Customer Reviews
Thomas Chaloner in great shape - By: Didier, 27 May 2008 
'Blood on the Strand' is the second novel by Susanna Gregory featuring the 'intelligence agent' Thomas Chaloner setin Restoration London. The year is 1633, Charles II is back on the throne since (only) 3 years & London is still a hotbed of dissenters & ex-Cromwellians. Thomas has been unable to secure a job with the government's spymaster Joseph Williamson & now works for the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor. When a government agent readily shoots a 'beggar' & the latter turns out to be nothing less than a master-surgeon, Chaloner is asked to investigate & soon finds himselfin the midst of a hornet's nest of warring factions at court, all of which are ready to kill to further their aims...
Although I personally like the Matthew Bartholomew-series by Susanna Gregory slightly better, there's no denying that this is a very good historical detective novel, setin a different era than most (I sometimes have the impression 90% of historical novels are setin either the middle ages or Elizabethan times). The descriptions of Restoration London & its sounds & smells are very well done, there's a whole host of colourful & well-developed characters (many of them historical, such as the Duke of Buckingham & Lady Castlemaine), & the story moves along at a brisk pace, with lots of twists & turns.
A joy to read, & I for one am looking forward to the further adventures of Thomas Chaloner!
Cracking story - By: dyfthegog, 29 Apr 2007 
Susanna Gregory has pretty much mined the Bartholoomy stories to death but has hit a tremendous now seam with the stories about Thomas Challoner. This is the second & it is every bit as good as the first. Both are historically interesting & push on with a pace which renders the book difficult to put down. There is something for everyonein here including her usual complicated ending.
This Author's Books Are Always a Joy - By: J. Chippindale, 06 Jan 2007 Susanna Gregory is the pseudonym of a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. The author now has a number of excellent books to her name, primarily medieval mysteries featuring Matthew Bartholomew. This book is the secondin a series featuring Restoration London & having the lead character Thomas Chaloner, a somewhat reluctant spy for the feared Secretary of State, John Thurloe, London is a bustling thriving City & there is much work for a man such as Chaloner.
The year is 1663 & Thomas Chaloner a member of the King's intelligence service returns to London from Ireland, after assistingin thwarting a planned revoltin Dublin. Chaloner realises that feelingin the capital have changed since he left, there is a taste of rebellionin the London air. While investigating the shooting of a supposed beggar during a royal event, Chaloner discovers that far from being a beggar the man has links to the Company of Barber-Surgeons.
Meanwhile is master, the Earl of Clarendon is involvedin a feud with the Earl of Bristol & to cap it all an innocent man is about to take the long dropin Newgate prison. Chaloner has his work cut out trying to protect Clarendon, discover who murdered the supposed vagrant & try to save an innocent man from the executioner.
The author's books are always so well researched & her characters endearing to the reader. This all helps to make her books both interesting, appealing & a joy to anyone interestedin good historical fiction writing.
