Then, in the midst of all of this destruction, James Marsden, the son of a traitor must solve a murder. I even felt myself imagining the heat for the fire and the oppressive smoke. I could clearly imagine the devastation of the fire as Taylor vividly creates the atmosphere of 1666 – the search for an explanation of the fire and the wide-spread disaster of London. The Great Fire of London is a great idea – especially with St. I grabbed this book in London after being intrigued by some fellow book bloggers and bookstagrammers. But at a time of dangerous internal dissent and the threat of foreign invasion, Marwood finds his investigation leads him into treacherous waters – and across the path of a determined, beautiful and vengeful young woman. Under orders from the government, Marwood is tasked with hunting down the killer across the devastated city. The man’s body has been mutilated and his thumbs have been tied behind his back. Paul’s, in a tomb that should have been empty. In the aftermath of the fire, a semi-mummified body is discovered in the ashes of St. Among the crowds watching its destruction is James Marwood, son of a disgraced printer, and reluctant government informer. Paul’s is engulfed in flames and reduced to ruins. The Great Fire rages through the city, consuming everything in its path. This novel has everything one could want in a summer book.Goodreads Summary: London, September 1666. Christopher Wren, who plans a new London from the ashes. Īs a reluctant government informant, he is brought into the world of a woman who dreams of architecture and Dr. He supports the two of them on his salary as a minor clerk, but someone has an eye on him and knows he can be frightened or blackmailed. Marwood is a pauper, his father's printing business ruined by the Restoration and his father imprisoned and then released to his custody. Meanwhile, a man is dead, possibly murdered, in the charred ruins of the cathedral. Paul's and thus opens the door to a very different future. James Marwood saves a boy from certain death in a fire in St. There are continuing fears of plague and then comes the conflagration. Religion still holds the country in thrall. It's 1666 and the charm of the Restoration is wearing thin. The Great Fire of London forms both the opening and the backdrop of this brilliant historical mystery by Andrew Taylor ( The American Boy, The Scent of Death), one of Britain's best authors.

The ashes of london