Date with the Executioner

Bow Street Rivals #3

by Edward Marston

1817. Dawn breaks on a summer’s day in Chalk Farm, London, and the scene is set for a duel between a lady’s two ardent admirers. Paul Skillen has been teaching Mark Bowerman how to shoot properly and, although he is not sanguine of his chances, stands as his second. Although the duel is broken up, the passions behind the duel seem to spill out into the full light of day when Bowerman is stabbed to death in a stranger’s garden. Paul and his twin Peter are determined to see justice done and are soon enmeshed in threads of inheritance, treachery and fraud.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, British Literature

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2017

About the author

Librarian 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

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fine example of an author who knows how to write and deliver a great story.
The concept of this series is the work of the Bow Street Runners, the early law enforcement in London. Pitted against them for reward and kudos, two enterprising gentlemen, Peter and Paul Skillen, masters of all forms of combat and the use of weapons.
The stories have many sub plots around this rivalry. Marston weaves these various threads among his well penned characters. In the process we are introduced into the world of early theatre; the illegal pastime of duelling and where character references meant everything in lending via banks.
The switching between these strands in the plots gives pace and depth to the novel. It drives the story forward and makes it, into a thoroughly enjoyable read.
However, the series has not taken off for me yet. There is a lack of accountability for behaviour other than the final sanction of the hangman’s noose. Yet the characters on the wrong side of the law seem to be undaunted by the fear of arrest and conviction. The aspect of the pervading society isn’t touched upon sufficiently to feel a sense of place. We get a comparison between public audience reactions at a play and the gallows but it seems unreal.
Just a gentle backdrop of the capital. Where the runners, rush all over, stumble and fall and the Skillen brothers ride and appear to hold the moral high ground. Colourful but perhaps not too realistic. Entertaining always, but not attempting to be true to life. A clever formula, successful but not truly historical fiction. A writer you can trust and who always delivers a few twists and a gripping story.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed the latest in this series and was an easy going read and a simple plot without too many red herrings thrown in.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

1817- Dawn breaks over London, and the scene is set for a duel between a lady's ardent admirers.
Thief taker Paul Skillen has been teaching his friend, one of the duelists, Mark Bowerman how to shoot a pistol but Paul is not confident that his pupil will survive the duel.
But someone has tipped off the Bow Street Runner's and they arrive in time to break it up.
Mr Bowerman feels cheated and is planning a re-match but is found dead with a dagger in his back.

This is book 3 in the Bow Street Rivals' series. Looking forward to #4.

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twins Peter and Paul Skillen are skilled at finding criminals, much to the annoyance of the burgeoning Bow Street Runners. Instead of working together, the two factions are in competition and willing to block each other's attempts to solve the murder of Bowerman. The brothers are also drawn into a fraud being committed against the bank, so their efforts are split as they try to resolve both issues.
On the domestic front their histrionic girlfriend, who is a theatre actress, is having difficulties with a new play, or more accurately with the work of the playwright, and her demands detract from the criminal work they are undertaking.
Overall a fun read, although some of the dialogue (in the author's usual style) comes over as a little stilted. Entertaining characters, and a good mix of plot.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - I love the play between Charlotte and Hannah - they're just so different, but the interplay between them is fantastic in this one, they really are foils to each other. I also love the twin jokes that are thrown in now and then about Peter and Paul, they just add a humorous moment to what can be quite a dark mystery at times. A thoroughly enjoyable read, but I still prefer Marston's Nicholas Bracewell series, though I can't quite put my finger on why.

Genre? - Historical / Crime / Mystery

Characters? - Peter Skillen / Paul Skillen / Hannah Granville / Charlotte Skillen / Mark Bowerman

Setting? - London (England)

Series? - Bow Street Rivals #2

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 18/20

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent third entry in this series. Wonderfully interwoven plots involving duels and forgery wound around the launching of a new play. The Rivals bounce off each other with nice comic effect, and the history of the era (banking this time!) is engrossing.

[Kate Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Regency crime drama. Will try to read more by this author.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter & Paul Skillen are rivals of the Bow Street Runners (who work for the Chief Magistrate). Both attempt to solve the same crimes & bring the same criminals to justice. The difference is the former are intelligent, insightful, & careful; whereas the latter are unintelligent, bullying & bumbling.

In this book Paul has agreed to be the second in a duel for Mr. Bowerman, whose intended has received unwanted attention from another man... when the Runners acting on a tip show up and cart everyone off to the Magistrate.

When Mr. Bowerman is found stabbed on the other man's rental property by the other man's dagger, the intrigue begins....

Not only are the Runners working against the Skillens, so is "the other man" & his dubious friend.

The Skillen brothers easily turn the tables.... but there is the matter of Mr. Bowerman's inheritance, a mysterious woman bilking local banks, & the possibility of a double-cross.

I marked this down a star because of the side story & histrionics of Paul's actress companion... she is tedious & boring... I skipped over most of her dialogs.

I also figured out who done it & the double-cross, but the main portion of the book was still interesting and definitely held my interest

[Robert Hepple · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in 2017, 'Date With the Executioner' is the 3rd in a series of murder mysteries set in London soon after the Napoleonic Wars. The stories feature twins Peter and Paul Skillen, who solve crimes in competition with the Bow Street Runners, hence the series title 'The Bow Street Rivals'. In this story, an acquaintance of Paul Skillen is murdered, and the brothers set about investigating the crime. As is usually the case with Marston stories, there are other parallel plots, combined with a cast of eccentric characters. This is just about enough to keep the tale chugging along, as it is flawed by an obvious plot, selective dimness in all of the main characters in not asking the obvious questions since this would solve the crime too quickly, and I can't understand what motivates the main characters. A passable quick read, but not a patch on some of the author's other novels.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved every book in the bow street runners series so far, but this one fell a bit flat for me.
I still really enjoyed the actual characters of Peter and Paul Skillen, and watching the work they do in solving the crime unfold, however I found the way it was written, and the events that unfolded very similar to the previous books. In particular, the rivalry with the runners - them arresting the wrong people constantly, and the brothers always being one step ahead.
However, the main issue I had with this book was the side plots, particularly Hannah and her play. This I felt added nothing to the story and was SO repetitive! Too many arguments with the playwright that got nowhere, and then running to Charlotte for support. It also took up too much of the book and I began skim reading some of her scenes because she irritated me as a character and subplot too much.
Don’t get me wrong, I did still really enjoy most of this book however it didn’t live up to my expectations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this one a little slow to get going but once I was invested the plot rattled along. I guessed the identity of the killer, and the relationship between two of the suspects, fairly early on. But it didn't mar my enjoyment of the rest of the book. I like all the main characters, even the people who are supposed to be the 'rivals' to our twin protagonists, but I think my favourites are probably Jem and Charlotte.

The story relating to the play I could have done without but that's probably because I'm not especially creative and found the conflict grating and not something that I understand either position particularly well. I liked Charlotte's part in this storyline though, I found her measured and patient and seemed to have Hannah's best interests at heart.

I look forward to finding out how this author is going to keep the premise fresh over so many novels.

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d actually rate this 2.5. I was pretty certain about one of the villains at the start. I’m getting fairly tired of Jem being a fall guy that has to be rescued. Lords, Hannah is as annoying as all get out!
A gentleman hires Paul to train him to prepare for a duel against a captain from the Guard. The police arrive to stop the duel. However, the man that hired Paul is murdered the next day.
There were a couple of things I didn’t expect, but I saw most of the plot lines way ahead of time. I’ve read three of the novels. They’re okay, but I won’t be reading more.

[Steven Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

1817. Dawn breaks on a summer's day in Chalk Farm, London, and the scene is set for a duel between a lady's two ardent admirers. Paul Skillen has been teaching Mark Bowerman how to shoot properly and, although he is not sanguine of his chances, stands as his second. Although the duel is broken up, the passions behind the duel seem to spill out into the full light of day when Bowerman is stabbed to death in a stranger's garden. Paul and his twin Peter are determined to see justice done and are soon enmeshed in threads of inheritance, treachery and fraud.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of smaller stories takeing place around the main crime made this a very interesting book. While most readers of crime will have some idea who committed the deed early on the reasoning behind it with a twist at the end made made it an enjoyable book to read. There are lots of characters but with an easy to follow plot I had trouble putting it down. It was also quite amusing in places.

[Andrea Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun period drama. The start of the Bow Street Runners is explored against the back ground of private detectives. A natural rivalry one paid in coin the other in achieving promotion and the respect of their superiors. A duel is interrupted but later one of the protagonists is found stabbed

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb story written by a master

Bow street most interesting story yet with plenty of plot twists that keep you guessing who the real villains are. There appears to be two different sets suspects that somehow are connected.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's unfair to jump into a series at book 3, but in my defense I did not know that's what I was doing and I don't know that I'd have gotten to book 3 if I started at book 1 because these characters are so flat.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why oh why does this rate so highly?
A simple who dun it. An easy read.
Sorry but I won't be trying anything else from Marston, unless there is more depth and believeablity.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting novel. Nice to see Edinburgh get a mention in it. Must read the rest of the trilogy now!

[Carrie Newton Bryant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit too much 'swooning' for my liking

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't like Hannah.

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable to read lots of twist and turns

[Sharon Hackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series of books. They are not gripping or very dramatic but just very enjoyable.

[Sharon Chase · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. All the good guys are just a little too perfect.

[Sadie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from this author with lots of twists and turns.

[Hollylovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!
Not my favourite in the series but still good!

[Teresa Pepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another first class novel from a first class author.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Skillen brothers are victorious yet again.
Their quarry this time is a beautiful young woman, introduced to a widower at a dinner party. They become close, with marriage definitely on the cards. However, the man is killed and suspicion falls on a former army officer. He is not quite what he appears to be.
A lose friend of the officer tries to avert suspicion from his friend by distracting the Skillen twins and pretending to be of help to the Bow Street Runners, who usually find it difficult to catch a common cold.
There is a secondary investigation, that of fraud and the Skillens find that the two cases are linked to each other.
After several setbacks, the troublemakers are arrested by the Runners, who have been led to their conclusions, as always, by the twins.
There are a few twists and turns within each plot, but Peter and Paul Skillen work things out.

[Christine McCarroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hadn't realised this was book 3 of a series. A quick light read but don't expect any depth in the various Characters, historical detail or description of setting. Flat and a little bit dull. Not sure why it was rated so highly? 🤔