The Ashes of London

From the No.1 bestselling author of The American Boy comes a brand new historical thriller set during the time of the Great Fire of London.

'The noise was the worst. Not the crackling of the flames, not the explosions and the clatter of falling buildings, not the shouting and the endless beating of drums and the groans and cries of the crowd: it was the howling of the fire. It was the voice of The Great Beast itself.'

London, 1666: a city in flames…

As the Great Fire consumes everything in its path, even the great cathedral and as the embers smoulder, the body of a man is found in the ruins of St Paul's - stabbed in the neck, thumbs tied behind his back.

A woman on the run…

The son of a traitor, James Marwood is a reluctant government informer, forced to hunt the killer through the city's devastated streets. There he encounters a determined young woman who will stop at nothing to secure her freedom.

A killer seeking revenge…

When a second murder victim is discovered in the Fleet Ditch, Marwood is drawn into the political and religious intrigue of Westminster.

At a time of dangerous internal dissent, Marwood’s investigation will lead him into treacherous waters – and across the path of a determined and vengeful woman.

After a varied early career including stints as a librarian, teacher, publisher’s editor and (more unusually) boat-builder on his CV, Andrew Taylor has built a reputation as an astute and accomplished writer. A favourite with Waterstones' customers for his popular series including the Lydmouth novels and the popular Fallen Angel trilogy Taylor is perhaps best-known for his historical fiction, particularly The American Boy, The Anatomy of Ghosts, Bleeding Heart Square and The Silent Boy. The Ashes of London is the first in his latest crime series.

Read more about the background and history that lies behind this bestselling historical thriller as Andrew Taylor gives an insight into the research that influenced The Ashes of London.

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• ISBN: 9780008119096
• Number of pages: 496
• Weight: 410g
• Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 26 mm