The Bedlam Cadaver (A Hunt & Hook Novel) by Robert J Lloyd

Book Blurb
In late 17th Century London rich young women are being kidnapped, then murdered. Harry Hunt, formerly of the Royal Society but now a rich gentleman, is falsely accused. To clear his name, he must rely on his abandoned scientific expertise and battle the full force of the British aristocracy.

1681, London cooks in summer heat. Bonfires are lit in protest against the King’s brother, James, heir to the throne but openly Catholic. Rumours abound of a ‘Black Box’, said to conceal proof the King’s illegitimate son is really the rightful heir.

When a wealthy merchant’s daughter is kidnapped and murdered―even though a ransom was paid―the King orders Harry Hunt of the Royal Society to help investigate.

A second woman goes missing: Elizabeth Thynne, England’s richest heiress. Her husband has a ransom letter from the same kidnappers.

Pressured by powerful men to find the killers and rescue Elizabeth, Harry uncovers a disturbing link to Bethlehem Hospital, better known as Bedlam. But he is falsely accused of the crimes.

To prove his innocence, he must find the real culprits. Harry’s search takes him from Rotherhithe to Whitehall Palace, and to the house of Sir Peter Lely, the famous portrait-painter, in Covent Garden. And back to Bedlam. He has the Monarchy’s future in his hands.

My Review
The Bedlam Cadaver is the third book in the Hunt and Hooke books by Robert J Lloyd and will be published on 20 June. Since reading the first book, The Bloodless Boy, I have become a huge fan of these books, and Harry Hunt, the main protagonist, in particular. In this book Hunt gets caught in the middle of a murder investigation, where he becomes the main suspect, and needs to solve the case whilst on the run. Add into this the search for a box that may or may not contain documents that could see Charles II succession go not to his brother but to his illegitimate son the Duke of Monmouth. Political intrigue, kidnap and murder weave together in this fast paced and compelling read.

I was really excited to be contacted by Melville House Press about being part of the blog tour for The Bedlam Cadaver , and I think this may be the best book yet. The main characters are now very familiar and Robert J. Lloyd always includes a wonderful blend of real and fictitious supporting characters. After the last book Hunt has gone up in the world, and it has definitely gone to his head. I loved this different side to Hunt, with his fashionable silk clothing, a new house with purple sofas and servants, and he has taken dancing lessons; it brought a wry smile to my face at how ridiculous he had become. He does however have the trust of King Charles II, who asks for his help not only in the murder investigation but aslo in the more personal matter of finding a box that could effect the succession of the throne. I always love Hunt’s personable character, he maybe dogged in his investigations but is always respectful to those he questions. As I mentioned there are a lot of colourful charaters in this book including Sir John Reresby, the blunt Justice of the Peace, who is the opposite of Hunt in every way, Karl Johann Von a Swedish count and his band of mercenaries, and the Duke of Monmouth himself. All bring their own personalities and stories to the plot.

What really shines through in these books is the descriptive prose and the journey through London that Robert J Lloyd takes the reader on. We go from The Royal Society where Sir Christopher Wren is going to do an experiment on a cadaver, to Bethlehem Hospital (Bedlam) and its inmates, to the salons of Covent Carden, home of artist Sir Peter Lely, and all of London inbetween. The sights, the smells come alive, both good and bad, and Robert J Lloyd captures the political and social atmosphere of London at this time as well. The plot is multi faceted, complex and totally immersive full of hsitorical detail and complex characters. There were so many different ways this plot was going before turning on its head and changing direction. The fast pace of the book and the suspense had me picking up this book at every opportunity, and going to bed extra early; proof my reading mojo is back.

I think that The Bedlam Cadaver is the best of the Hunt and Hooke books so far. I really lost myself in the pages of this book, the cultural and social norms of the period and in the lives of the characters. The murder mystery twists and turns, building suspense through to the very final pages. There is humour and wit mixed in with the murder investigation, adding a lightness to the tension. If you are a fan of the Shardlake series then I highly recommend the Hunt and Hooke series. Full of historical fact seamlessly mixed with fiction, this is another impressive and captivating read from Robert J Lloyd and I can’t wait to read the next book.