The Ashes of London

I love a bit of historical crime, and this novel, the first in a series about Cat Lovett and James Marwood, has everything. It’s a brilliantly plotted mystery but it is also so much more. Set in 1666, it opens with the Great Fire of London, as the chaos of fire sweeping through the city is used to cover up murder.

I found the story and the characters compelling, so much so that I’ve gone on to read the rest of the series, each of which intertwines the personal lives of Cat and James with the political events of the… show more.

In my reading choices, I tend to concentrate on YA, climate fiction, and sci-fi, because that’s what I write. But I also have a long-standing love of whodunnits, and I thought I’d try this one, set in London in the immediate aftermath of the Great Fire in 1666.

I’ve often found that “historical” mysteries get a bit carried away with the history aspect, but not so with The Ashes of London. The character development was rich, the pacing perfect, and the mystery truly intriguing. I also got a great feel for the dangerous political forces at play at the… show more.

Excellent story - set in 1666 during the fire of London it captures the religious tensions and conflicting politics of the era. Charles 11 is on the throne and in pursuit of anyone involved in the execution of his father. No-one feels safe. James Marwood, son of a Puritan, and Cat Lovett, daughter of a renegade Protestant are in a fast-paced murder plot through the narrow streets and ruins of London. Cat is manipulated by her untrustworthy uncle. Marwood is pursuing the murderer while trying to protect his elderly father. Cat tries to escape her uncle’s home and disguises… show more.