Description

Book 2 in the James Blakiston Series

This is Book 2 in R J Lynch’s James Blakiston Series set in the northeast of England in the 1760s. Lynch’s concern is not with the aristocracy, wayward dukes and spoilt princesses – he writes about the people at the bottom of the social heap, for whom every day is a struggle to survive and yet whose humanity stands out as they love, bicker and sometimes fight. In this book, Kate Greener’s love for James Blakiston conceived in Book 1 (A Just and Upright Man) is opposed by James’s implacable sister, Hannah and Susannah Bent’s belief that James is meant for her. In the midst of all this, a serial killer stalks Ryton. But why? And who?

Here are some of the things readers have said about the book:

Might make you cry! Go ahead, who cares?
First RJ Lynch is superb, his knowledge of the times and areas he writes about, impeccably done, I think this would please anyone who likes period dramas, and a wonderful love story, which, melts the heart, and may indeed make you cry, I got the first of this series, and enjoyed that, and RJ has just made me look for number three!! I really enjoyed reading it and hope someone else has the same outcome, (and yes, it made me cry!!!!! Superb ).

Excellent
I really enjoyed the two Blakiston novels. I cannot wait for the third. I found them very absorbing and enlightening of the poor in the UK in this era. Thank you so much for continuing to write this saga. Hope the third will not be the end of it. I will tell my friends about your books. Thank you .

Wonderfully Different
I read the two books in this series back to back. The writing style is really different in a good way. I grew to really care about these characters. The setting is interesting. It’s as if one is an unseen observer. Suspense and wisdom are included. It’s not cotton candy storytelling. I hope there are many more books to come. I’ve seen the movies Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, etc. but have never read the books. I might do so now.

Again, excellent!
This 18th century story of an English farming community drained with murder a well written and hard to put down just as the first book of the series.
The unbelievable hardships of life when who you were born to and how much money you had determined your social status is hard to imagine by today’s standards. The Poor Law was horrendous in its employment of determination to do so very little for those in need. It’s even harder to imagine whole families being starved to death. The use of religion to scapegoat and shame the dispossessed and downtrodden is a fact based concept then and now. Shameful!
I have to say the writing here is such that I feel for the characters as I’ve gotten to know them. Their descriptions and dialogue are well done. I laughed often and felt, too, the sadness of loss and the desperation of the common man.
The murder investigation is interesting, but, again, there are several very interesting side stories. The romance between James and Kate is one of those and very sweet.
I’m enjoying the series and plan to continue on while adding my high recommendation.