From that first scene, where the running boy barely manages to step over a steaming turd, you know that this is one of those marvelous works of historical fiction where you’re going to walk the streets at the side of the characters and feel the cobbles beneath your own shoes.

Not to mention breathe the same air and smell the same smells. Maybe it’s better not to go into too many details about the smells, at least not around mealtime.

This series takes place at one of the crossroads of English history, a time when there was ferment both politically and ideologically, a time when the world was changing but the impact of those changes was still in process. And like all times of great change, there were forces dead set on maintaining their power and the status quo, just as they were those who were agitating for the changes to come. And both sides used violence to make their point, with bloody results no matter who won.

Set at the sunset of the reign of Henry VIII, the focus of this entry in the series is split between Bianca in London and her husband John, who was conscripted into the army at the end of the previous book, The Alchemist of Lost Souls. John is in Scotland, just one of the many footsoldiers participating in King Henry’s “Rough Wooing” of the Scots, and learning the lesson that transcends time and place and applies to all wars, that war is hell, and that entirely too many of the men fighting it release their inner devils for the purpose.

Bianca has no idea where John is or how he is, all she knows is that he is gone and that she has been left to make the best living she can as a “white witch” dispensing medicinal herbs and tinctures, and to occupy herself as best she can by aiding the local constable with his inquiries. Meaning that Constable Patch has the authority, Bianca has the brains, and the Constable gets all the credit for her solutions.

Patch has called Bianca in to solve a terrible crime – one made even more terrible by its repetition. Someone is killing young boys and stringing them up from church gargoyles. It’s ugly and gruesome in every possible way. But it doesn’t make sense.

It’s unclear whether someone is targeting the churches, drawing attention to the inconstancy of their beliefs and practices as they are caught in the King’s religious caprices, or whether someone is trying to discredit the church as a whole in order to bring about more reform. In either these scenarios, the boys are part of the show and not its purpose.

Or is someone poking into the gangs of thieving boys in an attempt to uncover their masters? Or is it another possibility all together?

Caught between feuding constables, infighting clergymen and searching for the lost boys, Bianca is uncertain of which way to turn. She only knows that she has to get to the root of these crimes before more are sacrificed.

Escape Rating A-: This is apparently the final book in this series, and if that’s true I’m very sorry to see it end. Bianca Goddard is a fascinating heroine in so many ways. It’s not just her intelligence and her agency, although it is marvelous to read a historical mystery with a female protagonist who is neither noble nor a member of the upper classes. Bianca’s story portrays life among the groundlings, in its all too frequent nastiness, dirtiness and brevity. Her vocation is to do her best to ease the suffering around her.

At the same time, she is human in a way that is easy for 21st century readers to identify with. She’s smart, both too smart and too observant for her own good. She gets obsessive and absorbed in her work, has little patience for either small talk or fools. Her husband doesn’t try to keep her home or protect her from it. Both because he’s easy-going and because they can’t afford for her not to work every bit as hard as he does.

He does worry about her work investigating crime, and somebody should be worried. She sticks her nose and herself into places that are dangerous, and that danger all too often reaches out to grab her.

The stories in this series do an excellent job of portraying Bianca’s world, not just her personal circumstances, but the way that the doings of the high and mighty reach down and affect the lives of every person in the kingdom. Bianca is intelligent enough that when things happen, she doesn’t just know what, but she understands the why and the how of it, and so do we, even in circumstances that seem far removed from our own.

I like Bianca and I’m going to miss her. If you enjoy gritty historical mystery and want more, in addition to Bianca’s series (start with The Alchemist’s Daughter) there’s also Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest series, Candace Robb’s Owen Archer and Kate Clifford serieses and D.B. Jackson’s Thieftaker Chronicles in very similar veins.

One final note. Bianca has a cat named Hobs. As is usual for cats, it would be more accurate to say that Hobs has her. Due to a bit of magical realism in the previous books in the series, Bianca believes that Hobs is immortal, and the events of this book prove her correct. I want a cat like Hobs. Actually, I want all my cats to be like Hobs. Desperately. If this particular character in the story includes a bit of wish fulfillment on the part of the author, I understand completely.

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I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Mary Lawrence, and IBPA Red Puddle Print. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Mary Lawrence writes a tight, taut mystery set in London during the reign of Henry VIII. The background details are plentiful, London of the 1600s is about two centuries before my usual London reads, but I couldn't resist the book cover on this one. I have now added Mary Lawrence to my must-reads authors and 16th century England to my areas of interest. I am pleased to recommend Mary Lawrence to friends and family.

The protagonists in this novel are very well rounded, the conversations clearly understandable, and the background well defined. There is a supplement at the end of The Lost Boys of London giving definitions of slang and common words from this time and the Author's note at the end is very informative. The mystery stays a mystery for long enough and the spirit of this work is, despite the focus on the boys, uplifting. The fifth of the series of Bianca Goddard mysteries, this book is stand-alone but I will be looking for the first four, as this book, this author, is a keeper, to read again when I have read the first four novels.

This is the fifth book in a series of historical mysteries set in the Tudor period and featuring the character of alchemist’s daughter Bianca Goddard. I don’t think it’s essential to read all of the books in the series in order; I started with the fourth one, The Alchemist of Lost Souls, and had no problems in picking up the threads of the story and following the plot.

As The Lost Boys of London opens, Bianca’s husband John is away fighting in Scotland for Henry VIII, leaving Bianca in London, devoting her time to preparing herbal remedies in her ‘room of Medicinals and Physickes’. In the past, Bianca’s skills as a herbalist have led to her assisting Constable Patch with his investigations, and having played a part in solving several previous mysteries, her help is required again when a young boy is found hanging from the exterior wall of a church.

Finding a rosary wrapped around the boy’s neck marked with a set of initials, it seems there could be a religious motive for the murder, and this appears to be confirmed when a second boy is found under similar circumstances at another church. Bianca is determined to do whatever she can to find the murderer before he or she kills again – and she has a personal reason for wanting to do so as quickly as possible. Her own young friend, Fisk, who is about the same age as the other boys, has gone missing and Bianca is afraid that he could become the next victim.

I enjoyed this book more than The Alchemist of Lost Souls. I thought the mystery was stronger and more interesting, with its exploration of topics such as religious conflict, the rivalries between the clergy of various churches, and child poverty in Tudor London. Also, although the previous book included some magical realism elements, which didn’t entirely work for me, there didn’t seem to be anything like that in this one and I thought that was a good decision as the plot was strong enough without it. As well as following Bianca’s investigations in London, there are some chapters describing John’s adventures as a reluctant soldier in the Scottish borders during the war known as the ‘Rough Wooing’ and this added some variety to the novel, taking us away from London now and then to see what was going on elsewhere.

Sometimes the language used is not right for the setting (English houses don’t have ‘stoops’, for example) and I found that a bit distracting, but otherwise the atmosphere is convincing enough and it’s always interesting to read about the lives of ordinary, working-class people in the Tudor period as a change from all of the books dealing with the royal court. Oh, and I love Bianca’s cat, Hobs!

This is apparently the final book in the Bianca Goddard series. I received a copy for review via NetGalley.

Received this series "Lost Boys Of London" from Net Gallery. During the time of King Henry VIII, you have boys being found killed but why? What problems can penniless boys cause anyone? Making medicines to help the poor,another boy she knows disappears. Will they find him killed also also find him at the Church like the others. With a little bit of things left at the Church, Biance starts to figure out what is going on. You have a very well researched time is history,adventures,murder and trying to solve this whatever it is that is going on. Very well written and thus it's the 5th book in this series. Women are to be seen and not heard from in this time of King Henry,but not this woman,someone had to help and find out why these poor boys are being killed at the Church. Travel with Biance and help her solve these murders!

Mary Lawrence’s Bianca Goddard series is the equivalent of a 16th century version of CSI: London. The series takes place in London during the reign of King Henry VIII and life for the average Londoner is not easy. In the beginning of The Lost Boys of London a young boy is found dead, hanging from the dripstone of a church. Constable Patch, a regular in the series, happens to pass by the crowd that discovers the body. Even though this church is not in his jurisdiction, Patch takes a keen interest in this discovery. Since this was an unusual case, he consults with Bianca Goddard as her expertise has helped him on previous cases. Bianca is the daughter of an alchemist and has taken up the practice of herbal medicine, and because of her occupation, she very much thinks like a scientist. As Patch and Bianca begins to investigate this case it isn’t too long before another victim is found.

This case eventually becomes personal for Bianca when a young boy named Fisk disappears. Fisk has helped Bianca on previous cases and she has a natural fondness for him in part because he comes from a poor family and often has to scavenge for food to feed his family. Bianca is consumed with fear that Fisk will be the next victim, so time is short to solve this case.

The Lost Boys of London reads very much like a forensic mystery with the exception that it takes place in the mid-1500s when religion takes precedence over science. Bianca doesn’t have the advantages of fingerprint analysis or DNA testing, but she does have a keen awareness to details. In many ways she is more like a Tudor era version of Sherlock Holmes.

Mary Lawrence’s style of writing gives the reader a feeling that they are right there in 16th century London by using the vernacular of that time period. She also makes interesting references to historical occurrences that take place during King Henry VIII’s reign such as the fall-out that resulted from establishment of the Church of England and the consequences that befell the former clergy of the Catholic Church. This makes for an educational as well as an entertaining read.

For the most part this could be read without reading the rest of the series, but Lawrence does make references to previous additions to the series mainly in relation to her husband’s recruitment into the military to fight the Scots and as well as other familial relationships, so reading the previous novels would be useful in that respect. Overall, reading The Lost Boys of London will make social-distancing a lot more fun.

The Lost Boys of London by Mary Lawrence is the fifth Historical Mystery in the Bianca Goddard Series. I love the medical details in this series and how dedicated Bianca is to her work, constantly learning and applying her discoveries with medications. When I read Ms. Lawrence‘s descriptions of London’s people and their surroundings in 1545 come alive. Life in 1545 England is constantly fraught with peril for all the characters. Bianca is involved in dark mysteries and in constant danger along with those she cares about. Bianca‘s husband has his own parallel storyline; at this time he’s away fighting a war with the Scots.
This historical book takes the reader to an unknown place that includes a glossary to assist in understanding unfamiliar words and meanings. The author’s note adds interesting historical background.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

really great read, and so interesting with all the twists , kept reading could not stop , really intriguing and so sad in that era for paupers whom were targets for crime, highly recommend

"In Mary Lawrence's fifth Bianca Goddard mystery set during the final years of Henry VIII's reign, the alchemist's daughter uses her skills to aid the living and helps seek justice for the dead...

While her husband fights the Scots for King Henry VIII, Bianca Goddard earns her coin by concocting medicines that offer relief to London's sick. Some unfortunates, however, are beyond any remedies she can provide - like the boy discovered hanging from a church dripstone. Examining the body, Bianca finds a rosary twined around the child's neck. A week later, another boy is found dead at a different church. When Fisk, Bianca's impish acquaintance goes missing, she fears he may become the third victim...

There are many villains who would prey on wayward, penniless boys. But Bianca suspects the killings are not brutal acts of impulse, but something far more calculated. In her room of Medicinals and Physickes, she examines the sole piece of evidence: a sweet-smelling, dark-stained cloth. If Bianca can unravel its secret, reputations and lives will be saved. But the expected hour of the next murder is approaching, and a single misstep may mean another boy is lost forever..."

Alchemist? I'm there!

The author sent me a note asking me to review her novel. And I was honored to be invited to read the Lost Boys of London in exchange for a honest review.

This is Not a Light Reading. There are heavy topics in this novel. Still, it was a good read since I read History at University. I learned more about what life was like for ordinary people in those days.

The Lost Boys of London is a novel in the Bianca Goddard series. She is a "white witch" mixing chemicals while her husband is off fighting the Scots at the border.

This novel touches on the topic of religion and how King Henry VIII's policy affected the Church and people who depend on the Church. Several "lost" boys of London are murdered and Bianca Goddard sets out to find the killer.

BLURB

Set in the final years of King Henry VIII's reign, an alchemist's daughter uses her skills to aid the living and helps seek justice for the dead...

While her husband fights the Scots on behalf of King Henry VIII, Bianca Goddard earns her coin by concocting medicines that offer relief to London's sick. Some unfortunates, however, are beyond any remedies she can provide—like the young boy discovered hanging from a church dripstone. Examining the body, Bianca finds a rosary twined around the child's neck. A week later, another boy is found dead at a different church. When Bianca's impish acquaintance, Fisk, goes missing, she fears he may become the third victim...

There are many villains who would prey on wayward, penniless boys. But Bianca suspects the killings are not brutal acts of impulse, but something far more calculated. In her room of Medicinals and Physickes, she examines the sole piece of evidence: a sweet-smelling, stained cloth. If Bianca can unravel its secret, reputations and lives will be saved. The expected hour of the next murder is approaching, and a single misstep may mean another boy is lost forever

REVIEW

A thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery set in London during Henry VIII's tumultuous reign. Bianca Goddard is one persistent sleuth as she unravels a series of crimes where there are many persons of interest and motives. Tis a plot full of surprises including the fate of her husband, off fighting for Henry in Scotland. The author has once again got me to wondering how people lived in any big city. Her descriptions of the city are wonderful, the markets, the churches, heck the smells alone eke out from the pages; a heady mixture of human waste, rotting garbage, and the ever pleasant aroma of tanneries. The main characters are enlivened with the speech of the streets; the patois of constables and street sellers, making the narrative not only realistic, but page turning as well. So, my fellow readers follow along as Bianca struggles to solve the crimes while emotionally burdened with the loss of her baby, and the unknown fate of her husband. A fitting conclusion to the series awaits you.  4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story takes place in 1545, near the end of Henry VIII’s reign. The infamous king is fighting 2 wars, on the continent against the French and the other one closer to home against the Scottish. Those military campaigns drain the country of its money and of its young men who’re being conscripted. Bianca’s and Cammie’s husband and paramour are fighting in the borders, while Fisk’s father is away in France. News is scarce and unreliable. The fate of a loved one is only clear when they return, or not.
The religious reforms the king made when he decreed it to be sinful to wed his brother’s widow didn’t fall well with the priests who saw a large part of their income abolished or with the monks who were all pensioned off while the abbeys’ possessions got confiscated by the crown. Some still secretly held on to the old religion despite all papists being persecuted for treason. But for some that listened to the sermons of Maarten Luther, the English reforms don’t go far enough.

When a young boy is found hanging from a grotesque (gargoyle) on the outside wall of St Mary Magdalen’s church, Constable Patch is one of the first officials on the site. Despite it not being in his own ward, he sends for Bianca Goddard, an herbalist who helped him in the past with solving other murders. There’s a paternoster (rosemary) wound around the boy’s neck but he died from hanging and looks abnormally peaceful. Nobody seems to know who this child is. Most likely he was living on the streets and survived by stealing. There are vague rumours about “the deft drigger” a Fagin-like figure, which organises and lives off child-thieves. But no-one seems to know if he really exists or if he’s a figure of imagination.
Bianca wants to offer an apprenticeship to young Fisk, who assisted already in previous cases, but he’s disappeared and she’s worried when another child is found hanged from another church.
Between the chapters about the murders, we get flashes how reluctant pike man John fares in the army. Warfare was very brutal and cruel in those times (when are they not?) and conflicts between arise the archers and the pikemen who protect them but aren’t respected

I must say that the author meticulously researched this period. Not so easy as this story is about ordinary commoners, working-class people whereas most historical documents involve the higher classes with the politics and drama of the grand courts. The sights and even smells of the extremely filthy refuse filled and rat-infested streets are in vivid contrast with the palaces and their rich occupants.
Because I didn’t read the previous books, it puzzled me why she keeps referring to Hobs, a cat as immortal but all became clear over the course of the story.
The story itself is very well constructed, but the eventual explanation and motivation for the murders felt a bit light and unrealistic. It was definitely original and well found but a bit rushed as if the deadline was near and the story in need for an ending.
There’s a useful glossary at the end of the book and I wish that I noticed that at the start as it would have saved me from looking up certain unknown archaic words.
Not long after I started reading, I noticed that –with all the references to previous adventures- this story was part of a series. Not that I had problems to understand what goes on in this story, but there are ease and familiarity between the characters that speak of an older acquaintance. It can be read perfectly as a standalone, but that would be a shame because I also discovered that this was the last book in this series. Why stop when you have a good thing going? Who knows, maybe she might reconsider.
I thank Netgalley for a free copy of this book and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.

This latest book in Mary Lawrence's Bianca Goddard mysteries delivers a good read and escape into the gray streets of Tudor England. The main character, Bianca Goddard, is a believable protagonist, and with each book, she grows in complexity and strength. You'll enjoy the rich atmosphere of the time: market street characters, constables and vendors, flavorful dialogue, winding alleys, impressive architecture, and the portrayal of social classes. You'll soon be deep into the investigation of a little boy's death that sends Bianca into dangerous territory. Fisk is a delightful character, and the opening of the story takes you on a breathtaking chase, hopeful and delighted at his cleverness and pluck. My favorite is the continued information on herbs and home remedies. The reader is also treated to scenes in Scotland where her husband, John, is fighting on the battlefield. As tensions increase, it's clear life will not be the same for John and Bianca after he returns home. Although this is book five, it can stand alone. But do go back to book one and enjoy the growth of Bianca. This is a good story with an intriguing and solid plot, engaging escalation of trouble for Bianca, and plenty of murder and suspicion to take you away from a week of stress.

Enjoyed this book reminded me a lot like the tv programme Outlander. If you like historical books this is definitely one for you

At first I found this a strange book to read. The language and different characters had me confused but l persevered and I did enjoy it . I enjoy reading about different eras and learned a lot about life in London.

When I started reading I had no idea that this was Book 5 in the series of Bianca Goddard Mysteries. Nor did I realise that the author actually lives in the US. However neither of these detracted one bit from my enjoyment. The Lost Boys of London is a historical fiction novel – not my usual genre though I do dip in from time to time (Alice Hoffman, Kate Mosse, Andrew Taylor) – but it was a rip-roaring tale of murder and mayhem in Tudor England, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

My only criticism is the convoluted language which initially took some time getting used to and was often quite tiring to read, particularly when it crept into the descriptions as well as the dialogue. However, by half-way I’d forgotten my misgivings and got used to it. I was reading on my Kindle and at the end discovered a glossary of terms – I wish I’d known it was there from the beginning!

In the acknowledgements, the author mentions that she is not a history scholar and apologises for any mistakes she may have made with the facts. Well I am not either, though I did study the Tudors many moons ago for O Level and A Level History. In spite of that my knowledge of the Tudors is quite basic, but then I have to admit that I didn’t care too much (apart from the main facts about Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries). I am not sure that a woman would have been allowed to accompany the police examining murder victims and interviewing members of the church in those days, but as this is a work of fiction I didn’t start checking the facts on Wikipedia.

Actually I really loved this story. It was exciting and the tension built up as we follow both Bianca and her accomplices in London and her husband John, sent away to Scotland to protect the bowmen as they fight the Scots, burning and pillaging the towns and villages. And we mustn’t forget her cat Hobs, who I dearly loved almost as mush as she does.

A young boy is found hanged at a church with a rosary around his neck. Constable Patch has Bianca Goddard look over the body to try to figure out how this might have happened. Not long after another boy is found in the same predicament at another church. Bianca immediately dives into trying to figure out who is responsible for committing these murders, all while discovering her young friend Fisk has gone missing.

Bianca is an interesting character to follow because she’s trying to figure out these murder cases of lower-class boys that others probably wouldn’t. She’s a smart, common, woman that any mystery lover can connect with.

This book was a little different for me because I don’t normally read the fifth book in a series without reading the books before it. However, each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone, so when the author asked me to review it for her, of course, my answer was yes. Another reason this book was a little different for me was that, while I like reading historical fiction, I haven’t read anything set in the 1500s during the rule of a king. Despite all of these things, I really enjoyed reading this book and I am glad the author reached out to me.

As I mentioned before, the book takes place during King Henry VIII’s reign. The author does an amazing job with the details of the setting and the characters. All of the historical facts were accurate down to the cities and the buildings of England. There is no doubt she took her time with this book and the rest of the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good historical mystery series or stand-alone. Thank you, again, Mary Lawrence for reaching out to me with your book.

This is the fifth book in this series and I wondered if I would find I'd need to read the others first but was pleasantly surprised. Although there are hints at relationships from the past this reads well as a stand alone if you haven't read the others.

It's a fast paced mystery and the prose kept me engaged.  The characters are fabulous especially Fisk, Bianca's young friend and I fully enjoyed their friendship.

The descriptives of the conditions of medieval London brought depth to the story and I could picture the muddy streets and tenements.

The book is split between Bianca in London and her husband who is in Scotland fighting for Henry VIII. I thoroughly enjoyed both perspectives and it brought to the forefront the situations many had to deal with not knowing if their loved ones would return as well as the plight of those fighting.

Lawrence provides a successful mystery which keeps you guessing until the end, even if you do think you know what's happened a couple of times!

I did notice a couple of errors but as this was a review copy I assume will be amended for publication.

Bianca investigates the death of 2 boys ,She is looking for Finch The plot takes you through some of the religious dilemmas of the time as well as war on the Scottish borders. . Well written as you can not figure things out till the end nor does she find the young boy till near then, Thank you Net Galley.

An unusual historical tale,full of interesting facts and a wide variety of characters.There's a bit of a mystery to be solved too,lots of misdirection.

Bianca investigates the death of 2 boys in Henry WII London. The plot takes you through some of the religious dilemmas of the time as well as war on the Scotish borders. Nicely written the mystery is solved only at the end of the book. Once started you just want to read on. Thank you Mary for letting me read it on NetGalley.