I received this ARC from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for a free and honest review.

The second book in the thief taker series is set during the great fire of London. The book follows multiple characters, with the main protagonists being Charlie and Lily (a thief) who work together to solve the mystery of Charlie's origin and a long the way discover a dangerous secret. There is also a new charismatic leader who has created a new sect and is setting fires. In addition, there is a good blend between fictional and real events. Overall, a good sequel and I am eager to continue to the third instalment. Would highly recommend.

This is a brilliant series set in Restoration London - King Charles II has returned to England (1660), many years after the execution of his father Charles I and the reign of the Protectorate under Cromwell. After a decade under Puritan rule, Charles' court is a mix of frivolity and hedonsim, and also of political (and religious) intrigue as he made no secret of the fact he intended to hunt down and punish those responsible for the death of his father. His reign was dominated by his mistresses and his numerous progeny, the Anglo-Dutch wars, the Plague and the Great Fire. The perfect setting for a series such as this ... and what we are left with as always is ... what next?