A tale of political intrigue and murder set in the London of Queen Anne, the early years of the 18th century. It's a chunky read, topping out at almost 700 pages, and requires a bit of effort, but that effort is thoroughly rewarded. The plot doesn't gallop along, but is nicely intricate and paced sufficiently to sustain interest throughout. The book's real strength, however, lies in the deep sense of place and history that suffuses every sentence. I read the last half of the book throughout a day when I had to be available in short bursts, and had little to do but be present in between times: it took some work to bring me back to the modern day on several occasions, immersed as I became! Yes, this is an 'involved' read, but that was a distinct part of the pleasure. I'm already looking forward to tackling the almost equally bulky second volume, The Devil's Cathedral, in the near future. ( )

1708 and Widow Trotter has plans for her Good Fellowship Coffee House. But a politcal scandal with connections to the crown and Queen Anne is brewing. Mary Trotter with her friends Thomas Bristowe (an aspiring satirist), Will Lundy of the Middle Temple and Constable Elias Cobb are drawn into the intrigue. But when a body is discovered and the wrong man accused, the group of friends are determined to find the guilty party and save their friend from the gallows.
It took awhile for me to get drawn into this long book, its story and the characters, and the politics of the Torys and Whigs. An era which I don't know a lot about but just enough.
Overall an enjoyable if somewhat involved read and I look forward to hopefully reading more of the adventures of this group of likeable characters.
A NetGalley Book ( )