Paul's Reviews > The Ashes of London

The Ashes of London
Another historical novel and again in the seventeenth century, this time just after the Civil War. It is the first in a series. Andrew Taylor has written several series of historical novels and this is the latest. This one is set during and just after the Great Fire of London.
There are two main characters. James Marwood is a general dogsbody who works for a civil servant doing a variety of tasks. His father was a printer and a Fifth Monarchist who was jailed following a failed revolt in 1661. James is now looking after him as he is showing signs of dementia.
The other main character is Cat Lovett. She is a sort of heiress living with relatives who don’t always treat her well. Her father Thomas Lovett was one of those who signed the death warrant of Charles the first and so now he is on the run. Cat is to be married off to an aging aristocrat.
They are both sucked into a series of events, intrigues and deaths that eventually mean their paths cross. Marwood’s account is in the first person; Cat’s in the third. That does grate a little after a while. It is a bit of a slow burner, but as a historical novel it is interesting, especially as I am on a bit of a Civil War kick at the moment. The descriptions of the fire and its aftermath all work well. It had some entertainment value last thing at night.