Death and the Jubilee

First Sentence: One nondescript room at the top of the War Office in London had become the nerve center of the British Empire. London is excited about the upcoming Diamond celebrating the 60th year of Queen Victoria's reign, but there are also great concerns about security. A corpse, without head or hands, is found floating in the Thames. Because the body appears to be a wealthy, older gentleman, Lord Francis Powerscourt is brought in to work with the security forces to identify the corpse and determine whether there is a greater threat. The investigation leads Powerscourt back to his native Ireland, into the world of international banking and facing a personal threat. I was afraid, at first, that this book might be a bit dry for my taste. It definitely was not. There are great characters. Powerscourt is an ex-soldier, who is wealthy, urbane, literate, polite, and confident of his position in life. He loves his wife, Lady Lucy, and family, is capable of expressing emotion. Lady Lucy is no vapid Victoria female, but intelligent and holds her own. There is delightful interaction between Powerscourt, Lady Lucy and their children which adds humor and a softer note to the story. While they take the lead, the supporting characters, some of whom are recurring in the series, are well developed and integral to the story. Dickinson's sense of place is strong enough that his description of a cricket match made me actually want to understand the game. The verbally paints with contract: "All around were the signs of England in the Spring...Then Powerscourt saw the sad remains of Blackwater House." The story is very well plotted with escalating suspense. It begins with a seemingly straightforward murder but quickly become much more and goes places I didn't expect. There is no question that I shall read more books in this series.

When an aging German banker is found, his body decapitated, hands severed, Lord Francis Powerscourt is called into action. Powerhouse has developed a reputation as an investigator but this case is bigger than anything he has tackled. A vast conspiracy to destroy the British Empire threatens England's place in the world. Germans and Irish republicans combine to threaten Queen Victoria--and the institutions that British power rests upon. Before his investigation is complete, Powerscourt will be shot at several times, develop interest in early arson research, and put his own wife at risk. Author David Dickinson draws a convincing picture of Britain at the end of the 19th century. Victoria nears the end of her long reign and the entire Empire prepares to celebrate her jubilee. Yet already, Germany (still allied with Britain at this time) sees its place as the dominant nation of the world and views Britain as its primary threat. Powerscourt makes a sympathetic protagonist. He is clever enough to make a difference, willing to throw himself into the investigation, and very much in love with his wife and family. Scenes where Powerscourt plays cricket or visits his tutor add depth to this interesting character. His curiosity about arson plays into the story and also shows the type of talent that makes Powerscourt an effective investigator. Dickinson introduces enough subplots to keep up reader interest. Even minor characters such as Dominick Knox of the Irish Office tantilize the reader interest. Unlike GOOD NIGHT SWEET PRINCE, the earlier novel in this series, DEATH AND THE JUBILEE is conservative rather than questioning of authority. Both novels are definitely worth the read.