The Ashes of London

The Ashes of London

Crime & Thrillers, Fiction, Fiction & Poetry, Crime General
Paperback Published on: 01/01/2017
£9.99
21 reviews
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Bookseller Reviews

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The Ashes of London
Chock-full of action and a hearty dollop of political intrigue
It’s 1666 and the Great Fire of London is raging, but bodies are being found that have nothing to do with the flames. The burnt landscape of 17th century L... READ MORE
Georgie Matthews at Windsor
The Ashes of London
Solid
A solid piece of historical crime fiction. Not as much a whodunnit as CJ Samson but an easy read nonetheless.
Adam at Liverpool
The Ashes of London
Fast paced historical mystery
I really enjoyed this mystery set amongst the ruin of London in the immediate aftermath of the Great Fire in 1666. I thought the two perspectives were well... READ MORE
Laura at Harrogate

Synopsis

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

Customer Reviews

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The Ashes of London
Brilliant murder mystery set during The Great Fire of London.
Andrew Taylor is a British crime and historical writer, best known for the international bestseller The American Boy and The Fallen Angel Trilogy. But in h... READ MORE
John Fish
The Ashes of London
Smell the smoke & feel the heat!
I bought this book after browsing in my local store, where it was prominently displayed & recommended by staff. I agree with the reviews making reference ... READ MORE
Kenneth Matthews
The Ashes of London
A new favourite
We had C.J.Sansom and his brother Shardlake - I thought that was excellent. When I finished the last book in the series I felt bereft. Not to worry - Andre... READ MORE
Hela
The Ashes of London
A good read
I really enjoyed this as it touched on historical aspects with which I was not familiar, and there was also an interesting story. It would have been good ... READ MORE
Neighbourswife
The Ashes of London
An enjoyable window into 1666
I don't usually read historical crime fiction, but this was chosen for my local Waterstones Reading Group, so I tried it. I'm very glad I did. I warmed to ... READ MORE
Philip Davies
The Ashes of London
The Gray Cloak
This is one of the best historical thrillers I have read this year. It is set in the years following the restoration of Charles II and at a time when Royal... READ MORE
Keith Currie
The Ashes of London
The Ashes of London
A super historical mystery novel. Highly recommended for fans of this genre or of mystery books in general. Well written in context and in plot. A defin... READ MORE
Gilb
The Ashes of London
An interesting book
This book must have been well researched. It was a fascinating glimpse into what life might have been like in London at the time of the fire. The charact... READ MORE
Maggi Newbery
The Ashes of London
Great historical whodunnit
Fast moving mystery set in a fascinating period. Easy to get absorbed. Now want to know what became of the main characters - a follow up please!
Eryl Prytherch
The Ashes of London
Ashes of London - By Andrew Taylor
Excellent read, really enjoyed from start to finish, superb detail and great story. Will definitely be reading more.
chris cooper
The Ashes of London
Dull and unappealing
Set during the Great Fire of London, ‘The Ashes of London’ tells the tale of Marwood and Cat who attempt to solve a murder and get swept up in political in... READ MORE
KindigBlog
The Ashes of London
Fascinating with loads of historical detail
September 1666 A sign many Londoners think means the end of the world is here . The Great Fire is burning out of control and people flee in terror , clutch... READ MORE
rozradmore
The Ashes of London
Stand away from the heat !
This is an excellent book dealing with the Great Fire of London . Beginning several days after the beginning of the fire in Pudding Lane we are immediately... READ MORE
rozradmore
The Ashes of London
Not my usual thing
Not my usual book- but really enjoyed the story entwined with the vivid description of London in C17. Definitely worth a read
Sarah Millington
The Ashes of London
Compelling
I was sent a copy of The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor to read and review by NetGalley. I was expecting the story of how the great fire of London starte... READ MORE
lesleys
The Ashes of London
Disjointed and directionless
At best, a poor man's Sansom! Two murders early on and, by the end of the novel, we don't really know why! No mystery, no intrigue, transparent, undevelope... READ MORE
Michael Durrance
The Ashes of London
1666
A novel set in the year of 1666, following the rise of Charles II, and the turmoil surrounding his claim to the throne. An interesting read, portraying the... READ MORE
Wadace
The Ashes of London
Brilliant historical whodunit!
Really enjoyed this - bought the series so far... twists and turns and a well rounded protagonist. If you like the Shardlake series, or Bernard Cornwell, y... READ MORE
Fiona Tocknell

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