A new book in Andrew Taylor’s Marwood and Lovett series is always something to look forward to. This is the sixth in the series and another one I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re new to these books they do all work as standalones, but I would recommend reading all of them in order if possible so you can watch the relationship develop between James Marwood and Cat Lovett.
The Shadows of London is set around six years after the devastation of the Great Fire of London in 1666. The city is continuing to rebuild and Cat Lovett – now the widowed Mistress Hakesby – is working on the restoration of an ancient almshouse. Having taken over the running of her late husband’s architecture business, Cat is establishing a reputation for herself as a talented architect in her own right, and she and her partner, Brennan, have received a commission to rebuild the almshouse and construct new brick houses on the adjoining land. When a dead body is found on the site, bringing the project to a halt, Cat approaches her friend James Marwood to ask for his help in speeding up the investigations so that work can continue.
Marwood is now working as private secretary to the powerful statesman Lord Arlington. When it emerges that the dead man could be a clerk employed at the Council of Foreign Plantations, Arlington instructs Marwood to find out all he can about the murder. As he and Cat begin to investigate, however, they begin to uncover a trail that seems to be leading to the royal court and to Marwood’s old enemy, the Duke of Buckingham.
The investigation also has implications for another young lady, Louise de Kéroualle, formerly a maid of honour to Charles II’s sister, Minette. The King has his eye on Louise and she has been brought to England to serve as lady-in-waiting to his queen, Catherine of Braganza. It will suit certain people in both England and France to have a Frenchwoman in the King’s bed, but Louise has other things on her mind. Her lover, a French tutor, has gone missing – could he be involved in the almshouse murder?
As with the other five books in this series, Andrew Taylor blends fact and fiction together perfectly. Although the story of the dead man on the building site is fictional, it weaves in and out of the government intrigues and court conspiracies in a way that almost convinces you it could really have happened. While it was good to meet Cat and Marwood again, as well as some of the recurring characters I’ve become quite fond of, such as Marwood’s servants Sam and Margaret Witherdine, I also enjoyed getting to know Louise de Kéroualle. It was interesting to read Taylor’s author’s note where he discusses the politics behind Louise’s seduction by Charles II – with letters from the period as evidence – and why his interpretation of her story is more sympathetic than some.
Long-term readers of the series will be wondering whether this is the book where Cat and Marwood finally get together after what has been a bit of a love-hate relationship. Well, I’m not going to tell you that, but I do think you’ll be pleased to know that, unlike in some of the previous novels, there are plenty of interactions between the two of them and they work closely with each other to solve the mystery. I found the ending of the book quite satisfying, but I’m hoping there will be a book seven as I would love to see what’s in store next for Marwood and Lovett!
Thanks to HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
This is book 8/50 read for the 2023 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.
She Reads Novels 
Sounds like a very interesting and fun series.
It is – I love it!
Very interesting review which has certainly whetted my appetite to read the novel! I’m a big fan of Andrew Taylor and wanted to say that one thing that doesn’t often get mentioned in articles about him is that he has become a really fine prose stylist. There is such an elegance to his writing these days and he has developed an impressive ability to create the subtlest of moods and emotions in his characters. As I say, I’m a big fan!
I’m a big fan too, although I’ve only read this series and his earlier standalone historical novels – I haven’t tried his contemporary crime. I agree that his prose is excellent and you’re right that it doesn’t get praised often enough.
I’ve only read one of this series so far (the first one, luckily), and it came under the heading of ‘quite enjoyed’. But your review is tempting, and I can imagine this is a series that grows on you as the characters develop.
I had mixed feelings about the first book in the series – I found the characterisation slightly weak – but each book since then has been better than the last. Definitely a series that grows on you!
That encourages me to persist. It was the characterisation that was the weakest link, but if it’s getting better .. then … I’m in!
Oh good, I’m glad a new one is out, although I don’t suppose it’s available here yet.
I see I have it preordered and it’s expected in June.
Not too long to wait, then. I hope you enjoy it!
I have enjoyed them so far.
Huzza! Thank you.
You’re welcome, Andrew! I think this is one of the best in the series.
I want to continue with this series. You and my mother are both enjoying it and I liked book 1; just haven’t got around to reading more.
It’s definitely a series worth continuing. I thought book 1 was probably the weakest, so if you liked that one you have a lot to look forward to.