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Rating: 
Summary: strong historical thriller
Review: Reverend Tuckworth knows that his faith in God is as dead as that murdered raven. He enjoyed working for three decades at Bellminster Cathedral, comfortable in his work in his marriage to Eleanor, and in their raising their daughter. However, his beliefs died the same night he ended Eleanor's suffering.Though he detests travel, Tuckworth, he,among a horde of other begging applicants, visits the home of renowned philanthropist Hamlin Price to solicit the needed funding to help restore the cathedral to its past glory. During his meeting with Price, an explosive sound occurs. Tuckworth finds someone using a shot gun that killed Price's Secretary Malcolm Wicks. Though warned by the police and Price to mind his business, Tuckworth who was the first to see the corpse knows something is off kilter and begins making inquiries not the least concerned that the cathedral's so-called savior will withdraw his paltry offering. THE DEVIL'S ACRE feels more like a historical thriller than a Victorian amateur sleuth tale. The story line contains several subplots that provide a deep look at social conditions in London and Bellminster, which makes the who-done-it pale in comparison. Tuckworth is a strong lead character going through a period of questioning everything he once believed in. His indifference towards life and religion comes out whether he refuses to invoke God's pleasure, truly supplicate himself to gain additional funding, or back down from a cat and mouse game of sleuthing. David Holland's tale is rich in the era so much so that nineteenth century readers will appreciate the depth. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: strong historical thriller
Review: Reverend Tuckworth knows that his faith in God is as dead as that murdered raven. He enjoyed working for three decades at Bellminster Cathedral, comfortable in his work in his marriage to Eleanor, and in their raising their daughter. However, his beliefs died the same night he ended Eleanor's suffering. Though he detests travel, Tuckworth, he,among a horde of other begging applicants, visits the home of renowned philanthropist Hamlin Price to solicit the needed funding to help restore the cathedral to its past glory. During his meeting with Price, an explosive sound occurs. Tuckworth finds someone using a shot gun that killed Price's Secretary Malcolm Wicks. Though warned by the police and Price to mind his business, Tuckworth who was the first to see the corpse knows something is off kilter and begins making inquiries not the least concerned that the cathedral's so-called savior will withdraw his paltry offering. THE DEVIL'S ACRE feels more like a historical thriller than a Victorian amateur sleuth tale. The story line contains several subplots that provide a deep look at social conditions in London and Bellminster, which makes the who-done-it pale in comparison. Tuckworth is a strong lead character going through a period of questioning everything he once believed in. His indifference towards life and religion comes out whether he refuses to invoke God's pleasure, truly supplicate himself to gain additional funding, or back down from a cat and mouse game of sleuthing. David Holland's tale is rich in the era so much so that nineteenth century readers will appreciate the depth. Harriet Klausner
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