This review is for Rosie’s Book Review Team. The book was purchased by the reviewer.
Bad Blood Will Out is the fourth in the Ashmole Fox series of mysteries set in Georgian England. The protagonist is the owner of a bookstore and is also the purveyor of rare books in central Norwich. He was introduced in the first book in this series, The Fabric of Murder, as somewhat of a fop, who frequents ladies of the night, the theater, and fine dining establishments. Over the series, he has grown into a much more established figure, well-know to the leaders of Norwich as a successful investigator of more serious crimes. His bookstore is now run by a widow with clever business skills: the proper, reliable and clever widow Mrs. Crombie. He also has an apprentice, Charlie Dillon, who was rescued by Fox from a life in the streets. Charlie has retained his connections to the street urchins, which proves of inestimable value in Fox’s investigations. Fox is one of the few elite of Norwich with a genuine understanding of, and care for, these children.
Bad Blood Will Out is probably my favorite in this series, and I have read and reviewed them all. It works well as a stand-alone mystery, which should tickle the reader to take a look at the first three. Before I go into my reasons for this, here’s the story line.
Fox has the bad luck to be presented with two murders at much the same time: one of a wealthy chandler (a dealer in supplies for boats and ships) and the other an alcoholic, over-the-hill actor at a local, run-down theater, the White Swan. Fox tries to avoid being involved in investigating the second murder because he loathes the manager of the White Swan. At the same time, he is forced by his inconsiderate brother, a moralistic preacher in the countryside, to entertain his nephew Nicholas, who is trying to find a profession for himself. Fox begins to unravel the chandler’s stabbing, which occurred while he was hosting a masquerade ball and was surrounded by guests., But Fox finds his mind wandering to the theater murder, which he finally decides to tackle by using the network of street children to gather evidence. What does the death of a popular actress twenty years ago have to do with the theater murder?
In this Fox adventure, we meet some interesting new characters, among them the local Cunning Woman – the Georgian term for a folk healer and herbalist – who in this case has some clairvoyant qualities. She has some past history with Fox and sends him a cryptic message about his necessity to solve both murders.
As usual, William Savage has woven his story into the historical tapestry of Georgian England, with wonderful details of life at that time, its customs and mores, and the nature of theater in places apart from London. His mystery, as always, is complex – lies and deceit abound. His characters are wonderfully drawn and three-dimensional, and there is a subtle but lovely sense of humor in the dialog and interactions between his people.
The reason I particularly liked this latest Ashmore Fox adventure was a compelling first chapter – really a prologue – and the evolving maturity of Fox. Although we are introduced to his sins of the flesh, I got the distinct feeling he might eventually consider marriage. It seems a likely direction, but I leave that to the author!
A great addition to the Ashmole Fox series, I highly recommend it!
About the author:
William Savage grew up in Hereford, on the border with Wales and took his degree at Cambridge. After a career in various managerial and executive roles, he retired to Norfolk, where he volunteers at a National Trust property. His life-long interest has been history, which led to research and writing about the eighteenth century. But his is not just a superficial interest in history, but a real desire to understand and transmit the daily experience of living in turbulent times. All his books are set between 1760 and 1800, a period of great turmoil in Britain, with constant wars, the revolutions in America and France, and the titanic twenty-two years struggle with Napoleon and France.
You can find Bad Blood Will Out on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-Will-Out-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B079RCVQ4X
along with this author’s other Georgian mystery books.
William Savage’s blog is Pen and Pension: http://penandpension.com/author/bluebrdz1946/
And at www.williamsavageauthor.com
Thank you Noelle.
Reblogged this on Pen and Pension.
Thanks so much, Noelle. I really value your thoughts and insights. As for Foxe getting married . . . you’ll have to wait and see if he finds the right lady!
You’re welcome, William. I do love this character!
Great review. A compelling first chapter is a great anchor to the story.
Thanks, Sylvia. I love Savage’s books. Initially the MD series drew me, but I think I like this series even better.
What a good review Noelle, I liked the book cover too,
You know, Charlotte, I was so anxious to read the book – I love the Ashmole character – that I didn’t really take a good look at the cover! Thanks for pointing it out!