David Holland The Devil’s Game

The Devil's Game

David Holland

Dunne, Dec 2005, $24.95, 288 pp.

ISBN: 031234077X

In 1834, Simon Curdle, MP for Bellminster dies in the Westminster Palace fire. No one in Parliament, which has its own problems, takes notice. Simon's constituency reacts by battling to replace him in Parliament, because it means great power to run the borough.

The Dean of Bellminster Cathedral, Revered Tuckworth, observes the power struggle as it begins to take shape. He plans to remain on the sidelines and not get involved as Mayor Winston Padgett, nudged by his ambitious wife and his assistant vs. Lord Granby's clandestinely pushing forward another aide. Also watching from the sidelines with a different agenda is lawyer Wilfred Cade, who plans to be the last man standing in Parliament once the two opponents destroy each other with assistance from him. However, staying neutral proves impossible for the Reverend, when a deadly riot explodes on Guy Fawkes Day, with the powerful wannabes demanding that he as a impartial party investigate.

The latest Devil's historical mystery is a delightful thriller that uses real events to provide the audience with insight into England during a tumultuous period, when reform was in the air. The investigation actually takes a back seat to the historical perspective in a small town outside of London, as mostly seen through the viewpoint of the Reverend. Fans of the series or those who appreciate a window into the past will enjoy this strong entry, though the mystery is not as gripping as the previous tales (see THE DEVIL IN BELLMINSTER and THE DEVIL'S ACRE).

Harriet Klausner