ISBN: 4882772-005 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com Books on Tape
Combination of a solid procedural investigation, good character development and a wealth of historical detail make this a satisfying mystery.
Reviewed by David on January 19, 2005
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural, Historical)
Synopsis: Adding even more procedural touches, Sir John Fielding, and his young assistant Jeremy Proctor, investigate two suspected murders. A rich lord dies in suspicious circumstances, and a partly decomposed head is found in the London sewers. The lack of scientific tools force the blind Magistrate to rely on questioning, observation—through the eyes of others, and reasoning.
Full Review: The historical Sir John Fielding is a legendary figure, famous for in essence creating London's first police force. Being blind since his youth, he relied on the eyes of others as his witnesses. The series of novels is written from the point of view of young Jeremy Proctor, who served as Sir John's assistant and frequently his eyes in these mysteries.
The investigations proceed through the expected means—persistance, questioning, reasoning and luck. Luck not all good, as Sir John struggles with complacent Coroner and clever and determined suspects. But the truth is ultimately uncovered, and the process of finding it is pleasant, as is the character development of Jeremy and the people surrounding him.
Copyright: 1998
Series Name: Sir John Fielding Mysteries
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 6.5;
Books on Tape, 1999, Audio tape, 8 cassettes
ISBN: 4882772-005 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com Books on Tape