This is an excellent series and each novel is better than the previous. I thoroughly enjoyed this one as it kept me guessing and turning pages.
An excellent historical mystery, highly recommended
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another outing for Lawrence Jago and, refreshingly, he is just as much a credulous fool as ever, but his shortcomings make for an innocence in these books that provides a welcome foil to the hard edge of most modern fiction. This time Lawrence holds the life of his cousin in the hollow of his hands and that life depends on his prowess as a detective. ‘God help him’, I hear you cry and well you might, but our hero comes up trumps and saves the day, amid corrupt elections, changing hair fashions and porcine folklore. An enjoyable romp and I defy any reader to maintain a dry eye when reading the scene where Mr Tibbs returns!

This third instalment in the Laurence Jago series sees a murder mystery set in late 18th-century Cornwall.

It was interesting to learn more about this period in history, and the characters were intriguing. It was refreshing to have a lead investigator who was so different from the "hard-boiled cop" types seen in so much modern fiction.

This is a great read for anyone who enjoyed the previous instalments.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Author Leonora Nattrass takes the story of an election which took place in the Cornish town of Helston at the end of the eighteenth century and embews it with life, colour and intrigue in this entertaining historical whodunnit.

Scarlet Town is the third in Nattrass' series about Laurence Jago, a formal civil servant now apprenticed to a journalist, William Philpott. The story picks up with the pair having recently returned to England from an ill-fated trip to America, and visiting Jago's home town of Helston to reaquaint themselves with his family, including his cousin - and the local physician - Pythagoras 'Piggy' Jago. However, upon their arrival, Jago and Philpott find themselves embroiled in a local election wracked by scandal, corruption and possibly even murder.

I haven't read the first two books in the series, and thus have potentially missed some character development which would have made me feel more invested in Laurence Jago as a character, his love life and his career. However, he is an amusing, likeable narrator who guides the plot through the various twists, wrong turns and dead ends with humour and warm, insightful observations about the rest of the cast of characters. Jago is not the hard-boiled, cynical detective of contemporary crime fiction - indeed, his willingness to accept information at face value, his forgetfulness, and his desire to see the best in people quite cripple his investigative efficiency. However, as a crime novel, Scarlet Town is a gentle, refreshing antidote to the modern canon which would make a perfect palate cleanser.

The concept of a 'rotten borough' (where the electorate is so small that it is ripe for manipulation by the favoured candidate) was a new one to me, and I enjoyed learning more about this period in history, both through the plot as a whole and through the brilliantly observed (and, undoubtedly, researched) details of life in a small Cornish town in 1876, down to the unique local vernacular, Jago's shock at seeing that wigs have fallen out of favour during his time away, and the appearance of a delightful 'Sapient Hog', based on a real-life pig taught to respond to commands in such a way that it appeared to be able to answer questions by picking up cards in its mouth.

Nattrass' writing style captures perfectly that of authors writing in this period, the dialogue formal and the language florid and satisfying - 'The man’s body was restless, he said, but his mind still quite insensate.' For that alone, I will be adding the earlier Jago books to my list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viper Books for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

“Scarlet Town” by Leonora Nattrass is a gem that weaves together historical richness, political intrigue, and a gripping murder mystery set against the backdrop of Cornwall in 1796.

Scarlet Town is set in Helston, a rotten borough, shedding light on the political machinations of the time. At the heart of the plot is a compelling murder mystery that adds an extra layer of suspense and intrigue. The death of one of the two electors serves as the catalyst for a series of twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well developed, each with their own motives and secrets, making the quest for the truth fulll of surprises.

Whether you’re a history buff or simply a lover of well-crafted fiction, this novel is sure to leave you eagerly anticipating Nattrass’ future literary endeavors.

May, 1796.

Laurence Jago and his employer, William Philpott are back in England, having escaped America without Jago’s beloved dog who was left behind, much to Laurence’s sadness.

This time, Jago and Philpott travel to Helston in Cornwall, Jago’s home town. There has been corruption in the town with only two men allowed to vote in the upcoming election. Both men are in the pockets of the somewhat unpleasant Duke of Leeds.

When one of the voters, Thomas Wedlock, dies in suspicious circumstances, all the fingers are pointed at Dr Pythagoras Jago, who is Laurence’s cousin.

Laurence will do anything in his power to get to the bottom of the matter, and he’s adamant he’ll clear his cousin’s name.

I loved this book. I am a big fan of the series and I am always excited to pick up a copy of Laurence’s next adventure.

This time, the action is set in a small Cornish town of Helston. There is plenty of deceit, back-stabbing, small mindedness and gossip of the local residents, who don’t take well to outsiders.

I was excited to see Jago reunited with his love, Anne. However, Jago isn’t a very lucky man, as murder seems to follow him around.

I was over the moon when it came to the ending of the book. I am finally getting a sense of hope for Jago. We shall see how long it lasts for.

Thank you to Viper Books for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.

My Rating: ⭐ (3.5/5)

I usually love any setting that’s set in the kind of a Victorian era as I did this. It was great to see all the weird things and how world back then worked.

The characters were well made and had depth. Loved the dynamic between the MC and his friend. The other side characters were lovely made too and fulfilled the part they had in the story.

The murder mystery was well made, but it was too detective like for me to like as much. It had a lot of twists I didn’t see coming up. Some of the clues I saw coming, but at least a couple flew over my head, which is great to see in a book. I’m not a big fan on politics on a book, so the election was a bit meh for me, not because it wasn’t well done, but my own preferences.

If you like murder mysteries set in historical England, here’s a book for you! This worked as an independent read, although it is a part of a series.

These are all my own opinions.

Having only just escaping from America, Laurence Jago is headed home to Cornwall. When he and his employer, the publisher Philpott, arrive in Helston they find the town in the grip of election fever. Helston has only two voters and they are in the grip of the Duke of Leeds, benefactor to the town, but others want to change the vote for their parties and when one of the elderly voters is found dead, foul play is called. Jago is known to the Duke and is tasked to solve the mystery and ensure the election can continue despite all the unrest.
There are two main reasons that I really loved this books. Firstly having read Nattrass' previous books about Laurence Jago, I knew I was going to be entertained by a great story. Secondly the focus is on the politics of late 18th century England and this is the time fo the 'rotten boroughs'. I was not disappointed. This is deeply researched book, drawing together several stories of real events at the time and bundling complex intrigue with high comedy. Loved the pig!

Scarlet Town by Leonora Nattrass
This is the third novel to feature Lawrence Jago who has just hastily returned to England from America where his fortunes again took a turn for the worse. He arrives in Helston shortly before an election in the Rotten Borough of Helston. There are only two men eligible to vote and one of them is found dead in mysterious circumstances.
Jago begins to investigate and the water is further muddied by the fact that his cousin Piggy, Pythagoras, is one of the suspects. Jago rekindles his romance with Anne who he discovers did not ultimately marry Canning, the man for whom she had thrown him over.
This is a wonderful recreation of the late 18th century with all of its political intrigues and mysterious events. One of the most bizarre being the fame of Toby, The Sapient Hog, who is able to predict the future! There are gruesome scenes - such as an autopsy on a corpse which has had time to decompose – but there is also some dark humour to lighten the tone. It is a good addition to the trilogy.
Many thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

Scarlet Town is the third book in Leonora Nattrass’s Laurence Jago series set in the final decade of the 18th century. I enjoyed the first two books – Black Drop and Blue Water – and this one is another strong entry in the series.

It’s 1796 and Laurence Jago, accompanied by his friend, the journalist William Philpott, has just returned from his voyage to America (described in Blue Water). Jago, once a clerk in the Foreign Office, is now apprenticed to Philpott and is grateful to his friend for the opportunity, while at the same time angry with him for causing his beloved dog, Mr Gibbs, to be left behind in Philadelphia! Back in England again, they head for Jago’s home town of Helston in Cornwall, intending to visit his cousin Pythagoras (affectionately known as Piggy). On arrival in Helston, however, they are shocked by what they find. Not only does wig-wearing appear to have fallen out of fashion during their absence, but the entire town seems to be caught up in the fever of the upcoming election.

Helston is known as a ‘rotten borough’, where only two men in the town are allowed to vote – and one of these two electors has died under suspicious circumstances. It seems that someone is also attempting to kill the remaining elector, so the town’s patron, the Duke of Leeds, asks Laurence to investigate – but to Laurence’s dismay, his own beloved cousin Piggy begins to emerge as the number one suspect. Will he be able to prove Piggy’s innocence and find the real culprit? And who will win the election if both of the Duke’s electors are unable to vote?

According to the author’s note, the situation described in the book (without the deaths/murder attempts) is based on an election that actually did take place in Helston in the 1790s. Several of the characters are people who really existed, including Sir James Burges, the Duke’s candidate for Parliament, and Stephen Lushington (chairman of the East India Company), the alternative candidate put forward by the town’s mayor – and the novel’s title refers to the red ribbons and silks worn by supporters of the mayor’s candidate as opposed to the blue worn by supporters of the Duke’s. I remember learning about the rotten boroughs at school and the events portrayed in this book perfectly illustrate why electoral reform was so desperately needed. Many people complain about today’s electoral system, but the people of Helston were dealing with a system so corrupt that only a tiny minority were making decisions that affected everyone else, where there was no secret ballot and votes could be bought and sold, leaving the electors open to bribery and blackmail.

As well as the fascinating historical setting, I also found the murder mystery quite compelling; it was maybe not as enjoyable as the mystery in Blue Water, and there were times when I felt it became a bit too complicated, but it was intriguing and kept me guessing until the end. Nattrass also lightens the mood with some humour in the form of Toby the Sapient Hog (based on a real performing pig). I love the 18th century world she has created in this series – everything feels so authentic and thoroughly researched. I’m not sure if there’s going to be a fourth book, but if there is then I can’t wait to read it.

Wow! This book is absolutely amazing. The descriptions are so touching and vivid. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to every other reader out there.

Don’t normally read a lot of books set in this time period, but I appreciated it’s attention to detail and rich plot.

This historical fiction is hugely enjoyable for its great characters and fantastic plotting. It’s got a bit of everything; part political thriller, part murder mystery, part adventure. It’s dramatic and gripping but also has some great comedic moments.

I found it a very immersive read, the historical period is brilliantly recreated and felt so authentic. It was also educational as I wasn’t familiar with “rotten boroughs” (but can now clearly see why there was much needed electoral reform!). I imagine a lot of research went in to various historical aspects of this novel.

I loved this installment of Jago’s adventures and am keen now to read the first two of the books in this series!

Thank you Viper Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

So, I did finish the book but took me a while to actually get immersed in it. I sadly did not know it was a trilogy, and I wish I did know about it, as I know understand the lingering feeling of " it feels I should know more about the relationship between Jago and Philpott" I have to sat though, it did not stop me from enjoying the rest of the story, but would probably have enjoyed the building towards certain romance a bit more.

Now, did I enjoy the book? It is complicated. It is well written and captures the essence of the setting, a good historical fiction. I also enjoyed the biased use of the 1st person narrator in a detective plot. In fact, the ending managed to surprise me, something most thrillers fail with! I still found some parts a bit too slow and filled with details that did not really add to the plot or character development, or enhanced the reading.

I give it 3 stars: good at reflecting the time where events take place and the reality of politics, but probably better if it was a bit shorter.

Laurence Jago is back and in Leonora Nattrass’ Scarlet Town in the late 1700’s, Cornwall is brought to life.
Full of great characters, Scarlet Town is a rip-roaring journey into politics, intrigue and mystery. Jago is a superb main character- full of wit and insecurities, I love his loyalty and compassion. Leonora has a wonderful way of describing her characters- gently poking fun at the favourites and giving us the reader a perfect view of all their flaws, whilst understanding what makes them human.

Lawrence Jago, ex clerk to the Foreign Office and his journalist friend, William Philpott, left England to try their luck in America, ( The Black Drop) . Eighteen months later, they have both returned in some haste, Philpott started a feud abroad and both Lawrence and Philpott and his family had to leave before they were arrested.
They arrive back in Helston, slap bang in the middle of an election. The streets are crowded with opposing parties and their many supporters all vying for paid votes. The date is 1796, prior to the Reform Act of 1832, which stops the chaotic elections in so called rotten boroughs.
I am of an age where Rotten Boroughs make me instantly think of Blackadder the third, whereby under such a corrupt voting system, there are frequently more candidates and votes cast, than there are actual people living in such areas.
In Helston, one of the candidates up for election has been found murdered, which in itself leads to a typical locked room murder mystery.
A doctor is called to confirm the death and upon examination, suspects the administration of poison. The Doctor is a cousin to Lawrence, he goes by the name of Pythagoras Jago, or Piggy. Lawrence becomes involved in this case when he tries to prove that Piggy is innocent of the murder, and he also tries to keep Philpott out of trouble!
There was so much historical detail and research in this novel, a beautifully written plot, and a good amount of humour, mostly ghoulish and satisfyingly black, the autopsy and the exhumation was an unusual mixture of droll comedy and humour, some very tongue in cheek, the sexton was a real charmer of a character, so down to earth.
The Sapient Pig, is a definite first for me, comical in the extreme, and who knew that nutmegs were so interesting?
This is the third book in this series, but works perfectly as a stand alone novel. It was a real puzzle to find both the murderer and motive in this compellingly brilliant book. Looking forward to the next adventure.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Serpents Tail and Viper for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my unbiased review. A five star read. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.

I wasn’t aware when I started reading this that it is actually the third in a series, from which you can guess it does read really well as a standalone. However, I definitely want to read the other books now. This ticked all my boxes. Historical fiction, detectives, family drama and mystery - all with a touch or humour, a bit of romance and a great storyline. Set in 1796 in Helston, Cornwall to where Laurence Jago has returned with his employer William Philpott after Philpott had to leave America to escape a possible prison sentence for libel. This is so well written and plotted it kept me fully engrossed from start to finish.

Briefly, Helston is a rotten borough with only two elderly men entitled to vote. When one of them dies in unusual circumstances and then the other falls ill Laurence is ordered to investigate by his former boss the Duke of Leeds. Then his cousin Dr Pythagoras Jago falls under suspicion and Laurence determines to prove his innocence. In addition, he is reunited with the woman who stole his heart only for her to end the relationship when a better prospect took an interest in her.

Very descriptive and clearly well researched as evidenced by the very interesting historical notes at the end. The political aspects are based loosely on a slightly earlier election in the town of Helston and many of the characters did exist. All this really added to the excitement and authenticity for me. Although the actual mystery was fictional it married really well with the semi factual political upheaval to provide an exciting and entertaining read. So good I finished it in a day. Fabulous.

This book seems to be very relevant despite being set in the days of yore

Electoral corruption. No electoral reforms as yet. More corruption and people not knowing what they should be doing when they hold positions of power.
Loved the characters and the dark, historical plot

Recommended

Scarlet Town is a rip roaring, fast paced historical novel, third in the series following Black Drop (a 2021 Times Book of the year) and Blue Water (a Waterstones Thriller of the Month).

Our main character Laurence Jago is now back in England after leaving America just in time to avoid jail. Working for William Philpott, journalist, he’s quickly knee deep in adventure in his own home town Helston, Cornwall! It is a rotten borough with only 2 men able to vote in the election. Political shenanigans ensue with death, possible murder, of one the 2 voters. It is a romp, a comedy, a thriller, a great way to learn about the early days of emancipation and a book describing political intrigue and dirty politics at that!

Such a great book! I flew through it to see what could possibly happen next! 5 stars!

I really enjoyed this book. Felt like a Jane Austin novel meets with a crime mystery.
Set in 1796 in Helston Cornwall, a rotten borough that could return the Duke of Leeds political candidate to be the next MP.
Laurence Jago recently returned from America has to determine if a man has been murdered to prevent him making his vote and who is scheming to kill the second eligible voter, both in pay to the Duke and opposed by the mayor and his candidate Lushington.
Several suspects, but has a crime been committed.
Felt immersed in Helston life and with all the characters involved in an appropriate period setting.