21 Church Street
Falmouth
TR11 3EG
01326 312873

Black Drop

£8.99

July 1794, and the streets of London are filled with rumours of revolution. Political radical Thomas Hardy is to go on trial for treason, the war against the French is not going in Britain’s favour, and negotiations with the independent American colonies are on a knife edge. Laurence Jago – clerk to the Foreign Office – is ever more reliant on the Black Drop to ease his nightmares. A highly sensitive letter has been leaked to the press, which may lead to the destruction of the British Army, and Laurence is a suspect. Then he discovers the body of a fellow clerk, supposedly a suicide. Blame for the leak is shifted to the dead man, but even as the body is taken to the anatomists, Laurence is certain both of his friend’s innocence, and that he was murdered.

Out of stock

Description

* A TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR ** SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE MONTH ** LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN *’One of the best debuts of the year’ – THE TIMES’As nimbly realised as by the genre’s master, Andrew Taylor’ – FINANCIAL TIMES’Black Drop is a joy from start to finish’ – ANDREW TAYLORThis is the confession of Laurence Jago. Clerk. Gentleman. Spy. July 1794, and London is filled with rumours of revolution. The war against the French is not going in Britain’s favour, and negotiations with America are on a knife edge. Laurence Jago, Foreign Office clerk, is ever more reliant on opium – the Black Drop – to ease his nightmares. A highly sensitive letter, whose contents could lead to the destruction of the British Army, has been leaked to the press and Laurence is a suspect. Then he discovers the body of a fellow clerk – a supposed suicide – and it seems clear where the blame truly lies. But Laurence is certain both of his friend’s innocence, and that he was murdered. But after years of hiding his own secrets from his powerful employers, can Laurence find the true culprit without ending up on the gallows himself?A thrilling historical mystery, perfect for readers of C.J. Sansom, Andrew Taylor, Antonia Hodgson and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.’This opium-fuelled gem is a murderous romp’ – JANICE HALLETT’A thrilling slice of pitch-dark historical fiction’ – EMMA STONEX’A gripping, intricate story of Georgian high politics’ – W.C. RYAN

Additional information

Weight 0.32 kg
Dimensions 19.6 × 12.8 × 2.8 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

402

Language

English

Edition

1st paperback ed

Dewey

823.92 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K