Description

This is an auction for THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES by Elizabeth Redfern.

“THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES is a tale of murder and intrigue set in 1795 London. Jonathan Absey is a clerk at the Home Office whose job is to search out spies in the war with France. Instead, he spends much of his time trying to discover who murdered his daughter, a prostitute. In his quest for justice, he enlists the reluctant help of half-brother Alexander. An amateur astronomer, Alexander ingratiates himself with an unusual group of French emigres who are searching the skies for an elusive new planet they call Selene. Secret agents, murdered prostitutes, and the love of science all combine in an enjoyable story. Redfern has a deep understanding of this historical period and uses contemporary epigraphs to good effect. Strongly recommended.”

Library Journal (US)

“In the waning years of the 18th century, His Majesty's government is gravely concerned about the network of French spies operating in London, gathering intelligence beneficial to the forces of the new French Republic. Consequently, the Home Office conducts a campaign of counterespionage, infiltrating the spy cells in hopes of arming itself with information about the possibility of invasion by the French army. In Redfern's historically immaculate novel, it is as if John le Carre has gone Age of Enlightenment on us; while in the novel's second story line about a brutal serial murderer, it is as if Silence of the Lambs has been reset in the Napoleonic era. This British writer seamlessly incorporates the diverse elements of historical fiction, romance novels, and spy thrillers.”