a fun series and this was no exception.
As an American, I was a little chary of Franklin's honor, though I know he was no saint ( )

In the 1770s a packet of letters is stolen from a high ranking official and one of his employees killed. When the Bow Street Runners are called to investigate the official will not reveal who wrote the letters or what they were about, he just wants them found! When the packet shows up in the colony of Massachutes it becomes evident the letters are politically relevant. Could Benjamin Franklin, who is in London, be associated with the theft?

I always enjoy being in the company of Sir John Fielding, the blind magistrate of the Bow Street Court and founder of the Bow Street Runners, and his young protege, Jeremy Procter. As is always true in the Sir John Mysteries the writing is as descriptive as if the author lived 200 years ago. In his notes Alexander explains the plot is a novelized account of an actual event. ( )

I've enjoyed all of Bruce Alexander's tales of Sir John Fielding, and this is no exception. But, in all honesty, branding it a mystery is rather false. This volume falls into the historical fiction category. Less concerned with the crimes involved (and indeed there is little doubt about the culprits) and more about the looming conflict between Great Britain and its American colonies, and with abundant domestic drama, it won't tax anyone's powers of deduction. There is abundant social history here, but unlike previous volumes, the locales are very limited, a very London-centric book, which disappointed me. ( )

#9 Sir John Fielding mystery in which Jeremy and Sir John become involved in a plot involving Benjamin Franklin and the American colonies. Someone has stolen a packet of letters from the home of a prominent member of Parliament, believed to be damning to certain British officials with regard to the rights of the Colonials. A footman was brutally coshed on the head and killed during the burglary, therefore it’s a murder case as well. Mr. Franklin is high on the suspect list as having hired certain thugs to perform the deed, but without proof, Sir John and Jeremy are stuck at a standstill.

Several changes are in the works with regards to secondary characters as well, as the Fieldings’ former cook, Annie, stars in a production of Romeo and Juliet, Molly (the new cook) settles in and is courted by Dr. Donnelly (the medical examiner) and Jeremy and Clarissa’s relationship begins to change. Enjoyable entry in the series as always; the author’s notes indicate that he played fast and loose with known historical fact in this book with regard to Ben Franklin’s involvement, but I thought he did it very well. It *is* historical fiction after all! ( )

Well, it does pay to wait, because not since Murder in Grub Street or Watery Grave has one of Alexander's books entertained me so well. This one I would rank right up there; the mystery is solid, the action is good, and it was obvious that Alexander did his homework in researching various events focusing around Benjamin Franklin.

So, having said that, let me say that if you're following the series, you are going to really enjoy this one. The only thing I didn't like was the way the relationship between Jeremy and Clarissa was going (personally, I can't stand the character of Clarissa), but I'm a purist -- I don't want much to get in the way of the plot.

A brief description with no spoilers:

The Secretary of State for the American Colonies, Lord Hillsborough, is robbed, and one of his footmen is killed during said robbery. What was stolen was a packet of letters, but when Hillsborough goes to see Sir John, he is less than forthcoming about their contents. Sir John is a bit upset about this, but nevertheless he continues to investigate the theft. His work leads him to suspect a colleague of none other than Benjamin Franklin. Things take a nasty turn and heat up quickly, putting the lives of several people in jeopardy.

Very well done and I was quite impressed!

This is number 9 in the Sir John Fielding series. You'll enjoy it if you are into historical mysteries or if you want to read something about events leading up to the American Revolution. Don't start with this one, though, if you're planning to read the series. ( )