London, 1678.
The blood-drained body of a young boy is discovered in the snow on the bank of the Fleet River.
The city, overlooked by the exhumed head of the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, teeters on the brink of riot and hysteria, with rumours of Catholic plots, devil-boys, and sinister foreign assassins.
It is twelve years since the Great Fire ripped through the heart of the city. Robert Hooke, natural philosopher and Curator of Experiments of the Royal Society is an architect of the rebuilding. Hooke and his assistant, Harry Hunt, reluctantly agree to investigate the murder of the bloodless boy after instruction from King Charles II.
Harry, ambitious, wanting to prove himself as an able natural philosopher and to break free from the shadow of Hooke’s brilliance, takes the lead in investigating the death of the boy. He finds a sinister tale with roots in the dark past of the Civil Wars.
As he gets closer to finding the use of the bloodless boy, he uncovers the terrible consequences of experiments performed in the name of the New Science.
About the Author
At school I wanted to be an artist, thinking I was going to be the next great English painter. I did a BA degree in Fine Art, at Coventry, but moved more into art theory, ideas, and writing. It was during my study for an MA in the History of Ideas, in Newcastle, that I discovered Robert Hooke’s Diary. The research, and the ideas and characters that I came across stayed with me; after years of tinkering these turned into The Bloodless Boy. I’m represented by Sheil Land Associates literary agency. Many thanks are due to Gaia Banks there who spotted the original submission. Thanks are also due to Peach Publishing, who published the Kindle version of The Bloodless Boy. I’m currently busy writing the sequel, provisionally titled The Murder of the Queen’s Dwarf. I’m married and I have three splendid children, and live in the Brecon Beacons. Follow me on Twitter as @robjlloyd. On Facebook, I’m Robert J Lloyd. I would love to hear from you if you’ve read all – or part – of the book. Reviews would be very welcome, too!
My review
An amazing book, absolutely full with detail and description of the real characters . I loved the descriptions of the historical buildings of London.
It isn’t a quick read but a slow burn and you will want to soak up all the details as the book progresses.
An absolute gripping read though and would recommend it if you like this genre.
Disclaimer – Thank you to the publisher and the author for my gifted copy of this book for my honest review.