What do You think about A Conspiracy Of Violence (2006)?
First book in the Thomas Chaloner series and while I liked it, I did not enjoy it as much as the author's Matthew Bartholomew books. It's probably because Restoration London does not hold as much interest to me as 14th century Cambridge. However, it is another well-written book and one does feel like one is back in time, during the years immediately following the restoration of Charles II. Maybe I'll warm up more to the characters and the setting when I've had a chance to read more of the series.
—Wendy
A Conspiracy of Violence is the first novel in the Thomas Chaloner series by author Susanna Gregory. Thomas Chaloner is an unemployed and broke ex-spy of the English Commonwealth following the restoration of Charles II to the English throne. He approaches his former boss for work and is hired to find a cache of treasure believed to be buried in the Tower of London and is also hired to look into the murder of a former agent. What he will uncover is a conspiracy upon conspiracy that will lead him wondering where to turn and who to trust.Susanna Gregory has created a marvelous crime turned spy thriller that sits with the masters of genre.Read the full review here
—The Crime Scene Scene
The one thing I require of my recreational reading is that it pull me into the story immediately, with fast-moving action, a compelling atmosphere, an intriguing conundrum, or something -- anything! -- other than four pages of dull exposition of the main character's history. Particularly when that history is then repeated in the subsequent pages. I haven't the patience to wade through all 500 pages.Gregory, as with so many current authors of historical fiction, substitutes textbook-style explanation for literary revelation, and refuses to let the work speak for itself. Or perhaps she does not trust her readers' ability to interpret the text. For example, it is not enough to tell us that a character built a fire; she must explain to us that the room was cold. We are not allowed to interpret that a character coughs to attract attention; we must have it stated explicitly for us. Too many authors of historical fiction today seem to have learned their craft from high school textbooks of the duller kind.
—Suzanne
