It’s always a delight to discover a new author in the historical fiction genre, and I was thrilled when this one came up to review at Rachel’s Random Resources. This is a great murder mystery for fans of CJ Sansom and Andrew Taylor. I read it in just two sittings! Keep reading for my spoiler-free review…
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The Ruffler’s Child
BE YE HUNTER OR PREY?
Introducing Thomas Finbow – falconer to Sir Robert Vicary and Lady Margaret of Petbury, Berkshire. He keeps his mind sharp and his body primed as he goes about his duties with the diligent confidence of one who once served Queen and country.
When Nathaniel Pickering, Lady Margaret’s older brother is found murdered, Thomas takes her away to London, in search of gryfalcons. Lady Margaret being a keen lover of the sport of falconry herself, Thomas hopes it will help distract his mistress from her grief, however once they reach the city it becomes apparent that much bigger things are at play – and the murder of Master Pickering was just the beginning…
Thomas’s astute mind is unable to ignore the clues, and in uncovering some dark secrets, he places himself – and his mistress – in grave danger. Now a target himself, Thomas must face some of London’s most notorious criminals, in a battle of both brain and brawn.
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I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I even told my mum about it – and she has a TBR list that would stretch around the equator several times, trust me!
What I liked:
- Extraordinary sense of time and place. From the very first page, I could imagine myself transported back in time to Elizabethan England. London’s city streets are described in vivid detail, as are the Berkshire Downs. I also loved the nods to historical facts to ground us solidly in the period.
- Strong protagonist. Thomas the falconer walks a fine line between servant and confidant at times, which I love. He is well respected for his knowledge of falconry and for his service to the family. As the blurb above hints at, there are ample opportunity for him to show us both his brains and his brawn in discovering the killer.
- Good story pacing. Once Lady Margaret’s brother is found murdered, and Thomas escorts her ladyship to London, things happen quickly, but the plot never feels rushed. There are plenty of subplots going on, some of which will likely carry forward into the next book, and I can’t wait to see how they develop.
I hope it’s not too late to ask Santa to pop a couple more of John’s books in my stocking…
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About the author
A writer for over forty years, John Pilkington was born in Lancashire and worked at many jobs. He has also written plays for radio and theatre, television scripts for a BBC soap, a short-lived children’s series and numerous works of historical fiction, concentrating now on the Tudor and Stuart eras. He now lives in a village on a tidal estuary in Devon with his long-term partner Elisabeth; they have a son who is a psychologist and musician. When not at the desk he walks, swims, listens to music and tinkers with DIY projects, and is enjoying being a grandfather.
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