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The Black Friar

Damian Seeker 2

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The Black Friar

By: S. G. MacLean
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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About this listen

Rebellion in the city and a Royalist spy in his own ranks - Damian Seeker, Captain of Oliver Cromwell's guard, must eradicate both in this action-packed historical thriller for fans of CJ Sansom, Rory Clements and The Three Musketeers.

London, 1655, and Cromwell's regime is under threat from all sides. Damian Seeker, Captain of Cromwell's Guard, is all too aware of the danger facing Cromwell. Parliament resents his control of the army while the army resents his absolute power. In the East End of London, a group of religious fanatics plots rebellion. In the midst of all this, a stonemason uncovers a perfectly preserved body dressed in the robes of a Dominican friar, bricked up in a wall in the crumbling Black Friars.

Ill-informed rumours and speculation abound, but Seeker instantly recognises the dead man. What he must discover is why he met such a hideous end and what his connection was to the children who have started to disappear from around the city. Unravelling these mysteries is challenging enough and made still harder by the activities of dissenters at home, Royalist plotters abroad and individuals who are not what they seem....

©2016 Shona MacLean (P)2017 WF Howes Ltd Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Fiction England Exciting

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Critic reviews

"MacLean skilfully weaves together the disparate threads of her plot to create a gripping tale of crime and sedition in an unsettled city." ( Sunday Times)
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Gripped from start to finish. Great story, great characters. Brilliantly narrated by Jonathan Keeble. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thoroughly enjoyed this.

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good story as are the others in same series. excellent reading making story all the better

love these

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I might go and look at the third boom now, I enjoyed this one so much more than the first.

better than the first book

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The Black Friar is a really interesting book, extremely well read by the outstanding narrator Jonathan Keeble. In the book there were a number of references to the first book in the series (The Seeker) which I had only listened to in parts and then with gritted teeth because of its appalling narration ( not Jonathan Keeble that time) so will have to read The Seeker kindle book itself to fully understand their place in the overall story. All the same , The Black Friar was very interesting and a well crafted novel which I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.

Absorbing tale, expertly narrated.

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Good plot and exists well alongside history. I will have to read the first book. Excellent reader/performer and will be checking his other works out too.

Brought Cronwell's London to Life

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It’s a heartbreaking story with twists and turns, though so well written and enjoyed it thoroughly

Heartbreaking

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I hadn’t come across S G MacLean before but I’ll now look for other ones. Jonathan Keeble I have come to like enormously, and he did all the voices really well. I don’t often listen to historical mysteries but found this one really interesting, I know very little about the Protectorate and am pleased to know a bit more. Buy this, you won’t be disappointed.

Really good story

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I really enjoyed this. a great lead character and wonderful narration by Johnathan Keene. fun!

a really good yarn

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Second in superb series I read some time ago. Jonathan Keeble has given the "seeker" his voice,absolutely superb. Well written, steeped in historical detail,the series is a hot but this one is particularly good,displaying Seeker's heart.

Brilliant

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I actually prefer listening to these rather than reading them - i actually didn’t take to the books but the narrator adds a depth and personalities which i find were missing. Greatly enjoyed and will get more of the series.

Great story, narrator superb as always

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