The Raven's Seal: A Historical Mystery

· Top Five Books LLC
4.5
26 reviews
Ebook
416
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

When the body of Thaddeus Grainger’s rival turns up stabbed to death in an alley just hours after their inconclusive duel, only one suspect comes to mind. Charged with murder, Grainger’s fate is sealed before his trial even begins.

A young gentleman of means but of meaningless pursuits, Grainger is cast into the notorious Bellstrom Gaol, where he must quickly learn to survive in the filthy, ramshackle prison. The “Bells”—where debtors, gaolers, whores, thieves, and murderers all mix freely and where every privilege comes at a price—will be the young man’s home for the rest of his life unless he can prove his innocence.


But his friends, the journalist William Quillby and Cassie Redruth, the poor young girl who owes Grainger a debt of gratitude, refuse to abandon him. Before they can win his freedom, however, they must decode the meaning behind the crude wax seal that inspires terror in those who know its portent and contend with forces both inside and outside the prison determined to keep Grainger behind bars.


Set against the urban backdrop of late 18th-century England, The Raven’s Seal unravels a tale of corruption, betrayal, murder, and—ultimately—redemption and love.

Praise for The Raven’s Seal:

“Baltakmens captures the flavor and scope of classic British fiction.” —Kirkus Reviews


“This atmospheric, character-driven, and plot-twisty bildungsroman is a worthy paean to Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.” Booklist


“Baltakmens gives readers of The Raven’s Seal all of the history and the mystery his subtitle promises. The mood, color, details, and dialogue come across as very authentic . . . [his] characters would not be out of place in a work of DeFoe or Thackeray. In fact, there is much of the latter’s Barry Lyndon here, with its plots and duels and confidence games, as well as deft touches of the former’s Moll Flanders, with its bawdy wenches, prison intrigues, and period squalor.” —ForeWord


“The author’s exquisite prose rushes along full of surprises, shadows, betrayal, and squalid situations where the high-born and criminals intermix. A superb mystery with vibrant characters.”Historical Novels Review

Ratings and reviews

4.5
26 reviews
John Burr
September 4, 2016
He is quite thorough in structuring the tale, much like his inspiration did. I actually want to read it a second time, now that I know the characters and the plot, just to revel in the experience of watching the antagonists squirm and imagine what must be going through their minds. Please keep writing!
Did you find this helpful?
Angel Waters
April 7, 2020
Love love love This book! The writing style if Charles Dickens and the breath catching excitement of a murder mystery combine for a unique reading! Couldn't put it down!
Did you find this helpful?
Bob Gray
March 18, 2016
If you like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, you'll love this.
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Andrei Baltakmens was born in New Zealand and holds a Ph.D. in English literature focused on Charles Dickens. His first novel, The Battleship Regal, was published in New Zealand in 1996. He continues to publish short fiction and is currently a graduate student in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where he lives with his wife and son. The Raven’s Seal is his first book to be published in the U.S. 

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.