The descriptive writing in this book is so good and you can really picture the scene
There are some pacing issues and it becomes a bit confusing in the middle
It’s a very well researched novel

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Unfortunately this one isn't for me. I loved the premise, historical fiction with a crime/supernatural element told from a male viewpoint, but I've chosen to DNF at 35% as there's not enough going on for me. The writing is good, the descriptions are vivid but there isn't enough action to back this up & keep my attention or have me hurrying to turn the page.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get to it before it was archived but will review in full when I do.I’m

While the premise of this sounds interesting, the excessive and repetitive descriptions slow it to a dull crawl. Half way through, there have been a couple of murders but no indication of why these previously unknown people were victims, and because we know nothing about them except that they're dead, the author hasn't made me care about them or be interested enough to know who killed them or why. Abandoned at 53%.

My thanks to Headline Review for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Drowned City’ by K. J. Maitland in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first in a new series of historical mysteries set in Jacobean England featuring reluctant intelligencer Daniel Pursglove.

In January 1606 (using the Julian calendar) on the anniversary of the execution of the men responsible for the attempt to blow up Parliament, a towering wave devastates the Bristol Channel. Some consider this a sign of God’s vengeance, while others take advantage of the disaster.

In London’s Newgate Goal Daniel Pursglove (dubbed Gallows by his fellow inmates) awaits his fate. He had been imprisoned following an anonymous accusation of sorcery against him. Then he is visited by Charles FitzAlan, a confidant of the King. Knowing of Daniel’s wit and intelligence, FitzAlan offers him his freedom in return for undertaking a task on behalf of the King.

Bristol is a hotbed of Catholic spies and FitzAlan believes that the lone conspirator who evaded arrest, Spero Pettingar, is there gathering allies in the chaos of the drowned city. So Daniel journeys there to investigate FitzAlan's lead. No further details to avoid spoilers.

I have enjoyed a number of the author’s previous works of historical fiction written as Karen Maitland and so began reading ‘The Drowned City’ with full confidence in her storytelling skills and ability to vividly recreate the historical setting, based on impeccable research into the period. I was delighted to read her ‘Behind the Scenes of the Novel’ following the Acknowledgments in which she writes of the inspiration and background for the novel and also provides a glossary.

‘The Drowned City’ has everything that I look for in both a work of historical fiction and a spy thriller. I found it an engaging and extremely enjoyable read with plenty of action and a compelling lead. I am so looking forward to exploring more of Daniel’s world in the future.

Highly recommended.

Much as I love a Tudor whodunnit sometimes I think that maybe the key Tudor events have been over used in fiction. Jacobean history however I know little about. Step forward Daniel Pursglove newly released from jail and sent to find Popish plotters in Bristol which has recently been inundated by a devastating flood. Mysterious threatening people loom in every shadow. Bodies branded with Jesuit symbols keen on appearing. Turns out that the Jacobean whodunnit was just what I needed.

This is the first outing for Daniel Pursglove more are promised, I can’t wait to meet him again

The Drowned City, the first in a new series of historical mysteries set in the 17th century. The author has created an interesting character in Daniel Pursglove and I liked the way little details about his past were dropped in now and again, laying the groundwork for future books.
This was an incredibly atmospheric historical thriller that I loved and escaped into from the very first page, highly recommend!

A year after the failed Gunpowder Plot, a catastrophic tsumani in the Bristol Channel strikes the city of Bristol, destroying homes, businesses and many lives. This event and the aftermath is described in forensic detail by the author in this atmospheric and tense historical thriller.

Meanwhile, Daniel Pursglove, is unexpectedly freed from Newgate prison by an agent from the court of King James. Bristol is thought to harbour many Catholics plotting against the King and Daniel, because of his talents and background, is tasked with finding one in particular, known as Spero Pettingar.

Once arrived in Bristol, Daniel is soon caught up in a web of spies, and encounters accusations of witchcraft, religious zealots and a murder mystery, which he alone must solve.

The Drowned City is a richly atmospheric book, with an engaging main character of Daniel Pursglove, and well drawn secondary characters. I enjoyed reading it, although I did skim read some of the very detailed descriptions in order to get back to the action!

I think The Drowned City is a very promising start to a new series and I’m keen to find out what is next in store for Daniel.

I would like to thank the publisher, Headline and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the reign of King James I, a time of witchcraft and persecution of Catholics. Daniel Pursglove, a man of many talents is in prison and awaiting execution, when he is summoned and given a task which, if successful, will spare his life. He travels to Bristol, in the wake of a severe flood that devastated the town. He is searching for a Catholic conspirator.

However, death is stalking the streets, and Daniel is drawn into the murders, believing them linked to the man he is seeking. Aided by Rachael, a serving girl in the inn where he is staying, and a young street urchin, he sets out to succeed in his task. The King's spies are everywhere, so he dare not fail.

An entertaining historical mystery, the first of a series to be enjoyed. The pace does slow part way through, and I expected to enjoy it much more than I did, but overall its a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1606 and a wave hits the Bristol Channel.

Its been one year to the day since those who were accused of conspiring to blow up Parliament got executed.

Is it revenge for those who got executed? Or is it something more?

When Daniel Pursglove is freed from prison after been accused of witchcraft, he finds out there’s a catch. He now has has to find out who is responsible for the storm that hit the Bristol Channels or face going back to prison and await his punishment. But there’s a lot more going on than anyone realises and there are spies and thieves all around.

When Daniel sets off to Bristol, he soon finds himself in danger whilst on the hunt for the killer.

Can he find the killer before the killer finds him? And can he trust anyone around him?

Beautifully described, ‘The Drowned City’ transports you back to the 17th century and I really felt as though I was there. I did a bit of research and found out it’s based on a true story of the flooding that hit Bristol in 1607, killing thousands of people and livestock as well as the farmland that it destroyed. Nobody knows for certain what caused it and there has been many debates since it happened. The story takes place in 1606 as it follows the old calendar like they did back in 1607. There was also many conspiracy plots such as the infamous gunpowder plot in an attempt to overthrow the monarch which the author draws inspiration from for this novel. The author goes into detail about the conspirators and the mystery surrounding the flooding. This makes for one interesting subject for a historical novel.

Full of mystery and conspiracies, ‘The Drowned City’ is an atmospheric and gritty read that takes you to the streets of Bristol and London. Daniel also makes for an interesting lead character who finds himself going from prison to looking for a killer. I loved reading about his journey.

I was gripped with every page and was constantly kept on the edge of my seat throughout. I absolutely loved that sense of intrigue and mystery that ran throughout the story.

As a huge lover of historical fiction and I can highly recommend this one if you love historical fictions that has a bit of an edge. Definitely one for fans of ‘Dangerous Women’. This is the first of a series of novels set in Jacobean England and I look forward to seeing where Daniel goes next.

Daniel Pursglove languishes in Newgate prison waiting to die, but a visit from Charles FitzAlan might just change his fortunes. FitzAlan is a close adviser to King James the first. He offers Daniel a job that could change his circumstances dramatically.
A calamitous wave has devastated the Bristol Channel and all is not well, with people trying to take advantage of the situation. Pursglove is sent to investigate, and to track down the conspirator,Sperro Pettingar, and soon finds himself in a hotbed of trouble, with Catholic spies, a Jesuit conspiracy, and a killer on the loose. He must use all his skills and prowess to resolve the situation before it turns into a disaster.
A quite brilliant novel that immerses the reader in the Jacobean era, with a skilfully written plot and excellent main character.
K J Maitland’s ability to weave a story of disaster, espionage, murder, and a deep seated conspiracy, it’s nothing short of genius. A truly outstanding story which I highly recommend. I can’t wait for more.

I’ve just spent 24 hours of my life immersed in life in the flood-ravaged Bristol of 1606, caught up in the intrigues of the post-Gunpowder Plot Jacobean court and cutting through a web of spies, lies, superstition and religious rivalry to try and solve a murder mystery and I didn’t really want to come back to reality.

The Drowned City is a fantastic mix of historical novel and murder mystery set against the backdrop of a startling but little known event of Jacobean times – the flooding of Bristol by a freak tsunami or storm surge – that was believed by many to be a sign from God at a time when there was still friction between the Catholic church and the Protestant faith in the fairly-new reign of James I. This is not a period of history that I am very familiar with, being more of a Wars of the Roses obsessive, but I was completely gripped by this fascinating blend of fact and fiction to the extent that I had to keep breaking off to find out which bits of the book were based on actual events and characters and which bits the author had invented; the story-telling is completely seamless.

This is the story of Daniel Pursglove, a proponent of sleight of hand tricks, who has found himself in Newgate Prison awaiting trial on suspicion of witchcraft during the reign of a paranoid and superstitious monarch. He is given the chance of earning a pardon by a man claiming to be a close advisor of the King; all he has to do is go to a flood-blighted Bristol to investigate rumours that a priest who had a hand in the Gunpowder Plot is in hiding there, planning sedition. Faced with the prospect of losing his hands, if not his life, Daniel agrees and sets off, but finds himself investigating a string of murders in a city that is beset by suspicion against outsiders and religious superstition, making it a dangerous place for him and his mission.

To say that the author brings the setting of the book to life would be a massive understatement. I can’t remember the last time that I read a book which presents such a vivid portrayal of a different time and a different life. I felt like Harry Potter when his nose touches the surface of the Pensieve and he is pulled in to Dumbledore’s memory. I literally *fell* right in to the heart of Bristol, surrounded by the clamour and the squalor of the blighted metropolis. The author’s writing is vivid and textured and absolutely perfect. The descriptions she uses to evoke the pictures just filled my heart with delight (‘shave the beard from a herring’ was a particular favourite), I could mentally roll around in her language and revel in the feel of it for hours. To take such delight in not just a story but the very way in which it is told is a rare and particular joy to me.

The murder mystery itself is fiendish and full of suspense and tension; enough by itself to carry the story if the book offered nothing else to the reader and it will appeal to lovers of that genre as well as fans of the historical novel. But the setting of the mystery against the historical backdrop adds another layer of interest to anyone who enjoys that genre, and if you are a fan of both as I am, you will be in hogs’ heaven with this novel. It gave me the same joy as I felt when I first discovered the Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters which has a similar style of murder mystery peppered with actual historical fact.

On every level, The Drowned City worked perfectly for me. The writing, the story, the characterisation were all faultless, and I enjoyed this book as much as any I have read in a long time. This is one of the best books I have read so far this year, and I confident it will feature in my top ten books of 2021. Definitely one for the ‘forever’ shelf and I have bought myself a copy in hardback (which has the most beautiful cover too!). I can’t wait for the next in the series, and have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone and everyone. Reading bliss, I want to do it all over again.

The Jacobean court of James I was a shadowy place. A place where plots, counter plots and political maneuverings flourished in dark corners, and for Robert Cecil, the king's spymaster, these plots continued to flourish in the aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot.

A year on from the Gunpowder Plot, Daniel Pursglove is condemned to die, and is languishing in Newgate Gaol, waiting for his turn to step upon the scaffold. However, an unexpected reprieve comes when he is summoned before Charles FitzAlan, an advisor to the King, who has a special mission for Pursglove, to travel to Bristol in order to rout out, Spero Pettingar, a remaining conspirator of the Gunpowder Plot, who has escaped justice.

When Pursglove arrives in Bristol, not only is the place whirling from the after effects of a tidal wave which has devastated the city but people are convinced that witches are responsible for this unearthly event. It is into this superstitious melting pot that Pursglove arrives, but suspicious of strangers, the people of Bristol do not take kindly to people meddling in their business, and soon Pursglove attracts the attention of some very dangerous individuals.

The Drowned City certainly gets this new series off to an atmospheric start, the opening chapter is particularly effective as it describes just how the tidal wave attacked Bristol clearing everything in its path. However, once Daniel Pursglove arrives on the scene, the story really starts to take off. Pursglove is an enigmatic protagonist, someone who keeps his secrets close, which places him in great danger, not just from those who believe witches are responsible for the mayhem inflected upon Bristol, but also his task to search out Spero Pettingar takes him into dangerous Jesuit territory.

This is beautifully written historical fiction with a strong sense of history and filled with an abundance of religious and superstitious dread. There is danger a plenty, and an immediate sense of time and place where everything feels so scarily realistic it's as if you are walking the troubled streets of Bristol in company with Daniel Pursglove as he goes about his dangerous, and clandestine, business.

The Drowned City certainly gets this new series off to an atmospheric and exciting start.

I was looking forward to reading a book that mixes two of my favourite genres: historical fiction and thrillers. Though this book does fulfill this ambition, as it provides an inescapable and atmospheric sense of place and time, I did find it a little heavy on the detail at times which slowed down my reading of it.

I liked the main character of Daniel and found him easy to identify with. He seems like a ‘normal’ guy, for want of a better phrase. He tries to make the best of every situation and plunges into situations with bravery and determination, despite often being nervous or unsure of what to expect. There were a lot of other background characters and as I didn’t develop a connection with any of them, I was glad to feel invested in Daniel’s journey and able to follow the twists and turns with him.

Overall, this has been an evocative and interesting read that has taken me out of my reading comfort zone. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy detailed and fully immersive narratives.

1606: a year to the day that the men executed for conspiring together to bring about the death of James I with the Gunpowder Plot, a huge wave engulfs the city of Bristol - a disaster that many believe can only be sign of God's vengeance.
England has been changed for ever by both the treason of the conspirators and their punishment, but the religious and political turmoil that caused them to act so boldly has not disappeared with their deaths. If anything, current circumstances are worse than ever.

James I is troubled by the unrest in his realm, but his close advisor Charles FitzAlan thinks he has a way to turn the matters to their advantage. FitzAlan's solution is to send a spy into the hotbed of Catholic insurrection in Bristol to discover the truth about a possible Jesuit conspiracy - and the man he has chosen, one Daniel Pursglove, has been dragged from the horrors of Newgate Prison to take on the mission.

When Pursglove arrives in Bristol, he is unsure quite how he will complete his mission - or even if there is a conspiracy here to uncover. However, it soon becomes clear that a murderer is at work among the ruins of this once thriving city, although their motives are unclear. Torn between his past and the present task, Pursglove, aided by a rag-tag band of willing and not so willing compatriots, must get to the bottom of the murders before more lives are lost - especially if he is to save himself from being thrown back into the bowels of Newgate Prison for the rest of his earthly days.

It's no secret that I like a bit of historical fiction, and this is just the kind of book of that genre that ticks every box for me. It is rich in historical detail, with wonderful characters who keep their real intentions a closely guarded secret, and is set against an intriguing backdrop of a time of political and religious troubles that offer endless possibilities to work in some beautiful storylines around betrayal and revenge.

Although we often hear much about what led up to the Gunpowder Plot and the punishment meted out to those identified as the culprits, I loved that K.J. Maitland has chosen the period following this event as the setting for her story. We all know about Guy Fawkes, but how much does burning his effigy every year on a bonfire really tell us about that lie of the land in England in the aftermath? Not a lot actually... but here we are treated to well-researched detail about the religious and political unrest and machinations that were still rife after the event, and how this discord fed the belief among the populace that God was not at all happy about what what happening across the country, not to mention fuelled the belief that witchcraft was to blame for many of their ills.

But this is not simply an exercise in historical recreation, because Maitland has also crafted a first class murder mystery, set in a city which is refreshingly not London for a change. And also one which carries a kind of mystique about the strange tidal wave that struck the city in 1606, that she uses to great advantage in ramping up the menacing feeling that there could possibly be something dark and sinister going on behind the scenes. The pacing was pitch perfect, the suspense a delight and the truth, when it came, had me looking at everything that had gone before in a completely different light - with an added little jaw dropper before the tale was done too!

As the start of a brand new series, this is a complete winner, and I really enjoyed the way Maitland holds back so much about the background of our complex protagonist Daniel Pursglove, dropping little hints here and there, but leaving a lot still to tell about the man we have only just begun to know - and I cannot wait to find out more.

4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2021/04/05/the-drowned-city-by-kj-maitland/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Great start to historical series

Well, I say this is a great start, because I’m hopeful there will be more books with Daniel Pursglove seeking answers, so fingers crossed that this book receives the praise it deserves and more books are forthcoming. I’ve long wanted to read Maitland and in fact I’m not quite sure why I’ve not delved into her work sooner. I enjoy a good historical novel and the period for The Drowned City was a particularly fascinating time.

The story takes place a little time after the Gunpowder Plot has been discovered, King James first sits on the throne and times are turbulent when it comes to religion with those of the Catholic persuasion being forced into secrecy. The plot here takes place after disaster strikes the Bristol channel causing rumours of witchcraft, or the hand of God taking revenge, to run rife. James, already of a nervous disposition following the threat to his life, is eager for an investigation to be held to quell such rumours before they take on a life of their own. It’s believed that one of the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot, Spero Pettingar, escaped detection and fled to Bristol which, in the throes of chaos is not only the perfect hiding place but is also a hotbed for spies and conspiracy.

Now, enter the scene Daniel Pursglove. When I say enter the scene I mean let’s take a look inside Newgate Prison because that’s where Daniel is currently residing – and I don’t mean in a voluntary manner. By all accounts Newgate was a pretty hideous place and Maitland paints it here in quite hideous but appropriate terms. Pursglove is the perfect candidate to send into Bristol. His background lends itself well, and you will discover this as the plot is uncovered, and so, he’s given a chance at freedom, go to Bristol, report back, and, if favourable, be released. The stakes are high.

So, what did I like about this. Well, it’s a fantastic period of history, rife with intrigue. Everyone was backstabbing everyone else and this comes across clearly here. The writing is just gorgeous. You can practically sink into the place. I love the attention to detail. The place depicted is a hot mess which you would expect after such a catastrophic event – and even to this day it appears there are arguments about whether or not this was an immense storm surge or a tsunami. Basically, whatever it was that took place, it caused massive devastation and that becomes clear on every page. Bristol isn’t just dangerous in terms of the criminal element or the undercover conspiracies, the physical landscape is dangerous by virtue of the disaster.

On top of this Daniel is a great character to follow. I found myself enjoying his story very much. He’s basically a good guy, he’s not above taking action, he knows what’s what, and he isn’t naive by a long stroke of the imagination, but he’s basically a likable person and I could quite happily follow more of his adventures.

In terms of criticisms. Not much from me to be honest. I think this isn’t a book that you’re going to race through. This is a period of time that was messy and convoluted and sometimes it’s difficult to grasp all the subtle nuances. Also, Daniel sometimes seems to follow a strange path in his search for answers and not necessarily a path that’s easy to follow or understand. Basically he seems to spend his time in any number of drinking establishments listening to gossip or seeking out shady characters. There definitely is a slowing down of pace at certain points not to mention a slightly first in series feel but I have to say that none of these things were a problem for me.

On the whole, I had a really good time with this and I would love for the series to continue. I think this could become a wonderfully dark and mysterious series.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I had already been drawn to The Drowned City, the first in a new series of historical mysteries set in the 17th century, before it dawned on me that KJ Maitland was Karen Maitland, an author whose books I’ve enjoyed in the past. All the more reason to want to read it, then!

In January 1606, exactly a year after the execution of the conspirators who tried to blow up Parliament in the failed Gunpowder plot, a towering wave sweeps up the Bristol Channel, leaving a scene of devastation. Whole families are drowned, buildings are swept away and farmland is destroyed. As the survivors try to come to terms with what has happened, rumours begin to arise. Some say the wave was summoned by witches, others that it was God’s way of taking revenge for the executions. The King’s most trusted adviser, Charles FitzAlan, fears that it’s all part of another Catholic conspiracy and decides to send someone to Bristol to investigate. Luckily, he knows just the man for the job...

That man is Daniel Pursglove, currently languishing in Newgate Prison awaiting what seems to be certain death. Daniel’s particular background and skills have brought him to FitzAlan’s attention and when he is offered his freedom in return for carrying out some investigations in Bristol, he jumps at the chance. Arriving in the city, Daniel begins his search for the missing Catholic conspirator known as Spero Pettingar, but almost immediately finds himself caught up in another mystery – a series of murders. Are they all part of the same plot or is something else going on in the flooded city?

Like Maitland’s earlier novels, this is a dark and atmospheric story with an interesting historical setting. I’ve never read anything about the Bristol Channel Floods of 1607 (or 1606; Maitland uses the old Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian), so that was something completely new for me. The descriptions of the devastated city in the aftermath of the wave are vivid and even quite eerie and almost otherworldly. It’s always refreshing to read historical novels with a setting other than London, and the flooded Bristol, in a superstitious age when natural disasters were often attributed to witchcraft or messages from heaven, was the perfect choice for this particular story.

Although there a few real historical characters in the book, notably Robert Cecil, most are fictional. Daniel Pursglove, the central character in this and presumably the rest of the series, intrigued me as we know so little about him at first. What is his background? How did he come to be a prisoner? What are the special talents that make him so suitable for this task? As the story unfolds, so does our understanding of Daniel and gradually some of our questions are answered. I’m sure we’ll be learning more about him in future books.

Where this book was less successful, in my opinion, was with the mystery element; once Daniel arrives in Bristol the plot takes off in so many different directions I kept forgetting what his original purpose was in going there. Had it been shorter and more tightly focused, I think I would have enjoyed it much more; instead, I found myself struggling to keep track of what was happening at times. Still, this is a promising start to a new series and I’m definitely interested in reading the second book.

The author has created an interesting character in Daniel Pursglove and I liked the way little details about his past were dropped in now and again, laying the groundwork for future books. I also liked that the book was set in Bristol - the "drowned city" of the title - not only because it made a change from the oft-used setting of London but also because it made sense from the point of view of the plot.

The writing was of the quality I've come to expect from other books I've read by the author. Some episodes that especially stood out included the dramatic prologue, a scene in which a Protestant mob attacks the house of a cordwainer and his family, and the New Year's Eve masque.

Like any good hero, Daniel has some narrow escapes from those out to stop him achieving his mission (including an adversary from his younger days) but always miraculously manages to turn up safely in his bed at his lodgings in the Salt Cat tavern. He also acquires a useful helper along the way whose knowledge of the city and ability to pass unnoticed aids Daniel's intelligence gathering.

It seems no historical novel set in the period is complete without an appearance by one of the Cecil family; in this case it's Robert Cecil. I felt some sympathy for him having to deal with the petulant and easily influenced James I the author presents in the book. Although, with the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot still within recent memory, perhaps the King can be forgiven for imagining assassins at every turn and being concerned that one of the conspirators may still be at large. (I confess that until I read the historical notes at the end of the book I hadn't realised Spero Pottingar was a real historical figure. For much of the book, I was convinced his name was an anagram!)

And there are still adherents of Catholicism to be dealt with as well as the Jacobean equivalent of fake news, spread via illicitly printed pamphlets or 'broadsides'. As Cecil warns the King, "Sire, even a superstition, if it takes hold of the imagination of the people, can be as powerful a weapon as any truth." Indeed.

The Drowned City has all the ingredients to make an absorbing historical thriller although I found it slow in parts. To be fair, it did pick up pace towards the end. As Daniel confides, 'The art of legerdemain is to make the audience look in the wrong place'. In my case, the author didn't quite manage that when it came to the identity of the culprit but I found enough to enjoy in The Drowned City to make me look out for future books in the series.

I enjoyed "The Drowned City" a lot. The opening is brilliant and hooked me right into the story. The writing is near faultless and flows (sorry!) really well. The story is a solid one, and it was refreshing to get a perspective from somewhere other than London for this time period. I thought the characters were crafted well, and I'm looking forward to catching up with some of them in the next book.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.