"An intricately worked Historical Mystery"

The story begins in the year 1755, with a letter written by Nathaniel Hopson in which he takes the readers on a flashback journey of the events which changed him and his life forever. Hopson, journeyman to the renowned cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, is a happy-go-lucky man with a weakness for women. When his best friend and co- worker, Partridge, vanishes without a word, a perturbed and disgruntled Hopson is sent in his stead to install the magnificent library that wealthy Cambridge baron, Lord Montfort had commissioned.

Hardly has he finished the task than Hopson stumbles upon Montfort's dead body! It looks like suicide, but with his craftsman's keen eye for details Hopson spots discrepancies which seem to indicate murder. But in the usual manner of upper crust, haughty British nobility, his deductions almost go unheeded. Sickened and scared by recent events, he tries to leave but instead, most shockingly, discovers Partridge's dead and mutilated body! Friendship and some subtle blackmail compels him, and through him his lady love Alice, to get actively involved in an investigation which goes from manors to slums, boudoirs to orphanages. A beautifully crafted box made out of rare grenadillo wood seems to be the key to this whole deadly dilemma -- but can Hopson find the shocking truth before it's too late?

In recent times, author Janet Gleeson made quite a name for herself with her two best-selling non-fiction books, ARCANUM and MILLIONAIRE. Naturally, she brings the same amount of meticulous research and punctilious detailing to this book, her debut fictional effort. And, as a result, THE GRENADILLO BOX is a careful composition of valid historical facts and harmonizing imaginative leeway and the resultant whole is a seamless blend of mesmerizing fiction. The characters are many and are all realistically portrayed with good points and bad. And the whole investigation is a revelation of the law process of eighteenth century England which, due to lack of amenities of modern science, relied mainly grunt work, deduction and intuition. The mystery, which is central to the story, is not be forgotten and is very suspenseful as there are plenty of suspects and consequently there are beguiling red herrings and motives galore. The language, the settings are all perfect for the time period and the language is lyrical and flows beautifully.

When all's said and done, THE GRENADILLO BOX is fascinating, thorough and an intricate piece of historical fiction which will live long in the readers' memories.

Reviewed by Rashmi Srinivas
Posted January 22, 2004

Summary

New Year's Day, 1755 The life of Nathaniel Hopson, journeyman to the illustrious cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, is about to take a chilling turn. He has been sent to Cambridge to install a new library at the country home of Lord Montfort. Moments after the foul-tempered Montfort storms away from the afternoon dinner, a gunshot is heard. Hopson runs to the library to find him dead. His nephew and lawyer believe the conclusion is obvious: Montfort, burdened with gambling debts, must have taken his own life. The gun near Montfort's hand suggests suicide, but there are bloody footprints on the library floor. And there is a strange detail: he is clutching a small, elaborately carved box of rare grenadillo wood. No sooner does Nathaniel become the unlikely investigator than another body is found, mutilated and frozen in the pond. Nathaniel knows this victim well -- but what was he doing on Montfort's estate? The search for answers takes Nathaniel from the slums of Fleet Street to the silk-draped rooms of the aristocracy that roil with jealousy and secrets. And he meets Madame Trenti, the alluring and mysterious Drury Lane actress and client of Chippendale's, who seems to have known not only Montfort but the dead man in the pond as well. An ingenious first novel, The Grenadillo Box is a deliciously old-fashioned detective story, crafted with all the intricacy and polish of a Chippendale cabinet.