James McGee - Bow Street Runners

[Margaret]

Annis has contributed another of her superb reviews to www.HistoricalNovels.info. This one is of Rapscallion (http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Rapscallion.html), the third novel in James McGee's series about a more-than-usually ruthless member of the Bow Street Runners, the 18th century forerunners of the English police system. A bit of swash, but the buckles are decidedly not shiny.

The Bow Street Runners are pretty interesting - Annis tipped me off that they were founded by the novelist Henry Fielding! His Tom Jones is technically not a historical novel since it was contemporary when Fielding wrote it, but that shouldn't bother any of us. It's still a great read. When Henry Fielding retired as a magistrate, his blind half-brother John took over his job and did so well that he was knighted. He's inspired several other mystery series.

[Madeleine]

Annis has contributed another of her superb reviews to www.HistoricalNovels.info. This one is of Rapscallion (http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Rapscallion.html), the third novel in James McGee's series about a more-than-usually ruthless member of the Bow Street Runners, the 18th century forerunners of the English police system. A bit of swash, but the buckles are decidedly not shiny.

The Bow Street Runners are pretty interesting - Annis tipped me off that they were founded by the novelist Henry Fielding! His Tom Jones is technically not a historical novel since it was contemporary when Fielding wrote it, but that shouldn't bother any of us. It's still a great read. When Henry Fielding retired as a magistrate, his blind half-brother John took over his job and did so well that he was knighted. He's inspired several other mystery series.

Yes, there is a series of books by a lady called Deryn Lake which features John Fielding, who was known as "The Blind Beak". Not sure if you can get them in the US/Canada as they're not that widely available here in the UK!:(

[EC2]

[/B]

Yes, there is a series of books by a lady called Deryn Lake which features John Fielding, who was known as "The Blind Beak". Not sure if you can get them in the US/Canada as they're not that widely available here in the UK!:(

Deryn Lake is the pseudonym of former writer of historical novels with a magical twist Dinah Lampitt.

[Amanda]

Deryn Lake is the pseudonym of former writer of historical novels with a magical twist Dinah Lampitt.

Oh I have a couple of Dinah Lampitt books! Sutton Place and Pour the Dark Wine (about Jane Seymour IRC).

[annis]

That's interesting about the Deryn Lake series- I didn't know about those, though I did know of another historical mystery series featuring Sir John Fielding by Bruce Alexander.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/bruce-alexander