Having just turned thirteen, and newly orphaned, Jeremy Proctor finds
himself in court, hauled in by a thief taker. Fortunately the
magistrate, who is blind, recognises the voice of the witness as another
criminal and the boy is released into the custody of the court. The
court being the magistrate, Sir John Fielding. After court is
adjourned, Captain Benjamin Bailey, of the Bow Street Runners, gives
Jeremy a tour of the area around Covent Garden.
Following evening, Bailey informs Fielding that there has been a
shooting at Lord Goodhope's residence. The pair take Jeremy along with
them to the investigation. It appears that Lord Goodhope has committed
suicide, however his wife assures Fielding that he would never have done
that. It is Jeremy's observation on how clean the victim's hands are
that sets Fielding off on further investigation. He requests that a
surgeon look at the body.
The surgeon, Dr. Donnelly, reports after performing an autopsy, that the
victim had died as the result of a poison and not the gunshot. Back at
Lord Goodhope's house, Jeremy quite accidentally discovers a secret
exit to the room in which the victim was killed.
Author Bruce Alexander completes this historical murder mystery with
quite a surprise. Fast paced throughout, this was a page turner and
well worth the read. I'm looking forward to the sequels.
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