"Luke turned away, primed his pistol and placing it behind the left ear of his prisoner squeezed the trigger. 'That's for old Jake.'"
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The Spanish Relation by Geoff Quaife Trafford Publishing
book review by Michael Radon
In this third entry into Luke Tremayne's adventures in 17th century England, Luke is sent to investigate a murder of a rural squire by Oliver Cromwell. Almost immediately his journey seems to be sabotaged and destined to fail, but the intrepid Tremayne makes his way to Somerset and begins his work by determining which locals he can trust. Tremayne's visit becomes deeply personal as he gets caught up in a series of murders, a religious sect, a dividing rift between Royalists and Parliamentarians, and even encounters an alluring face from his past. Though this village is secluded from the political intrigue of London, the seedy aspects of crime, betrayal, revolution, and sensuality are on every page as Luke Tremayne tries to catch a killer before it becomes too late.
This book proved to be a complete page-turner that operated at a pace that was never too slow or too fast. The author's knowledge of the period and geography filled in lots of details that help to complete the ambience, particularly in the subject of attire. A familiarity with the history and events of the era will help readers understand the subtleties and motivations of the characters, but the merit of the action is enough to draw in all readers. While historical fiction can get too focused on proving its authenticity to events that transpired, this title's credentials are clear without bogging down the story. The complexity and graphic sex and violence in the title should be kept out of the hands of younger readers, but anyone in the mood for a murder mystery wrapped in political intrigue will get positively lost in these pages.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review