Thomas Chalenor, the Earl of Clarendon's private spy, returns in another absorbing adventure in 17th-century London.
The country faces war with the Dutch and while some men work to avoid it others are determined there will be conflict.
A Dutch delegation faces antagonism in London and one of its number is murdered and dumped in the river.
Chaloner, the victim's forme brother-in-law, faces distrust and violence from both sides as he tries to find the killer.
The mystery deepens when he discovers the man knew about a plot to steal the credentials of the Crown Jewels and the secret imprisonment of the alleged culprits.
As enjoyable as the previous five Chaloner novels, with Gregory's usual rich atmosphere and lively plot, it benefits from a more original than usual.
David Knights
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article