An Experiment in Treason

Publishers Weekly

Sir John Fielding and his young prot g , Jeremy Proctor, those delightful Georgian versions of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, get mixed up in pre-Revolutionary War intrigue in their ninth outing (after 2001's Smuggler's Moon). A burglary of the home of the British secretary of state for colonial affairs turns violent, leading to the disappearance of some valuable letters that may be connected with the incipient rebellion in Massachusetts. While Sir John, the legendary Blind Beak of Bow Street, sits and thinks, Jeremy functions as his eyes and legs, interviewing witnesses, conducting surveillance and further developing his detective skills. Jeremy's burgeoning relationship with a servant girl adds depth to the drama. The sleuths enlist the aid of the legendary Samuel Johnson when the government, which is weighing the political merits of charging American patriots with treason, wants American envoy Benjamin Franklin interrogated as a suspect. Alexander evokes the period without anachronisms of word or thought to jar the reader. Franklin himself comes across as a fully realized character, with his strengths and frailties both on display. Given the relative unimportance of the puzzle element of the plot, this work ranks a little below Blind Justice and the superb Watery Grave. Still, Alexander's creations are as full of life and interest as when they debuted, a formidable accomplishment for a long series, one that mystery fans should hope has many more entries to come. (Oct. 14) Forecast: Displaying this one alongside Edmund S. Morgan's recent short Franklin biography or H.W. Brands's The First American (2000) could attract Franklin fans, who've been waiting for a good fictional cameo ever since Herman Melville's caricature of the Philadelphia sage in Israel Potter (1855). Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Benjamin Franklin faces off against blind magistrate Sir John Fielding as protégé Jeremy Proctor, on the brink of manhood and beginning legal studies, recounts Sir John’s ninth adventure, which begins with the burglary of powerful politician Lord Hillsborough’s residence. But what was stolen? Hillsborough’s stonewalling only intensifies Sir John’s interest until he learns at length that it was letters relating to American colonial turmoil. The clues lead from a pair of laborers Lord Hillsborough hired to a Dr. Arthur Lee, who hired the thieves, and finally to Franklin, Lee’s travelling companion in England. Though the murder of one of the burgling pair raises the stakes of the investigation, Sir John must proceed discreetly lest revelations in London affect the political situation across the ocean. In a plethora of subplots, nearly as much intrigue and turmoil, mostly romantic, attend the household of Sir John himself. Franklin flirts shamelessly with saucy cook Molly and Clarissa, Jeremy’s intended. The threat of criminal charges and deportation to her native France for pirate queen Marie Helene, a holdover from Sir John’s last case (Smuggler’s Moon, 2001), drives her sweetheart, series regular Black Jack Bilbo, to distraction. Tom Durham, Jeremy’s fellow ward and close friend, returns from a stint at sea no longer a boy but a rugged and rakish man with a good deal to interest Clarissa, much to Jeremy’s chagrin. As usual, Alexander portrays the Georgian era deftly and juggles his large (and expanding) recurring cast with aplomb. Series veterans will find far greater rewards than newcomers encountering this caravansary for the first time.