This excellent book takes place in 1778 in New York, shortly after the British had reclaimed possession of the city. The plot involves a series of murders surrounding a British Loyalist family and the arrival of a new clerk to the American Department of the British government. The story follows the clerk (Edward Savill) as events occur.

Andrew Taylor has a fine knack for blending his writing style with the period of the historical fiction he's developing. We get an excellent picture of life during the Revolutionary War from the British perspective, as well as an excellent picture of British life at the time.

Taylor has become one of my favorite authors. He has an excellent sense of pacing a story, and a fine sense of detail - he knows how much needs to be said at a given point to keep the reader involved without any feeling of being left in the dark or of being bored .

Many of Taylor's books are hard to come by, as they are published in England, and not often in the U.S. They can be found through book dealers in Canada, however, at a fair price. Another story involving Savill is due to be published in the U.S. later this year - The Silent Boy. I am eager to read it. ( )

I am a fan of Andrew Taylor!
His books belong to that sub-genre known as literary thrillers and should appeal to both thriller and historical fiction readers.
He seems to be able to write in a style suited to the period he is writing about; here it is New York during the (American) War of Independence. He combines a well structured plot with lots of interesting background detail.
I heartily recommend this book and if you follow my advice you will go back to his earlier books as well. ( )

I won this book from GoodReads First Reads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read any of Andrew Taylor's other works so I have nothing to compare this novel to. I wish I did, because unfortunately as for this book I found it to be slow, with weak characterizations and a somewhat confusing plot.

The protagonist is supposed to be an English Civil Servant who "is sent from London to deal with claims by Loyalists who have lost property during the fighting" and somehow ends up investigating a murder.

With predictable twists and a ponderous pace, I just could not get in to the novel. I felt no chemistry between any of the characters, least of all between the two protagonist Arabella and Edward. I felt like the author picked a bunch of ideas out of a hat and then tried to tie them all together. ( )

The author artfully mixes historical fact and fiction with a tantalizing tale of mystery. New York is a city in virtual captivity in late 1778. Although the British hold the streets for the crown, the city is surrounded by American rebel troops. Gangs of marauders roam a veritable no man’s land between the two armies. Edward Savill, a clerk for the British government’s, American Department based in London, is thrust into this swarming hive of soldiers, local citizens, and refugees from the surrounding countryside. He is tasked with recording the claims of depredation perpetrated against these loyal colonists by the rebels. Many have lost all their property and possessions to these rabble in the name of Congress and the revolution. Savill soon becomes embroiled with the family who has given him room and board while he is in New York. The lovely, but aloof Mrs. Arabella is a nagging reminder of the wife he has left behind months ago in England. Arabella’s long missing husband returns from fighting the rebels, yet he needs much recuperating from serious wounds he received at the front. Savill notices all is not well between the reunited couple. His natural attraction to Arabella leaves Edward with a certain distaste for her domineering husband. Shortly after a recent acquaintance of Arabella’s shows up dead, Savill is set upon by brigands. Were they out to merely to take his purse or his life? The mystery twists and turns as Savill tries to determine who is after him. Why has he, a newly arrived official from England, been targeted for death? Could Arabella’s husband want Savill out of the picture or is it a deeper mystery involving Arabella as well? Book provided for review by HarperCollins Publishers. ( )

To set the scene,the year is 1778 and the place is Manhattan,which is controlled by the British.Arriving here is Edward Savill who is taking up a minor position in the 'American Department'.He lodges with the Wintour family with whom he becomes friendly.Soon he becomes embroiled in a series of murders which seems to involve American rebels,slaves and members of upper-class families too.In his quest to discover the truth,he finds himself in a series of dangerous situations in which he is bludgeoned,slashed and generally beaten.
Taylor is a fine writer who is at his best in this wonderful book which I would recommend to anyone with an interest in American history and/or crime fiction. ( )