The Fire Court cover art

The Fire Court

James Marwood & Cat Lovett, Book 2

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The Fire Court

By: Andrew Taylor
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
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About this listen

From No.1 bestselling author Andrew Taylor comes the sequel to the phenomenally successful The Ashes of London

Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!

A time of terrible danger…
The Great Fire has ravaged London. Now, guided by the Fire Court, the city is rebuilding, but times are volatile and danger is only ever a heartbeat away.

Two mysterious deaths…
James Marwood, a traitor’s son, is thrust into this treacherous environment when his father discovers a dead woman in the very place where the Fire Court sits. The next day his father is run down. Accident? Or another murder…?

A race to stop a murderer…
Determined to uncover the truth, Marwood turns to the one person he can trust – Cat Lovett, the daughter of a despised regicide. Then comes a third death… and Marwood and Cat are forced to confront a vicious killer who threatens the future of the city itself.

©2018 Andrew Taylor (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers
Detective Historical Mystery Private Investigators Fiction Heartfelt England
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Critic reviews

‘Andrew Taylor’s historical crime novels have proved a benchmark for the genre, and The Fire Court is no exception. Cunningly plotted and movingly written, it’s a fascinating portrait of a city, and its people, recovering from trauma’ Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses

‘This is how historical crime should be written, with rich authenticity underpinning a twisting plot’ The Times

‘Marwood and Lovett’s search for a killer in the sooty streets of 1660s London is an atmospheric pleasure, full of twists and memorable characters’ The Times

‘With a fast-moving, complex plot underpinned by solid but unobtrusive research and plenty of drama and intrigue, Taylor brings the 17th century to life so vividly that one can almost smell it’ Guardian

‘Once again, Taylor combines his detailed research with a deviously twist-laden storyline’ Observer

‘This atmospheric murder mystery by Andrew Taylor is a real treat’ The Times

‘This gripping mystery is even better than its predecessor, The Ashes of London’ Sunday Express S Magazine

‘Taylor remains to my mind at the top of the list of historical novelists writing in English today’ Reviewing the Evidence

‘If it were not a superlative crime novel, Taylor’s evocative picture of the Great Fire of London, The Ashes of London, could be considered a historical novel of the first order. Its sequel, The Fire Court, is equally impressive’ Financial Times

‘In addition to a fascinating portrait of the 17th-century city, Taylor offers a father–son relationship that is as touching as it is convincing’ Literary Review

‘Taylor’s sense of time and place are awe-inspiring, the plot is fiendishly clever and beautifully executed and the language is divine’ Historica Mag

What listeners say about The Fire Court

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A really good listen

Enjoyed this sequel which developed more interesting characters with a compelling storyline & good historical detail

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Enjoyable enough

Not sure this would work too well if I hadn’t listened to the previous book which introduced the key characters. All the same, pleasant accompaniment to daily commute and completed within a week.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Rebuilding London attracts investors

The wealthy were always quick to look for opportunities, corrupt with power and the morals of sewer rats.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Exciting second novel in the series

Andrew Taylor can bring a historical period to life with scholarly insight and a natural feel the era. The main characters are complex and likeable. Excellent narration.
Unlike many narrators Pugh can do the voices of females well without sounding ridiculously high, screechy or just wimpy!

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Great plot

Super storytelling, descriptive and twists which keep the reader/listener guessing till the very end.
The narrator has a great voice too which is very important in audiobooks.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Takes a while to get into the story

I found the first few chapters confusing as there are so many character's names to remember, but after a while I got the hang of who are the main characters and then the story takes off. It's a gripping story full of the atmosphere of the 1660s after the devastation of great fire. Rebuilding the city gives opportunities for money-making investments and intrigues by the rich and powerful, even to engage in criminal activity to achieve their ends.
The story is helped by the good narration.

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6 people found this helpful

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Captures the era

Well read and interesting story, though you must stay on your toes as there are many characters to keep up to date on. Taylor creates a fine atmosphere and you get a real feel of restoration London and its cruelty.

One criticism however, parts of the plot do tend to hang on unlikely coincidences, much like the previous book.

Overall a good listen

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1 person found this helpful

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A good 2nd Book

Took a few chapters to get into the book but once I got into it was very enjoyable and a book that drew me into the story.

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3 people found this helpful

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wonderful

Loved it. Great characters and plot. Can't wait for the next story. A brilliant read.

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2 people found this helpful

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Loved this!

Well written, engaging characters, a great yarn steeped in history and offering the reader a detailed glimpse into lives lived during the reign of Charles the second.

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