The Firedrake's Eye - Hardcover

Finney, Patricia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1856191230 ISBN 13: 9781856191234

Publisher: Sinclair-Stevenson Ltd, 1992

Following a trail of murder, treason and terror, Ames and Becket set out to uncover the truth. But, as they dig into the human midden that is Elizabethan London, puzzle becomes enigma and then riddle. The author's "A Shadow of Gulls" won the David Higham Award for Best First Novel of the Year.

Review:

Intelligent thriller with likeable heroes, nail-biter plot... Intelligent thriller first, historical novel second, this underrated novel concerns a Day of the Jackal-style assassination plot on the life of Queen Elizabeth I. Our heroes, clever Simon Ames and bear-like ex-mercenary Becket, try to read the clues that will lead to a dangerous assassin consistently one step ahead of them. Patricia Finney's grasp of historical detail is sufficiently good for London to never quite seem the same again after reading about its dank alleyways and filthy taverns four centuries ago. But Finney's real strength is her set-pieces - a swordfight on Bankside interrupted by a performing bear; Simon Ames hanging onto London Bridge for dear life as a pikeman swipes at him, the river rushing below; and best of all the climactic final scene and denouement.

Comparisons have been made with Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose but Firedrake's Eye is more of a straight-up, classy detective novel - Ian Rankin with doublets, perhaps? -- richard.goff@virgin.net Richard Goff from London

Book Description:

A riveting Elizabethan thriller from a highly talented author

• Publisher: Sinclair-Stevenson Ltd
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 1856191230
• ISBN 13: 9781856191234
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256