Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC from a favorite author of mine. I have read all of Alys Clare's Hawkenlye and Aelf Fen series with pleasure. This series is a bit different for me, and I seem slow to warm to the period, although the characters have improved since Book #1.

Former ship's physician Gabriel Tavernoer, and Celia his sister as well as their compatriots in rural Devon, live in a time still reeling from Reformation atrocities. This story exemplifies some of the horrors of that period, although it must be said that the characters themselves are educated and mature.

Vestiges of religious intolerance as well as damaged lives are what this story is about.Gabe and his friend Coroner Theo Davy, attempt to solve a death which becomes one, and then a series of murders. The area "gentry" definitely are not who they seem to be as our characters find out.

There is a hopeful-of-better-times ending which I appreciated. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded to 4 as it was darker than I care for.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I enjoyed the first title in this series immensely, and was not disappointed with this one. This book can be read as a standalone, but why deny yourself the enjoyment of the first book?

Angel in the Glass picks up not too long after events of the first title. Gabriel Taverner is a former navy surgeon who was forced to retire after a head injury caused him to develop severe sea sickness. He's finally getting settled into life on land and lives with his recently widowed sister. One June evening, Gabriel finds himself awakened by pebbles thrown at his window by Theophilus Davey, the local coroner who needs Gabriel to consult on the death of a vagrant at the edge of the meadow. In an abandoned, hut, he examines a body in a severe state of decomposition to determine if the death was natural or foul play. After an examination, he determines that the body belongs to a severely malnourished man who was quite beautiful at one time. Although the death isn't suspicious, there is a mystery around the vagrant is.

Local gossip claims that a stranger was seen several times at the home (Wrenbeare) of a prominent family who is the subject of local gossip. The former head of the family died a decade or so previously, and his widow, two daughters and a son-in-law currently inhabit the house. The youngest daughter is believed to be mad and suffers from fits. The family insists that gossip is mistaken and no strangers were in the vicinity. Clearly something about the family isn't right, but what are they hiding, and is it connected to the vagrant?

In addition to the mystery of the vagrant's identity, Gabriel and his sister are concerned about the local vicar, Jonathan, after noticing that something is haunting him. Gabriel has to tread carefully so he doesn't offend the very private vicar. Is it connected somehow to the rumored jewels that two local boys claim they discovered while trespassing on a local farmer's land?

The mysteries are well done and enough clues are provided to allow the reader to develop their own theory of what happened; I really appreciate that the ultimate answer doesn't come out of left field with no way to have figured it out. One of the best parts about this series is that the author does a wonderful job of providing readers a feel for what life was like in the early 1600s. She doesn't shy away from the darker parts of history and societal beliefs/mores. I am a huge fan of this series and hope that additional titles keep coming.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of The Angel in the Glass, the second historical murder mystery to feature Devon based Dr Gabriel Tavener and Coroner Theophilus Davey.

In the summer of 1604 Theo calls Gabe out to an unexplained death. A vagrant has apparently died of malnutrition and some strange deformity causing disease so Gabe has no doubt in calling it natural causes, but Theo isn't so sure and soon circumstances, including the strange behaviour of local priest, Jonathan Carew, confirm his view.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Angel in the Glass which is an intelligent, well crafted novel, full of historical detail and surprisingly adult themes. It is a slow burner which takes its time building inexorably to a conclusion. The slow pace is a pleasure with so many small details providing the reader with much food for thought and sustaining interest in where it's going. I found it both absorbing and compelling.

The novel is full of historical fact, especially about the religious persecution, tumult and uncertainty of the preceding century. None of it is new to me, having had it imprinted in my mind ad nauseum in my schooldays, but I think it will be very interesting to most readers as it describes a situation which has no relevance in modern times and yet the religious fervour and atrocities committed in its name reverberate in a different context. I found the 17th century medical detail more interesting as it is new to me. The detail is not overwhelming enough to become boring but the thinking of the time is fascinating.

The novel is narrated in the first person by Gabe Tavener so it has an immediacy and intimacy that a straightforward third person narrative can't convey. It is interesting to see how events impact him and what he thinks about them, but it's not always easy to discern as he can be quite diffident emotionally.

The Angel in the Glass is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.