The Pepys Conspiracy
Most of us probably know of Samuel Pepys, the 17th-century diarist and all-round gossip who gave great social and political insights into the reign of Charles II and events including the Plague and Fire of London. However, author James Long has chosen to focus his novel on the 1679 event in Pepys’ life when he was accused of treason for allegedly selling state secrets to the French.
Long, and his son Ben, wrote a 2008 non-fiction book, The Plot Against Pepys, which analysed the incident. However, Long says his work left him puzzled over the ingratitude shown to the man who helped save Pepys from execution – his brother-in-law Balthasar St Michel. So Long turned to fiction and has come up with an interesting exploration of the case.
Balty, as Balthasar is known, is the naval muster-master in Deal and reports to Pepys, the Navy chief. When Pepys is charged, Balty investigates and is joined by his 11-year-old twins Sam and Betty. They land in France to try to expose Pepys’ accuser Colonel John Scott.
The whodunnit is already known, so the reader just needs to follow the unravelling of the how-dunnit and interesting court politics of the day. The plot made me want to go and read Long’s non-fiction. In this novel, unfortunately, Pepys didn’t appear until over 100 pages in, which was too long a wait for me. The plot jumps around in time, slowing down the narrative. But Balty is well drawn, and the children are a good foil to their father, bringing moments of amusement. One for Pepys fans.
