This is the first of 3 books featuring Reverend Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor and is set during 1796 among the backdrop of unrest in Britain and Europe. England is under constant threat of invasion by the French. Smuggling is rife along the Kent coastline due to extortionate taxing by the English government.
Murder, mystery and intrigue have landed on Reverend Hardcastle's doorstep late one evening with the discovery of a dying man. Thoughts soon play on his mind regarding the man's death. Who was he? Why was he out at that time of night? Where did he come from? Who killed him and why?
The reverend decides to start making enquiries in order to answer some of these questions and soon discovers that one question leads to another question, but not getting any closer to the answers he needs.
Conflicting accounts of events and information lead Reverend Hardcastle deeper into his investigations, and the deeper he digs the more hazardous it becomes. Someone does not want the answers to be found.
The location and landscape of Romney Marsh are used to great effect in setting the scene for the story to unfold piece by piece, with the weather conditions adding to the plot and atmosphere of the story.
As the first pages of the book indicate the Reverend Hardcastle is a very colourful character and becomes livelier as the story progresses - not the reserved pious clergy that one would assume him to be. As one of the lines in the novel states - "everyone tolerated him, many respected him, and some actually quite like him".
Mrs Chaytor is a highly observant woman and capable of logical reasoning. Being strong willed and independently minded sets her at odds with character stereotypes. Together they are akin to an intellectual female Holmes and Reverend Hardcastle as a bumbling Watson.
Wonderful characters and setting and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
Murder, mystery and intrigue have landed on Reverend Hardcastle's doorstep late one evening with the discovery of a dying man. Thoughts soon play on his mind regarding the man's death. Who was he? Why was he out at that time of night? Where did he come from? Who killed him and why?
The reverend decides to start making enquiries in order to answer some of these questions and soon discovers that one question leads to another question, but not getting any closer to the answers he needs.
Conflicting accounts of events and information lead Reverend Hardcastle deeper into his investigations, and the deeper he digs the more hazardous it becomes. Someone does not want the answers to be found.
The location and landscape of Romney Marsh are used to great effect in setting the scene for the story to unfold piece by piece, with the weather conditions adding to the plot and atmosphere of the story.
As the first pages of the book indicate the Reverend Hardcastle is a very colourful character and becomes livelier as the story progresses - not the reserved pious clergy that one would assume him to be. As one of the lines in the novel states - "everyone tolerated him, many respected him, and some actually quite like him".
Mrs Chaytor is a highly observant woman and capable of logical reasoning. Being strong willed and independently minded sets her at odds with character stereotypes. Together they are akin to an intellectual female Holmes and Reverend Hardcastle as a bumbling Watson.
Wonderful characters and setting and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.