Review: A Very Good Tale of Secrets, Deception and Danger
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2011
Jack Brodie is a former Bow Street Runner who became a private inquiry agent when the Runners were dissolved. In this case, he is asked to recover money, bonds, and private letters that have been stolen from the home of a wealthy merchant. Because of the strange laws inacted, if Brodie gets the items back without involving the new police force, and turns them over to the owner, they can both be arrested for receiving stolen property. The property owner does not want the police involved so Brodie must deal with the theives on his own and take the risk of future problems with the police if something goes wrong. While he is making arrangements to find out who broke into the home and stole the property, unexpected news comes of the recent return of a man he had sent to Australia 10 years ago, and he is out to kill Brodie for killing his brother. The twist the story takes at the end makes for hard decisions on Brodie's part, but they certainly made the story that much better. This story takes you through the Seven Dials district of London of 1841 and the deprivation is clear. The reasons for the terrible crime rate and inhumanity of man are also clear. This is the world of Jack Brodie, Inquiry Agent.I really enjoyed this novel and it is one I will read again because it is so well written and interesting. I especially liked the fact that the English is kept as true as possible to the time period of Victorian era, but modern enough for those of us here today to enjoy reading it. Jack Brodie is someone you like and want to know more about because there is a great deal more to him than being an Inquiry Agent. The other characters were also well done and I surely would like to see more books follow up this one, with some of the characters following along with Brodie...especially his two young children. I would also like to know what happpened to the young woman who sold flowers and occasionally passed information along to him. There is plenty to work with for another book, and I'd be pleased to be the first to buy it!This was a free offering by Amazon and I'm so glad I got it for my Kindle. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone ready for a good historical mystery...or just a good read.