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heatherreadsbooks's review
3.0
London - 1785. The body of a West Indies planter is found dead, and suspicions lands on former slaves. Dark secrets of the powerful slave trade are unwound, and they discover how far some people are willing to go if they believe their cause to be just.
I think my issues with this book rely solely on what I just read (Kindred - about slavery), and what I stopped reading temporarily to get through my review books (The Luminaries - starts with a death shrouded in mystery). The former was good, but two books of the same ilk (I'm not saying these are identical by any means) can wear thin; the latter was really gripping, and I kept thinking "I could be finding out that mystery..."
The characters are strong, and the opinions and decisions made seemed to fit in with Britain at the time, as you'd imagine it at least, and with slavery in the backdrop. Historical fiction that doesn't do justice to the history its placed in isn't worthwhile, but I think Imogen Robertson did a good job.
It is a good book, and had it fell in a different position in my to-read pile, I feel like I could have enjoyed it that bit more. Good historical fiction, good mystery.
I think my issues with this book rely solely on what I just read (Kindred - about slavery), and what I stopped reading temporarily to get through my review books (The Luminaries - starts with a death shrouded in mystery). The former was good, but two books of the same ilk (I'm not saying these are identical by any means) can wear thin; the latter was really gripping, and I kept thinking "I could be finding out that mystery..."
The characters are strong, and the opinions and decisions made seemed to fit in with Britain at the time, as you'd imagine it at least, and with slavery in the backdrop. Historical fiction that doesn't do justice to the history its placed in isn't worthwhile, but I think Imogen Robertson did a good job.
It is a good book, and had it fell in a different position in my to-read pile, I feel like I could have enjoyed it that bit more. Good historical fiction, good mystery.
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