Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Blood on the Stone by Jake Lynch. It's well-written historical crime fiction.
Jake Lynch is Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, and the author of seven books and over 50 refereed articles and book chapters. Over 20 years, he has pioneered both research and practice in the field of Peace Journalism, for which he was recognised with the 2017 Luxembourg Peace Prize, awarded by the Schengen Peace Foundation.
He has held Fellowships at the Universities of Johannesburg, Bristol and Cardiff, where he read English Literature and got a Diploma in Journalism Studies. His PhD was from City University, London.
Before taking up an academic post, Jake enjoyed a successful career in journalism, with spells as a Political Correspondent for Sky News at Westminster and the Sydney correspondent for the Independent newspaper, culminating in a role as a presenter (anchor) for BBC World Television News. Jake divides his time between Australia and Oxford, where he performs in amateur dramatic productions and runs a local book group. He is married with a teenaged son.
Follow @ProfJakeLynch on Twitter, on Goodreads, Visit jakelynch.co.uk
Buy Blood on the Stone
About the book
March 1681. Oxford is hosting the English Parliament under the ‘merry monarch’, King Charles II. As politicians and their hangers-on converge on the divided city, an MP is found murdered, triggering tensions that threaten mayhem on the streets.
Luke Sandys, Chief Officer of the Oxford Bailiffs, must solve the crime and thwart the plot. On his side is the respect for evidence and logic he absorbed in his student days, as a follower of the new science. On the other, a group of political conspirators are stirring up sectarian hatreds in their scheme to overthrow the Crown.
Struggling to protect all he holds dear, Luke leans heavily on his cavalry officer brother, his
friends, and his faithful deputy, Robshaw. But he has a secret, which may be clouding his
judgement. At the moment of truth, will he choose love or duty?
Luke Sandys is Chief Officer or Constable of the Oxford Bailiffs and tasked with policing Oxford before any such entity existed. King Charles II and his entourage is visiting the city, when an MP by the name of William Harbord is found murdered. Suspicion falls on a specific group of agitators called the Green Ribbon Club.
As if matters weren't complicated and dangerous enough, Luke has fallen for Cate. She and her family live in constant fear of being exposed for being Catholics. Luke is actually steering his own career in a direction that doesn't invite any questions or vetting, because he wants to keep Cate and her family safe.
He is walking a really precarious path, a lethal one even, by trying to hide religious affiliations in plain sight. The story speaks to the volatile and unstable times in a country ripped apart by religion. I'd like to say the sectarian group planning to overthrow the king are an unusual threat, but the truth is they just show the dissension in the population.
Lynch has the style of a C.J. Sansom and Laura Shepherd-Robinson with a slightly lighter touch. He delivers the more complex side of the story, and history, in a way that doesn't overpower the crime or the characters.
The story isn't bogged down with too many historical facts, instead Lynch lets the history flow alongside with ease, as if his characters were always meant to be there.
It's historical crime fiction with a main character who in the midst of turbulent times stands up for what is right, instead of ensuring the safety of himself and his loved ones. It is a well-written and researched piece of fiction, and Lynch is definitely one to watch out for. I hope to read more about Luke Sandys again soon.
Buy Blood on the Stone at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Unbound Digital; pub date 18 April 2019. Buy at Amazon com.
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