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. ( )