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James McGee - Bow Street Runners

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Margaret
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James McGee - Bow Street Runners

Post by Margaret » Mon September 29th, 2008, 6:51 pm

Annis has contributed another of her superb reviews to http://www.HistoricalNovels.info. This one is of Rapscallion, 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.
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info

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Madeleine
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Post by Madeleine » Tue September 30th, 2008, 11:29 am

[quote=""Margaret""]Annis has contributed another of her superb reviews to http://www.HistoricalNovels.info. This one is of Rapscallion, 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.[/quote]

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! :(

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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Tue September 30th, 2008, 7:45 pm

[quote=""Madeleine""][/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! :( [/quote]

Deryn Lake is the pseudonym of former writer of historical novels with a magical twist Dinah Lampitt.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'

Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal

www.elizabethchadwick.com

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Amanda
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Post by Amanda » Tue September 30th, 2008, 11:02 pm

[quote=""EC2""]Deryn Lake is the pseudonym of former writer of historical novels with a magical twist Dinah Lampitt.[/quote]

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

annis
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Post by annis » Wed October 1st, 2008, 4:49 am

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

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