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Christopher Redmayne #5
The Parliament House
London, 1670. Commissioned to design and build a new house for Francis Polegate, a merchant, Christopher Redmayne is pleased when the project is completed without a hitch. To celebrate the success of the venture, Polegate throws a party and invites Christopher as the guest of honour. But the party comes to an abrupt end when one of the guests is murdered upon leaving the house…
With blood staining the doorstep of his new creation, Christopher can’t help but feel involved. With the help of his good friend, the Puritan constable Jonathan Bale, and his dissolute brother Henry, Christopher vows to find the killer and bring him to justice.
With suspicions running high and the life of someone close to him in peril, this is one of Christopher’s most difficult cases as he discovers that politics really can be deadly.
With blood staining the doorstep of his new creation, Christopher can’t help but feel involved. With the help of his good friend, the Puritan constable Jonathan Bale, and his dissolute brother Henry, Christopher vows to find the killer and bring him to justice.
With suspicions running high and the life of someone close to him in peril, this is one of Christopher’s most difficult cases as he discovers that politics really can be deadly.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Edward Marston
257 books479 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 30, 2017
Not as good as the previous books.
Too much of Christopher's brother Henry, who is a character I simply cannot stand.
Not the writer's fault, just the character jars for me.
Too much of Christopher's brother Henry, who is a character I simply cannot stand.
Not the writer's fault, just the character jars for me.
December 1, 2017
Published in 2006, The Parliament House is a murder mystery set in London in 1670, and is the fifth in the Christopher Redmayne series. As is usual with this author, the story is competently written with terrific characters, although the plot is at times a little obvious. This isn't too much of a drawback, as the story has a cracking pace and is very enjoyable.
February 24, 2026
Again, this fifth instalment in the Christopher Redmayne series, 'The Parliament House', was alright, but it could and should have been great. Yes, this story could have been so much more, but instead of twisting the reader through a plethora of murky political and religious intrigue, of which there was ample scope, the author instead concentrated on ever more tedious romantic relationships!
The main thrust of the plot was political assassinations, literally and figuratively, ostensibly between former Roundheads and Cavaliers, whom were now Member's of Parliament.
Specifically targeted to be killed, by offended Parliamentarian Royalists (they really knew how to take ’cancel culture’ to whole new levels in those days haha!), was the anonymous author of a seditious pamphlet, which attacked the Monarchy and alluded to their perceived adherence to the Pope and the Catholic Church, which was mistakenly believed to be, Christopher Redmayne's friend, and father to his belle, Susan, the outspoken and obstreperous MP, Sir Julius Cheever.
Now, despite the fact that the story annoyingly centres around the Cheevors..... again, and given the extremely interesting and vibrant era in which it's set, the author could have involved a myriad of different religious, political and even social cults, gangs and sects, that were still lingering around in late seventeenth century Britain. Indeed, he'd already explored the Quakers in the first book of the series, 'The King's Evil', so he certainly had the wherewithal to do so! This story was just begging for some excitement and intrigue from the likes of, the Ranters, Levellers, Fifth Monarchists (Andrew Taylor expertly utilised some Fifth Monarchists in the first book of his Marwood and Lovett series from the same period! See my review of 'The Ashes of London'), or even some Anabaptists could have easily been thrown into the mix! But no, instead we had more tedium, as the plot thickened around the romantic relationship between Christopher and Susan Cheever. And to add amorous insult to tiresome injury, we even had Sir Julius enter into a passionate affair of the heart himself! Yuk! Haha! It didn't bear thinking about, fortunately however, as well as his romantic interlude, with the inappropriately younger Dorothy Kitson, turning out to be integral to the plot's conclusion (somewhat predictably I might add!), Sir Julius Cheever, thankfully remained fully clothed and unbedded, if not a little broken hearted!
However, I did find it more than a little amusing, when Susan's sister, Brilliana Serle contrived a meeting with Christopher's popinjay brother, Henry Redmayne, and unexpectedly LIKED him, haha! In all honesty, I could see that coming a mile off, where surprisingly, to her ignored and scandalized husband, Lancelot, she even admired Henry's explicitly obscene art work, including a 'Roman Orgy' scene, which adorned the interior of his house. Nevertheless, foreseeably insuring, that the shallow and insincere Henry would characteristically, do everything in his power to turn the manipulative, yet gullible Brilliana, into another notch on his bedstead!
There were some new characters, whom were probably one off's, but I enjoyed them just the same. The inn in which the assassin had initially targeted Sir Julius Cheever was owned by the widow Mrs Bridget McCoy, whom ran the establishment with her son Patrick, somewhat dim-witted, but built like a barn door nonetheless. Who’s ambition in life, was to become a constable like Jonathan Bale. Something that his mother, because he was slow and she needed his brute strength around the pub, very much pooh-poohed, but in reality, and from that day to this, being dim-witted would not necessarily preclude you from joining the police, on the contrary, it would very much be classed as a boon, haha!
Anyway, the establishment, known as ’The Saracen's Head', being in Jonathan Bale's ward, where the proprietor and her son were already known to Constable Bale, and when he went there to make enquiries, Mrs McCoy was positively seething on discovering that a room in her inn had been used by an egregious assassin, and she let out a torrent of some TOP swearing, haha,
'Recognise him?' She howled, quivering with fury. 'Recognise that broken-nosed rogue? I'll never forget that slimy, stinking, turd-face, double dealing son of a diseased whore! May the rotten b*stard roast in Hell for all eternity!'
'He will Mrs McCoy.' Said Bale calmly. 'He will!'
So, to sum up, the book was ok, and as per, an extremely easy read. Where the culprits at the end, are refreshingly apprehended with the minimum of fuss, but it could, and really should have been better, much, much better.
However, I’ll leave the last words to Henry Redmayne, after he'd furnished his brother, Christopher, with some usefully pertinent information, and had been rebuked in the process, 'Pish man! Don't moralise.' Haha!
The main thrust of the plot was political assassinations, literally and figuratively, ostensibly between former Roundheads and Cavaliers, whom were now Member's of Parliament.
Specifically targeted to be killed, by offended Parliamentarian Royalists (they really knew how to take ’cancel culture’ to whole new levels in those days haha!), was the anonymous author of a seditious pamphlet, which attacked the Monarchy and alluded to their perceived adherence to the Pope and the Catholic Church, which was mistakenly believed to be, Christopher Redmayne's friend, and father to his belle, Susan, the outspoken and obstreperous MP, Sir Julius Cheever.
Now, despite the fact that the story annoyingly centres around the Cheevors..... again, and given the extremely interesting and vibrant era in which it's set, the author could have involved a myriad of different religious, political and even social cults, gangs and sects, that were still lingering around in late seventeenth century Britain. Indeed, he'd already explored the Quakers in the first book of the series, 'The King's Evil', so he certainly had the wherewithal to do so! This story was just begging for some excitement and intrigue from the likes of, the Ranters, Levellers, Fifth Monarchists (Andrew Taylor expertly utilised some Fifth Monarchists in the first book of his Marwood and Lovett series from the same period! See my review of 'The Ashes of London'), or even some Anabaptists could have easily been thrown into the mix! But no, instead we had more tedium, as the plot thickened around the romantic relationship between Christopher and Susan Cheever. And to add amorous insult to tiresome injury, we even had Sir Julius enter into a passionate affair of the heart himself! Yuk! Haha! It didn't bear thinking about, fortunately however, as well as his romantic interlude, with the inappropriately younger Dorothy Kitson, turning out to be integral to the plot's conclusion (somewhat predictably I might add!), Sir Julius Cheever, thankfully remained fully clothed and unbedded, if not a little broken hearted!
However, I did find it more than a little amusing, when Susan's sister, Brilliana Serle contrived a meeting with Christopher's popinjay brother, Henry Redmayne, and unexpectedly LIKED him, haha! In all honesty, I could see that coming a mile off, where surprisingly, to her ignored and scandalized husband, Lancelot, she even admired Henry's explicitly obscene art work, including a 'Roman Orgy' scene, which adorned the interior of his house. Nevertheless, foreseeably insuring, that the shallow and insincere Henry would characteristically, do everything in his power to turn the manipulative, yet gullible Brilliana, into another notch on his bedstead!
There were some new characters, whom were probably one off's, but I enjoyed them just the same. The inn in which the assassin had initially targeted Sir Julius Cheever was owned by the widow Mrs Bridget McCoy, whom ran the establishment with her son Patrick, somewhat dim-witted, but built like a barn door nonetheless. Who’s ambition in life, was to become a constable like Jonathan Bale. Something that his mother, because he was slow and she needed his brute strength around the pub, very much pooh-poohed, but in reality, and from that day to this, being dim-witted would not necessarily preclude you from joining the police, on the contrary, it would very much be classed as a boon, haha!
Anyway, the establishment, known as ’The Saracen's Head', being in Jonathan Bale's ward, where the proprietor and her son were already known to Constable Bale, and when he went there to make enquiries, Mrs McCoy was positively seething on discovering that a room in her inn had been used by an egregious assassin, and she let out a torrent of some TOP swearing, haha,
'Recognise him?' She howled, quivering with fury. 'Recognise that broken-nosed rogue? I'll never forget that slimy, stinking, turd-face, double dealing son of a diseased whore! May the rotten b*stard roast in Hell for all eternity!'
'He will Mrs McCoy.' Said Bale calmly. 'He will!'
So, to sum up, the book was ok, and as per, an extremely easy read. Where the culprits at the end, are refreshingly apprehended with the minimum of fuss, but it could, and really should have been better, much, much better.
However, I’ll leave the last words to Henry Redmayne, after he'd furnished his brother, Christopher, with some usefully pertinent information, and had been rebuked in the process, 'Pish man! Don't moralise.' Haha!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2019
This is an entertaining tale that is set in England at the time of the restoration of the monarchy. It appears to be very accurate historically, and follows the murder of a man about to take his seat in the burgeoning Parliament. The motive for this is explored by Christopher Redmayne, as the father of his beloved was standing next to the victim.
The book is well written, the only aspect I didn't like was the staccato dialogue this author tends to employ, which doesn't flow well or convincingly. The characters are well portrayed.
Overall, an enjoyable book.
The book is well written, the only aspect I didn't like was the staccato dialogue this author tends to employ, which doesn't flow well or convincingly. The characters are well portrayed.
Overall, an enjoyable book.
January 9, 2025
The penultimate book in the series it is another satisfying read that contains intrigue and swashbuckling swordsmanship in 17th century London. There isn't the exciting rush towards the end that you find in most books, it is just steady relentless investigation work throughout that has twists and turns in every chapter. Another pleasant Redmanye and Bale mystery.
March 24, 2026
Not the best of the Christopher Redmayne Mysteries. The majority of the book was fine, the ending was disappointing. The whodunit was revealed only late in the novel with little mention of one of the two villains. As a mystery it just didn't cut it. I do enjoy Edward Marston's writing and he makes the time period come alive. But like the title, the plot could have used a little more work.
February 15, 2019
A bit boring.
February 4, 2020
Love this series of books they are so good. I really enjoy the era of history they are set in. Brilliantly written.
October 6, 2020
Light & easy enjoyment.
March 26, 2021
Excellent reading. Exciting, well written & twist at the end.
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never-read
November 7, 2022[ read the third book in the series, 'The Repentant Rake' and did not enjoy so will not be continuing with the series ]
May 21, 2023
Well I did not see that coming...
Read
August 28, 2025An entertaining historical read with intrigue, a hint of romance, politics and some swashbuckling for good measure.
October 19, 2025
3.5 stars.
January 11, 2021
Sir J Cheever in love, threatened, friends down. Roué Henry plus architect Chris and Const Jon makes trio finding killer, and surprise masterminds.
Devious plot. Writing samples prove guilt. Brewer, vintner, secret Catholics and lovers, playwrights, illegal duellists.
Devious plot. Writing samples prove guilt. Brewer, vintner, secret Catholics and lovers, playwrights, illegal duellists.
February 3, 2012
The very first novel I've read by this author (its number five in the Christopher Redmayne series but don't let that put you off as it read perfectly well as a novel in its own right), I'm sure it will not be the last.
Set in the London of the late 1600's, The Parliament House is a gripping, often wryly funny, historical novel, a whodunit with a smattering of political intrigue and a dash of romance I found myself totally engrossed.
Multi faceted, I don't know how much research went into the writing of the book but I can't say it worked too well as a historical novel for me as it somehow or other did not always ring true and at times lacked any real sense of authenticity. As for it being a whodunit ..... I can't say it fared much better in this respect either. Oh there were 'red herrings' a plenty but even I worked it out way before the big reveal.
No, for me it was the wonderful array of characters that made this such a special read. Beautifully penned, all of the players, both minor as well as major, were a total joy to read, the interaction between them second to none. I loved the personal and professional relationships that existed between Christopher Redmayne and Constable Jonathan Bale and as for the Serle's, husband and wife, the somewhat overbearing Brilliana and the henpecked Lancelot? They were superb and so, so humorous. My only complaint - I wish we had seen a little bit more of down-to-earth landlady Bridget McCoy and her 'dim witted' son Patrick.
Highly recommend if characters play an important role in your reading, you may not enjoy this as much if you are expecting a great historical whodunit.
Set in the London of the late 1600's, The Parliament House is a gripping, often wryly funny, historical novel, a whodunit with a smattering of political intrigue and a dash of romance I found myself totally engrossed.
Multi faceted, I don't know how much research went into the writing of the book but I can't say it worked too well as a historical novel for me as it somehow or other did not always ring true and at times lacked any real sense of authenticity. As for it being a whodunit ..... I can't say it fared much better in this respect either. Oh there were 'red herrings' a plenty but even I worked it out way before the big reveal.
No, for me it was the wonderful array of characters that made this such a special read. Beautifully penned, all of the players, both minor as well as major, were a total joy to read, the interaction between them second to none. I loved the personal and professional relationships that existed between Christopher Redmayne and Constable Jonathan Bale and as for the Serle's, husband and wife, the somewhat overbearing Brilliana and the henpecked Lancelot? They were superb and so, so humorous. My only complaint - I wish we had seen a little bit more of down-to-earth landlady Bridget McCoy and her 'dim witted' son Patrick.
Highly recommend if characters play an important role in your reading, you may not enjoy this as much if you are expecting a great historical whodunit.
August 24, 2007
THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE (Amateur Sleuth/Architect-London-1670) – G
Marston, Edward – 5th in series
Allison & Busby, 2006- UK Hardcover
Architect Christopher Redmayne is attending the party celebrating the completion of the house and wine shop he designed. As the guests are leaving, one is shot dead by a sniper. Because the victim was the friend of Sir Julius Cheever MP, the father of Christopher’s sweetheart, Christopher feels he must assist his friend, Constable Jonathan Bales, in finding the killer.
*** I had not read Marston before and admit to not being a huge fan of the amateur sleuth. However, I did find this a very enjoyable book with a wonderful range of interesting characters. The period details didn’t always ring true to me, although they may well have been, but nothing to cause me great distress. There was some good suspense; the dialogue was well done and seemed appropriate to the period. To the negative, there were a couple coincidences, and I did suspect on of the characters part way through. All-in-all, it was a fairly quick, enjoyable read.
Marston, Edward – 5th in series
Allison & Busby, 2006- UK Hardcover
Architect Christopher Redmayne is attending the party celebrating the completion of the house and wine shop he designed. As the guests are leaving, one is shot dead by a sniper. Because the victim was the friend of Sir Julius Cheever MP, the father of Christopher’s sweetheart, Christopher feels he must assist his friend, Constable Jonathan Bales, in finding the killer.
*** I had not read Marston before and admit to not being a huge fan of the amateur sleuth. However, I did find this a very enjoyable book with a wonderful range of interesting characters. The period details didn’t always ring true to me, although they may well have been, but nothing to cause me great distress. There was some good suspense; the dialogue was well done and seemed appropriate to the period. To the negative, there were a couple coincidences, and I did suspect on of the characters part way through. All-in-all, it was a fairly quick, enjoyable read.
March 17, 2013
#5 in the Christopher Redmayne, London architect, mystery series. Set in 1670, Redmayne is celebrating the completion of a house design with the owners and friends which includes the father of the girl Redmayne is involved with. The father's friend is the brother-in-law of the home owner and as they leave, the friend is killed by a gun shot. Redmayne then sets out to find the killer with the help of his friend, Constable Jonathan Bale, who has worked with him to solve past mysteries. The girl's father is a long standing vocal member of Parliament and his friend is newly elected. There are several story lines involved as the story progresses so the action moves back and forth between story lines, but it is not a problem.
It is a good read with political intrigue and plots and also deals with the restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell and the tensions between Royalists and former Cromwell supporters.
It is a good read with political intrigue and plots and also deals with the restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell and the tensions between Royalists and former Cromwell supporters.
March 10, 2012
I have come to really love this series of books featuring the Cavalier architect Christopher Redmayne and the puritan parish constable Jonathan Bale. The books stand alone as individual historical mysteries, but are also a continuation of the series by Edward Marston. It is the drawing of the characters which makes these books so good and the plot to a certain extent takes second place.
You really feel as though these people really existed and you get a good feeling of the social life of Restoration London, though the full feeling of the city is not as well drawn. I feel that I can't really walk the streets with them, but in a series of books of this length there really isn't the space to do this. However this does not change the enchantment of this book and your involvment in the story and with the protagonists.
You really feel as though these people really existed and you get a good feeling of the social life of Restoration London, though the full feeling of the city is not as well drawn. I feel that I can't really walk the streets with them, but in a series of books of this length there really isn't the space to do this. However this does not change the enchantment of this book and your involvment in the story and with the protagonists.
Read
January 11, 2016Another 17thC Restoration hist-myst in the Redmayne and Bale series.
Well written, well told, a plain tale well told, with lots of twists and character development from the earlier novels. Christopher and Jonathon have to hunt down some rather elevated but nasty characters who are trying to murder a friend for his political views.
The book is a nice easy read, straightforward and enjoyable, and definitely one for the fans and one for lovers of hist-mysts. Marston is a solid writer who tells a good story.
Well written, well told, a plain tale well told, with lots of twists and character development from the earlier novels. Christopher and Jonathon have to hunt down some rather elevated but nasty characters who are trying to murder a friend for his political views.
The book is a nice easy read, straightforward and enjoyable, and definitely one for the fans and one for lovers of hist-mysts. Marston is a solid writer who tells a good story.
November 1, 2014
Another solid historical who-dunnit in the series. This time we get a bit of an insight into the state of Parliament after Charles II's return. My only criticism is that certain characters seem to have forgotten how they turned their backs on Christopher Redmayne because of his brother's character in the previous novel and are eager to meet Henry suddenly.
July 12, 2015
I read through this great book in just two evenings. Mr Marston has a great ability to create interesting characters who's future you care about and even better, able to bring historic London to life amid all his story-telling. An interesting read that has spurned me on to order another in this series!
May 17, 2011
This book was quite good, slightly confusing with the amount of characters but I enjoyed it nonetheless
October 12, 2011
I don't know why I bought this book, definately not my cup of tea. Would not recommend.
November 16, 2012
A pleasant novel on the whole. However, for a properly published novel, there were many mistakes.
June 16, 2013
Can't wait to read next in series
September 26, 2013
See write-up of first book in this six novel series, The Kings Evil.
Read
November 17, 2013Enjoyed Marston's other series, but had not read one of his Christopher Redmayne stories. Looking forward to reading the rest!
January 5, 2014
It was OK. Not a fast paced story, but not dull either. I've no idea if it accurately depicts England in the 1700's, but it seemed fairly believable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews