Destroying Angel

MacLean's last book 'The Black Friar' was one of the best books I've read for a long while, so I've been eagerly waiting to get my hands on this one for quite some time. Luckily enough, it didn't disappoint.

The latest outing for Seeker sees us move away from Cromwell's London, up north to the moors of Yorkshire. With this change of setting comes a change of pace, and a different feel from the previous books. The book doesn't feel as dark as the previous two, and even though a murder features early in the book, this isn't Seeker's main concern, no is it ours. This book is more personal. We learn of Seekers past, and it feels as if Maclean is using book 3 to push the series along and develop its scope.

Damien Seeker is a brilliantly complex character, and the events of this story only further that. He can be cold and calculating, but also very considerate and deeply passionate. He's a great character, probably my favourite in the currently busy market of Historical Crime.

This series goes from strength to strength, and i'm itching to see what comes next.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Quercus Books and S G MacLean for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Destroying Angel.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the storyline. It was engaging with plenty of intrigue to keep the reader engrossed. And even though it is the third book in a series about the main character, Captain Damian Seeker, I didn't have much trouble picking up the story. Having read this book, I can now look forward to reading not only the first two books in the series, but any future novels by S G MacLean.

I absolutely adore this series and was so happy when Quercus gave me an arc via Netgalley. So much of historical fiction seems to be centred on the Tudors or the Victorians, so how refreshing is it, that this series is set during Cromwell's doomed Commonwealth. Seeker is a Captain in the New Model Army, enforcing the Protectorate's ideals and hunting down royalist plots to bring the Stuarts back to the throne. Seeker is a wonderfully complex character. And once again in this book, we can see this wonderfully, where his personal life and his job are brought to close for comfort. The setting in Yorkshire really comes alive, the historic detail is wonderful, but MacLean does not let her historian training derail her into writing a history, but instead she uses it to tell us a brilliant story of political plots, human depravity and deception. I highly recommend this series to everyone.

This series continues to bring the Protectorate government of England and Captain Damien Seeker together,as Seeker is sent to Yorkshire to present details of new anti- Royalist laws and taxation system to Faithly,a small village,that appears to be a hot bed of resentment,intrigue and talk of witchcraft. When Damien is invited to the house of Matthew Pullen,the local Puritan commissioner,a young girl,Gwendolen,is fatally poisoned with the fungus Destroying Angel.
A trier is in town to prosecute the local vicar,and Damien recognises him as an old enemy. Caleb Turner was previously known as Hungerford,who stole Damien's wife from him,and she took his daughter as well. Damien has to try to find his daughter,Manon,try to find out who is responsible for the murder of Gwendolen and search out those who are disloyal to Cromwell,and want to see Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne.
This book becomes deeply personal for Damien as his past threatens both his future happiness,and any prospect of being reunited with Manon.
It is a very descriptive read,full of historical detail of the time,and conveys a real sense of danger. This series shows no signs of flagging, the freshness and complexity of the story is marvellous. Damien has shown more of his troubled personality in this chapter,and he relies more heavily upon loyal friends this time,even though they don't always feel appreciated. It is a heavily atmospheric read and a real page turner. I am so enjoying this series!
I have posted this review on Goodreads today.

Even if I'm in the mood for light and summer readings once I started this book i couldn't put it down.
It's huge, a wonderful historical mystery with great characters and a great reconstruction of the historical setting.
I loved the main character so human and so well written and I loved the way the cast of characters was described.
The storytelling is great and it makes you feel like you're there in the same space/time with the characters.
A great discovery that makes me wish to read the other books in this series.
Highly recommeded!
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC

I have adored this historical series set in Cromwell's England featuring the much feared and respected Damian Seeker, right from the beginning and I love this latest installment. Seeker lives in London but is a man from the north with a troubled personal history. His wife, Felicity, left him for another man and took his daughter, Manon, and disappeared with her. It is 1655, Seeker, a prominent member of Cromwell's Guard, has been sent to York by Secretary Thurloe, working under Major-General Robert Lilburne. Lilburne sends him to the small village of Faithly with details of the draconian new anti-Royalist laws presaging the rule of the Major-Generals. Faithly turns out to be a frothing hotbed of intrigue, plots, rumours, spite, bile, resentment and grudges. Upon being invited to dinner at the Puritan commissioner and local businessman Matthew Pullen's home, a young girl, Gwendolen, the subject of rumours that she is a witch, is fatally poisoned with all the symptoms of a deadly fungi, the destroying angel.

The three ejectors of Faithly, particularly smith Abel Sharrock, are using their position of power to spread fear and lies. The trier, Caleb Turner, has been called to rule on the local vicar's apparent transgressions and ungodly acts at The Black Bull, heralding excitement and fear in equal measure. Seeker is additionally seeking information on Thomas Faithly, a staunch royalist who is suspected of having returned to England. His brother, Sir Edward Faithly, is the local JP, a man much despised, seen as cowardly in not fighting for the King, but for this reason has been left alone so far by the Parliamentarians. A little digging by Seeker reveals that Edward is in dire financial straits and is surprisingly being propped up financially by Matthew Pullen, who installed Lawrence Ingolby to manage his finances. As Seeker faces the toughest test of his skills and abilities, he wonders if Gwendolen's death was accidental, and the real target had been someone else. In this story of murder, in an England which has become a place for men of guile, Seeker is confronted by his past and all the dangers it brings with it.

In this brilliant addition to this fantastic series, MacLean adds layers of depth to the enigmatic Damian Seeker, his background and traumatic history is revealed, his troubled sleep, and his desperation to find his daughter, Manon. The author shows a real talent for character development, making Seeker such a compelling central character, compassionate and fearsome, with a close circle of friends he can rely on. However, his enemies are numerous, ruthless, willing to use any lever to bring him down or do away with him. This is an atmospheric read, where the historical period is rich in descriptions and attitudes of the time. Simply superb and highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

Third in series focussed on Damien Seeker, feared leader in Cromwell's army. Sent to Yorkshire following the events of book two, he's asked to root out royalists in Yorkshire with new powers for puritan leaders. Thrown into a village all but torn apart by local grievances. Seeker finds familiar faces, some welcomed, others not. As for the previous two series, the historical detail is richly done for a dramatic period following the (English) civil war. I was swept along with Seeker's investigation. (Netgalley)

It’s 1655, and the third in the ‘Seeker’ series sees Captain Damien Seeker, guard and protector of Oliver Cromwell, sent north from his home in London to work under York based Major General Lilburne. His orders are to enforce new anti royalist laws, and he finds himself in the village of Faithly on the North Yorkshire Moors. Faithly is a place of suspicion, secrets and rumours - where memories are long and grudges even longer!

Seeker accepts an invitation to dinner at local businessman Matthew Pullan’s home, and discovers for himself just what a hotbed of simmering tensions the village of Faithly is. The local Constable exaggerates his power and uses it to avenge past slights - the Royalist lord of the manor is under suspicion for treachery- Faithly’s vicar is on trial for ungodly acts - and host Matthew Pullan and his family (though strict Puritans) are disillusioned with Cromwell and are loved and hated in equal measure within the village. However, this evening of dining will end with one of the guests being poisoned, and it falls to Seeker to discover who the killer is, and also whether the victim was actually the one for whom the poison was intended.

The third in the series has lost none of it’s sheen, it’s so rich in its description of this period in history, and the brooding but magnificent North Yorkshire Moors provides a terrific backdrop. The author continues to develop the character of Captain Seeker, and though he’s a fearsome and forbidding man (especially to those who would oppose Cromwell ) he remains extremely charismatic to the reader. Seeker’s position ensures that he has many enemies, but those close to him, will, on occasion, see the real heart of the man. What can I say that I haven’t already said in previous reviews for the excellent ‘Seeker’ series? I just love it, and if you love historical fiction then ‘seek’ no further!

* Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus books for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *

The time: 1655 – Cromwell’s England. The Place: Faithly, a village on the North Yorkshire Moors. The Mission: Enforce the stringent new anti royalist laws.



But if you’re Damian Seeker, nothing is as simple as all that. Despite the seclusion of the setting, our engaging hero finds himself in a twisting, intricate plot that rivals anything he encountered in London. I love this series so much. The books are always richly replete with historical detail. The mystery is always enough of a poser to get your brain whirring but so well laid that you don’t doubt the conclusion. And the characters have their own agendas and intrigues in a way that makes them completely plausible. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended.