Dark Stars
Set in 1666 London, one month after the Great Fire, Dark Stars is the third book in the Thief Taker series, which brings together Charlie Tuesday, infamous thief taker and crime solver, and Lily Boswell, a gypsy with street smarts and knife-wielding skills. Women’s corpses that have been mutilated and carved with numerous astrological signs are found floating in the Thames. The bodies and signs are similar to those discovered 19 years before, but the person responsible is dead. Charlie and Lily are drawn into solving the murders but end up uncovering a far greater mystery that has a bearing on Charlie’s ambiguous past and significant implications for the future of the country.
The novel is fast-paced and runs on, unearthing one clue after another, getting Charlie and Lily out of lots of danger, and solving one piece of the mystery only to unfold a larger and more complicated one. An intricate plot and detail-oriented narrative brings the time and conditions to life and makes for an interesting read about astrology, Roman gods, underground passages, debilitated castles, pirates, and sailor myths. Dark Stars is a fun and rapid read that weaves together mystery and adventure with lots of interesting historical insights and vivid characters.
