Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Frost Fair

The Thames has frozen!  It is such an unusual thing that the people of London are having a fair on the ice, and skating on it, including the sons of Constable Jonathan Bale.  When one of his sons takes a tumble on the ice he finds himself looking at a body in the ice.

It is Henry Redmayne who is charged with the murder of the victim in the ice.  His brother, Christopher, finds him in Newgate, and finds out from Henry that there was enmity between the two men.  However,  Christopher is determined to set his brother free.

Bale, who is Christopher's friend, is unsure about helping him to find Henry innocent.  As an officer of the law, he must gather evidence to prove guilt.  Two of Henry's friends, who were with him on the evening in question, are convinced of his innocence, while a third is convinced of his guilt.  After interrogating the third friend, Bale begins tow question Henry's guilt.  And, Christopher finds out that the cause of the bitter enmity was a married woman.

Christopher is surprised when someone pushes him into the Thames.  This convinces him that the real killer is afraid that Christopher is on his trail.  Jonathan becomes of a like mind as more evidence comes to light.  The two must now get more to prove the truth and get Henry released.

Author Edward Marston has written another very good historical murder mystery that is well worth the read.

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