This is only the second novel from S. W. Perry but from the first he has shown a mastery of his chosen genre. His writings are thoroughly researched and filled with detailed descriptions of the politics and religious practices of the time. Insightful and lucid, his strong story lines and detailed characters will undoubtedly earn him a numerous following amongst readers of historical crime fiction. Perry has chosen to write of a period in history when crime was rife, life was cheap and hard and poverty and privation were everywhere. His leading character is a doctor who has cause to mistrust the medical theories of the day and has turned his back on the establishment of his profession. He is immersed in the problems and turmoil of his age with a passion for justice and a need to give succour beyond the limits of medical practice. A thoroughly good read.