It is 1746, and the young Prince Charles Stuart, Pretender to the British Throne is in retreat, having failed in his attempt to reclaim his throne from the Hanoverian ‘usurper’ George II. Just as Will starts to settle in his new responsibilities and his new home, Sir William Hervey asks him to investigate a series of mysterious deaths, which all seem to be connected to the prince. Travelling incognito with his friend, Charlie, and a surprise old acquaintance, Will tracks the murderer and finds his quest inextricably linked with the route taken by the rebel army.
As always, the prose and descriptions of the different places are lush and vibrant, and the different dialogues of characters feel authentic and unique. The old cast we are familiar with stay true to themselves, and the newer characters are just as relatable and multi-dimensional. The plot is lively and moves along well; the stakes are particularly high in this one. It might be challenging after a big series like this to keep story beats and characters interesting, but Eston does a masterful job of keeping old elements while putting a new spin on plot twists and events. The ending of the book feels a bit rushed, but otherwise this is a spectacular addition to this series.
I award 5 stars.
