Rules of Engagement

This is the eleventh and last installment in the Sir John Fielding series because Mr. Alexander passed away as he was writing it. This book was a true gift since it was completed by his wife and another renowned author, and they both did a wonderful job bringing this beautiful series to an end. Mr. Alexander was a very refined writer, and I truly enjoyed each and every one of his books. His characters were wonderful, and the period detail and atmosphere that he put into each book was remarkable. This book touches on hypnotism (or mesmerism as they called it then)and necromancy. Both of these things were big in the late eighteenth century and Mr. Alexander explored how they could be used for illegal purposes. I am very sorry to come to the end of this series, but I thank the late Mr. Alexander for many joyous hours reading his wonderful books. If you like historical mysteries with wonderful period detail, I highly recommend this series.

This historical mystery series has been my favorite, after 30 years of reading the genre. Yes, there were a few gaps here and there toward the end of the book, but they did not diminish my enjoyment. It's clear to me that some of the philosophising in the later chapters was a final farewell to the author, his characters, and the series. I was actually a bit teary-eyed and wanted to savor every last word of this marvelous series.

Reading this book felt a little like watching the last episode of Cheers. I tried to savor every last word, knowing that there would be no more. I'm sorry we'll never learn what happens to Sir John and his court, or find out how Jeremy Proctor's life will turn out, or how Annie's acting career plays, or what happens to the Donnellys when they return to Ireland. It's hard to believe their lives won't go on somewhere. This series was such a delight.

This was one of the great series of historical detective fiction. The author's writing style perfectly depicted late 18th Century England, and the mysteries themselves were always suspenseful, fun and perfectly plotted. While this one was not quite up to the earlier ones, and it really was evident that others were involved in the writing, it still merits 5 stars because it was truly a great end for characters who really began to seem like old friends. Even though the author wrote many other types of work, he will clearly live on in the readers' minds for this wonderful series.

In 1775 a saddened Lord Chief Justice William Murray asks a favor of Sir John Fielding, the magistrate of the Bow St. Court. William explains to John and his clerk Jeremy Proctor how Lord Francis Talley died. The aristocrat was completing work on a bill to blockade the four biggest American ports so the economic consequences will put an end to the Adams' nonsense when he left his office to take a walk. Halfway across the Westminster Bridge he suddenly leaped into the Thames; several witnesses willingly testified to that account of the suicide. William wonders why. John agrees to make discrete inquiries to learn what motivated Francis to kill himself. John and Jeremy soon learn that Dr. Goldsworthy, is a newcomer in town whose patron is the widow of William's clerk. This leads the sleuths to wonder who would gain most by Lord Francis dying and soon realize that no member of the dysfunctional Lammermoor family grieves and some act euphoric celebrating the death of its patriarch Lord Francis. Though the great mystery author Bruce Alexander passed away, his fans (including this reviewer) still have a treat as his wife and John Shannon completed his last Sir John novel and no one will know who wrote which part. The story line is fabulous as Jeremy is a sort of Watson looking back from near the end of the century writing about his salad days as a clerk sleuthing for his employer and mentor. Sir John and Jeremy remain true to their personalities from previous tales and the mystery of Lord Francis' death is cleverly designed. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT is a wonderful homage to a notable writer. Harriet Klausner