Really truly love or maybe I should have said loved this series. The adding of the charectar of Clarissa has turned me
off somewhat of the series. Why Alexander tinkered with what was a great series is a bit of a mystery to me in
itself. Maybe his editor felt like the series needed a Nancy Drew touch. It doesn't. Use to couldn't wait for the
next book in the series as they are so wonderfully written and would rate all the past books a five star. Oh, I will get the next book but not with the same excitement and anticipation as I had in the past.

...is quite cookie cutter. The solution is obvious from almost the beginning of the book and therefore, I almost rated this series entry only three stars. But, the writing is first-rate with the accuracy of the descriptions of 18th-century life. I do hope, however, that the next book in the series returns to the more complicated & sophisticated books that I have come to expect from Bruce Alexander.

I have read all the books in this series and I can say that EVERYONE of the books are fantastic. This is of course no exception.The author is able to transport you back in time to England. The characters are all well written and the story line is fresh and interesting. If you enjoy historical mysteries then this is the one series you cannot miss. I look forward to the next book in the series. I only have one worry and that the author will stop writing about Jeremy and Sir John.

I have read several books in this series but found this installment disappointing.

Alexander seems unable to break out of the "someone's been murdered and the characters must find the culprit" plot mode -- even within the mystery genre, surely it's possible to be more creative than that. Jack, Knave and Fool is talky and forgettable, with much of the action and drama happening offstage. The characters change little and never seem personally challenged. Jeremy's "voice" has developed somewhat, but that's not enough to save this honestly rather boring book. Strange pseudo-archaisms on the order of "Nicely dressed she was" add an annoying touch.

There is an inherent danger in taking a historical figure and using that person in a fictional setting. Sir John Fielding was founder of the Bow Street Runners, the precursors to modern policemen and Bruce Alexander makes a valiant effort to turn him into the hero of this mystery. The details to the criminal investigation with the limitations of the forensics ring true and the characters are engaging. The mysteries themselves are very basic and some characters seem to be added just for effect, but all in all not a bad addition to the historical mystery field.

Readers looking here for a land-locked Patrick O'Brian series will be disappointed, for this series of historical mysteries is not nearly as strong or well-researched as the Aubrey/Maturin books. Having said that, the series gets incrementally better with each installment. The first of Alexander's books, "Blind Justice", was laughably simplistic. Everyone actually gathered in the drawing room in the final scene, a la Agatha Christie, to unmask the villain.

This is the fifth book in the series, and Alexander capably keeps two separate investigations humming along. A few minor characters are developed, and Jeremy is becoming a young man.

It's a good story, I'll read the next one. It's as good as the others, but no matter how long this series runs, I don't think it will ever become worthy of buying in hardcover. It's a pop mystery, enjoy it or not. There's always another one to read.