I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Devil's Feast by M.J. Carter
Series: The Blake and Avery Mystery #3
Published by Fig Tree (Penguin Books UK) on October 27, 2016
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 368
Format: Hardback
Source: Publisher
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For lovers of Sherlock, Shardlake and Ripper Street. A hugely enjoyable heart-pounding Victorian thriller- murder, a celebrity chef and a great detective double-act.
London, 1842. There has been a mysterious and horrible death at the Reform, London's newest and grandest gentleman's club. A death the club is desperate to hush up.
Captain William Avery is persuaded to investigate, and soon discovers a web of rivalries and hatreds, both personal and political, simmering behind the club's handsome façade-and in particular concerning its resident genius, Alexis Soyer, 'the Napoleon of food', a chef whose culinary brilliance is matched only by his talent for self-publicity.
But Avery is distracted, for where his mentor and partner-in-crime Jeremiah Blake? And what if this first death was only a dress rehearsal for something far more sinister?

For me the best thing about The Devil’s Feast was how real historical figures are interwoven into the story. It make the story seem so much more real and believable. And the descriptions of Victorian life was so vivid.

Despite being the third book in the series, I thought that this worked well as a standalone (having never read the first two books!). M.J. Carter did not assume that the reader had read the previous books, instead giving information as required and necessary.

The relationship between Avery and Blake was enjoyable and fun to witness. Avery is the narrator of the story and he struggles to work out what is happening. It is not till Blake arrives that the pieces slowly start to join together.

The Devil’s Feast was a great Victorian adventure, that will keep any mystery fan on their toes.

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