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  • The Fire Court

  • James Marwood & Cat Lovett, Book 2
  • By: Andrew Taylor
  • Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
  • Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (438 ratings)
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The Fire Court cover art

The Fire Court

By: Andrew Taylor
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
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Summary

From No.1 bestselling author Andrew Taylor comes the sequel to the phenomenally successful The Ashes of London

Over 1 Million Andrew Taylor Novels Sold!

A time of terrible danger…
The Great Fire has ravaged London. Now, guided by the Fire Court, the city is rebuilding, but times are volatile and danger is only ever a heartbeat away.

Two mysterious deaths…
James Marwood, a traitor’s son, is thrust into this treacherous environment when his father discovers a dead woman in the very place where the Fire Court sits. The next day his father is run down. Accident? Or another murder…?

A race to stop a murderer…
Determined to uncover the truth, Marwood turns to the one person he can trust – Cat Lovett, the daughter of a despised regicide. Then comes a third death… and Marwood and Cat are forced to confront a vicious killer who threatens the future of the city itself.

©2018 Andrew Taylor (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Andrew Taylor’s historical crime novels have proved a benchmark for the genre, and The Fire Court is no exception. Cunningly plotted and movingly written, it’s a fascinating portrait of a city, and its people, recovering from trauma." (Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses)

"This is how historical crime should be written, with rich authenticity underpinning a twisting plot." (The Times)

"Marwood and Lovett’s search for a killer in the sooty streets of 1660s London is an atmospheric pleasure, full of twists and memorable characters." (The Times)

What listeners say about The Fire Court

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Takes a while to get into the story

I found the first few chapters confusing as there are so many character's names to remember, but after a while I got the hang of who are the main characters and then the story takes off. It's a gripping story full of the atmosphere of the 1660s after the devastation of great fire. Rebuilding the city gives opportunities for money-making investments and intrigues by the rich and powerful, even to engage in criminal activity to achieve their ends.
The story is helped by the good narration.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good historical mystery

A good historical mystery, 2nd book following on from the Ashes of London. I felt it was a bit slow at the start explaining all the characters and their different storylines, but it gathered pace & finished well. The narrator was excellent & I loved his different voices for the different characters - male & female. I enjoy listening to historical fiction & this book series set at the time of the great fire of London is intriguing and fascinating. I've already downloaded the next book in the series to hear what happens next to William & Cat.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A deadly time to have lived in London.

Love Andrew Taylor's writing such a good use of now redundant words and figures of speech which captures the squalor of London after the fire. Good story quite complicated but well thought out and brought to life so well by Leighton Pugh. Fascinating tales of history.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another good one in the series

Very well written, and narrated. This is the 2nd in the series..... Just off to download number 3

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good 2nd Book

Took a few chapters to get into the book but once I got into it was very enjoyable and a book that drew me into the story.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic book series

I really do love this series of books. please will you keep on writing them.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful

Loved it. Great characters and plot. Can't wait for the next story. A brilliant read.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Captures the era

Well read and interesting story, though you must stay on your toes as there are many characters to keep up to date on. Taylor creates a fine atmosphere and you get a real feel of restoration London and its cruelty.

One criticism however, parts of the plot do tend to hang on unlikely coincidences, much like the previous book.

Overall a good listen

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another historical winner

The combination of Andrew Taylor's writing and Leighton Pugh's narration bring the feeling of the time, or at least passable representation of the time, to life.
Good story, well told.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable enough

Not sure this would work too well if I hadn’t listened to the previous book which introduced the key characters. All the same, pleasant accompaniment to daily commute and completed within a week.

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1 person found this helpful