Smuggler's Moon

“Bruce Alexander has mastered the uncommon knack of deftly capturing a period-perfect historical time without endangering the liveliness of the story with excessive detail.”

—Los Angeles Times

“Maritime action à la Patrick O’Brian …”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Rousing … swashbuckling … an exciting novel sure to please established fans and those who appreciate classic yarns in the tradition of
Treasure Island
.”

—Publishers Weekly

“History has a thrilling way of hitting home in Bruce Alexander’s Georgian mysteries.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“Bruce Alexander’s books about Sir John Fielding … are so impeccably well-researched and carefully written that it’s easy to forget how full of adventure and excitement they are.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Thoroughly enjoyable … Alexander does a remarkable job of re-creating eighteenth-century London.”

—
Los Angeles Times

“Packed with details of the age, including a cameo appearance by Dr. Samuel Johnson.”

—
The Dallas Morning News

“Lively storytelling … accurate period details … Alexander offers food for thought as well as first-class entertainment.”

—Publishers Weekly

“The author renders [the London streets] with the marveling eye of a time traveler … a rich rewarding trip for everyone.”

—The New York Times

“Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle must be beaming down from literary heaven at Bruce Alexander’s splendid series. Alexander’s eye for period detail is sharp and subtle; he brings historic England back to life in layers. Isn’t it time that some sharp producer began to turn these fascinating Fielding books into an A&E mini-series?”

—
Chicago Tribune

“Alexander’s Sir John Fielding novels aren’t as well known as Anne Perry’s historical mysteries, but they should be … cleverly plotted, rich in historical ambience, and written with flair and a keen eye for detail. A mesmerizing tale certain to delight all historical-mystery lovers.”

—Booklist

“If there’s truth to the raucous scenes of urban life in Bruce Alexander’s atmospheric period mysteries, then London in the eighteenth century was a carnival of thieves, cutthroats and refined folk who ate with their hands.”

—The New York Times

“As Jeremy bustles about the city collecting clues and allowing fugitives to escape, he serves as the reader’s eyes as well as Sir John’s, capturing the flavor of life in old London.”

—The Christian Science Monitor

“A fascinating tale. Alexander does a great job of acquainting the reader with the dirty, grubby back streets of London and the high-ceilinged snobbery of the upper classes.”

—Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“An enjoyable adventure for the reader.”

—The Providence Journal-Bulletin

One of
Publishers Weekly’s
Best Books of the Year

“Evocative.”

—
Chicago Tribune

“Alexander provides rich period detail and a wonderful supporting cast … making this story intriguing from first page to last.”

—Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“The Dickensian detail and characters bring life to the sordid streets and alleys around London’s Covent Garden … Highly recommended, especially for lovers of historical mysteries who like to see another time and place blaze into life as they read.”

—The Washington Post Book World

“Wonderful. … The high-minded and always astute Sir John is as companionable as ever in
Watery Grave
, and young Jeremy, wide-eyed but maturing fast, makes for a winning narrator. … Packed with history and lore.”

—
The Washington Post

“Enthralling. … It’s a joy to watch the great magistrate apply his formidable intellect to this sordid business.”

—The New York Times Book Review

A
New York Times
Notable Book of the Year

“A fine tale. … Historical fiction done this entertainingly is as close to time travel as we’re likely to get.”

—
Newsday

“First-rate, original, and persuasive.”

—
The Boston Globe

“Alexander has a fine feel for this earthy period, with its interplay of serene reason and irrational cruelty and violence. A bewildering time, to be sure, but Sir John’s judicious insight and Jeremy’s naïve fascination supply a novel perspective on it.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“Noteworthy. … A stunning double climax.”

—Publishers Weekly

“
Blind Justice
is as much fun to read as it must have been to write. Bruce Alexander has done a fine job of depicting mid-eighteenth-century London.”

—
The Washington Post Book World

“A shocking solution. … Lively characters, vivid incidents, clever plotting, and a colorful setting. … A robust series kick-off.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Alexander works in a vigorous style that captures with gusto the lusty spirit of the era. Sir John and young Jeremy are an irresistible team in what promises to be a lively series.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“Sir John and Jeremy make a wonderful team. Jeremy’s youthful eagerness for adventure sets the invigorating pace and pulls us into the lively street scenes … but it is Sir John who puts the criminal events into perspective by sharing his clear, if troubling, insights into the greed, corruption, and shocking inhumanity that challenged the urban conscience in these hard, thrilling times.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“Fielding’s direction, with the estimable help of young Jeremy and a cast of colorful characters, is first-rate, and the period ambiance is both original and persuasive.”

—The Boston Globe

“This is a wonderful series. … In addition to giving us a marvelous parade of Georgian-era high and low characters in the London of Johnson and Boswell, it is packed with history and lore, and it’s altogether much fun.”

—The Washington Post Book World

“Alexander is wonderful at catching the pungent flavor of this grandly messy emerging world capital.”

—The Washington Post

“Bruce Alexander writes robust, stylish novels about a real-life historical figure. …[He] excels at vivid period portraits; outstanding here are … such sights as blue-blooded swells taking the waters in the resort town of Bath and the rarefied academic atmosphere of Oxford.”

—The Seattle Times

Table of Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

ONE

In which Sir John
receives a special
assignment

I
t had been agreed that there was no need for Sir John Fielding to accompany Lady Fielding to the Post Coach House for her noon departure north to York. After all, he had his Bow Street court to convene at that same midday hour; and later in the day, he had an appointment to keep at the residence of the Lord Chief Justice. ”Something,” the magistrate had muttered to me, ”that will mean trouble for us, you may be sure of it.”

And so it was that Clarissa and I stood at the open door of the hackney coach as Sir John and his wife whispered their farewells and kissed in proper loving fashion. He then did accompany her to the hackney where we waited in attendance.

“I shall return, Jack,” said she, ”just as soon as Mama shows signs of a good recovery—or, on the other hand …” ”She will pull through, Kate, I’ve no doubt of it. Your
mother is of hardy northern stock. No doubt she has a good ten years left in her.”

“I do hope you’re right,” said she with a sigh. ”We shall see.

With that, they kissed again. I pushed her portmanteau up to the driver. Sir John retreated unaided to the entrance of Number 4 Bow Street, as I gave Lady Fielding a hand up into the coach and followed her inside. Then were we underway. For the most part I remained silent as my mistress gave most of her attention to Clarissa, imparting to her directions, reminders, and all manner of encouragement for the days ahead. I came in for instruction only in the most general sort of way as we bounced along through the London streets.

She leveled a forefinger at me and said with great seriousness, ”Now, Jeremy, I shall ask you to offer Clarissa all the help that you can. I’ll not have reports of you two wrangling and fighting, shall I?”

“No, ma’am, certainly not.”

“I should hope not,” said she. ”Now, this will be a difficult time for all of us. Only if we remember to cooperate in all matters can we manage to pull through it. You do see that, don’t you?”