Death at St James's Palace

From Library Journal

John Rawlings (Death in the West Wind), a prosperous London apothecary, investigates a death deemed suspicious only by his blind friend, popular magistrate John Fielding. Shortly before Fielding is to be knighted by young King George III, an untoward, apparently accidental death occurs in the crowded palace. Fielding nonetheless hears enough for Rawlings to begin sleuthing. Rawlings already has his hands full, what with a pregnant wife, a rescued wayward girl, and a soon-to-be-released apprentice ready to sow some wild oats. In her 13th Rawlings mystery, the author offers a masterly Georgian historical with a keen sense of time and place, fully fledged characters, and comfortable prose. Strongly recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

This is the eighth entry (following Death in the West Wind, 2001) in an underappreciated series featuring the sleuthing apothecary John Rawlings. Set in 1761, the novel pivots on the knighting of magistrate John Fielding (brother to Henry) at St. James Palace. When Queen Charlotte is spotted at the investiture, the crowd in attendance is abuzz with excitement. While they crane to catch a glimpse of the new queen (to determine if she is really as ugly as rumor has it), a corpulent figure clothed in salmon pink plummets to his death. And it appears that someone has pushed him. Rawlings is recruited to track down the murderer, and his investigation brings him into contact with some of the celebrities of his day--the seductive mistress of the duke of Kingston, a suave black bon vivant elevated from servant to adopted son by a white duchess, and a dwarfish, immensely talented portrait painter. Told with an infectious enthusiasm and a sly wit, Lake vivifies the period through her portrayal of the courtly, ever-witty John Rawlings. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.