About the author:
Robert Lloyd, the son of parents who worked in the British Foreign Office, grew up in South London, Innsbruck, and Kinshasa. He studied for a Fine Art degree, starting as a landscape painter, but it was while studying for his MA degree in the History of Ideas that he first read Robert Hooke’s diary, detailing the life and experiments of this extraordinary man. After a twenty-year career as a secondary school teacher, he has now returned to painting and writing, and is working on the fourth book in the Hunt & Hooke series. He lives in Crickhowell, Wales.
The book is out now, available to buy on Amazon.
The Bedlam Cadaver by Robert J. LloydMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Time taken to read - In and out, as able, over 5 days
Pages - 432
Publisher - Melville House
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
In late 17th Century London rich young women are being kidnapped, then murdered. Harry Hunt, formerly of the Royal Society but now a rich gentleman, is falsely accused. To clear his name, he must rely on his abandoned scientific expertise and battle the full force of the British aristocracy.
1681. London cooks in summer heat. Bonfires are lit in protest against the King’s brother, James, heir to the throne but openly Catholic. Rumours abound of a ‘Black Box’, said to conceal proof the King’s illegitimate son is really the rightful heir.
When a wealthy merchant’s daughter is kidnapped and murdered—even though a ransom was paid—the King orders Harry Hunt of the Royal Society to help investigate.
A second woman goes Elizabeth Thynne, England’s richest heiress. Her husband has a ransom letter from the same kidnappers.
Pressured by powerful men to find the killers and rescue Elizabeth, Harry uncovers a disturbing link to Bethlehem Hospital, better known as Bedlam.
But he is falsely accused of the crimes.
To prove his innocence, he must find the real culprits. Harry’s search takes him from Rotherhithe to Whitehall Palace, and to the house of Sir Peter Lely, the famous portrait-painter, in Covent Garden.
And back to Bedlam.
He has the Monarchy’s future in his hands.
My Review
This is book three in the Hunt and Hooke book series, I normally say you can pick up the book and start reading as a standalone but to be honest I think you need to read the others. Purely because you really have gotten to know the characters and how they have gotten to where they are now so when things happen it has more impact and meaning. An autopsy of a patient who committed suicide from the local mental hospital is halted mid way as the patient is recognised not as who it should be but a missing local well to do woman Harry's world is rocked. Not only does he know her but soon Harry comes under fire and suspicion for murder and things go from bad to worse for poor Harry.
So the book deals with some pretty dark things, suicide, murder, kidnap, false accusations and amongst all of that the questioning and championing of the King on the throne! Ooft it is a busy book, royalty, the rightful Aire to the throne, murder, kidnap and all manners of skulduggery I have hinted it. It is all very serious but I did chuckle a wee bit at poor Harry, dare I call him a bumbling fool? I don't think that is fair but it is close like he makes so many dodgy mistakes and blunders, almost Frank Spencer "ooh Betty" moments, well not quite but again close.
We m=have met him since book one and see him come up in the world both professionally and now financially and see him commit rookie errors for one who has found himself in money. To the point it impacts on his relationship(s) and how he is/was previously. I do love seeing character development and growth and with Harry he shows how you can go about it the wrong way.
Finding himself on the wrong side of the law Harry gets into some sticky moments, one or two gasp worthy and at one point I was thinking he is never getting out of this one! Interesting characters, well paced, different threads of adventure and some seriously shocking behaviours and "oh no" moments. I do hope this is a long series because I enjoy what they offer, bit of learning, lots of adventure, historical setting/drama and of course some murder to keep you on your toes, 4/5 from us.
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