You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was pleasant enough but had a mixed pace to it, I did find the lead characters a bit two dimensional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
WOW! What a great historical cozy mystery.
This is the first cozy mystery I've read set in the 1700s and it was such a great mystery. I didn't know Samuel Pepys was a real person and I expected him to be the sleuth but the actual sleuths or inquisitors are his maid Abigail Harcourt a very intelligent and observant young woman and the young Jacob Standish who is wealthy, awkward, insecure and unsure of his sleuthing abilities. They make a great team since Abigail is often looked down upon or ignored because she is a woman and a servant girl. Jacob is something of a bull in a china shop and a little dense at times.
When Samuel Pepys' sister Paulina is accused of being a witch he sends Abigail & Jacob to Brampton to prove his sister's innocence then the man, Goody Grimston, who is his sister's accuser is murdered and the two find themselves investigating a murder to clear Paulina and her friend Rebecca of not only witchcraft but also murder.
There was a whole village of suspects as Grimston had more enemies than friends.
I also learned so much about people especially the self titled Witch Finder General Michael Hopkins and the author of The Discovery of Witches loved the character of his son Simon and his advocation to continue his father's work of ridding England of witches
This is the first cozy mystery I've read set in the 1700s and it was such a great mystery. I didn't know Samuel Pepys was a real person and I expected him to be the sleuth but the actual sleuths or inquisitors are his maid Abigail Harcourt a very intelligent and observant young woman and the young Jacob Standish who is wealthy, awkward, insecure and unsure of his sleuthing abilities. They make a great team since Abigail is often looked down upon or ignored because she is a woman and a servant girl. Jacob is something of a bull in a china shop and a little dense at times.
When Samuel Pepys' sister Paulina is accused of being a witch he sends Abigail & Jacob to Brampton to prove his sister's innocence then the man, Goody Grimston, who is his sister's accuser is murdered and the two find themselves investigating a murder to clear Paulina and her friend Rebecca of not only witchcraft but also murder.
There was a whole village of suspects as Grimston had more enemies than friends.
I also learned so much about people especially the self titled Witch Finder General Michael Hopkins and the author of The Discovery of Witches loved the character of his son Simon and his advocation to continue his father's work of ridding England of witches
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a fairly quick read, being about 244 pages. Simultaneously as the Great Fire of London begins to take hold in 1666, diarist Samuel Pepys despatches his two inquisitors – namely his protégé Jacob Standish and housemaid Abigail (Abby) Harcourt to Brampton where Pepys’ sister Paulina lives with their parents. Paulina has been accused of witchcraft. The infamous ‘Witchfinder General’ Matthew Hopkins has passed away however the mantle has been picked up by his son Simon Hopkins. Just as pious and unforgiving as his father, Hopkins is also on his way to Brampton and its a race against time for Jacob and Abby to get there to begin their investigations before he arrives.
I certainly felt that whilst Jacob had the wealth and status and the occasional flash of inspiration, Abby was the brains of the outfit. She may have been a mere housemaid but Jacob often appeared clumsy and inarticulate in comparison. It was a shame that Abby was frequently disregarded by others due to her lowly status because she was much quicker of mind. They did make a great pairing though, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
“From what the inquisitors knew, Brampton did not possess a wise and balanced magistrate. It had Bulstrode Bennett. The situation was serious indeed”.
Paulina wasn’t the only woman to be accused of being a witch and local magistrate Bulstrode Bennett, an odious man who seemed to be in cohorts with Hopkins was no help when it came to protesting their innocence. Jacob and Abby definitely had their work cut out in trying to save these women, and in particularly Paulina. Having now read two author’s witch books, one after the other, I was by now familiar with the word ‘poppet’, the historical meaning of which is a small human figure used in witchcraft and sorcery. There were plenty of these appearing in the village to both frighten and be used as evidence of guilt.
Samuel Pepys makes only fleeting appearances in his historical cosy mystery but however helpful the use of his name and influence may be to his inquisitors, this alone is not always enough to save them from danger. With its well drawn cast of characters and enough deaths to rival Midsomer Murders, I enjoyed this entertaining, intriguing and descriptive story. A great start to the series.
fast-paced
As the Great Fire ravages London in 1666, Samuel Pepys needs to put out a fire close to home. His sister Paulina stands accused of witchcraft. Can Pepys' inquistors, Jacob and Abigail work out the truth from the lies?
Being a history buff this book was right up my street. Over the years I've learnt a lot about Samuel Pepys, so was nice to have a story linked to him but also including witchcraft.
Brampton was your typical village of people not liking others and being very vocal about it. Some parts made me laugh.
I liked Abigail and Jacob and thought they worked well together even though they were complete opposites. Where Jacob was quiet and clumsy, Abigail was loud and straight to the point. A great combination and this was proved right with everything they found out as they worked the case.
Being a history buff this book was right up my street. Over the years I've learnt a lot about Samuel Pepys, so was nice to have a story linked to him but also including witchcraft.
Brampton was your typical village of people not liking others and being very vocal about it. Some parts made me laugh.
I liked Abigail and Jacob and thought they worked well together even though they were complete opposites. Where Jacob was quiet and clumsy, Abigail was loud and straight to the point. A great combination and this was proved right with everything they found out as they worked the case.