Yet another great read from Andrew Taylor. I know that I am a history buff, but I really enjoy reading his historic novels. He manages to capture the atmosphere of the Restoration period remarkably well and includes a lot of great period touches without overdoing it in terms of education or explanation.
In this novel he concentrates on The King's Evil [now known as scrofula] a disease that it was believed the touch of the monarch's hand accompanied by prayers and church ritual could cure. That is a key plot device [don't worry I won't do spoilers here]. That works very well not only because everyone in the novel believes that the king's touch will work, but also because the plotters take advantage of that belief [which they share] to further their cunning schemes.
It is the third in the series features James Marwood & Catherine Lovett. While it builds on the storyline of the previous two, you don't really need to have read them to enjoy this book. The plotlines that continue are explained as you go along so that is all fine. These principle characters, and the others, are all well drawn. he has taken pains to make even minor characters credible as human beings.
Mind you, I had pretty much worked out the surprise ending by about half way through. Either I am getting used to how Taylor weaves his plots, or it was not as fiendishly complex as the other two that I have read.
All in all an excellent historic novel and whodunnit. Read it sooner rather than later.
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