The Devil's Company
By: David Liss
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Random House (July 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400064198
ISBN-13: 978-1400064199
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 1.5 inches
I have to first say that I have not read a single piece of work by this author, David Liss. However, upon hearing the synopsis of The Devil's Company, I was at once intrigued and truly desired to read this book. I was not disappointed.
David Liss weaves a wonderful story of cunning and conniving, showing just what lengths people will go to for money and fortune. Mr. Liss displays an excellent talent in period writing and forms an incredibly intriguing story and set of characters.
Set in London during the fall of 1722, The Devil's Company re-introduces readers to the famed Benjamin Weaver, a renowned private investigator, who has also appeared in three prior novels by David Liss. Mr. Weaver is a very well developed character who takes no guff and will stop at nothing until he has found answers.
The Devil's Company is a great book combining mystery, intrigue and suspense. After reading this, I greatly look forward to reading more by this author. Historical Fiction is such a fascinating and interesting genre and Mr. Liss does great justice to this area of writing.
As a side note, I wanted to mention how much I love the cover of this book. It is the perfect depiction of this time period and place. It has a beautiful soothing and intriguing quality that truly reaches out and calls to any by-passer to pick it up and see what's inside.
*overall rating 4/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About The Devil's Company:
From the acclaimed author of The Whiskey Rebels and A Conspiracy of Paper comes a superb new historical thriller set in the splendor and squalor of eighteenth-century London. In Benjamin Weaver, David Liss has created one of fiction’s most enthralling characters.
The year is 1722. Ruffian for hire, ex-boxer, and master of disguise, Weaver finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, pitted against Jerome Cobb, a wealthy and mysterious schemer who needs Weaver’s strength and guile for his own treacherous plans.
Weaver is blackmailed into stealing documents from England’s most heavily guarded estate, the headquarters of the ruthless British East India Company, but the theft of corporate secrets is only the first move in a daring conspiracy within the eighteenth century’s most powerful corporation. To save his friends and family from Cobb’s reach, Weaver must infiltrate the Company, navigate its warring factions, and uncover a secret plot of corporate rivals, foreign spies, and government operatives. With millions of pounds and the security of the nation at stake, Weaver will find himself in a labyrinth of hidden agendas, daring enemies, and unexpected allies.
With the explosive action and scrupulous period research that are David Liss’s trademarks, The Devil’s Company, depicting the birth of the modern corporation, is the most impressive achievement yet from an author who continues to set ever higher standards for historical suspense.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
In my youth i suffered from too close a proximity to gaming tables of all descriptions, and I watched in horror as Lady Fortune delivered money, sometimes not precisely my own, into another’s hands. As a man of more seasoned years, one poised to enter his third decade of life, I knew far better than to let myself loose among such dangerous tools as dice and cards, engines of mischief good for nothing but giving a man false hope before dashing his dreams. However, I found it no difficult thing to make an exception on those rare occasions when it was another man’s silver that filled my purse. And if that other man had engaged in machination that would guarantee that the dice should roll or the cards turn in my favor, so much the better. Those of overly scrupulous morals might suggest that to alter the odds in one’s favor so illicitly is the lowest depth to which a soul can sink. Better a sneak thief, a murderer, even a traitor to his country, these men will argue, than a cheat at the gaming table. Perhaps it is so, but I was a cheat in the service of a generous patron, and that, to my mind, quieted the echoes of doubt.
I begin this tale in November of 1722, some eight months after the events of the general election of which I have previously written. The rancid waters of politics had washed over London, and indeed the nation, earlier that year, but once more the tide had receded, leaving us none the cleaner. In the spring, men had fought like gladiators in the service of this candidate or that party, but in the autumn matters sat as though nothing of moment had transpired, and the connivances of Parliament and Whitehall galloped along as had ever been their custom. The kingdom would not face another general election for seven years, and in retrospect people could not quite recollect what had engendered the fuss of the last.
I had suffered many injuries in the events of the political turmoil, but my reputation as a thieftaker had ultimately enjoyed some benefits. I received no little notoriety in the newspapers, and though much of what the Grub Street hacks had to say of me was utterly scurrilous, my name had emerged somehow augmented, and since that time I had suffered no shortage of knocks upon my door. There were certainly those who might now stay away, fearing that my exploits had an unpleasant habit of attracting attention, but many more gazed with favor upon the idea of hiring a man such as myself, one who had fought pitched battles as a pugilist, escaped from Newgate Prison, and shown his mettle in resisting the mightiest political powers in the kingdom. A fellow who can do such things, these men reasoned, can certainly find that scoundrel who owes thirty pounds; he can find the name of the villain who plots to run off with a high-spirited daughter; he can bring to justice the rascal who stole a watch.
Such was the beer and meat of my trade, but, too, there were those who made more uncommon uses of my talents, which was why I found myself that November night in Kingsley’s Coffeehouse, once a place of little reputation but now something far more vivacious...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About David Liss:
David Liss is the author of five novels, with more on the way.
His debut novel, A Conspiracy of Paper (2000) with its hero, the pugilist turned private investigator Benjamin Weaver, was named a New York Times Notable Book and won him the 2001 Barry, MacAvity and Edgar awards for Best First Novel.
David's second novel, The Coffee Trader (2003) was also named a New York Times Notable Book and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the year's 25 Books to Remember.
His third novel A Spectacle of Corruption (2004) the sequel to A Conspiracy of Paper, became a national bestseller. David's fourth novel, The Ethical Assassin (2006) is his first full-length work that is not historical fiction.
David's most recent novel, The Whiskey Rebels, is set in 1790's Philadelphia and New York. The third Benjamin Weaver novel, The Devil's Company, will be in stores in late 2009.
Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, David is, in fact, a one-time encylopedia salesman. He received his B.A. from Syracuse University, an M.A. from Georgia State Universty and his M.Phil from Columbia University, where he left his dissertation unfinished to pursue his writing career.
David lives in San Antonio with his wife and children. You can visit his website at www.DavidLiss.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Win Prizes!
David Liss' THE DEVIL'S COMPANY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on July 6 and end on July 31. You can visit David's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. during the month of July to find out more about this great book and talented author!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By: David Liss
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Random House (July 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400064198
ISBN-13: 978-1400064199
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 1.5 inches
I have to first say that I have not read a single piece of work by this author, David Liss. However, upon hearing the synopsis of The Devil's Company, I was at once intrigued and truly desired to read this book. I was not disappointed.
David Liss weaves a wonderful story of cunning and conniving, showing just what lengths people will go to for money and fortune. Mr. Liss displays an excellent talent in period writing and forms an incredibly intriguing story and set of characters.
Set in London during the fall of 1722, The Devil's Company re-introduces readers to the famed Benjamin Weaver, a renowned private investigator, who has also appeared in three prior novels by David Liss. Mr. Weaver is a very well developed character who takes no guff and will stop at nothing until he has found answers.
The Devil's Company is a great book combining mystery, intrigue and suspense. After reading this, I greatly look forward to reading more by this author. Historical Fiction is such a fascinating and interesting genre and Mr. Liss does great justice to this area of writing.
As a side note, I wanted to mention how much I love the cover of this book. It is the perfect depiction of this time period and place. It has a beautiful soothing and intriguing quality that truly reaches out and calls to any by-passer to pick it up and see what's inside.
*overall rating 4/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About The Devil's Company:
From the acclaimed author of The Whiskey Rebels and A Conspiracy of Paper comes a superb new historical thriller set in the splendor and squalor of eighteenth-century London. In Benjamin Weaver, David Liss has created one of fiction’s most enthralling characters.
The year is 1722. Ruffian for hire, ex-boxer, and master of disguise, Weaver finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, pitted against Jerome Cobb, a wealthy and mysterious schemer who needs Weaver’s strength and guile for his own treacherous plans.
Weaver is blackmailed into stealing documents from England’s most heavily guarded estate, the headquarters of the ruthless British East India Company, but the theft of corporate secrets is only the first move in a daring conspiracy within the eighteenth century’s most powerful corporation. To save his friends and family from Cobb’s reach, Weaver must infiltrate the Company, navigate its warring factions, and uncover a secret plot of corporate rivals, foreign spies, and government operatives. With millions of pounds and the security of the nation at stake, Weaver will find himself in a labyrinth of hidden agendas, daring enemies, and unexpected allies.
With the explosive action and scrupulous period research that are David Liss’s trademarks, The Devil’s Company, depicting the birth of the modern corporation, is the most impressive achievement yet from an author who continues to set ever higher standards for historical suspense.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
In my youth i suffered from too close a proximity to gaming tables of all descriptions, and I watched in horror as Lady Fortune delivered money, sometimes not precisely my own, into another’s hands. As a man of more seasoned years, one poised to enter his third decade of life, I knew far better than to let myself loose among such dangerous tools as dice and cards, engines of mischief good for nothing but giving a man false hope before dashing his dreams. However, I found it no difficult thing to make an exception on those rare occasions when it was another man’s silver that filled my purse. And if that other man had engaged in machination that would guarantee that the dice should roll or the cards turn in my favor, so much the better. Those of overly scrupulous morals might suggest that to alter the odds in one’s favor so illicitly is the lowest depth to which a soul can sink. Better a sneak thief, a murderer, even a traitor to his country, these men will argue, than a cheat at the gaming table. Perhaps it is so, but I was a cheat in the service of a generous patron, and that, to my mind, quieted the echoes of doubt.
I begin this tale in November of 1722, some eight months after the events of the general election of which I have previously written. The rancid waters of politics had washed over London, and indeed the nation, earlier that year, but once more the tide had receded, leaving us none the cleaner. In the spring, men had fought like gladiators in the service of this candidate or that party, but in the autumn matters sat as though nothing of moment had transpired, and the connivances of Parliament and Whitehall galloped along as had ever been their custom. The kingdom would not face another general election for seven years, and in retrospect people could not quite recollect what had engendered the fuss of the last.
I had suffered many injuries in the events of the political turmoil, but my reputation as a thieftaker had ultimately enjoyed some benefits. I received no little notoriety in the newspapers, and though much of what the Grub Street hacks had to say of me was utterly scurrilous, my name had emerged somehow augmented, and since that time I had suffered no shortage of knocks upon my door. There were certainly those who might now stay away, fearing that my exploits had an unpleasant habit of attracting attention, but many more gazed with favor upon the idea of hiring a man such as myself, one who had fought pitched battles as a pugilist, escaped from Newgate Prison, and shown his mettle in resisting the mightiest political powers in the kingdom. A fellow who can do such things, these men reasoned, can certainly find that scoundrel who owes thirty pounds; he can find the name of the villain who plots to run off with a high-spirited daughter; he can bring to justice the rascal who stole a watch.
Such was the beer and meat of my trade, but, too, there were those who made more uncommon uses of my talents, which was why I found myself that November night in Kingsley’s Coffeehouse, once a place of little reputation but now something far more vivacious...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About David Liss:David Liss is the author of five novels, with more on the way.
His debut novel, A Conspiracy of Paper (2000) with its hero, the pugilist turned private investigator Benjamin Weaver, was named a New York Times Notable Book and won him the 2001 Barry, MacAvity and Edgar awards for Best First Novel.
David's second novel, The Coffee Trader (2003) was also named a New York Times Notable Book and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the year's 25 Books to Remember.
His third novel A Spectacle of Corruption (2004) the sequel to A Conspiracy of Paper, became a national bestseller. David's fourth novel, The Ethical Assassin (2006) is his first full-length work that is not historical fiction.
David's most recent novel, The Whiskey Rebels, is set in 1790's Philadelphia and New York. The third Benjamin Weaver novel, The Devil's Company, will be in stores in late 2009.
Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, David is, in fact, a one-time encylopedia salesman. He received his B.A. from Syracuse University, an M.A. from Georgia State Universty and his M.Phil from Columbia University, where he left his dissertation unfinished to pursue his writing career.
David lives in San Antonio with his wife and children. You can visit his website at www.DavidLiss.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Win Prizes!
David Liss' THE DEVIL'S COMPANY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on July 6 and end on July 31. You can visit David's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. during the month of July to find out more about this great book and talented author!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 comments:
I always say I don't often read historical fiction, but lately I've realized that I do - I love historical fiction when it's blended with a mystery! This one sounds like a good read.
Hi April - Thanks for this review! Good to hear that you liked the book. I read Conspiracy of Paper for my book group a few years ago, and my initial thought was, "The stock exchange in 1700s London, I'm yawning already." But it was SO GOOD!!! I was hooked within the first five or ten pages, and read it as fast as I could. I've purchased a couple other Liss books as well since then, but haven't read them yet. (So many books, so little time, you know...) I'll have to put this one on my wishlist now! :-) Thanks again!
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