'An accidental death. A dark conspiracy. A forensic conundrum.
Cragg and Fidelis are caught in a web of political intrigue when their investigation into a seemingly accidental death unearths a dark conspiracy in this highly anticipated sequel to A Dark Anatomy.
Preston, England, 1741.The drowning of drunken publican Antony Egan is no surprise--even if it comes as an unpleasant shock to coroner Titus Cragg, whose wife was the old man's niece. But Cragg does his duty to the letter, and the inquest's verdict is accidental death. Meanwhile the town is rife with rumors and factions, as the general elections is only a week away and the two local seats are to be contested by four rival candidates. But Cragg's close friend, Dr. Luke Fidelis, finds evidence to cast doubt on the events leading to Egan's demise. Soon, suspicions are further roused when a well-to-do farmer collapses and it appears he was in town on political business. Is there a conspiracy afoot? The Mayor and Council have their own way of imposing order, but Cragg is determined not to be swayed by their pressure. With the help of Fidelis' scientific ingenuity, the true criminals are brought to life.'
My thoughts:
I fell in love with this author and Fidelis and Cragg in A Dark Anatomy and it seems that I waited forever for this to one to be released. This book is one of the reasons I love to read historical mysteries. Robin Blake is a superb writer and I simply could not put this one down. I love the way the author creates a quaint English countryside town where politics are all the rage during a heated election. When townspeople turn up dead under questionable circumstances, Fidelis and Cragg must learn whether the victims were killed for political or more personal reasons.
If you have not read A Dark Anatomy and you adore historical mysteries like I do, I highly recommend that you get your hands on that book and then read this one. I wasn't disappointed with this book, even with the long wait. I can see Mr. Blake becoming one of the few authors that I have to read as soon as a new book is released. There are a lot of side stories and situations amongst the characters that will engage the reader and make this a book that is impossible to put down. I simply couldn't wait to spend time with these characters and solve the mysteries at hand.
I personally think that this author is a standout writer who deserves all the accolades that are sure to come his way. I can't wait for the next book and I can see this series really taking off amongst readers who enjoy the historical mystery that will engage the reader from page one. If you pick this one up, be prepared for a read that will entertain you and remind you of the joys of reading a well-written book. This book was flawless and I hope that readers will find this author and this series because of the sheer brilliance and will enjoy it as much as I did.
Overall Rating: 5
Title: Dark Waters
Author: Robin Blake
Series: Cragg and Fidelis Mystery #2
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Pages: 384
Genre: Historical Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was selected from the library by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.