DEATH AT BEGGAR’S OPERA (Trad. Mystery/Historical-John Rawlings-England-Georgian) – VGLake, Deryn (aka Dinah Lampitt) – 2nd in seriesHodder & Stoughton, 1995, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0340649844First Sentence: It begin an inclement day, plagued by needle-sharp rain and whipping winds, John Rawlings, after first safely locking up his shop in Shug Lane, hurried home beneath the protection of an umbrella, that useful invention from the Orient considered by many as too effeminate for a man to carry.Apothecary, and occasional agent for Sir John Fielding of Bow Street, attends a performance of “The Beggar’s Opera” with friends. The lead is played by Jasper Harcross, a handsome man and legendary lover of women. A critical scene calls for the hanging of Harcross’ character. The play’s the thing when the platform breaks, Harcorss is hung for real and Rawlings is, once again, asked to help find the killer.Rawlings combines a slight naiveté of youth, being in his 20s, with intelligence of his field and a determination for justice. John’s relationship with this adopted father is one I particularly enjoy. Lake’s writing is wonderfully evocative, conveying the social structure and feeling of the period and, in this book, a back-stage look at theatre of the time. There is a diverse and interesting array of secondary characters. The story had wonderful twists and turns right up to the end that kept me thoroughly engrossed and never quite able to predict where the story was going. For those of us who enjoy traditional mysteries in an historical setting, Lake’s books are a delight.
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