Praise for BLOOD FOR BLOOD
"In this engrossing sequel to Rizzolo's well-received Regency debut, The Rose in the
Wheel (2002), John Chase, a Bow Street Runner (a pre-Victorian constable), and
Penelope Wolfe, his accomplished assistant, investigate the fatal stabbing of a
footman...The different circles in which Chase and Wolfe move afford Rizzolo an
opportunity to depict the disparities in London society of 1812, and she makes
the most of it. Engaging and three-dimensional lead characters match her
evocative place descriptions. The killer's motivation may be a little
underdeveloped, but that doesn't detract from a thoroughly entertaining effort
that deserves many sequels." --Publishers Weekly
"Like the best historical mystery authors, Rizzolo is scrupulously accurate and uses her
setting as much more than window dressing. The class-conscious society of
Regency London acts almost as a foil to the sleuthing efforts of Chase and
Wolfe, who uncover a web of family secrets and political conspiracies that
extends from sophisticated St. James’ Square to the wilds of Dorset, where Druid rituals may
reveal the truth. A natural for fans of Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen series."
—Barbara Bibel for Booklist
Praise for ROSE IN THE WHEEL "Set in Regency London, this thoughtful
and thought-provoking debut offers a large cast of characters and a wealth of
historical detail in a tale of murder, intrigue and the 19th-century English
justice system...Rizzolo provides oddly relevant mystery
fare..."---Publishers Weekly
"The characters are well-written, each
having a distinctive personality, and able to blend into the rich tapestry
accordingly. It's a substantial mystery flavored with historical dialogue
in keeping with the era...In fact, the writer offers up the story as if she were
there and was simply recounting what she experienced. A splendid mystery
in a promising new series."--Brenda Weeaks, MyShelf.com
"How can you instantly plunge a person
from 2002 back into the world of a woman trying to earn a precarious living as a
writer in 1811 London? S.K. Rizzolo does it elegantly and effectively in her
first outing...Wolfe is an audacious but believable character, one of those
feisty women (well known to readers of Anne Perry and Laurie R. King) who work
within the boundaries of their time while always trying to stretch them...With
John Chase, a crafty, crusty Bow Street Runner who might be one of Inspector
Morse's ancestors, Wolfe slogs through the mud and secrets of a London that
always seems ready to open its arms to a promising new series." --Dick
Adler, The Chicago Tribune
"This debut featuring Bow Street Runner
John Chase has lots of historical detail and period color to complement an
engaging plot...Readers will enter the courtrooms of the Old Bailey, St.
Thomas's Hospital, and various seamy London pubs as the sleuths attempt to
discover what really happened. This is a well-crafted tale that will please fans
of T.F. Banks' similar Thief Taker: Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner."
--Booklist "Gripping, moving, and impeccably
plotted, The Rose in the Wheel presents a grand cast of characters,
fascinating views of life in the early nineteenth century, and a series of
intricate puzzles, for which readers, like Rizzolo's protagonist, Bow Street
Runner John Chase, will be impelled to discover answers." --Jeanne M.
Jacobson for Drood Review
"The setting is described with
graphic, grungy precision, with delicious details that have a bizarre resonance
with yesterday's tabloid headlines. An excellent debut for this author."
--Carol Howell for "I Love a Mystery" newsletter
S.K. Rizzolo's Regency London recalls the late
Kate Ross's work in its depth of period detail. Vivid characterization, compelling narrative, and surprising plot
twists--immensely satisfying." S.K. Rizzolo's The Rose in the Wheel is a wonderful historical mystery.
She brings to life the seamy side of London in
the time of the Napoleonic wars, with fascinating characters a gritty setting
and surprising plot twists. Penelope Wolfe is a woman of her own time,
coping with problems that women of all times must face. I felt an
immediate kinship with her. Each of the other characters is distinct.
Even people passing in the street become individuals in Rizzolo's skillful
telling. The Rose in the Wheel is an excellent beginning to what I
hope will be a long series. I can't wait for the next. S.K. Rizzolo's first novel is a stunning example of historical mystery at its
best. Nineteenth century London comes alive as Rizzolo introduces readers to the haves and have-nots of English
society. --Mary Welk, author of the Caroline Rhodes mystery series
More to come
"A fascinating historic mystery that shows the dark side of Regency England."
--Harriet Klausner
"Set in the exact venue as P.D. James'
THE MAUL AND THE PEAR TREE, THE ROSE IN THE WHEEL uses a real incident to relate
a descriptive historical mystery. The story line enlightens readers while
furnishing a powerful who-done-it that grips the audience from start to finish.
The wide ensemble seems so real one will feel the rain and mud which allows the
audience to further accept the tale and marvel at S.K. Rizzolo's ability to keep
everyone consistently straight. The author paints a powerful Regency mystery
that will make her a sub-genre favorite rather quickly."-- Harriet Klausner,
AllReaders.com
--Stephanie Barron, author of the Jane Austen mysteries
--Sharan Newman, author of the Catherine LeVendeur mysteries.