The Drowned City
By K. J. Maitland
Blurb
Gunpowder and treason changed England forever. But the tides are turning and revenge runs deep in this compelling historical thriller for fans of C.J. Sansom, Andrew Taylor's Ashes of London, Kate Mosse and Blood & Sugar.
1606. A year to the day that men were executed for conspiring to blow up Parliament, a towering wave devastates the Bristol Channel. Some proclaim God's vengeance. Others seek to take advantage.
In London, Daniel Pursglove lies in prison waiting to die. But Charles FitzAlan, close adviser to King James I, has a job in mind that will free a man of Daniel's skill from the horrors of Newgate. If he succeeds.
For Bristol is a hotbed of Catholic spies, and where better for the lone conspirator who evaded arrest, one Spero Pettingar, to gather allies than in the chaos of a drowned city? Daniel journeys there to investigate FitzAlan's lead, but soon finds himself at the heart of a dark Jesuit conspiracy - and in pursuit of a killer.
Our Review
The Drowned City is an excellent historical novel set in 1606 on the anniversary of the execution of those accused of trying to blow up the houses of parliament.
Daniel Pursglove is awaiting his fate in Newgate prison when an advisor of the king tasks him with finding a catholic conspirator in Bristol.
Daniel’s dangerous mission is made considerably more difficult by a recent catastrophic flooding in the city.
Whilst there Daniel finds himself entangled in a series of murders.
The Drowned City is one of the best novels I have read all year. The writing is excellent, and I could barely contain my excitement whilst reading it. Every description was so vivid I could certainly imagine myself there.
“Then a roar burst against their ears and a great blast of wind came out of nowhere, barging through the crowds with such force that people staggered against one another. And in that instant, the enchantment that had stupefied the crowd broke and now they saw the beast for what it was. A towering mountain of black water was bearing down on them.”
This book is certainly not for the faint hearted, some passages in it are particularly gruesome and made me feel a bit squeamish. Animal lovers in particular may find one or two of the areas particular hard to read.
The Drowned City was clearly well-researched, and I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.
Our Final Rating...
Read & Shared 7 Times.
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