Awards

• Long-listed for Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023 (UK)
• Short-listed for CWA Historical Dagger 2023 (UK)

Overview

AN INSTANT TIMES BESTSELLER A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A truly gripping read' - The Guardian 'Fabulous, a delight' - S.G. MACLEAN 'A fine adventure reminiscent of Patrick O'Brian' - Sunday Times This is the secret report of Laurence Jago. Unwilling spy. Reluctant sailor. Accidental detective. New Year 1795, and Laurence Jago is aboard the Tankerville mail ship, en route to Philadelphia. Laurence is travelling undercover, supposedly as a journalist's assistant. But his real mission is to protect a civil servant, en route to Congress with a vital treaty that will stop the Americans from joining the French in their war against Britain. When the civil servant meets an unfortunate - and apparently accidental - end, the treaty disappears, and Laurence realises that only he can keep the Americans out of the war. Trapped on the ship with a strange assortment of travellers including two penniless French aristocrats, an Irish actress and a dancing bear, Laurence must hunt down both the lost treaty and the murderer, before he has a tragic 'accident' himself... The new page-turning historical mystery from the author of Black Drop, a 2021 Times Book of the Year. Perfect for readers of Andrew Taylor, Laura Shepherd-Robinson and S.J. Parris.

Full Product Details

9781788165969

Table of Contents

Reviews

Artful and authentic historical fiction at its best -- A.J. West, author of The Spirit Engineer I absolutely loved this book. Full of intrigue and excitement with a brilliantly realised cast of characters and a totally immersive setting. Superb -- Philippa East, author of Little White Lies Fabulous... A delight. Nattrass again and again had me wondering at her skill and marvellous turn of phrase -- S.G. MacLean, author of The Seeker A rip-roaring tale of murder and intrigue on the high seas -- Trevor Wood, author of The Man on the Street A compelling and spectacular nautical murder mystery. Superbly written characters in a convincing historic setting -- Guy Morpuss, author of Five Minds Such a thrilling read. Characters who utterly drew me in and didn't let go until the final page. Spectacular -- J.M. Hewitt, author of The Eight Year Lie Even more welcome than an extra rum ration on Christmas Day, and slips down just as easily -- Robert Lloyd, author of The Bloodless Boy PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR: Weaves the complex politics of 18th-century Britain into a gripping murder mystery * The Times * A joy from start to finish. Jago is a very sympathetic hero... and Philpott made me want to cheer -- Andrew Taylor Filled with memorable characters... first-class entertainment * Sunday Times * A gripping, intricate story of Georgian high politics and low life... Top notch -- W.C. Ryan Nimbly realised * Financial Times *

Artful and authentic historical fiction at its best -- A.J. West, author of The Spirit Engineer I absolutely loved this book. Full of intrigue and excitement with a brilliantly realised cast of characters and a totally immersive setting. Superb -- Philippa East, author of Little White Lies Fabulous... A delight. Nattrass again and again had me wondering at her skill and marvellous turn of phrase -- S.G. MacLean, author of The Seeker A rip-roaring tale of murder and intrigue on the high seas -- Trevor Wood, author of The Man on the Street A compelling and spectacular nautical murder mystery. Superbly written characters in a convincing historic setting -- Guy Morpuss, author of Five Minds Such a thrilling read. Characters who utterly drew me in and didn't let go until the final page. Spectacular -- J.M. Hewitt, author of The Eight Year Lie Even more welcome than an extra rum ration on Christmas Day, and slips down just as easily -- Robert Lloyd, author of The Bloodless Boy PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR: Weaves the complex politics of 18th-century Britain into a gripping murder mystery * The Times * A joy from start to finish. Jago is a very sympathetic hero... and Philpott made me want to cheer -- Andrew Taylor Filled with memorable characters... first-class entertainment * Sunday Times * A gripping, intricate story of Georgian high politics and low life... Top notch -- W.C. Ryan Nimbly realised * Financial Times * Intrigue, tension, memorable characters and shipboard life depicted in all its reeking authenticity add up to a truly gripping read * The Guardian *

PRAISE FOR THE AUTHOR: Weaves the complex politics of 18th-century Britain into a gripping murder mystery * The Times * A joy from start to finish. Jago is a very sympathetic hero... and Philpott made me want to cheer -- Andrew Taylor Filled with memorable characters... first-class entertainment * Sunday Times * A gripping, intricate story of Georgian high politics and low life... Top notch -- W.C. Ryan Nimbly realised * Financial Times *

Author Information

Leonora Nattrass lectured on the literature and politics of the 18th century for almost ten years before running away to Cornwall, where she now lives in a seventeenth-century house with seventeenth-century draughts and knits the wool of her small flock of Ryeland sheep into elaborate jumpers. Her first novel Black Drop was a Times Book of the Year and her second Blue Water was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Find her on Twitter @LeonoraNattrass

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