⭐️4/5 stars
📖 Length: 379 pages
📱 Format: Paperback
⏳ Read Time: 5 days
Synopsis
London.
1639.
Thomas Tallant, a young and ambitious Spice Merchant, returns from India to find his city in turmoil.
A bitter struggle is brewing between King Charles I and Parliament, as England slides into civil war. The capital is simmering with dissent. The conflict is ready to boil over.
But Thomas soon has other troubles to contend with. A wealthy merchant, Sir Joseph Venell, is savagely killed; then his partner Sir Hugh Swofford plunges to his death, in the Tallant household.
Suspicion falls on Thomas, who is sucked into a mire of treachery and rumour within the City of London. As the merchant struggles to clear his name, he becomes captivated by the enigmatic Elizabeth Seymour, whose passion for astronomy and mathematics is matched only by her addiction to the gaming tables.
Pursued by the authorities, Thomas races to unmask the real killer who claims a third victim to implicate him further, toying with his future in a deadly cat and mouse game.
In a desperate race against time, Elizabeth applies her powers of logic and deduction to unearth the clues that will point to the killer, but her way is barred by a secret message from the grave.
Can she crack its code before Thomas, now a wounded and exhausted fugitive, succumbs to the chase?
And, if she succeeds, has Thomas the strength to face his tormentor and win his life and reputation back?
What I thought
Anyone who knows me personally will tell you how much I love history – the nitty gritty of people, places, and what came before. I’ve always been fascinated by the stories hidden behind old buildings, the lives people lived centuries ago, and the way everyday life looked in different periods of history. For me, the real magic of historical fiction is when an author manages to take all of that research and bring it to life in a way that feels vivid and real.
So when Michael Ward reached out and offered me a copy of Rags of Time, a historical mystery set in 17th-century London, I jumped at the opportunity. A good mystery combined with a rich historical setting is very much my kind of book, and I was really excited to dive into a story that promised intrigue, danger, and a glimpse into such a fascinating period of history.
And the book delivered. This was a really engaging historical mystery that pulled me into its world very quickly. One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was the atmosphere. The scenes are incredibly vivid, and it was easy to picture what London might have looked, sounded, and even smelt like during this time. And let’s be honest… 17th-century London probably smelt very authentic. From the busy streets to the darker corners of the city, everything felt really immersive. It’s clear that a lot of research has gone into the book, and that really adds to how believable the setting feels.
I also really enjoyed the pacing of the story. It kept me interested throughout and there was always something happening to keep the mystery moving forward. The tension builds nicely as the story unfolds, and there were plenty of moments that made me question what was really going on and who could actually be trusted. I always enjoy a book that makes me second-guess my theories… even if my detective skills are usually wildly off the mark.
Elizabeth Seymour was a particularly interesting character for me. She’s intelligent, unconventional, and stands out from the expectations placed on women during that time period. I did find myself wishing we saw a little more of her in this instalment, but this is only book 1 in the series, so I’m hoping we’ll see her character explored more as the story continues. I have a feeling she still has quite a few surprises up her sleeve.
The real highlight for me was the ending though. It completely caught me off guard and delivered a twist that I genuinely wasn’t expecting, which made the conclusion even more satisfying. I always love it when a book manages to surprise me like that — especially when I thought I had everything worked out.
Overall
Overall, Rags of Time is an atmospheric and well-researched historical mystery that really brings its setting to life. With strong world-building and a memorable twist at the end, it’s a great start to what looks like it could be a really enjoyable series. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing Thomas’ and Elizabeth’s adventures in the next book.
Thanks again to Michael Ward for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Interested in picking this up?
On Amazon – here
Until next time… 🖤
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