Typical Bryant and May. Not sure if the plot was less convoluted this time, or if, after more than a dozen books, I’ve just gotten better at following them. Bit of history, magic and an exceptionally awful underlying crime. Glad there is again a cat ( )

When I borrowed this from the library, along with 'The Lonely Hour', the seventeenth in the series, I didn't realise that there was another book in-between. (Goodreads is confusing matters by calling that one and Oranges and Lemons number 17 when this must be number 19.) However, I think it must be one of those about the earlier careers of Bryant and May because this story picks up with May recovering from being shot at the end of 'The Lonely Hour' and with the Peculiar Crimes Unit finally disbanded. But the odd accident that befalls the Speaker of the House of Commons brings a temporary reprieve albeit in an even more dilapidated unit with poorer resources than ever before. Plus they have a certain person parked on them with a remit to report back to the Home Office, and a new intern.

I enjoyed this story a lot more than 'The Lonely Hour'. The characters were working more as a team and the identity of the person committing a series of serious assaults/murders tied to the locations derived from the old 'Oranges and Lemons' nursery rhyme was not disclosed till the end, even though the book did feature some extracts from their point of view. I also liked the new intern who seemed like a young, female version of Bryant, if Bryant had been born in the modern day, and her connection to the unit was a nice surprise when finally revealed. So overall I am rating this as a solid 3 star read. ( )

Devilishly delightful mystery featuring the Peculiar Crimes Unit, who are after a serial killer who uses the old nursery rhyme "Oranges and lemons say the bells of St. Clement's..." as part of his M.O. Clever. ( )

Droll, veddy British mystery featuring two older, eccentric detectives. Lots of local color around London as they attempt to solve a series of murders that seem to be coinciding with the verses of the old "Oranges and Lemons" nursery rhyme. ( )

The Peculiar Crimes Unit get resurrected (again). Readers are treated to a historical tour of London, this time it's the area around the Strand and High Holburn. The people and places of this story are outstanding, more interesting than the convoluted plot. The plots have come to be formulaic with a villain who has been mistreated by society. ( )