Description (from cover):'The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. The Empire teeters.
Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation.
This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corps the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself. As De Quincey and Emily race to protect the queen, they uncover long-buried secrets and the heartbreaking past of a man whose lust for revenge has destroyed his soul.
Based on actual attempts to assassinate Queen Victoria, Inspector of the Dead brilliantly merges historical fact with fiction, bringing a bloody chapter of Victorian England to vivid, pulse-pounding life.'
My thoughts:
Thomas De Quincey has returned in this thrilling and fast-paced Victorian historical thriller! I absolutely love this author and his writing style. This book was a great sequel to Murder As a Fine Art, which I have read and loved. This author has tried to remain as true to historical fact as possible and it is amazing to read at the end how much actually happened versus what was invented by the author. I remember how ecstatic I was to learn that this author was planning a trilogy featuring these characters and now I am sad because there is only one book left to read if rumor holds true.
Thomas De Quincey has outlasted his stay in London and Lord Palmerson cannot wait to see the opium addict and his daughter, Emily, out of his house. However, before this can happen, Thomas De Quincey's detective skills are needed a little bit longer. Someone has murdered a whole house full of people and leaves clues behind suggesting that someone might be planning an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria. The murders continue and the killer gets braver. De Quincey and company race against the clock to make sure that the Queen remains safe, while at the same time trying to solve these grisly murders.
This book was simply one that I could not put down. I was immediately drawn into the fast pace of the novel and the author's writing style and characters keep me intrigued. I simply cannot say enough things about this book other than you should read it soon!
Overall Rating: 5+
Title: Inspector of the Dead
Author: David Morrell
Series: Thomas De Quincey Mystery #2
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Publication Date: March 24, 2015
Pages: 342
Genre: Historical Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
