impulse, but something far more calculated. In her room of Medicinals and Physickes, she examines the sole piece of evidence: a sweet-smelling, stained cloth. If Bianca can unravel its secret, reputations and lives will be saved. The expected hour of the next murder is approaching, and a single misstep may mean another boy is lost forever…
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This story takes place in 1545, near the end of Henry VIII’s reign. The infamous king is fighting 2 wars, on the continent against the French and the other one closer to home against the Scottish. Those military campaigns drain the country of its money and of its young men who’re being conscripted. Bianca’s and Cammie’s husband and paramour are fighting in the borders, while Fisk’s father is away in France. News is scarce and unreliable. The fate of a loved one is only clear when they return, or not.
The religious reforms the king made when he decreed it to be sinful to wed his brother’s widow didn’t fall well with the priests who saw a large part of their income abolished or with the monks who were all pensioned off while the abbeys’ possessions got confiscated by the crown. Some still secretly held on to the old religion despite all papists being persecuted for treason. But for some that listened to the sermons of Maarten Luther, the English reforms don’t go far enough.
When a young boy is found hanging from a grotesque (gargoyle) on the outside wall of St Mary Magdalen’s church, Constable Patch is one of the first officials on the site. Despite it not being in his own ward, he sends for Bianca Goddard, an herbalist who helped him in the past with solving other murders. There’s a paternoster (rosemary) wound around the boy’s neck but he died from hanging and looks abnormally peaceful. Nobody seems to know who this child is. Most likely he was living on the streets and survived by stealing. There are vague rumours about “the deft drigger” a Fagin-like figure, which organises and lives off child-thieves. But no-one seems to know if he really exists or if he’s a figure of imagination.
Bianca wants to offer an apprenticeship to young Fisk, who assisted already in previous cases, but he’s disappeared and she’s worried when another child is found hanged from another church.
Between the chapters about the murders, we get flashes how reluctant pike man John fares in the army. Warfare was very brutal and cruel in those times (when are they not?) and conflicts between arise the archers and the pikemen who protect them but aren’t respected
I must say that the author meticulously researched this period. Not so easy as this story is about ordinary commoners, working-class people whereas most historical documents involve the higher classes with the politics and drama of the grand courts. The sights and even smells of the extremely filthy refuse filled and rat-infested streets are in vivid contrast with the palaces and their rich occupants.
Because I didn’t read the previous books, it puzzled me why she keeps referring to Hobs, a cat as immortal but all became clear over the course of the story.
The story itself is very well constructed, but the eventual explanation and motivation for the murders felt a bit light and unrealistic. It was definitely original and well found but a bit rushed as if the deadline was near and the story in need for an ending.
There’s a useful glossary at the end of the book and I wish that I noticed that at the start as it would have saved me from looking up certain unknown archaic words.
Not long after I started reading, I noticed that –with all the references to previous adventures- this story was part of a series. Not that I had problems to understand what goes on in this story, but there are ease and familiarity between the characters that speak of an older acquaintance. It can be read perfectly as a standalone, but that would be a shame because I also discovered that this was the last book in this series. Why stop when you have a good thing going? Who knows, maybe she might reconsider.
The Lost Boys of London by Mary Lawrence is the fifth Historical Mystery in the Bianca Goddard Series. I love the medical details in this series and how dedicated Bianca is to her work, constantly learning and applying her discoveries with medications. When I read Ms. Lawrence‘s descriptions of London’s people and their surroundings in 1545 come alive. Life in 1545 England is constantly fraught with peril for all the characters. Bianca is involved in dark mysteries and in constant danger along with those she cares about. Bianca‘s husband has his own parallel storyline; at this time he’s away fighting a war with the Scots.
This historical book takes the reader to an unknown place that includes a glossary to assist in understanding unfamiliar words and meanings. The author’s note adds interesting historical background.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
This was my first book from Lawrence. Even though this was the fifth book in the series, it was fine to read as a standalone! I’m sure reading the previous four would have made for a richer experience. As it stands, this is one of those reads that I don’t have strong feelings about. Bianca was interesting enough to follow but I wasn’t particularly attached to her. The most striking aspect of Lawrence’s writing is the attention to crafting an authentic setting for her characters. I’ve only read a handful of historical books that completely transport me back in time, and only one of those was a mystery. It’s reads like this that make me so happy to have all of my creature comforts and convenience of modern communication when my husband is away.
I admit, it took me a while to slog through as I had just hit a major reading slump and the language, while accurate for the time definitely was a challenge for me. Between the language and my detachment from the characters, I struggled but other readers that enjoy historical mysteries will absolutely enjoy The Lost Boys of London.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Mary Lawrence, and IBPA Red Puddle Print. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Mary Lawrence writes a tight, taut mystery set in London during the reign of Henry VIII. The background details are plentiful, London of the 1600s is about two centuries before my usual London reads, but I couldn’t resist the book cover on this one. I have now added Mary Lawrence to my must-reads authors and 16th century England to my areas of interest. I am pleased to recommend Mary Lawrence to friends and family.
The protagonists in this novel are very well rounded, the conversations clearly understandable, and the background well defined. There is a supplement at the end of The Lost Boys of London giving definitions of slang and common words from this time and the Author’s note at the end is very informative. The mystery stays a mystery for long enough and the spirit of this work is, despite the focus on the boys, uplifting. The fifth of the series of Bianca Goddard mysteries, this book is stand-alone but I will be looking for the first four, as this book, this author, is a keeper, to read again when I have read the first four novels.
BLURB
Set in the final years of King Henry VIII’s reign, an alchemist’s daughter uses her skills to aid the living and helps seek justice for the dead…
While her husband fights the Scots on behalf of King Henry VIII, Bianca Goddard earns her coin by concocting medicines that offer relief to London’s sick. Some unfortunates, however, are beyond any remedies she can provide—like the young boy discovered hanging from a church dripstone. Examining the body, Bianca finds a rosary twined around the child’s neck. A week later, another boy is found dead at a different church. When Bianca’s impish acquaintance, Fisk, goes missing, she fears he may become the third victim…
There are many villains who would prey on wayward, penniless boys. But Bianca suspects the killings are not brutal acts of impulse, but something far more calculated. In her room of Medicinals and Physickes, she examines the sole piece of evidence: a sweet-smelling, stained cloth. If Bianca can unravel its secret, reputations and lives will be saved. The expected hour of the next murder is approaching, and a single misstep may mean another boy is lost forever
REVIEW
A thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery set in London during Henry VIII’s tumultuous reign. Bianca Goddard is one persistent sleuth as she unravels a series of crimes where there are many persons of interest and motives. Tis a plot full of surprises including the fate of her husband, off fighting for Henry in Scotland. The author has once again got me to wondering how people lived in any big city. Her descriptions of the city are wonderful, the markets, the churches, heck the smells alone eke out from the pages; a heady mixture of human waste, rotting garbage, and the ever pleasant aroma of tanneries. The main characters are enlivened with the speech of the streets; the patois of constables and street sellers, making the narrative not only realistic, but page turning as well. So, my fellow readers follow along as Bianca struggles to solve the crimes while emotionally burdened with the loss of her baby, and the unknown fate of her husband. A fitting conclusion to the series awaits you. 4