Diane S. reviewed on 3/25/2010 + 3 more book reviews

Before I ordered The Thief Taker I had read and enjoyed Janet Gleeson's The Serpent in the Garden. I have also recently read The Grenadillo Box. To me, The Thief Taker was the best of these three. Gleeson is a terrific writer. Her characters are well drawn and her plots move along at a galloping pace. There is also a lot of wry humor. What I most appreciate in her books, however, is the sense of place. The minute details and descriptions of the life of the cook and other servants make the reader a part of the life of mid-eighteenth century England. The scene of the preparation of the hogshead is grotesque and funny at the same time.

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