Title: The Bedlam Cadaver
Author: Robert J. Lloyd
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Publisher: Melville House Publishing
Publication Date: 20th June 2024
Rating: 5/5
Cover:
Book Summary:
In late 17th Century London rich young women are being kidnapped, then murdered. Harry Hunt, formerly of the Royal Society but now a rich gentleman, is falsely accused. To clear his name, he must rely on his abandoned scientific expertise and battle the full force of the British aristocracy.
1681. London cooks in summer heat. Bonfires are lit in protest against the King’s brother, James, heir to the throne but openly Catholic. Rumours abound of a ‘Black Box’, said to conceal proof the King’s illegitimate son is really the rightful heir.
When a wealthy merchant’s daughter is kidnapped and murdered―even though a ransom was paid―the King orders Harry Hunt of the Royal Society to help investigate.
A second woman goes missing: Elizabeth Thynne, England’s richest heiress. Her husband has a ransom letter from the same kidnappers.
Pressured by powerful men to find the killers and rescue Elizabeth, Harry uncovers a disturbing link to Bethlehem Hospital, better known as Bedlam. But he is falsely accused of the crimes.
To prove his innocence, he must find the real culprits. Harry’s search takes him from Rotherhithe to Whitehall Palace, and to the house of Sir Peter Lely, the famous portrait-painter, in Covent Garden. And back to Bedlam. He has the Monarchy’s future in his hands.
Review:
I very much enjoyed both The Bloodless Boy and The Poison Machine, so I was eager to dive back into the rich and exceptionally realised world of Hunt and Hooke. I think The Bedlam Cadaver (incidentally, what a fantastic title) may actually be the best yet which is high praise. What I absolutely love about these books is how incredibly visceral and detailed the atmosphere, dialogue and prose is. As a reader, you are fully transported to Restoration era England in every sense – seeing, smelling and feeling everything the characters are experiencing in a way that feels vividly authentic. Lloyd seamlessly mixes fact and fiction, including real historical figures with ease and making the story feel eminently plausible throughout. He also blends the political and historical thriller aspects in a way that feels effortless and deeply compelling. As with the first two books in this series, The Bedlam Cadaver requires investment and concentration, as the plot thickens and veers into the unexpected but it is truly an immensely enjoyable and rewarding reading experience which I highly recommend.
It has to be said, the characters in the Hunt & Hooke books are richly layered and not always likeable. In this instalment Harry is particularly caught up in his newfound prestige and is initially rather haughty and yet I was still totally caught up in his journey and found The Bedlam Cadaver fabulously intriguing from start to finish. It is definitely possible to read this as a standalone but if you enjoy complex and stunningly evocative historical mysteries then I highly recommend this entire series. I am looking forward to hopefully reading more Hunt & Hooke novels in the future.
★★★★★
Thank you to Nikki and Melville House for having me on the tour and for my copy of the book. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.
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