This is a very good read, includes issues relevant to the period such as smuggling, slavery, prejudice against black people and the Amercan war of independence and French Revolution . It is quite fast moving with enough events happening to hold your interest, I liked the fact that the two main characters, Rev Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor were not involved in a romance and admitted that they would not like to be married to each other! Overall a well written, entertaining book, the only fault that I came across was the word homicide used instead of murder. I am not sure this word existed in the 1700s.

This book is a mixture of racialism, hatred and most importantly love, with the body of an unknown black woman dressed as a man found frozen in the pond at New Hall, it was left up to The rector Reverend Hardcastle who is also the magistrate along with is able man of business Stemp an officer by day and a smuggler by night and not forgetting Mrs Chaytor to investigate the circumstances of her death and who she was. As the tale unfolds and the clues get put in their right order, then the conspiracy starts to unfold, a conspiracy that can plunge a country into war. This tale was well woven with its interesting twists and turns, a rather quaint mystery and I find myself liking it very much.

4 stars

The little village of St. Mary in the Marsh is experiencing a very cold winter in 1796. It is Christmas Day and the body of a man is found frozen in a horse pond by the New Hall. Mrs. Amelia Chaytor and others respond to the call for help. Upon further inspection, it is discovered that the frozen body is that of a woman. It is a case of murder. Mrs. Chaytor and the Reverend Hardcastle begin to look into the case. But no one knows who the young black woman was.

Another person joins their “team,” a gentleman named Captain Edward Austen.

As they continue the investigation, they uncover interesting facts and nefarious doings. With people entering the picture from three continents, this becomes a truly international crime. Family feuds, spies and old loyalties all come into play.

This book is well written and plotted. It brings to life 18th Century England with all of its color and hardships. A.J. MacKenzie is a very good writer and the characters are both entertaining and interesting. This is my first A.J. MacKenzie book, but it won’t be my last. I truly enjoyed it.

I want to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre/Zaffre for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.