by Philip Kerr
First published 2002
Christopher Ellis arrives at the Tower of London in 1696, not as a prisoner but as assistant to Sir Isaac Newton. The famous scientist serves as Warden of the Royal Mint and has been tasked by the King to stop counterfeiters threatening England's fragile economy. Ellis may be hotheaded and quick to fight duels, but he proves skilled with a pistol and devoted to Newton's mission. When they discover a coded message on a corpse in the Lion Tower, along with strange alchemical symbols, the investigation takes a deadly turn. More bodies appear as Newton struggles to crack the mysterious codes. Their pursuit leads them through Bedlam asylum and Newgate prison as they uncover something far more dangerous than simple counterfeiting. The conspiracy reaches into the highest levels of power and threatens much more than economic collapse. Ellis and Newton must navigate the volatile world of seventeenth century London, where politics, science, and religion collide in deadly ways.
Genres: historical, historical-fiction, mystery, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, conspiracy, historical-fiction
Setting: Tower of London, Bedlam Asylum, Newgate Prison
Period: 1696
383 pages · Hardcover · Wunderlich