NOTE: Gabaldon and historical mystery fans take note; this is a wonderful series and a good one to hold you over between "Outlander" books. I read all three books, one right after the last, in three days.THE SPIDER’S TOUCH (Hist. Mys-Gideon Fitzsimmons/Hester Kean-England-1715) – VGWynn, Patricia – 2nd in seriesPemberley, 2002, US Hardcover – ISBN: 097027274XFirst Sentence: A pair of tiny overlapping circles embossed the baby’s forehead, carving an edge like an embryo moon.Gideon Fitzsimmons, unable to prove his innocence for the murder of his father, has escaped to his property in France. In exchange for his support of James II, also exiled in France, he is offered the enticement of having his having his name and estate restored once James is back on the throne in England. As a first step, Gideon is asked to go back to England and learn when the rising will occur. In England, it is a dangerous time to be a Tory supporting James. When Gideon, in disguise, sees his friend Hester Kean accompanying her cousin Isabella, married to the man who usurped Gideon’s position as Earl of Hawkhurst, enter the house of an avid Jacobite, he worries for her safety, arranges a rendezvous and warns her, promising to be there for her if she needs him. Days later, Hester and her family attend the opera at the invitation of Sir Humphrey Cove. At the end of Intermission, Humphrey returns to the box, falling dead with a knife from Hawkhurst House in his back. Hester’s cousin Dudley, who had previously attacked Humphrey when drunk, is accused and Hester turns to Gideon for help.”The first book of this series was so good, I immediately started the second; something I’ve not done since “Outlander.” I love the characters: Hester, who is smart, strong, and loyal; Gideon who wants to clear his name but not at the cost of Civil War, Mrs. Mayhew, ever conniving; Tom, Gideon’s servant who is attracted to buy trying to stay away from Gideon’s other servant Katy. All the characters are brought clearly to live under Ms. Wynn’s deft hand. The murder doesn’t happen until almost half-way into the story and I did keep waiting for the mystery element of the book to make itself known. However, I do understand that without all that goes before it, the murder wouldn’t make sense. This was a time, particularly for the titled and those with wealth, politics were critical. Without ever slowing the pace of the story, Ms. Wynn’s deftly incorporates the historical and political information into the plot. There is such a strong sense of time and place that acquaints us with the social structure and manners of the time. The humor, suspense and romance, which I enjoyed in the first book are still very much a part of this story. It is rare I will read books of a series back-to-back, but I am so enjoying everything about these books, I’m on to Book Three.
