RULER OF THE NIGHT Thomas and Emily De Quincey, Book 3

Narrator Neil Dickson delivers Victorian sensibilities with quiet assurance. David Morrell's conclusion to his 1850s trilogy features ingenious real-life opium-eater Thomas De Quincey and his partner in sleuthing, daughter Emily. The two are traveling by train from London to the Lake District, when a grisly murder, the first ever on this newfangled conveyance, threatens to sway an already dubious public against rail travel. Dickson provides both principal and secondary characters with unique personalities that reflect the buttoned-up moral scruples of the period. He delivers rich details, descriptions, and plummy accents when called for, and he is completely believable in imparting Morrell's informative background on the tragic occurrence that led the real De Quincey to opium addiction. To get the most out of them, listen to these three engaging mysteries in order. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2017]