Death at the Boston Tea Party

June 13, 2016
At the start of Lake’s amiable if flawed 16th John Rawlings mystery (after 2014’s Death on the Rocks), the widowed British apothecary and his three children set sail in 1773 for the Colonies, where John is to consummate a business deal. When their ship founders off Penobscot Bay, John and his family, along with other survivors, make their slow way to Boston, where he’s among the crowd watching as the Sons of Liberty empty British tea chests into the harbor. The next morning, the body of Lady Demelza Conway, one of the shipwreck survivors, is found drowned nearby. When an acquaintance in the British military asks John to do some unofficial sleuthing, he discovers that the victim—born and raised in the Colonies though recently living in Britain—was involved in the uprising and that her checkered past yields a plethora of suspects. Lake ably mixes engaging series characters with cameos of colorful historical figures, though readers should be prepared for an unlikely resolution and anachronistic attitudes.

June 1, 2016
A voyage to the New World is anything but smooth sailing for an 18th-century sleuth.Twice-widowed apothecary John Rawlings is en route from England with his family when he meets the first of many obstacles to a planned business venture. His ship is wrecked, and it's many months before he, his three children, and a few other survivors can travel from the remote island where they've washed up to civilization and finally to Boston. The company includes an Indian guide, two dandies, and an imperious widow, as well as a fading beauty, Lady Conway, and her much younger husband. When Rawlings finally arrives in Boston, his hope of selling his recipe for carbonated water fades: his prospective partner in trade has died and left his tavern to his niece. Rawlings goes into business with her instead by setting up an apothecary shop in the tavern. One of his first patients is the celebrated Dr. Joseph Warren, and through him Rawlings meets some of the other prominent Sons of Liberty. Although he sympathizes with some of their complaints, he's still loyal to the Crown and more intent on keeping his children safe than meddling in politics. When he places his daughter in a school for girls, he learns that the headmistress is a former actress--and a former lover of his younger years. They resume their affair in the midst of growing Colonial unrest and threats of rebellion. Rawlings is an uneasy witness to the Boston Tea Party and the death of Lady Conway, who, disguised as a boy, falls from a ship's rigging and drowns. After he uncovers secrets about her distant past and her more recent activities, his attempts to find her killer lead to danger for both himself and his beloved children.The 16th entry in Lake's series (Death on the Rocks, 2014, etc.) is slow to fulfill the promise of its title. But period detail and quirky characters help make up for the leisurely pace.

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

In 1776, after a perilous trip from England, apothecary John Rawlings (Death on the Rocks) and his three children arrive in a tension-filled Boston. Spectacular scenery and cameo appearances by various Sons of Liberty (Sam Adams, Paul Revere, etc.) add to the sense of adventure.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
When London apothecary John Rawlings is invited to Boston to meet a potential client, he seizes the opportunity to visit the American colonies. But near the end of an arduous sea journey, the ship Rawlings and his family are traveling on encounters a terrible storm off the coast of America and is blown miles off course before eventually sinking. Rawlings and his family, along with a handful of other passengers, are rescued by a tribe of Indians. After recovering from their ordeal, Rawlings and the others set off for Boston on foot with an Indian guide. Finally reaching Boston, the little band of travelers finds a divided city in the midst of political turmoil, with many citizens loyal to Britain but even more set on independence. Rawlings has come to Boston just before the Boston Tea Party, which he witnesses firsthand. He senses a looming war but is drawn into investigating the murder of a woman who may have been a spy. This highly entertaining adventure features a fast-paced plot, plenty of action, authentic period ambience, historical detail, and intriguing characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)