Robin BlakeCritiques

A family is slaughtered seemingly by their father/husband and Coroner Cragg is called out to Warrington to investigate. His friend Dr Fidelis is staying with wealthy friends nearby when a body is discovered preserved in peat below the hothouse. In 1740s Lancashire everyone is afraid of the French and several local religious sects are thriving. Will Cragg and Fidelis manage to find the links between the two cases?
I have not read Blake's work before and this meant that I was playing catch-up in terms of understanding characters and relationships as there is little back-story given. However I loved the setting, mid-18th Century Lancashire in a time just as the Industrial Revolution is starting. There is a great section about a canal and the novelty of a journey upon it. As far as the plot goes, it is a fairly standard historical mystery with the added interest around rival religious sects.

Murder most foul!

A family murdered on their farm, a young witness without speech, a strange religious group that approaches the tenets of scripture from a very different perspective—all this is the background for a gruesome crime in Warrington, Cheshire, 1747.
As the County Coroner, Titus Cragg is called by the local magistrate, John Blackburne, to investigate the deaths
As fate would have it Dr. Luke Fidelis is staying as a guest at Blackburne’s manor with two French gentleman, one of whom Fidelis had studied with.
Serendipitously, or by chance, a reasonably preserved body is discovered, buried beneath a drainage area in the hothouse of the Hall.
Now two seperate incidents of murder will exercise Titius’ investigative powers.
His wife Elizabeth joins him for a few days, and as always proves to be helpful in bringing Titus’ thoughts to fruition.
I had a glimpse, a fleeting idea of who the culprit might be early on, but nothing concrete. Really it was troubling.
Another fascinating late medieval mystery that delves into these times and showcases some of the cultural and social aspects, the happenings, of that era. The religious offshoots of the murdered family are fascinating.

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley

1745. The Young Pretender's army is on its way southwards, towards Preston when two decapitated bodies are found. Coroner Titus Cragg and Dr Luke Fidelis investigate, is there a connection between the bodies and the approaching army.
The story really didn't catch my interest, this might be because I have not read the previous five books which may be why I didn't find the characters were interesting enough. It was presumed that we would know their individual histories. For me there was not enough of a mystery in the story.
A NetGalley Book

1746 Coroner Titus Craft is once again sent to Chimneystacks Farm to investigate a death, this time taking with him his friend Dr. Luke Fidelis. The investigation exposes a Tontine Fund of which the victim was a member. So who will be next. Is this the motive, and who is the guilty party.
An enjoyable and well-written historical mystery, with some likeable characters. The book can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Georgian anomaly!

It all starts with a dead pig! April 1746, on a breezy April morning, Preston County Coroner Titus Gragg is called out to a neigboring village to investigate a murder.
Much to his disgust the body turns out to be pig farmer Richard Giggleswick‘s prized animal! We have a boar assassination! The End!
That however was never to be the end. The very next day Titus finds himself with Dr. Luke Fidelis journeying once more to Chimneystacks Farm to investigate the same farmer’s demise. Their discovery process takes them onto Liverpool to consult with Ambrose Parr, Farmer Giggleworth’s lawyer and man of business.
A missing paper is alluded to by a frail, possibly demented mother
More truth than fiction, this turns out to be a paper labelled Tontine Fund—whatever that might be? signed twenty years prior!
Ah! and when they do realize what it is, the situation looks, as Fidelis says, ‘a ready-made list of people who may have shot Richard Giggleswick.’
As always it takes me a chapter or so to settle into the rytmn of a Cragg and Fiselis novel, but it’s not long before I’m wondering how things will play out—which they do—even if the pace is slower than I’d reckoned on.

A Severn House (Canongate Books) ARC via NetGalley½

Intriguing Georgian mystery!

Titus Gragg determines that he and his family will flee the miasma of a sweltering 1744 summer and the threat of disease by taking a house in a small village in East Lancashire.
What he walks into is a murder inquiry. A shrewish wife has recently died from the practice of stanging. And with that the idiosyncrasies and customs of a remote rural hamlet left to its own devices soon becomes apparent.
The opening is a damning comment on the spread of gossip and of speculation growing into disturbing action. I was immediately struck by it.
"At the beginning there were just three conspirators, but like a wine spill on a tablecloth the disturbance spread and soon most of the village had caught the stain."
A brilliant introduction!
All in all, an unusual story that has a distinctive writing style which continued to lure me in. I found myself becoming more readily involved with the inner views of Titus as tension intriguingly grows under his careful insights. As the death of the woman is focused on, other players are introduced.
What I also came to realize was the particularly painstaking methodology of Titus, his sense of responsibility to his calling, and to his fellow citizens. Into this cameo medieval like village life comes Titus's doctor friend Luke Fidelis, who immediately sets about helping out with his friend the coroner's inquest.
Along the way we meet several interesting village members. There's the two major land holders in the area who are at odds over a bee swarm amongst other matters. (The analogies of the bees as a metaphor for human interactions is a fascinating inclusion throughout the story).
The violin player Blind Billy whose capering and music hijinks appears to egg on the mob mentality that infuses the villagers when they are in the throes of high running emotions (and alcohol). That all this is fueled by gossip, prejudice and speculation is disturbing.
An ex-soldier, Harry Hawk, returned from the French Wars with terrible facial scaring becomes the scapegoat. Is he innocent or guilty?
It is truly ironic that Titus' initial decision to take his family to safety actually exposed them to a different set of dangers in this closed, suspicious community.
This was a very peculiar and mesmerizing tale that has marvelous Chaucerian elements and a satisfying resolution.

A NetGalley ARC

Blake does a good job of conveying information about the time and customs of 18th cent. England without resorting to dialect and forelock tugging. The mystery kept me guessing; an early guess was close, but not the answer. Something of a cliffhanger ending.

Once again I find myself reading a book that is 4th in series, without having read the precious three. Such is life, don't think it affected my enjoyment of this very atmospheric historical. Learned much too since it tales place in 1743 in a town called Prescott, noted for its leather goods, bordering a march that all villagers use for grazing of their herds. A game called bowls, had heard of it before but here it is explained in detail. The art of tanning, these poor souls were looked down on by the rest because apparently the smell of the pits tended to stay with them.

A dead baby is found in one of these pits, and suspicion immediately falls on the few women working the pits, this job seemed to be the occupation of families, the skill as they say, handed down from one to the next. Cragg is the local coroner, a job which was way harder back then, one just had to talk to people, follow what little evidence there was and maybe hope for enlightening information. Fidelio is the so called modern day doctor, not trusted by many yet, his ways seem to new and most instead trust the old family doc who someone manages to look at a body without any investigation and make a diagnosis. Together Fidelis and Crag will work together to solve this case which becomes much larger than it first appears.

A good series, one I think will grow on me, though at times it was a little slow. So much is explained about the political environment and maneuverings, rich against poor and of course evidence is collected much more slowly without any definitive tests available. I did though feel as if I was actually back in that time period so the author did a great job creating a believable environment. Will defy Italy keep an eye out for next in series.

ARC from Netgalley.½

In Lancashire, England, 1740, the small township of Preston is rife with superstition and paganism. When the mysterious, reclusive Dolores Brockletower of Garlic Hall is found in the woods with her throat slit from ear to ear, some say it is the work of the Devil. Rumors of witchcraft and lycanthropy abound. The prime suspect is Dolores's strange husband, Squire Ramilles Brockletower. Titus Cragg, lawyer and part-time coroner, must ask his friend Dr. Luke Fidelis to help him uncover the dark secrets responsible for Dolores's death--secrets that will eventually destroy the lives of several more inhabitants of Preston.

There is a lot of folklore, mythology, including the ideas of werewolves, vampires, etc. thrown into the mix. Any one of these thems would have been doable but all of it was just "too much". It was interesting to see how a crime was handled in the absense of forensic science, with so much superstition thrown into the mix. Probably closer to 2.5 stars but I'll give it the benefit of a doubt as it is a first novel for this author.

A slow start, but the plot picks up in the second half. Nicely drawn characters, and a couple of herrings of a suitably scarlet hue.½

Historical mystery fans, put this book on your “must read” list. If you’ve felt the need to fill the hole left after the ending of Bruce Alexander’s Sir John Fielding Mysteries, Robin Blake has a perfect fit. The year is 1740 and our “hero” is Coroner Titus Cragg along with his good friend Dr. Fidelis, living in a small province of England. The magistrate’s wife has been found dead and it is the job of these men to surmise the circumstances of her passing. Though the magistrate himself is suspect number one, far too many other suspects keep popping up, and then turning up dead themselves. As the story unravels, the coroner is faced with weighing his personal ethics against the law. Whether or not you agree with Cragg’s final decisions, you can’t help but respect the
sincerity of his reasoning.

This review was originally written for Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore.

Set in 1741 in the Lancashire town of Preston during the elections. The Whigs and Tory parties are both intent on winning at all costs. Early on a man is found drowned and local coroner,Titus Cragg is quickly on the scene. He is soon joined by his friend Dr Fedelis and they soon begin to suspect that this is more than just an accident.

“Fresh Meat” by Vanessa Parker for Criminal Element

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like if Sherlock Holmes had investigated a mystery in the halls of Downton Abbey? I’ll admit that thought never crossed my mind, but, after reading A Dark Anatomy by Robin Blake, I got a taste of the answer. And I liked it.

In the year 1740, around the little town of Preston, Titus Cragg, coroner and attorney, receives a ghastly request while eating breakfast. He is to come at once to Garlick Hall, the estate of Remille Brokletower. The body of Dolores Brokletower, the mistress of the house, has been found under the branches of an old oak tree. She is wearing riding clothes, but her horse is nowhere to be found. The state of her body seems odd, and, in the words of the messenger boy sent to fetch Mr. Cragg, “it seemed like Mistress dove down from the sky. Her face and hands were in the earth.” Oh, and her throat has been cut from ear to ear.

Read the rest at: http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2012/05/fresh-meat-a-dark-anatomy-tradition...

Meh.

That pretty much sums it up. I have read worse books for sure but this one was rather unremarkable. Five pages in I started asking myself if I was sure I wanted to continue reading...and I always finish books I start.

The story was set in 1740s England. The main character, Mr. Cragg, is the town Coroner who must look into the suspicious death of Mrs. Brockeltower, the Squire's wife. She is found in the woods with her throat slit and it starts to look like the 'honorable' Mr. Brockeltower is the murderer. But wait! Mrs. Brockeltower asked someone for fishing line! (I mention this as it was kind of made a big-ish deal in the story... so clearly this will return later in the story.)

The story drags on using the antiquated language of the time (with copious 'big words' thrown in for good measure) and then 3 more people die in various ways: An accidental hanging, a hatchet to the back of the head, and a mysterious gun shot/horse accident/fainting spell.

On top of that it is discovered the the Squire is in fact attracted to men and THEN it is discovered during the autopsy that Mrs. Brockeltower is in fact a hermaphrodite (which really is the only thing in this book that isn't predictable). Various religious quotes and soul searching ensues and finally a jury is called and the cases are settled.

It was found that Mrs. Brockeltower in fact killed herself by slashing her throat with a pair of scissors that were tied to a piece of fishing line and then a horseshoe. Yeah.

So now she can't have a Christian burial and must have a stake pounded through her heart a midnight according to law. The end.

Really. That was it. You are welcome, you don't have to read it now.

** spoiler alert **

Meh.

That pretty much sums it up. I have read worse books for sure but this one was rather unremarkable. Five pages in I started asking myself if I was sure I wanted to continue reading...and I always finish books I start.

The story was set in 1740s England. The main character, Mr. Cragg, is the town Coroner who must look into the suspicious death of Mrs. Brockeltower, the Squire's wife. She is found in the woods with her throat slit and it starts to look like the 'honorable' Mr. Brockeltower is the murderer. But wait! Mrs. Brockeltower asked someone for fishing line! (I mention this as it was kind of made a big-ish deal in the story... so clearly this will return later in the story.)

The story drags on using the antiquated language of the time (with copious 'big words' thrown in for good measure) and then 3 more people die in various ways: An accidental hanging, a hatchet to the back of the head, and a mysterious gun shot/horse accident/fainting spell.

On top of that it is discovered the the Squire is in fact attracted to men and THEN it is discovered during the autopsy that Mrs. Brockeltower is in fact a hermaphrodite (which really is the only thing in this book that isn't predictable). Various religious quotes and soul searching ensues and finally a jury is called and the cases are settled.

It was found that Mrs. Brockeltower in fact killed herself by slashing her throat with a pair of scissors that were tied to a piece of fishing line and then a horseshoe. Yeah.

So now she can't have a Christian burial and must have a stake pounded through her heart a midnight according to law. The end.

Really. That was it. You are welcome, you don't have to read it now.

Without wanting to write a spoiler, can that murder method really work? The victim's identity is the real mystery.

The background and characters of the 1740's is very well done.½

It is March 1740 in Northern England when a letter arrives for Titus Cragg the local Coroner. The note is from the Housekeeper of nearby Garlick Hall,asking him to make his way there urgently,as a 'deplorable mortal accident' has occurred there.
Thus begins 'A Dark Anatomy' which features Cragg and his Watson-like assistant Dr.Luke Fidelis.
The death to be investigated is that of the Squire's wife,Delores Brockletower,who set off riding earlier in the day. Later her body has been discovered deep in the forest with a terrible injury to her throat.
As the story unfolds and more deaths occur,the Coroner finds himself in the centre of a twisted web at the heart of which is a dark anatomy indeed.
I found this an excellent novel which stands head and shoulders above the many books of historical fiction written about this period. I strongly recommend it to readers interested in Crime Fiction with a somewhat unusual slant. I look forward to Robin Blake's next 'Cragg & Fidelis Mystery' with keen anticipation.

I found this disappointing compared to the earlier works in the series; I would rather read Lynda La Plante writing for herself rather than Robin Blake writing for her but with Ms La Plante's name splashed about as a misleading advertising banner. It might have made good television but the literary adapation was not a first rank crime novel.

2.85

History / Mystery pick - UK Edition½