Let There Be Blood
Originally published by Headline in 1997, this Berkley reissue is the third in the Lord Ambrose series set in the early part of the 19th century. In this installment, Lord Ambrose Maltine returns to England from the battlefields of Greece, recuperating from his wounds – both physical and emotional – in his West Country mansion. He wants nothing to do with anyone.
As lord of the manor, though, Ambrose is asked to step in when a farmer and his son are inexplicably shot dead in the village. What initially seems an obvious solution to this double homicide crumbles under Lord Ambrose’s scrutiny. In seeking out alternative explanations for these crimes, Ambrose intuits that all is not what it seems. He is fearless in tracking down the real killer and the real motive.
Lord Ambrose is a dark, Byronic character. It’s clear that Jakeman loves twisting and turning the plot in unexpected directions to suit the complexity of Ambrose’s personality and the convoluted resolution she has planned for us. Also, the pain and terror of the fight for Greek independence – much the cause of Ambrose’s darkness — is beautifully interwoven into both plot and character. Although I haven’t read the two previous novels in this series, I didn’t at all feel at a loss. This is a wonderful read!
