Princess Fuzzypants here: It is 1745 and Bonnie Prince Charlie is leading his army southward picking up support as he goes. The residents of Preston, like much of the country, are torn between those who think his father is the rightful king and other who support the Georges. Ahead of the army two men travel to Preston but meet a grisly end. This is where Titus, as coroner, must take over to determine the cause of death and who was responsible. Despite his tough questioning, the jury is unable or unwilling to place blame on anyone.
Things spiral downwards for Titus from that point forward. The Jacobites descend on the town and Titus and his family must play host to three of their number, one of whom is a most unpleasant guest. He has also incurred the amity of the person Titus suspects was behind the murders and beheadings of the two Jacobite travellers. He has managed to incite enough ill will that before the army leaves Preston, they are convinced he is the murderer. Things are looking bleak but he still has friends including one in a surprisingly high place.
When he returns to Preston he must defend himself on a libel charge. His future is looking dark indeed but enter a highwayman and loyal servant and written proof of his allegations and things begin to turn his way. But this is not before there are some very tense and scary moments for his family.
This turned out to be a fast paced historical fiction that kept me turning page after page to see what would happen next. It is full of fascinating historical characters as well as fictional ones. Five purrs and two paws up.

Genre

This book is announced as Mystery. However, I found it to be less of a mystery more of a adventure novel or even historical novel.

The plot and sub-plots in this book developed too slowly to be suspensful and qualify for mystery, in my opinion.

Characters

Coroner Cragg is former lawyer who became county coroner. He lives with his wife and toddler son, and housemaid. He is well-respected in his county and uses certain influence.

His friend Dr Fidelis is treating patients but is on call when something untoward happens and Cragg needs help.

All secondary characters have their respective roles to play. There are characters that you acutely like: Cragg’s wife Elizabeth and even dog Bawty. And there are those that you do not feel sorry to see the end of.

Setting

I found that setting, especially the time, played an important role in this story. Being caught between two armies: King’s and Pretender’s creates havoc in Preston. People do not know what to expect. They are trying to hide their valuables and loved ones. The memory of past military conflicts and horrors are still alive in people’s mind. The allegiances are not clear.

Thus, conducting inquest into suspicious incidents of any kind turn out to be problematic. Who is the guilty party? And from what angle, camp, position are they guilty or innocent? If the victims are Pretender’s supporters and will be punished, what would happen to those who punish them when Pretender’s army comes through? And vice.

So, there is no clear cut ‘solve the murder’ trail in this story.

Review

All-in-all Death and the Chevalier was an interesting, light read. The title turned out to be a bit misleading. There was little about Chevalier and Death came and went regardless of Pretender’s whereabouts.

The language of the narration was light and rhythmic to keep interest going. Also, characters were coloured enough to form opinion of them one way or another. Some witty moments helped a lot to keep me reading (especially those of housemaid and highwayman).

But, I found the end of the book really dragging. There was a nice place to finish the story but the author decided to prolong it with a few more pages with no particular purpose or interest. The ‘happy end’ to the story could have happened much earlier.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Titus Craig the coroner and Dr. Fidelis have to find out who murdered and beheaded to rebels from the Young Pretender's army. Robin Blake in Death and the Chevalier paints the disorder as the rebel's army passes through and the enmity and societal misbehaviors that follow. Complex plot and subplot. Read for the murder mystery and the historical portrayal of the Stuart invasion.

It's the second book I read in this series and I liked it.
It's an engrossing historical thriller, full of twists, with an interesting and well developed cast of characters.
The historical background is vivid and well researched, the mystery solid and it kept me guessing.
I look forward to the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

1745. The Young Pretender's army is on its way southwards, towards Preston when two decapitated bodies are found. Coroner Titus Cragg and Dr Luke Fidelis investigate, is there a connection between the bodies and the approaching army.
The story really didn't catch my interest, this might be because I have not read the previous five books which may be why I didn't find the characters were interesting enough. It was presumed that we would know their individual histories. For me there was not enough of a mystery in the story.
A NetGalley Book

I have evidently missed out on a great deal by coming into this series so late in the game, but this is something I aim to rectify as this was a thoroughly enjoyable romp, filled with wit and fun alongside the historical . Many characters became precious to me and I would definitely suggest others readers who enjoy historical mysteries seek out the Titus Cragg series for themselves!!

November 1745 and Preston, in North West England is not the best place to be. Close (ish) to the Scottish border, the troops of the Young Pretender, Charles Stuart, are marching towards the town on their way to London to claim the throne.
Titus Cragg, the town coroner, has other problems on his mind. A decapitated corpse is discovered, along with a head – only the head doesn’t match the body. When the remaining parts are discovered, it seems they may well have been an advance party for the approaching Highlanders. But who would have killed them in that way? As events progress, another murder takes place and a hunt for missing treasure starts, but with Cragg arrested for murder, can the real killer be tracked down?
It’s been a while since I dipped my toe back into the world of historical mysteries. This is the sixth Fidelis and Cragg mystery – Luke Fidelis is Cragg’s medical friend – but it’s not a series that I’ve encountered before. The setting is an interesting one – the mid-eighteenth century with George II on the throne making a stand against the Pretender – and by setting the story in the path of the army, rather than at the site of the battle, it gives an interesting insight into the lives of people affected by the battle.
I’m in two minds about this one. The problem, I suppose, is that for me, I was hoping for a complex mystery. Instead, this is closer to an historical thriller, and it’s a good one. The author takes time to develop the supporting characters as well as the leads and there is plenty going on in the tale with multiple plot strands.
So, if you want an entertaining thriller set in a part of history rarely explored in the genre, then why not take a look.
Death And The Chevalier is out on December 31st from Severn House. Many thanks for the review copy.