The Winter List
This sixth in the popular Damian Seeker series will attract readers fond of the historical crime genre. We are in York in the winter of 1662, in the company of a cast of characters still trying to shake off the effects of Cromwell’s Republic. All have secrets. The pursuit of those believed to be traitors to the new king, Charles II, is still relentless, driven by the personal revenge of a fanatic. MacLean creates a chilly atmosphere of distrust, as spies, observers and innocents are caught up in a dangerous and furtive game of whodunnit and ‘who might do it’. At the heart of the story is the household of decent lawyer Lawrence Ingolby and his gentle wife Manon, striving to keep secret the whereabouts of Manon’s father, Damian Seeker, but learning that this puts their own safety in peril.
MacLean weaves a deft plot, laying a neat trail of red herrings for her characters and readers alike. There are satisfying dashes through the icy ginnels of York, forays into smoky taverns to eavesdrop, and plenty of lingering in dark corners where candlelight casts shadows. Break-ins, attempted kidnappings, and confusion are the order of the day. The eventual unmasking of the spy is a surprise for everyone. MacLean’s strength lies in creating a totally credible mid-17th-century world, shaken to its roots by civil war and Cromwell’s rule. Domestic detail and political shenanigans are given equal weight. Her writing crackles with tense conversations, and she creates wonderful interior and exterior settings within the city of York. The epilogue sweeps us off to the forests of Massachusetts and the potential for a whole new novel. Mind you, as soon as you reach the end you’ll want to read it again – to spot the clues!
