Always a delight to return to 17th century England, and one of my favourite historical fiction series by SG MacLean, featuring the most enigmatic and fearsome officer of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate, Damian Seeker. In this brilliant and atmospheric addition to this stellar series, it is 1656 and Seeker is back in London after his stint in the North. Chief Secretary Thurloe is swamped by the mass of intelligence coming his way, what with Cromwell's enemies growing, and it is a nightmare working out what must be followed up. Thurloe dismisses intelligence that Seeker knows is well sourced and reliable, forcing him to follow it up below the radar. Frustrated by being desk bound poring over reports, he decides to join a night raid on a illicit gambling den in Bankside, where he comes across the Royalist now Commonwealth spy, Thomas Faithly. At the same time, he discovers the gruesome and brutal murder of a chained old man, with all the marks of being savaged by a bear.

After the death of a child, all bears used in bear baiting are supposed to have been shot dead, clearly someone still has one that has been deployed for the purposes of murder. It takes Seeker some time to uncover the identity of the victim. In the meantime, a trio of conspiring assassins, Boyes, Cecil and Fish, representing different factions of the forces allied against Cromwell, make plans to kill Cromwell and ensure the return of Charles Stuart to the English throne and the only person who stands in their way is Damian Seeker. Arriving in London from Yorkshire is the irrepressible Lawrence Ingolby, intent on reacquainting himself with Manon and being trained in the law by Maria's brother, Elias Ellingworth. Ingolby inadvertently provides vital intelligence to Seeker that is to put him in danger. Seeker has Faithly and Ingolby trying to track down the bear whilst he delves deeper into the life of the victim.

Seeker's investigation takes in Tradescant's rarities and gardens, a German clockmaker and the dangerous and desolate Lambeth marshes as his desperate hunt for the assassins and the murder by bear mystery begin to show slowly emerging connections. MacLean has now built a tight knit cast of established characters that make a welcome return, from Samuel at the Coffee House to Dorcas, helping to conceal Manon from Seeker's numerous enemies, and of course, Maria, who Seeker just cannot forget. However, it is the complex Damian Seeker, that is MacLean's ingenious creation that holds centre stage with ease, a man who can clear a street with his appearance and strike fear in the hearts of the enemies of the Protectorate. This is a riveting, thrilling and totally compulsive read, a blend of historical fact and fiction, with rich descriptions of the turbulence of the era and the London of this period. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

In my head, the Damien Seeker series is narrated by Sean Bean. I'm not complaining. Seeker is the ultimate Puritan enforcer, keeping the law for Oliver Cromwell. This is book four, and there are many references to what has come before, so you may want to skip on back to book one.
After his exploits in Yorkshire, Seeker is back in London. He joins a group of soldiers in clearing out a gambling den and in the process finds evidence of a gory death involving a bear. But how can he pay attention to this crime when someone is plotting to kill Cromwell?
I do like this series, full of all the details about Puritan life, but making great use of the way many people's loyalties continued in another direction entirely. It does make me wonder if Puritan England really was such a small world: Marvell, Milton and John Aubrey turn up in this one.

Damien Seeker, bodyguard of Oliver Cromwell, has returned from Yorkshire in time to foil three or four assassination attempts by Cromwell’s enemies, as well as investigate the mysterious death of a man apparently mauled to death by a bear. This should not be possible as Cromwell had ordered the deaths of all bears in London years before. Oh, and Seeker has romantic problems too.

I write as someone who has enjoyed all of the author’s previous novels, both the Seeker ones and those set in Scotland focusing on Alexander Seaton. But there are a number of problems with this novel, some forgivable, others much less so. Problem 1: the assassins are inept, even if they are based on historical fact – each time they fail, they become more risible. Problem 2: over four novels Maclean has built up too many characters for a new reader to understand how they relate to each other. I actually think she is too fond of her creations to let any of them go. I have read the whole series and found it quite difficult to place everyone. Problem 3: this is the big one – the ending. Now I don’t believe in spoilers and it may be that others who read this book will disagree with me, but when I read the last page I simply thought, ‘Huh? How did that happen? Have I missed a chapter somewhere?’ Some authors get their plot into such difficulties that they have to resort to a deus ex machina ending, and that is never a good thing. But this story doesn’t even have that.

Maybe we will all find out in volume five.

The Seeker series has quickly become my favourite historical mystery series. Each time i see a new book by SG Maclean on the horizon, it shoots straight to the top of the TBR pile. And yet again, this book proved why.

After a brief foray up north in book 3, Seeker is back in 17th century London, and this time hes delving into the lawlessness and murk of Southwark.

A grizzly (get it!) murder south of the river is brilliantly tied in with a series of desperate plots to murder Cromwell, and Seeker is really up against it this time.

Alongside these main plots, Maclean somehow manages to entwine 2 or 3 complicated love stories throughout the narrative, that just adds to the depth and brilliance of the book.

It really is a cracking read, and the ending teases what we can expect in book 5. I loved this, loved the series, and really cant wait for the next one.

This fourth book in Maclean’s Damien Seeker series is the best yet in my opinion. While you can read these as standalone novels quite easily, I have read them in order and find that the MC’s character journey is subtle and rewarding with real signs of growth. The Bear Pit is set during the time of Cromwell’s Protectorate and Seeker is Cromwell’s man. Sent to break up illegal gambling rings, Seeker discovers something that leads him on a twisting, turning, fast paced journey to a devastating conclusion. This was brilliant. If you like historical mystery, then this is for you.

A gripping historical mystery set at the time of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate. This is the fourth book in the series, but the first I have read and I must say, I loved it from start of finish. It can easily be read as a stand alone novel. The sense of time and place is wonderfully portrayed. The characters come alive and are entertaining and immensely likeable. The story is fast paced, with plenty of twists. I didn't want to stop reading it. Highly recommended.