(The Covent Garden Mysteries)
By Peter Baggott
Publisher: Michael Terence Publishing
Page Length: 428 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Thriller
The unexpected file he received piqued Malachi Smith’s curiosity. These papers, given to him following his mentor, Magistrate De Veil’s death, reveal that De Veil was investigating a string of murders, all connected by a dragon tattoo affiliated with a group of ex-French Dragoons. The papers suggest that there is a woman who might be of some assistance. This leads Malachi to Claudette.
Claudette does not hide the fact that she has information that will be useful to Malachi, but she needs some assurances first. Magistrate De Vei had promised her and her girls immunity from prosecution related to the Dragons. She demands the same assurance from the new Magistrate before sharing any information with him.
I Will Have Justice by Peter Baggott, part of The Covent Garden Mysteries series, delves into Claudette’s story, exploring her conversations with Malachi and the circumstances that led her to become the bawd of a bagnio on The Strand.
Claudette’s story doesn’t initially focus on recent events but begins long ago when she was just a child. Early in the story, she meets Renard Noffre and his men, resulting from a Dragoon quartered in her home because of her family’s steadfast refusal to convert from Huguenot beliefs to Christianity. The harsh treatment compels Claudette to run from the only place she’s ever known, driven by the instinct to survive. As Claudette’s story progresses, it becomes clear that she is an incredibly determined woman who knows her own mind and is fully aware of what she is capable of, and just how far she can be pushed before she begins to push back. And when she does, she is not afraid to put twice as much effort into her shove. The streets were not a place for a young woman to roam, let alone a young Huguenot woman whose mother was an ex-slave, clear to all of those around her by the colour of her skin. With promises of safety, food and warmth, it was easy for places of ill-repute to lure the vulnerable in, and Claudette was one of those who fell victim, not only to the abuse and heavy hand of the Dragons but also to the harsh realities that befit a young woman on the streets of both Paris and London. Her options were slim, but if she could stay alive, there was always a chance. This novel does not shy away from the horrors that befell many women under the false pretence of compassion, at the hands of women who would sell them to the highest bidder, and men who would happily pay the fee.
There are scenes in this novel that are utterly heart-breaking, and although the reader knows that Claudette will survive, or else she would not be able to tell Malachi the story, you cannot help but fear for her life. The abuse and terror she suffers is horrific to read about, but Baggott has written her story tactfully. At times, the novel reads almost like an autobiography as Claudette recounts her life. She does not describe in detail the atrocity she endured, but rather the events surrounding the acts, how she found herself in the situations, and how she escaped them. At times she is almost blunt about the horrors she experiences, suggesting that she has almost grown numb to the truth behind what happened to her, and so many other women.
Although the majority of this novel revolves around Claudette, and her life leading up to the point of her interviews with Malachi, this novel offers perspectives of those around her as well, not excluding that of the Dragons themselves. With insight into what is happening in the world around Claudette, the author has created a terrible sense of foreboding. The Dragons’ plans always have a hidden, manipulative motive, and their actions become more dangerous as they get closer to specific characters, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
There are many characters in this novel that are incredibly easy to fall in love with, but to live in such a dangerous time and place, where is it not uncommon for someone to happen across a body in a back alley and cry out ‘murder’, none of the character’s lives are guaranteed. The constant back and forth between learning to love new characters to fearing for their lives keeps the story incredibly fast-paced. This novel is so engaging, you could easily read it in one sitting.
The middle of this story is where the author truly shines, bringing Claudette to life, and gripping the reader in a thrilling, although traumatic, account of what she experienced, from fleeing her home to how she came to be bawd of a house wherein the women were well cared for, despite their profession. It takes a few chapters to become fully absorbed in the story, as the initial pages introduce numerous characters without much explanation about who they are and how they know each other. This novel, the second in a series, might be easier to follow for those who’ve read the first, although the story picks up pace after these early chapters. Likewise, towards the end of the novel, after Claudette’s story is over, the author returns the reader to the present with Malachi’s investigation. Several of these plot threads would potentially have more meaning after reading book one. Without that backstory and, therefore, clarity, there are aspects of the plot, such as Malachi’s relationship with Penelope, that seem to have little to no relevance to the story. This novel might have been more immersive and flowed better if it had focused on Claudette and the investigation into the Dragons. It is, however, a fascinatingly thrilling account of one woman’s fight for survival in a world set against her.
Following Claudette through thick and thin, I Will Have Justice (The Covent Garden Mysteries) by Peter Baggott is truly a gripping read. It takes a while to get into the story, but once you’re fully immersed in Claudette’s life, you won’t want to put the book down. Between her immense fight for survival and the gang warfare of the Dragons on the dangerous streets of London, this book tells a story that will stay with you for a very long time.
Yarde Reviews & Book Promotion
Congratulations, Peter.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
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